Destination weddings: lovely in theory, often quite disastrous in practice! When you get married ‘on location’, you provide your big day with a wonderfully romantic backdrop, surrounded by loved ones who are all excited to be on vacation with you.
However, it takes a lot more planning (and often a lot more money!), to make such a wedding work. And that’s the kind of thing we’re going to dig into here today.
If you like the idea of a destination wedding, but you’re not sure why people complain about planning one, here are just a few of the logistical problems to keep in mind.
Getting Everyone There
How many people do you want to come along to your wedding? 50? Maybe 100? Then that’s 50 to 100 people you need to coordinate through the airport on either side of the trip, get booked into a local hotel, and down to the right venue all before you’re due to say your vows!
And as you can likely already guess, that’s a lot of work! It’s why many people who want to have a destination wedding hire someone to organize transport for them; if you’re one half of the marrying couple, you’re not going to have the time or energy!
But hiring a wedding coordinator and/or planner can be another hefty expense on the budget.
Booking an Appropriate Venue
We all know it can be a lot of faff to find a wedding venue. Even when you’re only trying to book a venue within a 5 mile radius, you can spend weeks trying to communicate your needs via email, only for the booking to fall through when you least expect it!
When you’re planning a destination wedding, this issue tends to get a lot more pressing.
Firsty, you’re unlikely to be able to tour the venue and vet it in person. Unless you have the time and money required to fly back and forth multiple times before the big day, you have to go off of pictures alone.
Coping with the Cost
If you want to go abroad to get married, you’re going to be asking your guests to come along too. And for some people, the cost of this will be far too much.
It’s not just your own budget you need to consider here. Think about what your friends and family will be able to pay as well.
Destination weddings can be a headache, but if it’s what you want, go for it! Indeed, if you’ve got your heart set on booking a destination wedding, don’t let us put you off. Just make sure you’re aware of the amount of effort that’ll really be involved.
How to Make Planning Smoother
If you’re committed to the dream of a destination wedding, there are ways to make the planning less overwhelming.
First and foremost, start early. The more time you give yourself to research, coordinate, and confirm details, the less likely it is that something will go wrong at the last minute. Prioritize clear and consistent communication with vendors and potential venues—make use of video calls, virtual tours, and detailed contracts to avoid unpleasant surprises.
Consider working with a local wedding planner based in your chosen destination. They’ll know the area well, have connections with trusted vendors, and be able to navigate the language or cultural barriers that could otherwise slow things down. Even if hiring a full-service planner isn’t in your budget, some offer partial planning or consultation packages that can still be extremely helpful.
Lastly, make things easier for your guests. Create a wedding website with all the necessary travel information, booking links, and local tips. Offer group accommodation options and suggest shared transport where possible. When everyone is on the same page, things are far less likely to unravel.
Destination weddings can be a headache, but if it’s what you want, go for it! Indeed, if you’ve got your heart set on booking a destination wedding, don’t let us put you off. Just make sure you’re aware of the amount of effort that’ll really be involved—and take some smart steps to stay ahead of the stress.
