Saying I Do to a Destination Wedding

Getting married abroad is a great way to save money by combining a wedding and honeymoon all in one

Credit: Flickr / Rdoke

Destination weddings are often cheaper – and more fun – than a traditional celebration

Destination weddings are much more common now than they were a few years ago

About 16% of couples choose destination weddings instead of the traditional church variety. In fact, destination weddings are now a $16 billion industry.

Most Popular Wedding Destinations

The most popular places for destination weddings are:

  • Mexico
  • Jamaica
  • The Bahamas
  • Hawaii
  • Las Vegas

The Dominican Republic and Cuba are also becoming popular choices.

Benefits of a Destination Wedding

The key with destination weddings is they are often cheaper than a traditional celebration.
 
The average destination wedding has fewer than 50 guests compared to those who get married at home who have an average of 165 people. So you will see a major savings here.
 
Typically when a couple is getting married away from home the guests who attend will pay for their own travel and accommodation and the couple will pay for themselves.
 
Often a resort or hotel will offer a complimentary wedding if your wedding group books a certain amount of rooms or if the bride and groom stay in a certain room category – like the honeymoon suite – during their stay. This is a sure way to save thousands of dollars even though you’re in an exotic locale.

Planning Your Destination Wedding

If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed about planning a trip that involves other people and a pretty significant event in your life, don’t. Your travel agent can get you started and point you in the right direction. A travel agency will usually have a group or wedding coordinator who will help you with all of the details and communicate with the resort.
 
These websites will give you some tips for getting started:

These sites will give you an idea of the kinds of things you’re going to need to think about, and even feature reviews from couples who have had destination weddings.

And remember – you’re also getting the wedding and honeymoon in one when you get married away from home, which in the end will save you cash as well.


Founder and president of Travel Best Bets, Claire Newell has appeared on The Today Show, Fox & Friends, Good Day New York, ABC Morning News – Chicago, Martha Stewart Living Radio, and CNN Radio, and is the official travel consultant for Global TV. She has been a spokesperson for Disney’s www.family.com, and featured in promotions for the Vancouver International Airport and the Canadian Tourism Commission. Newell has authored or been featured in articles for Success, Professional Woman, Today’s Parent, Readers Digest and for various newspapers. She is the best selling author of Travel Best Bests – An Insider’s Guide to Taking Your Best Trips, Ever and has just finished her second book.
 
This wife and mother of two has also launched two lines of luggage & travel accessories. Visit www.clairenewell.com for more information.