Looking for a Wedding Concierge? Try a Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB)
Written by DuPage County Convention & Visitors Bureau | Feature Photo by King & Opal
There are a lot of factors to consider when planning a wedding in a city you don’t live in. But with the guidance of a local Convention and Visitors Bureau (commonly known as a CVB), your wedding away from home can come to life.
Destination weddings are becoming increasingly popular, as they offer a unique and unforgettable vacation and wedding wrapped in one. However, planning a destination wedding can be a daunting task, especially if you are unfamiliar with the area and its local vendors. This is where working with a local CVB can be incredibly helpful.
At DuPage Convention & Visitors Bureau (also referred to as DuPage CVB or Discover DuPage), we offer complimentary planning services for those looking to get married in DuPage County. While we cannot help you book hotel accommodations in Malibu or arrange site visits in Miami Beach, we can shed some light on what a CVB can do for you when planning your wedding. Each CVB operates differently; we cannot guarantee what services other cities will provide, but we can let you know that the resources are out there. Let’s get started!
IDENTIFY A CVB
The first step in working with a CVB is to find one! Once you’ve decided what county or city you wish to say “I do” in, a simple online search of “‘Convention and Visitors Bureau’ or ‘CVB’ + ‘Wedding City’” should bring up any official CVB websites or directories.
LOCALS KNOW BEST
One of the most significant benefits of working with a CVB is their in-depth knowledge of the area. While we love a good online search, there’s nothing like boots-on-the-ground expertise. Not only do CVBs know a lot about their respective area, but they often partner with a number of local businesses as well. This means they already have direct contact information for whoever you want to learn more about!
Being a partner to many businesses in DuPage County, we have close relationships with some of the best wedding venues and vendors within the 38 municipalities of the county. From their pricing and availability to their preferred methods of communication, these are our colleagues and we know them well.
RESOURCES GALORE
Convention & Visitors Bureaus offer a wide range of resources and services that can make planning your wedding much easier. Overall, a CVB can provide you with information on local accommodations, transportation options and things to do in the area.
Looking for the right venue to host your celebrations but don’t know where to start? At DuPage CVB, we help couples find the perfect venue for their wedding ceremony and/or reception. As part of this process, we also obtain proposals from venues, coordinate and attend the site visits and create a customized itinerary showcasing venues and hotels of interest. Each couple receives a customized spreadsheet from us of the venues and hotels available, making it easy to compare and find the right match for their atmosphere and budget.
Beyond accommodations and venue, we also can recommend transportation services, florists, bridal salons, photographers, printing services and more. From beginning to end, we pride ourselves in making your wedding experience in our county the best. After all, a good CVB’s goal is to ensure guests have a great experience — and weddings are a big part of that!
RESPECT YOUR DESTINATION
Especially if you’re planning a wedding abroad, a CVB can provide invaluable insight into local customs and traditions. Wherever your destination wedding takes place, there will likely be customs and traditions you aren’t knowledgeable about. With the guidance of a CVB, you can be educated about the local etiquette, traditions and customs unique to the area. For example, it will be important to know about appropriate dress codes, wedding rituals, food and drink customs, and even language translation nuances. By welcoming local customs into your celebration, you can gain a deeper understanding and respect for the resident community. Not only will the celebration be memorable for you and your guests, but it can also honor the city, state or country you’re celebrating in. After all, this location is not just a beautiful venue for your celebrations, but rather its own community rich with its own culture, identities and history.
Working with a local CVB can make planning a wedding away from where you live a much easier process. A CVB can provide local knowledge and personalized recommendations, offer a wide range of resources and services, help you stay within your budget and keep you organized throughout the planning process … to name a few perks! With the help of a CVB, you can plan your dream destination wedding and create memories that will last a lifetime.
