Congratulations! You are engaged! We bet your emotions are running wild! So, you find yourself thinking about what’s next?! After you announce this fantastic news to your family and friends, you should start (sooner rather than later) planning your big day.
Regardless of whether you are considering a small or big ceremony, one thing is for sure – you don’t want an ordinary, already-seen wedding. You dream of something unique, something special, something memorable not just for the two of you, but also for your family and friends. A destination wedding – a wedding that is held in a setting away from your hometown – can give you precisely that.
Perhaps this is the reason why they have become trendy over the last ten years. Gathering your family and friends in an extraordinary location for your special day is super appealing! However, everyone knows that wedding planning can be both joyful and stressful. So, if you are still undecided on whether or not you should plan a destination wedding, here are a few reasons why you should have one.
You will have a special place (for the big day and your memories)
You can have your destination wedding anywhere you want. From Aruba, Jamaica, the Bahamas to Hawaii, Mexico or USA beaches. There are so many beautiful, romantic and exotic places around the globe. For example, many couples choose Florida for a destination wedding due to its near-perfect weather and gorgeous beaches. Keep in mind, before you decide to get legally married outside of your home country, make sure to check the nation’s wedding requirements, and bring all necessary documents.
You will be more comfortable
A destination wedding can be as relaxed and casual as you like. If you want, you can wear flip-flops or go barefoot. There is no “obligation” for heavy wedding gowns or tuxedos required. You can make the ceremony as short (or long) as you like, then strip down to your bathing suits and enjoy the sun. Or head to a patio, start the party with champagne toasts and dance all night long. And when the party’s over, you can choose to spend your honeymoon at this location. Many hotels offer possibilities for different upgrades to the bride and groom on their wedding night or for an extended stay, usually at a reduced rate. Thus, you get the trip of a lifetime without any additional planning. What’s better than that?!
Believe it or not, it will be less expensive
A destination wedding allows you to hold a wedding in a romantic location without spending a fortune. Sometimes planning a destination wedding can be less expensive than planning a wedding at home, mainly because destination weddings are more intimate. If you stay in town, you will be more inclined to invite certain people out of obligation. Having a destination wedding is a great way to filter out colleagues and acquaintances, and fewer guests mean cost savings.
For example, you can book a wedding package at Rose Hall and have your wedding in a mystical and intimate setting. Or choose resorts/ hotels that offer free weddings if you make a certain number of room bookings.
One thing to bear in mind, the costs of travel should be included in your budget. Destination wedding etiquette may call for the bride and groom to pay for the hotel rooms, food, and guests to cover the traveling costs. But, etiquette varies greatly, so it all comes down to your own decision.
ROSEHALL WEDDING75 seconds.mov from Jamaica Tourist on Vimeo.
Less stressful wedding planning
Wedding planning can create a lot of anxiety! But unlike traditional wedding planning that involves talking and negotiating with many different parties – from a florist, an entertainer to a photographer – with a destination wedding, you can have a one-stop-shop. In most cases, every wedding detail is arranged by the resort where you will have a wedding. Venue wedding planners can help you navigate through pre-wedding features like marriage licenses and ceremony officiants. Their services also extend to reception specifics like decoration, catering menus, and music. All you and your partner have to do is focus on yourselves and your guests.
Enjoy quality time with loved ones
As you are inviting your nearest and dearest on a mini-vacation, a destination wedding allows you and your partner to interact with them more meaningfully. Quality time is a lot more doable when everybody stays at the same resort. For example, the ceremony itself, the reception, and the honeymoon can all occur over a long weekend. To bring all revelers together, you can plan additional fun destination wedding activities such as local excursions or a beach day.
The good-time vibe
Every couple wants to have a good time at their wedding, and they want their guests to have fun, too. At a destination wedding, a good time is pretty much guaranteed. Guests are on vacation, and they are relaxed and happy already. When on the top of that you add your wedding day, it is practically impossible not to be enjoyable and fun.
Couples usually decide they want to have a destination wedding because they want more than just a wedding. They care about making it more than only a one-night event. If this resonates with you, then a destination wedding is probably one you should highly consider.
