Many people dream of having a destination wedding. After all, celebrating one of the most important days of your life in an idyllic location makes the occasion even more memorable and special.
As more and more couples are choosing to have destination weddings, it’s important to be aware of the health and safety risks that come along with travel. Pandemic or not, there are invisible threats that exist everywhere, and it’s important to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and your guests.
Here are a few health and safety tips to keep in mind when planning a destination wedding:
Get travel insurance
No one wants to be injured or sick in an unfamiliar place, especially before your wedding. However, you have to be prepared in case it happens.
Make sure that you have a good travel insurance policy in place before you leave for your destination wedding. This will help cover any medical expenses if you or your guests should happen to get sick or injured while traveling. Hospital and medicine bills can get very expensive depending on where you are going. You might even have to cover the cost of an emergency flight home.
A travel insurance ensures that you have a plan in case something bad happens.
Check the CDC website
Before travel, be sure to check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website for any travel advisories or health warnings for your destination country. This will help you be aware of any potential risks and take the necessary precautions.
For example, in some places, travelers are encouraged to be vaccinated for certain diseases such as yellow fever, typhoid, and hepatitis A. if you are traveling to Thailand, for example, health authorities recommend hepatitis A and B, typhoid, and yellow fever. You also should share this information to your guests weeks before the wedding.
Many places also now require travelers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to be granted entry. South Korea, for example, require at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to enter the country. therwise, you have to go through a seven-day quarantine period. Make sure to check the requirements for your destination and plan accordingly.
The CDC website will also provide information on how to avoid getting sick while traveling.
Communicate with your suppliers
You should verbalize your concerns to your wedding suppliers politely. They can help ensure that all elements of your wedding will be safe for you and your loved ones.
For example, ask your wedding venue provider what safety precautions are in place to protect against COVID-19. Some places might have temperature checks at the entrance, sanitizing stations, or require guests to wear masks.
You should also ensure that your catering company takes the necessary food safety precautions, such as cooking food to the proper temperature and using clean utensils. You will need to thoroughly vet all your vendors’ hygiene practices to ensure they meet your standards.
Drink plenty of clean water
It’s important to stay hydrated when traveling, so be sure to drink plenty of water throughout the day. Avoid sugary drinks and alcohol, which can dehydrate you more quickly.
In addition, you should also figure out if it is safe to drink tap water at your destination. There are certain places in the world where drinking water straight from the faucet is not recommended because it might contain certain contaminants that can cause stomach pain and diarrhea.
Tap water in most European countries are generally safe to drink, but you might need to buy bottled water if you are heading to Africa.
Wash your hands often
Be sure to wash your hands often, especially before eating, to help prevent the spread of germs and illness. Hand hygiene is a good practice wherever you are, especially if traveling. Places that see a lot of tourists are also more likely to have higher levels of bacteria and other contaminants.
If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.
Pack an emergency kit
Pack some things that you might need during your trip. This includes first-aid materials, over-the-counter medicines, prescription medicines, bug spray, and anything else that you or your guests might need in case of an emergency. In this case, it is better to be overly prepared than sorry.
It’s also a good idea to bring along copies of important documents such as your passport, driver’s license, birth certificate, and marriage license. Keep these in a safe place where you can easily access them if you need to.
Planning a destination wedding comes with its own set of challenges, but by following these health and safety tips, you can help ensure that everyone has a great time without any mishaps . Safe travels!
