After your significant other has popped the question, and after you’ve said yes, next comes the fun (yet also frantic and frenzied!) part: the wedding planning. Your wedding is an opportunity to reflect your personalities and your love, so you’d want it to be special and personal. One way to make your wedding truly unique is to have a destination wedding somewhere that is memorable and meaningful to your relationship.
Destination weddings are incredibly popular these days, with 350,000 destination weddings taking place annually. With the plethora of places to visit and explore, the world is truly your oyster.
However, destination weddings aren’t for everyone. They require much planning; the logistics can get overwhelming and baffle even the best of us. Before you commit to a destination wedding, you should know the pros and cons of having one.
The Pros
Doubles as a Vacation
Destination weddings typically take three to five days, which gives you ample time to not only have your wedding party but also plan sight-seeing days and other pre- or post-wedding events with your guests.
Intimate Guest List
Generally, a destination wedding will involve a more exclusive group of guests. You’re not obligated to invite random relatives; you can just have your nearest and dearest in attendance. This will not only make your celebration more intimate, but it will also save you some money.
Complete Wedding Package
Many resorts and venues offer all-inclusive wedding packages that will make your life much easier. You can get a complete wedding package at a French chateau, or wherever you’ve chosen to tie the knot. Everything is included in these wedding packages, from on-site wedding coordinators to the cake.
Stunning Photos
One of the main reasons people have destination weddings is to tie the knot at a breathtaking location. Whether you chose to get married on the shores of a tropical island or the peak of a snowy mountain, you’re sure to get a gorgeous backdrop for all of your wedding photos.
The Cons
Legal Issues
If you want to get legally married outside of the country, you will have to abide by the wedding requirements of the nation in which you’re going to tie the knot. You’ll have to do research on how to get a marriage license in that location and bring the necessary documents.
Planning Complications
You can choose not to take advantage of the all-inclusive packages that some resorts offer. If you want to plan your destination wedding yourself, you’ll have to handle all the details, long distance. This may get complicated, especially if you want to get married in a foreign country such as Bali or Paris. The best way to avoid this is to hire a local wedding coordinator to help you.
Some People May Not be Able to Attend
Not everyone will be able to go to your wedding. Some of your beloved guests may not be able to shoulder the expense of travel or get time off from work. Talk to the guests who are truly essential to your celebration – if they cannot come due to the costs of airfare, consider helping pay for it. Some airlines offer group discounts.
There is a lot to consider when planning a wedding. No matter where you decide to get married, though, remember that your wedding should be a celebration of your love – don’t forget to have fun!