A destination wedding offers many benefits over traditional weddings, but they’re not for everyone. They’re also not always what you immediately think about when someone mentions a destination event.
Many imagine exchanging nuptials on some tropical beach — but if you don’t relish the idea of sand between your toes while you say “I do,” you’ll be glad to know that the destination wedding meaning goes far beyond this one option.
So, if you’re not finding your dream wedding venue close to home, maybe it’s time to start looking further away.
What You Will Learn
What Are Destination Weddings & Are There Benefits to Them?
At its core, the meaning of destination wedding is pretty simple. It’s any wedding in a location you and your guest list will need to travel to, typically staying overnight for at least one night or longer.
Should You Have a Destination Wedding?
There are many pros and cons to choosing this option. But before you start planning your dream destination wedding, you might want to sit down with your partner and really think about whether this option is right for you and your big day.
You’ll want to consider all the benefits that come with a destination wedding, including:
- The opportunity to travel to a beloved or new locale for your wedding
- The sometimes lower cost that comes with inclusive destination wedding packages
- The ability to bundle your wedding and honeymoon by simply staying at the destination after all your guests have departed
You’ll need to think about the downsides, too, including:
- Most destination weddings are on the smaller side
- Not all your loved ones (such as elderly family members) may be able to travel for a destination wedding
- Destination wedding packages can limit your creativity and options, so your wedding may not be as customized to your style or tastes as you’d like
While the benefits of a destination wedding are myriad, some of these downsides could make it unsuitable.
How Much Will a Destination Wedding Cost?
The first step in planning any wedding is to set your budget. The average cost of a destination wedding is $39,000, according to The Knot’s 2025 Real Weddings study. In comparison, the average price of a hometown wedding is $33,000.
Yes, we just said above that one of the pros of a destination wedding is that they’re often cheaper. That can definitely be the case with modifications. However, when you take a large hometown wedding and change absolutely nothing and then set that wedding in a foreign locale, the cost will be higher, driving up the average.
To have a destination wedding for a more affordable cost than a hometown wedding, you’ll need to change a few things, such as:
- Slashing the guest list down to micro wedding status or smaller for a truly intimate wedding
- Holding the event in a more affordable wedding destination outside of the peak travel season
- Taking advantage of all-inclusive destination wedding packages that bundle all of the costs together
If you follow these steps, you can easily plan a destination wedding for a third of the cost — or less!
Steps Required for Planning a Destination Wedding
When you’re ready to begin planning your destination wedding and have a budget, it’s time to make the next big decision: What destination wedding location will you choose?
As mentioned, when many think of destination weddings, they may assume beach-set weddings. However, the options go far beyond the beach.
Consider options such as:
Remember — a destination wedding can be anywhere in the world! If your guests must travel to get there and stay overnight, it counts as a destination wedding.
Once you’ve picked a destination, it’s time to enlist the help of a destination wedding planner who can take over the reins.
While you might not think you need a wedding planner, they can be particularly helpful for international destination weddings, acting as your eyes and ears on the ground when you can’t be physically present. They can help line up the venue and vendor and ensure that everything is ready to go when you arrive a few days ahead of your wedding.
What Can You Expect in a Destination Wedding Package?
Most venues accustomed to hosting destination weddings, such as resorts and popular castles, offer packages that make the planning process easier. Sometimes, those packages even include the services of an on-staff wedding planner!
So, what can you expect in a destination wedding package?
- Space for both the ceremony and reception, as well as the cocktail hour, if you’re having one
- An officiant
- Wedding planner services
- Décor, including floral arrangements
- Music and AV equipment for both the ceremony and reception
- A destination wedding photographer
- The wedding cake and potentially catering for a larger meal
Some packages may include a little more or a little less, and you’ll typically get what you pay for. Some packages, for example, may include the couple’s accommodations as well as special perks for the couple, such as spa treatments and a welcome bottle of Champagne.
Destination Wedding FAQs
What Makes a Destination Wedding?
Many think of beaches for destination weddings, meaning lots of sand and water. But if that’s not your vibe, you’ll be happy to know that a destination wedding is really just any wedding that takes place in a locale that both the couple and all the guests need to travel to, typically far enough away that overnight stays are necessary. So that could be a castle, villa, or vineyard — you name it!
What Is Destination Wedding Cost, on Average?
While the average destination wedding costs just under $40,000, you can hold a destination wedding for a small fraction of this amount if you make savvy planning decisions.
How Many People Do You Invite to a Destination Wedding?
You can invite as many people as you want to a destination wedding, but most are relatively small and similar to micro weddings, which are generally 50 people or less.
Do People Often Rsvp “No” to Destination Weddings?
More guests will decline your wedding invitation if you’re hosting a destination wedding than if you were to host a hometown wedding. It’s unlikely that all of your guests will be able to travel for the event for various reasons, including travel costs and limited vacation time.
Do You Need a Wedding Planner For a Destination Wedding?
It’s very wise to hire a planner for a destination wedding. You’ll likely receive wedding planning services if you book an inclusive venue package. If not, hiring an outside planner can make the process go more smoothly as they can assist you while arranging the event from afar.
Whatever Type of Wedding You Plan, Make Sure It’s Protected
As you dive into wedding planning, don’t overlook one key thing you’ll need, regardless of where you have it: wedding insurance.
Wedding insurance like Briteco provides will protect the venue and you and your partner from financial risk in the event of venue damage, vendor cancellations, extreme weather events, and more.
Learn more about wedding insurance and get your quote from BriteCo now.
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