The Pros & Cons of a Destination Wedding

Written By Luxuriant Events

Destination weddings are magical and dreamy although they require more planning, it can be the perfect choice for couples who have a favorite vacation spot. Weddings are already once in a lifetime experience and having the wedding in the mountains or on the beach or in a historic city can truly be worth it for couples who love to travel. 

For couples deciding on whether to have a destination wedding or a local wedding, the below pros and cons list can hopefully help you make this decision a little bit easier. 

Pros:

  • Uniqueness

    • Gives a unique factor to your events and an experience for you and your guests that will last a lifetime.

  • Epic Photos

    • The venue will have the best views or architecture that you won’t be able to get in your local town - the photos and memories will be epic.

  • Intimacy

    • Destination weddings tend to be more intimate and private. 

  • Vacation 

    • Many couples decide to do their honeymoon right after the wedding and already being in the vacation area that you want to do your honeymoon can save on the travel costs. 

  • Potential Cost Savings 

    • Depending on the venue/resort of choice and the elaborateness of the wedding, couples usually see a difference in vendor costs. 

      • Resorts in Mexico usually include the sound system, lighting, dance floor, dry ice, etc. in their venue costs thus requiring couples to only pay for DJ/MC services if they choose to fly in a DJ of their choice. 

      • Decor/flowers can possibly be cheaper outside the US depending on style and sizing.

      • Many hotels or resorts offer discounted room rates if blocking a certain amount of rooms. Typically there is a minimum limit of rooms that need to be blocked in order to get the rate.


Cons:

  • Travel Arrangements

    • Either the wedding planner or the couple need to ensure that all guests have booked their travel arrangements and work with a transportation company to help guests arrive to the resort and leave for the airport. The exact guest count, names and flight details will be needed when securing the rides.  

  • Legal Issues

    • Research is required ahead of time of the rules and regulations of the destination spot. Most US couples register their marriage in the US and then head to the destination spot for the actual wedding.

  • Weather

    • Couples need to understand the season of the date they picked to ensure good weather in the destination spot of their choice. Many tropical spots have hurricane and monsoon seasons which are not ideal for outdoor weddings or could hinder travel plans to that location. Typically August-December is hurricane season for the Caribbean and Mexican locations.

  • Covid 19 Restrictions

    • With the rise of Covid 19, it is important to check the rules of the destination spot to ensure no capacity and travel issues. While most countries have lifted Covid 19 regulations, it is important to continue checking the airline as well as country travel restrictions or requirements.

  • Language Barriers

    • Hosting a wedding in a different country with a different language could be an issue if the couple or wedding planner is unable to speak in the language of the destination country. At Luxuriant Events, our team is multilingual and can communicate easily allowing us to help our clients with this issue.

If you’re feeling unsure whether a destination wedding makes sense for you, reach out to us and we can provide answers to any questions you may have! At Luxuriant Events, we’re here to alleviate your stress and let this be the most magical experience possible. Whether you plan on having a destination wedding or keeping it local, we are here to help you in any way possible. You can count on us to make our excel spreadsheet lists and check everything twice. Simply schedule a free consultation with us and let us help you shape your dreams into memories.


Luxuriant Events
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