**(What to know before saying "I do" abroad!)**

Planning a destination wedding? Don't let anyone tell you it's plane crazy!

If you're sitting there wondering whether you can actually pull off an international "I do," we're here to spill the tea (or should we say whisky?) on everything we learned planning our Scottish castle wedding. Spoiler alert: it was absolutely flight-worthy.

We're not going to sugarcoat it – there were moments when we questioned our sanity. But here's the thing: our wedding day was straight out of a fairytale, and we're still getting texts from guests saying it was the best wedding they've ever attended. No joke.

Scotland stole our hearts during one of our first trips together, and somehow we ended up saying our vows there years later. The rolling hills, the castle towers, the misty mornings – it was like Mother Nature herself was our wedding planner. Plus, it was just remote enough in the Scottish Borders to feel magical, but not so remote that our guests couldn't figure out how to get there.

Real talk: we hired a bus to shuttle everyone from Edinburgh (about 45 minutes away) because nothing says "we care about you" like not making your wedding party navigate Scottish roundabouts after a few drams of whisky.

Ready to learn from our trial-and-error adventure? Here are the 7 things that will make or break your international wedding planning:

1. Visit the Venue (Virtually Counts!)

Don't wing it – scout it out!

Look, we get it. Flying to Italy just to peek at a venue sounds dreamy but expensive. The good news? Virtual tours have gotten ridiculously good. We're talking 3D walkthroughs that made us feel like we were actually wandering through castle halls in our pajamas.

Passport Partners Pro Tip: Ask to video call during an actual wedding. Sounds weird, but seeing the flow in real-time is pure gold. You'll notice things like "Oh, that dance floor is actually tiny" or "Wow, the acoustics are amazing" that photos just can't capture.

We did countless virtual tours during the pandemic, and honestly? The technology blew our minds. Just make sure you're considering the practical stuff too like where will the gift table go? How's the lighting for photos? Can your grandma navigate those spiral stairs?

2. Double-Check Marriage Legality (Trust Us on This One)

Because "oops" isn't a good look on your marriage certificate

This is where things get real complicated, fast. Every country has different hoops to jump through, and some of them are doozies. We're talking waiting periods, translated documents, residency requirements – the works.

Here's what we learned: decide early whether you need your marriage legally recognized in your destination country. For us, it wasn't a dealbreaker. We got our license at home and treated our Scottish ceremony as the celebration (which, let's be honest, is the fun part anyway).

Our wedding planner was a lifesaver here, they connected us with local authorities who walked us through everything. When in doubt, call your local marriage license office and ask for guidance. They've heard it all before and this isn’t an area for error.

3. Send Invites Early (Like, Really Early)

Give your people time to get their passport game together

Asking friends and family to fly across the world for your wedding is a BIG ask. We're talking vacation days, savings accounts, and serious life coordination. The least you can do is give them plenty of notice.

We sent save-the-dates 9 months out and invitations 6 months before. Yes, it felt excessive. No, we don't regret it. Out of 26 invites, 21 people showed up and that high attendance rate was definitely thanks to the early heads-up.

Bonus points if you can include itinerary teasers on your wedding website. "Day 2: Highland games and whisky tasting" hits different than "TBD activities." The more info you give them, the easier it is for them to get excited (and budget accordingly).

But here's the plot twist we didn't see coming: Even with 6+ months notice, we still had guests scrambling with passport issues. And we're talking about people who travel regularly!

Our best man? Got his passport literally THE DAY before flying out. We're talking nail-biting, refresh-the-tracking-page-every-five-minutes levels of stress. Thank goodness Courtney's brother worked in a congressional office and could help expedite things, because otherwise our wedding party would've been one groomsman short.

Passport Partners Pro Tip (that could save your sanity): When you send those save-the-dates, include a friendly reminder about passport expiration dates. Most countries require your passport to be valid for at least 6 months beyond your travel date. We learned this the hard way when three of our guests realized their passports were cutting it close.

4. Pack Your Dress and Suit in Your Carry-On

Because checked luggage and wedding attire don't mix

We've all heard the horror stories. Don't become one of them.

Courtney's wedding dress went in a garment bag, Nick's tux tucked right behind it. Flight attendants are usually amazing about finding hanging space, and when they can't, overhead bins work fine. A few $5 Starbucks gift cards go a long way as thank-you's – just saying.

Real talk: everything was wrinkled when we arrived. We knew this would happen, so we called ahead to a local dry cleaner for the dress and packed a travel steamer for the tux. Just make sure your steamer is compatible with international outlets – someone in our wedding party (hi, Mom!) almost started a fire trying to de-wrinkle their outfit.

We also packed a dedicated carry-on with all our wedding essentials: boutonnieres, place cards, wedding party gifts, backup cufflinks, confetti poppers, cake toppers, vow books. On the way home, it became our souvenir suitcase. Chef's kiss for efficiency.

5. Expect Currency Surprises (Budget for the Ouch Factor)

Exchange rates can be wedding budget buzzkills

We'll be honest, we totally dropped the ball on this at first. Currency conversion fees, international transfer charges, fluctuating exchange rates, it all adds up faster than you think.

After getting hit with a few surprise fees, we created a spreadsheet tracking estimated exchange rates, transfer fees, deposits, and tips. It saved us from some serious budget panic, especially when vendors had different payment schedules (some wanted deposits, others wanted payments in thirds).

Do yourself a favor: build in a 10-15% buffer for currency-related surprises. Your future stressed-out self will thank you.

6. Hire a Planner Who Knows the Area

Local knowledge is worth its weight in gold

This was hands-down our best decision. Having someone on the ground who knows the vendors, the venues, and the local quirks is a total game-changer.

We lucked out with a planner who came with our wedding package, but if yours doesn't include one, ask for recommendations. Most venues have go-to planners they trust. When interviewing candidates, look for:

Strong organizational skills (obviously)
Excellent communication (time zones are tricky)
Problem-solving abilities (because something will go wrong)
Attention to detail (your sanity depends on it)
A solid portfolio or social media presence

Our planner's husband had a Steelers tattoo, which sealed the deal for us Pittsburgh fans. It was so fun comparing ink – Nick actually has the castle tattooed on him! Sometimes it's the little connections that matter most!

7. Make It a Trip for Everyone

Turn your wedding into everyone's favorite vacation

Your guests are investing serious time and money to be there. Make it worth their while!

We planned a welcome party the night before in the castle (same bartenders, same vibe, way more relaxed). It was perfect for last-minute vendor coordination and gave everyone a chance to explore the castle, cozy up by the massive fireplaces, and dive into some authentic Scottish cuisine.

The result? Our wedding is still the story everyone tells. They remember the bagpiper on the castle roof, how we used different levels for different parts of the ceremony, and that epic Highland fling on the dance floor. It wasn't just a wedding, it was an experience.

The Bottom Line: It's Worth Every Stressful Moment

Planning an international wedding started as a half-joking "what if" conversation with friends. Turns out, it was actually pretty manageable when we broke it down step by step. From virtual tours to vendor coordination, there's honestly nothing we'd change about the process.

Even when our original bagpiper broke his hand two weeks before the wedding (seriously), our planner found a replacement so fast we barely had time to panic. That's the magic of having the right people in your corner.

Don't let the logistics scare you off. If you're dreaming of saying "I do" somewhere incredible, go for it. The extra planning effort pays off in memories that'll last a lifetime and stories your friends will never get tired of hearing.

Got questions about planning your own international wedding? Drop them in the comments! We love geeking out about wedding planning almost as much as we love travel puns. And if you've already tied the knot abroad, we want to hear your stories too – the good, the bad, and the hilariously unexpected.

Congratulations and safe travels!

See Our Scottish Castle Wedding in Action

Want to see what all this planning actually looked like? Here's a glimpse into our magical day – from the bagpiper on the castle roof to those epic Highland fling dance moves we mentioned. Trust us, it's worth every stressful moment of international wedding planning!

Still getting chills watching this back! If this doesn't convince you that destination weddings are worth it, we don't know what will.

Our Scottish Wedding Dream Team

Since we know you're dying to know the details, here are the amazing vendors who made our castle wedding dreams come true:

Venue: Neidpath Castle - Scottish Borders The fairytale setting that started it all

Wedding Planner: Sandy Our local hero (from Neidpath) who kept us sane

Photographer: Mark Pacura Captured every magical moment, from bagpiper entrances to castle tours

Videographer: Edinburgh Wedding Videos Made us look like movie stars against those Scottish Highland backdrops

Bar Service: Thirsty Stag Kept the whisky flowing and the Highland flings happening

Florist: Courtney’s Mom! The bride and bridesmaids picked local blooms together - nothing beats that personal touch!

All of these vendors came recommended through our venue and planner, which just proves how valuable that local connection really is!