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THE PROS & CONS OF A DESTINATION WEDDING

THINKING ABOUT THAT DREAM WEDDING ON

A BEACH IN MAUI? Or maybe you’re entertaining the idea of something closer to home. No matter the locale, coordinating a destination wedding can be tricky—things such as weather, travel restrictions, or covid concerns can make even the steadiest of brides a bit nervous. However, a destination wedding can be less expensive if planned properly and, let’s face it, provides for a most remarkable wedding experience. With that said, here are a few pros and cons:

pros

ALL-INCLUSIVE Venues that accommodate lots of destination events are happy to help simplify things; and by “all-inclusive” they mean everything will be included: an on-site wedding coordinator will handle all of the details—think owers, cake, o ciant, marriage license … even everyone’s accommodations. is means lower stress and potentially lower costs.

QUALITY TIME Instead of a one-day event, a destination wedding typically spans 3–5 days. is gives you ample time to really visit with family and friends AND sneak away as a couple to enjoy the honeymoon part of the trip. Plus, you can have other pre- or post-wedding events like brunch on the beach, swimming with dolphins, spa days, meet-andgreet pool party, sunset cruises, or other sightseeing excursions.

CAPTURING THE MOMENT One of the main reasons for hosting a destination wedding is to end up in a gorgeous location, so whether you choose a tropical island, an Italian villa, or a mountain resort in the fall, you’re pretty much guaranteed a stunning backdrop for your wedding photos.

cons

VIRTUAL PLANNING It’s hard to be as in-the-know as you would be if your venue was nearby. It can be stressful to make major wedding decisions sight unseen, so it is imperative to communicate virtually with your wedding planner. Schedule regular zoom meetings so you can be as hands-on as possible.

AFFORDABILITY/ACCESSIBILITY Typically the wedding couple pays for food and activities related to the celebration (including events such as a welcome party or a rehearsal dinner), while guests are expected to cover their own airfare, accommodations, and other travel expenses. ings like a ordability, distance of locale, and (in today’s world) covid numbers, may keep many family and friends from being able to attend; certainly it makes it more di cult on the elderly and those with small children.

FAMILY AND FISH ey say family and sh smell after three days so you might not want a week of Uncle Joe and Aunt Jane. If you’re also honeymooning at your wedding destination, do you really want to share the hot tub with your dad or hug Aunt Martha at breakfast every morning? w

PRO TIPS:

Using credit card points or miles can help to save money on destination weddings. Use a travel agency that specializes in destination weddings. They are paid a commission from the airlines and hotels you end up booking so there’s no additional expense for you to use them. Hire a local wedding planner—this is when you really need an expert!

Send out “save-thedate” notices 9–12 months in advance to give guests plenty of time to plan and save. It is worth noting that many US-based vendors are eager to service destination weddings, but you may need to pay for additional travel fees.

Make all your plans (especially honeymoon plans) clear to your guests in advance.