The modern wedding has evolved from a small, family-oriented affair to enormously lavish parties that take months, sometimes a year or more, to plan and pay for. An increasing number of brides are choosing to forego the large ceremony and reception in favor of a destination wedding, which usually involves a reduced number of guests at a distant location. While the thought of running away to elope may sound appealing to any bride in the midst of making a million wedding-related decisions, there are some practical issues to consider before deciding to plan a destination wedding.
The first issue is the number of guests that can be included in a destination wedding. Depending on the location, you may be able to fill a Las Vegas wedding chapel with 100 guests, or be limited to 20 guests for a beach wedding in Mexico. Many couples entering their second or third marriage are more comfortable with a small, intimate ceremony, which creates more options for ceremony location. However, the greater the number of guests you invite, the fewer options you will have for ceremony location.
The second issue to consider is how your friends and family will react to your wedding being held in a different location. Some people will not be able to travel to a distant wedding, due to health or financial issues. Your family may not be happy with your decision because elderly relatives may not be able to attend the wedding, or you may not be able to invite all your relatives due to guest number limitations. If this is the case, you will need to sit down and talk to your family about the reasons for your choice, whether it is fulfilling a lifelong dream of being married in an exotic location or merely saving money by having a smaller wedding. If your budget permits, consider buying the plane tickets for your immediate family as a gesture to let them know how important their presence is at your wedding. Another “peace offering” is to have a reception in your hometown after you return from the wedding, so that family members who could not attend the wedding can be included in the celebration afterwards. This reception can be as informal as a picnic or barbecue at your local park, and can be a great way to celebrate your new marriage.
A third issue to consider is the cost of having a destination wedding. A destination wedding can be a great way to cut the cost of your wedding in half, especially if you also honeymoon at the same location. If you are lucky, your destination wedding will include the purchase of a wedding package from a reputable source, such as a hotel or chapel specializing in destination weddings. While the options vary between locations, packages often include the flowers, music, photography and even the reception, which can save the bride a lot of hassle in planning individually with different vendors. However, there are a number of costs associated with a destination wedding that are not common to traditional weddings, such as hotel accommodations and place tickets. There may also be complications from obtaining a wedding license in a foreign country, so be sure to check local requirements before the ceremony. On average, though, the costs of having a destination wedding are much lower than those associated with a traditional wedding, primarily because of the reduced number of guests.
Most importantly, a destination wedding should be the choice for any couple that feels it is the choice they would be most comfortable with for their wedding. Whether is it the reduced cost, the adventure of getting married in a foreign country, or the wonderful intimacy of getting married with only your closest family and friends in attendance, destination weddings are a good idea if they make the bride and groom happy with their choice.
