You might fantasise about having your wedding in a castle or having a destination party with all of your friends and family. Though tying the knot in a far-flung locale is romantic, money concerns may prevent you from having the wedding of your dreams.
The most significant factor in deciding whether or not to have a destination wedding is, of course, the budget. Over $30,000 is typically spent on weddings held at exotic locations. You can use these statistics as a starting point for your research as you organise your destination wedding.
Keep in mind that this is an average throughout the country, so it takes into account the responses of couples who held weddings in a wide variety of locations, styles, and with various amounts of guests.
Many modern brides are eschewing the conventional wedding in favour of one that is less expensive, less time-consuming, and more lavish. It's more affordable. No longer are only the wealthy able to afford destination weddings. Only about a quarter of all brides actually foot the bill for their honeymoon.
The national average for a wedding is $35,000, so a destination wedding can save you a tonne of money at only $20,000. Vines of the Yarra Valley has proven itself to be an iconic wedding venue and function centre in Melbourne. Book today so you don’t miss out.
Table of Contents
How Can Destination Weddings Be Cheaper?
Group Deals
The increasing popularity of destination weddings has prompted fierce competition among hotels and resorts. In order to remain competitive, most hotels now provide discounted destination wedding packages.
Resorts may make a lot of money off of destination weddings with very little effort. It is normal to ask the resort or venue about discounts and freebies when planning a large event like such a wedding. The hotel may offer a free night, a discount on the entire stay, or even a free in your honeymoon suite as a gesture of appreciation.
Location
You should have a destination wedding because you will be getting married in your ideal place. The cherry on top is that it's typically less expensive to schedule a trip to one of these jaw-droppingly gorgeous locations than it would be to do so. Depending on the location, the cost of living, the currency rate, and the wedding venue, you may be able to afford your dream wedding after all.
Natural Decoration
Make the setting the main attraction rather than spending hundreds or thousands bucks on unnecessary store-bought decorations. A significant portion of the wedding money will likely be allotted to floral arrangements and other decorations for a classic ceremony site. However, for destination weddings, the scenic backdrop itself serves as the centrepiece of the decor. You may save a tonne of money on your wedding by having your ceremony and reception in front of the stunning natural landscape in your location. Plus, who needs flowers when you have beaches or mountains?
With Honeymoon
Many couples who celebrate their nuptials at an exotic locale often want to spend their honeymoon there. It is common practise for hotels to provide special deals and freebies to couples who hold both their wedding at the same time the honeymoon at their place. If you're looking to save costs significantly over time, this is the way to achieve it! Don't feel like you have to have your honeymoon at the same place you said "I do" if you don't want to!
Lesser Number of Guests
Your wedding budget will thank you for inviting only close family and friends. A smaller group of friends and family members is usually invited to a wedding held at a remote location. Even if you send out a large number of invitations, only the people closest to you will make the effort to attend the celebration. In addition to spending more quality time with the people who important to you, hosting fewer guests allows you to present them with a more lavish experience.
Stress-Free
The value of avoiding unnecessary stress and wasted time is immeasurable. The less pressure you're under, the more you'll be able to enjoy this time with your special someone.
Many large resorts provide the services of the wedding coordinators; all you have to do is hire one, sign some paperwork, and relax while they handle all the details. Your other choice is to employ a wedding coordinator, which is certainly doable. Whatever the case may be, you can rest assured that everything has been completed without any more effort on your part.
Affordable Wedding Gown
A classic wedding dress can cost a pretty penny. Most weddings at exotic locations, on the other hand, are less formal affairs. A few of them can be as laid-back as a tee and shorts. Even if you're set on wearing white to your wedding, you can still choose something less traditional and costly. Bringing a huge wedding dress on a plane is a hassle, and it's usually not required for destination nuptials. We have compiled a list of Melbourne Wedding Dress Shops to make the search as easy as possible for your perfect gown.
Destination Weddings
The bride and groom plan a destination wedding by inviting their immediate family and other close friends to a far-flung resort or other tourist area, where they celebrate their nuptials and enjoy a mini-holiday together.
The wedding planning process is simplified significantly when the location is outside of the bride and groom's normal living area. Wedding packages at hotels like Sandals include the services of a wedding coordinator, a wedding cake, and a wedding photographer.
When you have a wedding at a scenic location, the backdrop itself serves as the ceremony site. Your location itself serves as your setting, be it a cold mountain top or the open sea. You probably won't need to spend as much on extra decorations if you choose such picturesque settings as the site's background.
Destination weddings typically have fewer guests than traditional nuptials, reducing expenses. The reception accounts for the bulk of a wedding's budget. These expenses will be reduced if the number of guests is reduced.
In most circumstances, the cost of a wedding at a destination is far lower. The average cost of a regular wedding for the same number of guests is $25,000. However, the average cost of a destination wedding is under $15,000.
While this may seem like a long list of expenses, it is actually much less than many Australians are spending on weddings right now. Hotels often provide special deals to the bride and groom, but you should also ask if your wedding party and visitors can take advantage of such offers. That's where the art of negotiation comes in.
Unless you specifically state otherwise, guests are expected to fund their own travel, lodging, and extra-wedding-related expenses. Couples can be more adaptable with their finances when planning a destination wedding. Open bars, cocktail hours, and fancy dinners are often within a couple's financial reach when singles would struggle to provide such amenities. Learn more about weddings and check out our post on How to plan a wedding on a budget?
What Factors Affect Destination Wedding Prices?
The core components of a traditional wedding are also present at a destination ceremony. You'll need to plan for invites, a dress, rings, a location, food, flowers, music, photographs, a cake, and a minister. The costs will rise due to the necessity of hiring a full-service destination wedding planner as well as for travel, lodging, group activities, extras, and the like.
Yet, if you plan carefully, your wedding expenses at your destination could be reduced. A favourable currency exchange rate can significantly reduce the total cost of a trip by making your dollar go much further in the country of your choice.
Who's Responsible for Wedding Destination Costs
It is customary for the hosts to cover the costs of transportation and lodging for their visitors. Transportation to and from the airport, hotel accommodations for the night before and the night of the wedding, as well as any dinners and activities planned outside of the ceremony itself may all be part of your destination wedding package. They may also need to take time off work and go shopping for appropriate attire for the destination.
Because of the high cost of travel and accommodation, it may be worthwhile to throw a welcome dinner, cocktail hour, and farewell breakfast for your guests. While it's not expected, it is a nice touch if you can arrange for a car to be rented for the group so that everyone can get to and from the festivities safely, especially if alcoholic beverages will be offered.
Have the hotel deliver a basket of sweets, a handwritten letter, and a wedding weekend overview to each guest's room as they check in. Put in whatever you like, from local delicacies and fruit to wine and bubbly. That they came all the way to be a part of your joy is what this is all about.
How Do Couples Plan Their Wedding Destination?
The possibilities for your wedding's location are endless when you choose a destination wedding. Consider borrowing some ideas from the couples we polled if you're having trouble deciding what to do. Almost two-thirds of married couples claimed they picked their destination because it was fascinating to them. Picking a special location holds enormous potential for adding a touch of individuality to the big day. Think about revisiting the spot where you proposed or where you first told your partner you loved them.
Emotional Expenses
Expenditures for a wedding aren't restricted to monetary transactions. In addition to the monetary cost, there is always a personal price to pay for every decision you make. The pressure of organising likely played a significant role in this.
Maybe you're planning on keeping the wedding costs down by doing some of the work yourself. Although this can help you save money, it will take a significant chunk of time. Furthermore, no engaged couple is safe from the pressures of wedding preparation. In the days leading up to the wedding, it can be difficult to keep track of all that has to be done.
The financial and emotional costs of a destination wedding are typically lower than those of a traditional wedding at home. While some preparation is necessary, your wedding specialist can help you with the bulk of the details. Customisable vacation packages are available at many hotels and take care of the little things that guests often overlook. You may make your wedding day as unique as you are with the flexibility provided by these packages.
FAQs About Destination Wedding
A destination wedding is a wedding held in a setting away from your hometown. Oftentimes, a destination wedding and the honeymoon are celebrated in the same venue. Every wedding detail, from the setting to the officiant to the flowers and the cake, can be arranged at the destination to suit your taste.
Not only does a destination wedding financially cost less than domestic nuptials, it can reduce emotional costs. While there's a certain element of planning involved, much of this can be tackled by your Wedding Specialist. Many resorts offer customizable packages, which take care of details you might otherwise forget.
Guests should be expected to pay for their transport to the destination wedding, whether that is a plane ticket, train ticket, a tank of gas, etc. Also, guests usually cover their own hotel room stay, although the bride and groom may be able to arrange a discounted price when booking the wedding package at the hotel.
A destination wedding allows couples to host their wedding in a unique location of their choice. They are saying to hell with tradition, let's do it our way. A destination wedding takes the stress out of planning a regular wedding at home with people you barely know that your parents make you invite.
Simply put, it's not selfish to get married to a specific destination that you want. Yes, it might be a little inconvenient for the guests, but, it's never selfish. Besides, people who want to see you happily get married would always support your decisions regardless of where you want to hold your big day.
Conclusion
Exotic wedding destinations might cost over $30,000. If you're looking to save a lot of money, consider having your wedding at a destination for under $20,000. One of these stunning destinations can be visited at a lower cost than you might think. Instead of spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on useless store-bought decorations, focus on the location itself. Having your wedding and reception in front of the breathtaking natural nature in your area could save you a tonne of money.
What's more, when you have beaches and mountains, who needs flowers? It's more common for there to be fewer people attending a destination wedding than a traditional one. For the same amount of guests, the typical wedding budget is less than $15,000. Couples' financial plans are more malleable when they choose for a destination wedding. There are additional expenses associated with a destination wedding, such as the cost of a professional wedding planner, transportation, hotel, group activities, and other amenities.
If the dollar is being exchanged at a favourable rate, the total cost of a trip can be reduced by a large amount. Having a destination wedding opens you a world of options for your ceremony site. Choosing a unique venue can greatly enhance the wedding's potential to reflect the couple's personalities. Weddings at exotic locations often cost less both monetarily and emotionally than ceremonies held in the bride and groom's hometown.
Content Summary
- The most significant factor in deciding whether or not to have a destination wedding is, of course, the budget.
- It's more affordable.
- You should have a destination wedding because you will be getting married in your ideal place.
- Depending on the location, the cost of living, the currency rate, and the wedding venue, you may be able to afford your dream wedding after all.
- Make the setting the main attraction rather than spending hundreds or thousands bucks on unnecessary store-bought decorations.
- A significant portion of the wedding money will likely be allotted to floral arrangements and other decorations for a classic ceremony site.
- However, for destination weddings, the scenic backdrop itself serves as the centrepiece of the decor.
- You may save a tonne of money on your wedding by having your ceremony and reception in front of the stunning natural landscape in your location.
- Don't feel like you have to have your honeymoon at the same place you said "I do" if you don't want to!
- Your wedding budget will thank you for inviting only close family and friends.
- A smaller group of friends and family members is usually invited to a wedding held at a remote location.
- Even if you send out a large number of invitations, only the people closest to you will make the effort to attend the celebration.
- In addition to spending more quality time with the people who are important to you, hosting fewer guests allows you to present them with a more lavish experience.
- Your other choice is to employ a wedding coordinator, which is certainly doable.
- The wedding planning process is simplified significantly when the location is outside of the bride and groom's normal living area.
- When you have a wedding at a scenic location, the backdrop itself serves as the ceremony site.
- Destination weddings typically have fewer guests than traditional nuptials, reducing expenses.
- The reception accounts for the bulk of a wedding's budget.
- These expenses will be reduced if the number of guests is reduced.
- In most circumstances, the cost of a wedding at a destination is far lower.
- The average cost of a regular wedding for the same number of guests is $25,000.
- Unless you specifically state otherwise, guests are expected to fund their own travel, lodging, and extra-wedding-related expenses.
- The core components of a traditional wedding are also present at a destination ceremony.
- The costs will rise due to the necessity of hiring a full-service destination wedding planner as well as for travel, lodging, group activities, extras, and the like.
- Yet, if you plan carefully, your wedding expenses at your destination could be reduced.
- It is customary for the hosts to cover the costs of transportation and lodging for their visitors.
- Because of the high cost of travel and accommodation, it may be worthwhile to throw a welcome dinner, cocktail hour, and farewell breakfast for your guests.
- The possibilities for your wedding's location are endless when you choose a destination wedding.
- Almost two-thirds of married couples claimed they picked their destination because it was fascinating to them.
- Picking a special location holds enormous potential for adding a touch of individuality to the big day.
- Maybe you're planning on keeping the wedding costs down by doing some of the work yourself.
- Furthermore, no engaged couple is safe from the pressures of wedding preparation.
- The financial and emotional costs of a destination wedding are typically lower than those of a traditional wedding at home.
- While some preparation is necessary, your wedding specialist can help you with the bulk of the details.
