Planning a wedding in another city, another country, or even on another continent is one of the most adventurous choices a couple can make. Your destination wedding invitations are the first taste your guests get of the experience ahead – and done well, they build excitement, communicate the logistics clearly, and set the tone for everything that follows.
Thinking of planning a destination wedding? Whether you’re heading overseas to tie the knot, interstate or even planning a destination theme closer to home, destination wedding invitations are a great way to reflect your ideas and notify your guests of the adventure ahead. Check out these top 5 tips to choosing your perfect destination wedding invitation!
1. Information is key
Before you jump into decoration ideas and colour schemes for your wedding invites, be sure to first decide on the details. Wording can become a little complicated when explaining your travel plans to your guests, so make sure everything is clear and simple. Be sure to include the usual information needed on a wedding invitation, however you’re also going to need to include travel information for an international wedding invitation. If the wedding is planned at a resort in Fiji, has the hotel offered you guest package deals? What dates would you like people there from? Would you like everyone to stay in the same location?
Unable to fit all of this on one invite? Include extra cards of information or travel plans in the same envelope. More of a modern couple? Try a private Facebook event or wedding website with all the nitty gritty information your guests need to celebrate with you.
2. To decorate or not to decorate?
If you’re planning an Australian destination wedding invitation, there are many styles you can choose from, depending on where you’re planning your wedding. Beach wedding invitations can be understated and mutual or extravagant and bright. Consider ocean-inspired colour tones and classic beach ideas like shell decorations, sand colours, water and sunshine. Browse your options and choose something that will reflect your wedding ideas, the theme and present you as a couple.
3. Accurate theme
If you’ve decided to have a themed wedding, make sure your wedding invitation represents your theme correctly and clearly. Sending your guests a Vegas wedding invitation has many implications behind it and can rally your guests up into an excited frenzy. So be sure you’re heading to Vegas, or at least planning a themed event! You don’t want your guests to get the wrong impression of the day. The details you include in your wording, from location to dress code, can help make your plan clear, but the styling is all important too.
4. Costs
Overseas weddings can be a tad pricey, not only for the betrothed couple but for the guests too. When planning your destination wedding, remember to give your guests plenty of notice so they can begin saving their pennies. This usually comes in the form of save the dates. This is also a great opportunity to share your ideas, establish the theme, general location and get the ball rolling!
5. Reflect you as a couple
The most important tip and thing to remember when creating your invitations and planning your wedding, is be sure it reflects you as a couple. Don’t get lost in the bells and whistles: keep it original to you. If you’re explorers and love the outdoors, then the island wedding invitation you’ve been eyeing off is perfect! If you’re not beach people, but have always dreamt of being married by Elvis, then Vegas is you, baby!
Have fun with your invitations, keep them clean and concise, and prepare yourselves for many excited RSVP’s.
Popular Destination Wedding Invitation Styles
The style of your destination wedding invitation should do two things: communicate the location and atmosphere, and get your guests excited about the adventure ahead. Here are the most popular themes that work beautifully for destination celebrations.
Tropical and beach: Think botanical palm leaf prints, watercolor ocean washes, hibiscus florals, and relaxed script fonts. Natural fiber textures like kraft or linen paper pair well with this style. Soft turquoise, coral, and sand tones communicate warmth and escape.
European romance: Think of a Tuscan vineyard or Amalfi Coast wedding. Rich deep greens, terracotta, antique gold foil, and hand-drawn olive or vine motifs evoke old-world elegance. Letterpress on cotton paper elevates this style beautifully.
Mountain and rustic: For a lodge or alpine ceremony, consider earthy tones – forest green, navy, rust – paired with watercolor pine trees, brushwork mountains, or minimalist topographic line art. Kraft paper or textured stocks suit this aesthetic perfectly.
Passport and travel theme: One of the most on-the-nose approaches for a destination wedding – your invitation literally looks like a passport booklet, complete with entry stamps, visa artwork, and a destination “departure date.” It’s playful, memorable, and immediately communicates the adventure. Browse our collection of destination wedding invitations and filter by theme to find a design that matches your location and vibe.
What to Include in Destination Wedding Invitations
A destination wedding invitation needs to work harder than a local one. Your guests are being asked to plan a trip, not just show up – so the more clearly you communicate the logistics, the better. Here’s a complete checklist.
On the invitation card itself: Full names of both partners, ceremony date and time (include local time zone), venue full name and address (including country), dress code, and RSVP deadline.
On an enclosure card or insert: Hotel room block details and booking deadline, recommended flight arrival dates, suggested travel itinerary, wedding website URL for ongoing updates, and any group transfer or activity details.
On your wedding website: Everything else – visa requirements for international guests, local weather advice, restaurant and activity recommendations, FAQs, and any day-after events like a farewell brunch.
Don’t try to fit everything on one card. A clean, elegant invitation card paired with a separate information card and a QR code to your wedding website keeps the design uncluttered while giving guests everything they need. You can also add custom stickers to seal envelopes or label welcome bags with your wedding monogram or destination theme.
When to Send Destination Wedding Invitations
Timing matters more for destination weddings than any other kind – your guests need time to arrange flights, accommodation, passports, and time off work. Here’s the timeline that works.
9 to 12 months before: Send save the dates with the location and date. Save the dates start from $1 per card, and at this stage you don’t need full details – just enough for guests to block the dates in their calendars and start planning travel.
4 to 5 months before: Send formal invitations with all the details, including the hotel room block booking deadline. By this point, most guests should have their travel broadly planned, and the formal invite is the nudge to finalize everything.
6 to 8 weeks before: RSVP deadline. For international travel, guests need lead time to book flights – a 6-week RSVP deadline from a 4-month-out invite is reasonable.
Destination Wedding Invitation Wording Examples
Here are two sample wordings to use as a starting point. Adapt the formality and style to match your personality and wedding tone.
Formal – European destination:
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ashton
together with Mr. and Mrs. James Moreau
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Sophie Claire Ashton
and
Lucas Henri Moreau
Saturday, the fourteenth of June, two thousand and twenty-six
at four o’clock in the afternoon
Villa dei Sogni, Positano, Italy
Relaxed – beach destination:
We’re getting married in Hawaii!
Mia & Jake invite you to join them
Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 5:00pm
Napali Coast Villas, Kauai, Hawaii
Ceremony on the beach – cocktail attire
RSVP by August 1, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How far in advance should you send destination wedding invitations?
Send save the dates 9 to 12 months in advance, and formal invitations 4 to 5 months before the date. International guests need lead time to arrange flights, accommodation, and time off.
What should destination wedding invitations include?
Include the full venue name and address (with country), date and time (with local time zone), dress code, and RSVP deadline on the invitation. Use an enclosure card for hotel room block details, suggested arrival dates, and your wedding website URL.
Do destination invitations need to look different?
Not in format, but the design should ideally reflect the destination setting to build excitement. Tropical motifs for a beach wedding, vineyard illustrations for a European celebration, or a travel-themed passport booklet all communicate the experience before guests arrive.
How much do destination wedding invitations cost?
Paperlust destination wedding invitations start from $2.04 per card for digital print, with foil and letterpress available at premium price points. Save the dates start from $1 per card. International orders over $350 USD qualify for free DHL express shipping.
Ready to design your destination wedding invitations? Explore the full collection of destination wedding invitations at Paperlust, with designer proofs in 1 to 2 business days and two rounds of edits included at no extra cost.