Top 3 Benefits Of Destination Weddings: Sit back, relax, and enjoy your big day

Now that you’re engaged, it’s time to start planning your big event - so exciting! The options are endless when it comes to what type of wedding you want, and beginning the planning process can be really overwhelming. Between selecting a venue and other vendors, building a guest list and sending out invitations, and finding accommodations for your attendees, there’s a lot to do! Coordinating a plan for your wedding doesn’t have to be stressful, and let’s face it - it shouldn’t be. My suggestion for all soon-to-be-brides is to consider having a destination wedding rather than hosting a local event. Based on personal experience planning my own wedding, going abroad..  Here are my top reasons why a destination wedding can be so beneficial, and special, for you and your guests!

1. Guest Travel

If you live far away from your family and friends, a destination wedding could be the right choice for you. Think about it: if some of your guests are going to have to travel anyway if you host your wedding locally, why not have them travel to somewhere picture-perfect, like Mexico or Jamaica? You can give your guests the chance to experience new sights, cities, and unique attractions that wouldn’t be available locally. For example, if your dream is to go to Iceland, swimming in the hot springs is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, or if you’d rather go somewhere warm like The Dominican, you could rent a catamaran for a day and invite everyone along. This is a win-win opportunity for you to have the wedding of your dreams in a location that’s special to you, and to also give your loved ones the chance to enjoy an amazing vacation. 

2. Cost

Another aspect to consider is the cost. Almost every major resort and destination location will offer some type of wedding package, which can often end up being a better deal than it would be if you had to source individual vendors in your hometown. It can also be expensive for your guests if they have to fly cross-country and make accommodations for their stay. Even though there are still obvious expenses your guests will incur if you have a destination wedding, they can be notably less at a resort than they would be if they had to come to you; and like I mentioned before, they get a vacation out of it too!

3. Simplicity

One of the best parts (and my personal favorite part) of doing a destination wedding is that when you arrive at the venue, you don’t have to worry about any of the logistics or any “day of” coordinating. This is the time for you and your partner to enjoy each other’s company and spend time with your loved ones, not to be focused on making sure things run smoothly for all parties involved. Many popular resorts offer all-inclusive packages that cover all of the key details for your event including guest accommodations, set-up, the officiant, and catering. An added bonus to hosting a destination wedding is the pure beauty that comes along with many desired locations. Think about all of the dreamy photos you’ll get out of it!

Whether you end up having a domestic wedding, or you like the sounds of going international, it’s important that you consider all of your options. Many brides don’t even think about having a destination wedding because it sounds expensive, but in reality, it could be more affordable and enjoyable for everyone on your guest list. Your wedding is a huge milestone and Why not take advantage of the benefits that resorts have to offer?

A FEW MORE THINGS

Before I let you go, I want to share a few tips that I learned throughout my planning experience that I think every bride organizing a destination wedding needs to be aware of when it comes to being considerate of your guests.

Guest consideration is an area of planning that can often be forgotten or seen as less important compared to the venue and entertainment, but in my opinion, it is one of the most important things to pay attention to.

✅ Do remember that this is a big ask of your friends, family and other loved ones. Travel is time consuming and expensive! With that in mind, make sure you give them more than enough notice so they can make arrangements accordingly. If any of your guests have children that need to be looked after, for example, that in itself can be a difficult thing to schedule, not to mention the costs associated with travelling and having to book time off of work. 

✅ Do keep in mind that some resorts and venues are adult-only, so any of your guests with children would have to make plans accordingly. Think about how many of your guests do have children; this could be a huge deciding factor when it comes to picking your resort. You don’t want to alienate a chunk of your guest list over something that could be a non-issue depending on your venue. 

🚫 Don’t schedule events and activities for the entire duration of your guests’ trip. When all is said and done, this is a vacation that they’re taking and you don’t want to be overbearing by planning the entire thing for them. Of course you can provide them with suggestions of excursions that are available in the area, or even better, you could pay for an activity for everyone as a fun way of saying “thank you” for attending. 

🚫 Don’t ask for money or gifts! It’s going to be a significant expense for your friends and family to simply attend your wedding, so don’t ask them for anything else. Their time, effort and presence is more than enough. If someone absolutely insists that they get you a gift, you can discuss that with them 1-on-1 or you can build a private registry to share with them.