Why host a destination wedding? Budget! The costs of hosting a destination wedding can be as much as 75% LESS than here in the US. The planning is extremely easy & much less stressful –especially when you have an experienced destination wedding expert. Your guests will be excited- visiting a beautiful location — often adding extra days to make a mini-vacation.
Selecting the date: When picking a wedding date consider your guest list. A wedding during a holiday period will be more expensive for your guests and it is more likely they will have “other” travel plans. The more expensive to get to the destination, the fewer guests will be able/willing to attend. You can’t control hotel prices or availability. Prices are always higher during peak season. Group space is often limited or not accepted during holiday periods.
You may want to wed on a date that has special significance to one or both of you. Secure that special day as far in advance as the hotel/resort is able to confirm wedding dates. (Usually 1 – 1 ½ years in advance)
Most brides want a sunset wedding, on a beach, on Saturday. No surprise that Saturdays book quickly. 2nd most popular day is Friday. Most hotels/resorts will not perform a wedding on Sunday. Many hotels now offer more amenities/extras for non-peak (FRI/SAT) weddings.
It can take 2-3 weeks with most hotels to get information on available wedding dates. Please plan in advance and be patient. A contract & deposit will be required to secure your date, time & venue.
Selecting the resort: Analyze your guest list. There are LOTS of possible hotels/resorts where you can host a wedding party. If there are children in the mix make sure the resort you select is family friendly. You should have an idea of the approximate number of guests. Only about 40-50% of guests invited will attend a destination wedding. This allows you to invite a larger number of potential guests without fear of destroying your spending plan. Most hotels/resorts do have group size limits.
Ask the resort how many weddings per day they will perform. Many will schedule one per hour. The brides I have worked with want personalized attention on their big day rather than a “factory wedding” experience.
Where will your guests be traveling from? The cost of airfare varies widely- both by destination and guest’s home city. Sure, St Lucia will be beautiful & exotic—but how many of your guests will fly 5 + hrs and pay $800-1000 for airfare? The top 3 most economical destinations – good air “lift” (availability of non-stop flights) and infrastructure (variety of hotels/resorts) – are JAMAICA, PUNTA CANA (Dominican Republic) & CANCUN/RIVIERA MAYA. Of these, Cancun flights are most frequent & least expensive, followed by Jamaica and then Punta Cana. As a US citizen you can be legally married in all of these destinations. (Legal requirements vary by destination but all are relatively easy.)
What are costs for private events? (Ceremony, Cocktail Party, Reception)- These costs can vary widely. Most hotels/resorts have ceremony packages that offer everything from a simple ceremony to extravagant events. These “pre-packaged” ceremonies usually have little or no flexibility for customization. Ask to see menus & pricing in the “private event” kit.
Private events- cocktail parties & receptions- are available in numerous options. Most private events do have minimum number of guests required- especially for buffet & family style meals.
What are the extra costs? Not included in the ceremony package are flowers (to decorate the ceremony site, reception & other private events), photography package, DJ, other entertainment, and the wedding cake.
How can a destination wedding specialist help me? Besides specific knowledge & experience with the resorts, a group/wedding specialist will be able to confirm the guest rooms and other details with the hotel. In addition they will manage all of your guests’ travel requirements – reservations, payments & documents— leaving you free to do the “fun stuff”—decor, flowers, menus, cake, etc.
Let’s plan the wedding of your dreams! Ready to get started? Call/email Pepe!
Travel with Pepe, a BH Travel Associate 