What are the pros and cons of a destination wedding?

One of the first major choices you'll have to make is where to hold the wedding. In fact, the ideal location for some married couples may be halfway around the world!

Whether you picture a tropical beach bash or a rustic barn dance, destination weddings are known for being a joyous and unforgettable occasion. However, they may not be a practical option for all couples.

While we adore the concept of a destination wedding, we are aware that there are practical considerations to be made.

Destination weddings, in which the ceremony and reception take place at a scenic site far from the bride and groom's permanent residence, are more common. This trendy option gives engaged couples the chance to say their "I dos" in a more unique and, often, more affordable setting.

There is a wide range of guest capacities for weddings that take place away from destination. Some couples choose to have a small, intimate ceremony with only immediate family and friends in attendance at their destination wedding, while others choose for a grand celebration with many events spread out over a long weekend.

The practise of holding weddings at a remote destination has become increasingly common in recent decades. It's no surprise that destination weddings account for about 20% of all ceremonies, given that many modern-day couples live far from their hometowns and so require most of their guests to make a special trip to celebrate their nuptials. Why not choose an amazing destination?

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What exactly is a destination wedding?

A "destination wedding" might mean different things to different people. Either a remote tropical island anywhere in the world or a nearby ski resort could be the setting for your wedding. A wedding could be termed a destination wedding if the couple resides in or near a popular tourist destination and invites guests from far and wide. Regardless, the vast majority of guests at a destination wedding will have to travel a considerable distance and will therefore require hotel stays.

So, What Are the Upsides and Downsides of Having a Destination Wedding?

Any destination you slice it, weddings at exotic locations have both fantastic advantages and special difficulties. One must weigh the benefits and drawbacks of a destination wedding before making a final decision on the location of the ceremony.

Pros Of Destination Wedding

Complete Wedding Planning and Coordination

Many businesses, including hotels and tourism boards, have taken note of the potential profits associated with catering to the destination wedding trend, and have made it their mission to ensure that nuptials at their venues are as smooth and trouble-free as possible. Often included in the price of the package is the assistance of an on-site wedding planner who will help you arrange for the marriage certificate, cake, and officiant. Simply showing up is enough. The wedding planner often doubles as a receptionist, helping to set up activities like sightseeing tours, sporting events, and business trips for the bridal party and guests. If the resort wants to show its guests some love, it can give them gift certificates redeemable at the spa.

A resort that specialises in destination weddings will offer everything you need for your wedding in one convenient package. Choosing a wedding site is the first and most important step in the planning process. This is an excellent option for women who feel overwhelmed by all the available alternatives because it will reduce the stress of planning from a distance.

Cosmopolitan events is your perfect wedding venue in Melbourne delivering fairytale weddings for the bride and groom.

Avoid Family Drama

If you keep the guest list limited, you won't feel pressured to invite that one annoying relative or that one in-law who always seems to start disputes. Only the closest friends and family need be invited to the ceremony and celebration if that is your wish. Sending pictures via email is always an option.

This is the perfect answer if you and/or your soon-to-be-massive spouse's extended family have been putting off having a modest, intimate wedding. You can still invite your feuding relatives, but they're probably going to "respectfully decline," leaving you free to spend the day with the people who really important to you. Spend less time worrying about the wedding guests and more time with your future spouse.

Smaller Guest List Means Less Expensive Reception

Even if you simply invite a small group of individuals to your wedding, the average number of guests for a local ceremony is roughly 200. A grandiose wedding weekend in a dramatic setting could be less expensive than a seated supper for two at a top restaurant in your city.

Even if the cost of the reception event is more manageable, you still need to account for the cost of getting guests there. In the past and present alike, it has been customary for the wedding couple to cover the costs of their guests' travel, housing, and meals at a beach wedding. In some cases, guests make no financial contribution at all, while in others, the happy couple's financial burden is borne in whole by one or more donors. The married couple should try to get a group rate or a room block if housing is not included in the wedding package. Guests are responsible for covering their own airfare charges. If money is tight, it's best to keep the guest list small and hold the celebration near home or in a nation with a beneficial exchange rate.

Destination weddings are more practical for smaller celebrations because of the added expense and planning time. This could be considered as both a pro and a drawback, depending on your point of view, but we personally think it adds a particular touch when only close friends and family are invited.

You don't have to invite everyone in your address book to your wedding if it's being held in a faraway destination. You should celebrate with the people that matter the most to you on your wedding day.

Vacation to a Romantic Destination for Your Honeymoon

If the ceremony and reception are in the same location, the newlyweds may spend their first night as a married couple there. A honeymoon in a luxurious setting is a wonderful alternative to spending the special occasion at home or in a bed & breakfast. The best thing is that you'll have a good excuse to revisit the location on your fifth, tenth, or twenty-fifth anniversaries.

Extend Your Wedding Celebrations

A wedding at a beautiful destination is a wonderful opportunity to bond with family and friends. When you have your wedding at a destination, you can spread out the festivities over several days, rather than just the one. This gives you more time to enjoy the company of your loved ones and create lasting memories.

If you prefer to take things easy on your wedding day so you can enjoy the company of your loved ones more, a destination wedding may be something to consider.

Simple

It's often far less stressful to organise and carry out a wedding at a faraway destination. The fact that it is easier to plan a wedding at a faraway destination may seem counterintuitive, given how challenging it can be to orchestrate an event long distance. The reason it's less complicated is because many locations provide wedding bundles that have already been crafted by expert wedding planners. Each package has everything the bride and groom need for a perfect wedding; all they have to do is pick their favourites from the options provided. Wedding planners in the couple's chosen destination can help them with the design process and attend to any last-minute details that may arise.

Too busy with life to really plan your wedding in detail? Have someone else do it for you and check out our list of Wedding Planners in Melbourne to help take the stress away.

Affordable

On average, weddings held at exotic locations cost far less than those held in the bride's destination. The couple will cover the cost of their wedding bundle or custom design at the resort, but their guests will be responsible for their own travel and lodging expenses. A couple's wedding can be as big or small as they'd like it to be without going over their budget. When they stay longer, buy more rooms, and plan their honeymoon at the same resort, they may receive discounts and promotions.

Relaxed

It's already difficult enough for the couple to organise a wedding without having to deal with the added burden of dealing with relatives and friends that cause unnecessary drama and confusion. Because of the event's remote location and small guest list, planning a destination wedding is very easy. Couples may kick back and enjoy their special day with the help of a wedding bundle that provides all the essentials. Despite the fact that they still have to take care of a few minor matters, the staff at the resort handles the vast majority of the wedding preparations.

Cons Of Destination Wedding

Red Tape at a Distance

An otherwise perfect vacation wedding could turn into a nightmare if the couple doesn't book their ceremony at a hotel that focuses in wedding services. If you insist on handling everything by yourself, be prepared to coordinate with people who are far apart from each other. If you're having a destination wedding in another state or even another country, getting a marriage licence may prove to be difficult. One option for overcoming these challenges is to engage a planner who is familiar with planning destination weddings. Whether or not you hire a wedding planner, you must be familiar with the legal requirements for obtaining a marriage licence in that state. If you need assistance locating venues, photographers, or local florists, you may also contact the local tourist information centre.

Some Important People Can't Attend The Wedding

The high cost of travel, the difficulty in taking leave from work, or the problems of travel owing to age may prevent some potential participants from making it to the event if it is being hosted in a remote location. Accessibility issues make it difficult for our elderly guests to explore the area. Whenever you set aside the wedding deposit, you should talk to the people who you think are crucial to include at the wedding. In the event that guests' ability to pay for their own flights is a barrier, you might offer to pay for all or part of their fare or look into group discounts from hotels and airlines. One advantage of a destination wedding is that you will be able to spend more time with your guests than you would at a more conventional ceremony.

So, it's important to remember that some guests may be unable to attend a wedding at a distant destination. Because of the magnitude of the commitment involved in travelling to the wedding's destination, a small number of invited guests may be unable to accept your invitation.

Don't lock down the specifics until you've gotten the OK from your most important guests; doing so will help you prevent any unwelcome surprises. You may also think about arranging things like hotel block discounts or child care for individuals who need it to make the trip more doable.

Your Family Is on Your Honeymoon

You can now officially call yourself Mrs. But now that the wedding is over, you and your loved ones may enjoy a romantic honeymoon. You're probably in a gorgeous location, but will you have enough time for some intimate, one-on-one romance? Make sure you schedule and insist on time apart from your loved ones. Arrive a few days early (you may need to do this anyway to meet marriage licence requirements) and schedule some alone time or a honeymoon in the area. If neither of those options works for you, then think of fun activities for your wedding party to do while you and your future spouse have some time apart.

Check out our post on When to have a honeymoon?

Legal Complications

The legitimacy of a nuptial ceremony performed away from one's destination country is not always a foregone conclusion. The legal ceremony requirements vary from country to country, with some requiring more than a year's notice.

You should be aware that your goals and interests may conflict with the requirements of these rules. In Italy, for instance, you'll need to hold your legal ceremony in a town hall or church that has been approved in advance, while in Bali, you'll need to hold both a religious and legal ceremony on the same day, with the help of an Indonesian priest. As you can see, this might get sticky fast!

To avoid legal complications, you could have a symbolic ceremony pre or post your trip.

In every country, a marriage must comply with specific regulations in order to be recognised by the state. Finding the right documentation and filling out the right forms requires researching the relevant regulations in both the United States and the destination country. Also, the couple needs to understand what personal documents they'll need to carry with them, such as their passport, birth certificate or other goods. Many people have gotten married without doing this and afterwards found out their union was invalid.

Limited Styling Options

Inversely, if you're hoping to give your wedding a more unique feel, an all-inclusive package might not be the best option. If you're trying to plan a wedding and you're only given three options for the centrepieces, three for the cakes, three for the linens, etc., you could feel stifled.

Although it is possible to find a location that will accommodate any request, the cost will likely increase.

Challenges in Organizing May Arise

Since you'll be conducting most of your coordinating from a distance, it may be difficult to reach consensus on major matters. Without a wedding planner with experience in coordinating destination weddings, the decision to book a venue and hire vendors without first seeing the space or seeing them in person is fraught with danger. You'll have to accept the caterer at his word that the cake will be tasty, and there won't be any other opportunities for direct dialogue. Unless you do a final tasting, you won't know whether he's wrong until the big day, when you can be stuck with a dry cake at a location that looked better in the photos.

It Could Make the Honeymoon More Difficult

You will have more to think about on your postwedding vacation if you decide to take it in a foreign country. Your closest friends and relatives may feel obligated to join in on the celebrations if you choose to have your honeymoon in the same place as your wedding. If you decide to go on another trip, you'll have to plan ahead even more meticulously and budget more money than usual.

Size

Weddings at exotic locations typically have a modest destination list, with anywhere from two to fifty guests. A major wedding would be tough to plan and execute away from home. The result is that a lot of people you know and care about won't be invited. Tension and hurt sentiments may result if some people aren't invited. A destination wedding would make it difficult, if not impossible, for the couple's friends, family, and coworkers to attend and share in the joy of the occasion, which is a fantastic experience but is lost on those who attend a small, intimate wedding.

Burden Placed on the Guests

Of course, inviting guests to a wedding in a faraway place causes them financial hardship. They will have to shell out cash for airfare, hotel stays, and a present if they want to be a part of the couple's most momentous day. They'll have to take time off work, find someone to watch the pets, get passports and visas if necessary, and handle a host of additional tasks inherent with going somewhere far away. Because of this, the couple should give some thought to the guests they invite and whether or not their presence will cause any problems. Couples should take into account the fact that many guests will attend a destination wedding despite the fact that doing so may be financially difficult for some of their guests.

Both the bride and groom and their guests might have a good time at a wedding that is held in a far-flung destination. The couple may have an amazing wedding even though they are far from home with the help of wedding bundles and professional planners. Couples who choose for destination weddings often have to scale back on the celebration by inviting fewer loved ones. Regardless, a wedding at a far-flung destination can be filled with the kind of romance, excitement, fun, and memories that the couple and their guests will remember fondly for the rest of their lives.

Conclusion

These days, many engaged couples opt for a "destination wedding," in which the ceremony and reception are held in a picturesque location remote from the bride and groom's regular abode. In this modern trend, the bride and groom can exchange vows in a special and frequently more inexpensive location. The first and most crucial step in organising a wedding is picking a location. All the services you'll need for your wedding can be found in one easy package at a resort that focuses on hosting such events as a speciality.

A wedding planner who works onsite is often included in the package price. Limit the number of invited guests and have the party at someone's house if you're on a tight budget. Airfare costs are not included and must be paid for separately by guests. Instead of spending your honeymoon at home or in a bed and breakfast, why not treat yourself to a lavish getaway? There are lots of venues that provide wedding packages that have been put together by actual wedding planners.

Exotic wedding places typically cost far less than the bride's home country. A wedding package that includes the basics ensures that the happy couple can relax and enjoy their big day. Obtaining a marriage licence in the state or country where your wedding will take place can be a hassle if you're planning a destination wedding. Some potential attendees may be unable to make it to the event due to factors such as the high expense of travel, the difficulty of taking time off from job, or the difficulties of travel due to age. There is no guarantee that a wedding held in another country will be recognised as valid there.

Guests' wallets will take a serious hit if they're invited to a wedding in a far-flung location. Couples that opt for weddings at remote locations frequently have to reduce the size of their festivities. Still, a wedding held in a far-flung location can be full of the kinds of romance, excitement, fun, and memories that the couple and their guests will cherish for a lifetime.