Congratulations! You’re engaged and you’re trying to decide to get married in paradise or have a local wedding.  Although love knows no bounds, your wedding budget might. Does having a destination wedding save you money over a local wedding? Let’s settle the score once and for all as we explore the 5 reasons why Destination Weddings can be cheaper and might have you saying, “I DO!” in a tropical destination that won’t break the bank! 

1. Cost-Effective Elegance:  

Yes, Sometimes Destination Weddings Can be Cheaper Than a Traditional Wedding — Read On

Are you wondering if hosting a destination wedding is cheaper than a local wedding? While many variables are involved in answering that question, hosting your wedding in the Caribbean or Mexico can be surprisingly cost-effective. You can enjoy a luxurious wedding without breaking the bank with competitive wedding packages and all-inclusive options. Imagine saying your vows with the ocean as your backdrop, all within a budget that leaves room for an unforgettable honeymoon. As a wedding planner, this is one topic I know very well. Hands down I can usually plan a destination wedding with more bells & whistles in Mexico or the Caribbean for under budget than I can here in the states.

Plus, there are many benefits you will receive for hosting a wedding group at a resort, making your budget go further, and even including some bells & whistles that would never be included in having a traditional wedding – yay! Definitely a win-win. I wrote an article with more information on hosting a wedding at an all-inclusive resort.   There is some good info to be had here!

2. One-Day Celebration vs A Mini Vacation:  

Yes, Destination Weddings Can Save You Money When You Consider the Value — Read On 

When planning a local wedding, there are the usual costs to pull everything together for a ONE-DAY event. With a destination wedding, for a similar or lower cost, you can transform your special day into a whole weekend of celebration, turning into a mini vacation for you and your guests. From welcome parties to beachside brunches, tequila tastings to mixology classes, create a weekend wedding itinerary filled with unforgettable moments, making your wedding an experience to cherish. Today’s trend with our couple’s is really about creating guest experiences and destination weddings is the perfect opportunity to make that happen.

Here is a sample weekend wedding itinerary that many of my couples do: 

· Thursday evening: All-white welcome party on the beach (where everyone wears white – it is great for photos and goes with the standard decor set up!) 

· Friday: Wedding, cocktail hour, dinner reception 

· Saturday: Farewell brunch or group activity 

3. Tailored Wedding Packages: 

Yes, You Can Get So Much More for Your Money with a Destination Wedding 

Compared to a traditional wedding, you can usually find some great destination wedding packages at resort wedding venues in the Caribbean and Mexico that will make your wedding exceptional and save you money over a traditional wedding.   

These packages are inclusive, making planning more straightforward, and often include expert onsite coordinators, ensuring every wedding detail is perfect.  This allows you to focus on enjoying your special day. Whether you dream of a barefoot beach ceremony with toes in the sand or a garden celebration filled with tropical greens, there is a package that suits your vision.  

Using a qualified destination wedding specialist/planner who knows the resorts and their packages can quickly help you narrow down your destination wedding venue and match you with the appropriate wedding packages, whether it be Cancun, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic or Los Cabos or whichever destination will bring your dream wedding to life.  We have personally inspected the best resorts in all of these destinations and have cultivated deep relationships with the wedding teams to ensure our couples have nothing short of an amazing experience.

4. Simplify your Guestlist: 

Celebrating Your Wedding with Your Closest Family and Friends 

A big reason to host a destination wedding over a traditional one is to trim down your guest list to only those who matter most to you. It’s a natural process that keeps the “per person” cost of a traditional wedding down. A typical destination wedding with 100 invited guests will yield 50-60% RSVP’s. TIP: Make an A, B, C list of guests with A being your diehards that will absolutely be there (family, bridal party, closest friends), B list are those that you invite but you are not sure if they will attend and C list is those that you have to invite that you know won’t show up!    

Also, many wedding couples ask if they are supposed to pay for their guests to attend their destination wedding. Great question, but the answer is no. Your guests are expected to pay their way to your destination wedding.  This also means that you should be mindful in choosing a quality destination wedding location that is financially doable for your guests. And to make it more affordable, plan far enough in advance so you can give them plenty of time to budget. LEARN MORE: Read “How Far in Advance Should I Plan My Destination Wedding?” 

5. Unforgettable Experiences for Guests You Just Can’t Get from Traditional Wedding: 

When you do a destination wedding, you can treat your guests to more than just a wedding – offer them a group experience they’ll never forget, like ATVs, ziplining, golfing, a catamaran cruise, snorkeling, visiting a volcano in St. Lucia, exploring the ancient ruins in Tulum or Chichen Itza. The Caribbean and Mexico provide a backdrop of unforgettable experiences.  Now your wedding becomes a joyful celebration shared with loved ones, creating memories they will talk about for years to come. 

When you choose to have a destination wedding over a traditional wedding, you have the fringe benefit of already having natural beauty, such as a beach or a scenic mountain backdrop, that can serve as the perfect setting for your ceremony, allowing you to cut down on decor expenses. This is one of the most important elements you should consider when choosing your decor and we help our couples plan magical, romantic, beautiful weddings by using the natural beauty of the destination as part of your decor.  You will also have the advantages of destination wedding packages that bundle vendors and services that save you money over a traditional wedding and have a mini vacation simultaneously!  It’s a win-win for both you and your guests.   

If you are currently trying to plan your destination wedding or you are overwhelmed at the idea and not sure where to start, schedule a free 60-minute destination wedding strategy session with me and I promise you will have your answers. Or, maybe you are recently engaged and aren’t sure if a destination wedding is even right for you. You’re just a little bit curious if you can pull off this once-in-a-lifetime dream wedding and maybe DIY it and save money (you can read about that idea right here and check it off your list!) Remember, this isn’t just any vacation; this is your dream wedding, and it has to be nothing short of perfect!  And we would love to be part of your journey.