If you are thinking about getting married abroad and having a destination wedding, then this post is for you! I had a destination wedding in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, and it was the best trip I have ever taken. My guests still talk about how much fun and special it was for them too! Below I share why you should have a destination wedding and a step by step guide for how to plan one.
1. You spend an entire week with your closest friends and family.
At-home weddings are only one night, and it can be difficult to have quality time with everyone who attends. With a destination wedding, you have a whole week to spend with your loved ones and have more time to celebrate!
2. Destination weddings are usually more intimate.
With destination weddings, it is much more common for them to be smaller since not everyone will travel for it. This results in a small and more intimate wedding.
3. There is less stress because the majority of planning is taken care of.
The bonus for destination weddings is that you have a wedding coordinator who will take care of everything for you at the resort, and a travel agent who will look after all of the logistics for you. There is no need to source flowers, food, or even a photographer since the resort provides all of that for you.
If there are any particular items or rituals you want included in your wedding, you can send pictures to your wedding coordinator and they can take care of it.
4. It is a combination of a vacation/wedding/honeymoon into one.
If you LOVE to travel, but can’t justify the cost of having an at-home wedding then a destination wedding combines the two.
5. It is inexpensive compared to an at-home wedding.
Getting married abroad is surprisingly inexpensive compared to the costs of at-home weddings. An entire wedding package which includes dinner and basic decorations can be well under $5000! Mine was half that and included a cake, basic decorations (which were SO gorgeous), hors d’ouerves, a guitar trio that played during the reception, and so much more. I couldn’t believe how inexpensive it was!
6. You get gifts and special perks as the bride and groom.
When getting married abroad, if you use a travel agency to book your wedding then you get all sorts of extra perks like upgrades on the plane and at the resort, free gifts (like a tumbler or towel) to give to your wedding guests, private transfer to the resort, and sometimes even a free plane ticket if you book enough rooms. Check in advance with your travel agent and resort to see what they offer.
7. The location is stunning.
No need to worry about where to take photos, or what your decor will look like because the destination will already be gorgeous and provide the perfect backdrop.
8. It can be a good compromise for couples that are from different areas.
If you are both from different towns (or countries), then choosing a completely different location outside of both of your hometowns can be a good compromise.
A picture of my wedding location at my destination wedding in Punta Cana
How can I start planning my destination wedding?
If these reasons have convinced you to start looking into having a destination wedding, then knowing where to start can help your planning process.
Step 1: To get started with planning a destination wedding, research different resorts. Email them to ask for their wedding package rates and what’s included.
Step 2: Choose a travel agent in your hometown. They will help you with arranging group rates for flights and accommodation at your resort of choice. The travel agent may also have suggestions for resorts.
- Important Tip: The travel agent normally does not coordinate the wedding with the resort, that is done through you. You will need to email the resort what day you want to get married and the approximate amount of guests you expect to attend. The resort will require a deposit once you’re ready to secure the date.
Step 3: Once you have a date secured for the wedding, let your travel agent know. They can then book your flight and resort package. They will require a deposit to secure the flight and accommodation rate.
Step 4: When your guests are ready to book, they will need to contact the travel agent directly to provide their payment information. All of this information can be provided on your invitations or wedding website.
Suggested reading: 14 tips for how to plan a destination wedding
Are you planning a destination wedding? Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!
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