The Destination Wedding: Is it right for you?
At first glance, the idea of a Destination Wedding seems like a dream come true. You and your guests fly away to a glamorous location where you have the ceremony, the reception and the honeymoon in the same place.
So what’s not to like? Well, there are things to consider before going down this path. Like most things in life, there are pros and cons to think about before you make a commitment.
Pro:
The first thing to know is that destination weddings are a huge business in places like the Caribbean and Hawaii. They offer incredible package deals to encourage you to take the plunge, so to speak. Resorts and tourism organizations make it very easy and cost effective for you to package together the ceremony, flowers, reception, everything you need, in fact, to get married. And hotels offer special rates to wedding parties to encourage as many guests as possible to attend. Most places have a dedicated on-site wedding coordinator who will plan every aspect of your wedding for you, so that all you need to do is turn up. The rest is done for you.
Con:
Buying a package deal means that you may not have the flexibility you’d like if you want special flowers or an out-of-the-ordinary menu, for example. If you choose to do some of the planning yourself, including interviewing vendors, it will not be as easy if you are dealing over the phone or by email in a different time zone.
Pro:
You will save money by having fewer guests. A weekend in the Caribbean, for instance, may cost less than paying for huge wedding reception back home. Remember though, the bride and groom is expected to pay for the hotel rooms, food and most of the guests’ expenses. Guests pay for their own airfare. If money is an issue, do the math first and choose a domestic location or a country with a favorable exchange rate and keep the guest list small and intimate.
Con:
Some of your essential guests may not even be able to afford the airfare, or take the time off from work, so you’ll need to think about whom you can do without – and whom you cannot. It may sound hard, but this will be central to your decision.
Pro:
You can avoid stressful family situations if you have a smaller invitation list. With a destination wedding, you can get away with not inviting family members you don’t really like, or the annoying, quarrelsome aunt who always puts a damper on things. Stick with your very closest friends and family – or alternatively, don’t invite anyone at all! You can always send them the pictures!
Con:
If you chose not to go the resort or wedding coordinator route, and want to plan everything yourself, be careful to check out the legal red tape for getting a marriage license in that country. Some countries require you to have a 30 day residency before you can get married there; you will want to make sure of the rules so you don’t end up with a last minute disaster. Don’t forget to bring the correct paperwork with you, such as birth certificates, passports and other notarized documents.
Pro:
A package deal means you may be able to afford to go to that dream honeymoon location instead of making do with an ordinary hotel back at home.
Con:
With your family around, and a wedding to worry about, will you really have enough romantic alone time? To handle this, make sure you get to your destination earlier than your guests so you can arrange a schedule of interesting things for your wedding party to do, so you won’t feel as if you are in charge of everyone’s entertainment. You may need to get there earlier anyway to arrange the marriage license. You don’t want to feel you are responsible for your guests to the point that it cuts into your couple time alone.
Pro:
After your ceremony, you do not need to get on a plane and travel elsewhere to enjoy the honeymoon. You are right there!
At www.wedjinni.com, we understand the wedding decision process and are here to help you manage it. Whatever you decide, remember this is your wedding. You deserve it to be as memorable and enjoyable as you can make it – so do your due diligence with budgets and research, then go with your gut.
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Enjoy!
