Perhaps you always imagined yourself saying “I do” barefoot in the sand on a tropical beach at sunset. Or maybe you had visions of walking down the candle-lit aisle of a 15th century English church? While destination weddings used to be reserved for couples with royal connections and celebrity-sized bank accounts, this is not the case any more. Many hotels and resorts across the globe offer affordable wedding packages that can make your destination wedding dream possible without breaking the bank. The cost of an out of country wedding varies widely depending on where you go, how casual or traditional you want to make it, and how much you’re willing to spend. Here are a few points to consider when budgeting for your big day abroad.
The Destination
How far are you traveling to get to your destination? Can you escape for a weekend, or do you have to stay for an entire week? Is this a five-star affair? And if so, where? A deluxe hotel in Spain will likely cost more than one in the Dominican Republic. You also have to consider how you’re going to get to your destination. A train ride to Montreal is a lot less expensive than a plane ride to Morocco.
Who’s Coming?
It’s much easier for the two of you to elope to Tahiti than for your entire family and social circle to take flight with you. If a wedding abroad is important to you—but if it’s also important to have your nearest and dearest with you—then a closer destination, like Mexico or Las Vegas, may be more feasible. And remember, just because you take your guests’ finances into consideration when selecting a destination, it doesn’t mean they’ll attend. If there are certain people you simply couldn’t imagine your big day without, you might want to budget the costs of paying for their trips as well; or even reconsider why you’re having a destination wedding in the first place.
How You’ll Celebrate?
Will your wedding be a casual, shoreline ceremony? Or are you dreaming of an entire beachside reception featuring lobster dinner, exotic cocktails, a mariachi band and fresh-cut tropical flowers? Will your dress be a sleek, flowing sheath, or a traditional ball gown? Will you have your hair and makeup done on-site? Are you taking a photographer with you? The great thing about having a destination wedding is that you really can do anything you’d do at home. You just have to be willing to pay for it.
Hidden Costs
When planning a destination wedding, leave room in your budget for hidden costs. Some budget-busters to look out for include:
Wedding packages: While some hotels offer free wedding packages when you book a certain number of people, others charge a fee.
Extras: Sometimes the “free” wedding package is set up to accommodate maybe 10 people. If you have more guests than that, you might find yourself forking out money for each additional person. Likewise, you might also have to pay extras for things like flowers, décor, champagne and hors d’oeuvres.
Day rates: If you have guests coming in for the day of the ceremony, the hotel may charge a fee for their use of the facilities.
Translation costs: Your marriage certificate may be recognized internationally, but you might have to pay translation costs if you’re planning on changing your name and any of your government-issued documents like your driver’s license and health card.
Comment on "Destination Wedding Budget"
Neither the author nor Wedding Bells necessarily agree with the comments posted below. Read our full policy
You must have a Weddingbells.ca account to article comments. If you do not have an account you can register now.
Post a comment