A topic that has left engaged couples hemming and hawing: destination weddings.
When my husband and I first started our wedding planning, he was totally into the idea of having a destination wedding… I on the other hand was so not into it. Now that we’re married, and our wedding day has come and gone (wouldn’t trade it for anything, best day ever), I can definitely see why some couples choose to have a destination wedding.
Like just about everything else in the world of wedding planning, destination weddings have their lists of pros and cons – but overall, it comes down to one question… Is it right for you?
Pros
- Wedding + Vacation All-In-One
Maybe the most obvious pro… Who doesn’t love a vacation? Of course, this is great for yourself and your significant other, but think about how excited your guests will be to realize they get a bonus vacation when they attend your wedding!
Not everyone gets the opportunity to get together with their best friends and family and go far away to luxury land of relaxation and enjoy time together – this is it folks. - Less Is More
Planning a wedding consists of so many things. One of the biggest stressors on your to-do list might be decor.
Now imagine getting married in a beautiful place like Jamacia; the ocean will most likely be your backdrop for the ceremony.
If you’re getting married at a resort, the resort itself most likely has gorgeous lush gardens, beaches, etc. so you really won’t need to focus much at all on your own decor. - Built-In Honeymoon
As soon as the party is over, you and your new spouse don’t have to deal with travel for your honeymoon. You’re already there and ready to relax and enjoy your time together as newlyweds.
You can enjoy your honeymoon in a couple different ways – continue to spend time with your friends and family who joined you in celebrating your wedding day, or you might opt for some special alone time. Either way is possible when you have a destination wedding. - More Affordable
Believe it or not, but destination weddings are generally less expensive. Granted you have to take flights and hotel/resort stays into account, but most resorts offer incredible deals when you’re traveling for your wedding.
Be sure to ask the resort about wedding packages; many offer packages that include photography, food, free night stays, and more.
When you consider all of the separate charges you’ll have for a wedding in your hometown, destination weddings can definitely be the more affordable route.
>> Check out these fast and easy side hustles to save some extra cash for your wedding and honeymoon << - Intimate Celebration
Lots of couples struggle with their guest list. Whether they have to fit a large number of guests into a limited capacity venue, or if they’re trying to find the right words to let their fifty 2nd and 3rd cousins know that they aren’t invited… setting your guest list is stressful.
Having a destination wedding is a great excuse for only inviting those friends and family members that you feel especially close to; no need to invite your Great Aunt Karen that you haven’t heard from in 10 years.
Cons
- Planning Can Be Challenging
Wedding planning can be challenging in general… add a foreign country to the mix and you’re sure to deal with a few extra dilemmas.
Meeting with vendors is an important aspect in wedding planning, but when you’re getting married somewhere far away it can be impossible to meet you vendors in advance.
Of course, communicating with your vendors via email or phone might be possible, but also consider that there may be language barrier depending on where you’re headed to.
Destination weddings can also be more challenging if you are not familiar with the area. Planning transportation, timing out the routes, and reserving stays for your guest can all be more difficult if you don’t know your way around. - Not All Your Guests Can Make It
If you’re looking for a more intimate wedding celebration, a destination wedding might work great for you. However, if you’ve always wanted a huge wedding with 300+ guests, you might want to rethink the ‘destination’ part. In most cases, destination weddings do not have the capacity for a larger scale wedding.
Also consider which of your guests might not be able to make it for their own personal reasons. Destination weddings require your guests to take time off from work, find childcare (dog-sitter in my world), and have the funds for plane flights, hotel, etc. Aside from those types of personal reasons, remember the guests that might not be physically able to travel far away.
One of the main reasons I decided against a destination wedding was because my grandma would not be able to make it for health reasons… and it was so important to me that she be there on my wedding day. - Be Aware of Fraudulence
Many people don’t realize just how common this is. Not having much knowledge of the area, resort, and the local vendors you may be using can lead to you being scammed.
It sounds like a no-brainer, but do your fair share of research before committing or signing any contracts. Having a professional wedding planner is a great help! Most wedding planners with a lot of experience will have connections with vendors in popular wedding destination countries.