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 Destination Wedding Tips
Guest Travel Costs
Making Reservations for Your Destination Wedding Guests
If you are planning a destination wedding, you'll need to think of more than just the setting for the ceremony and the reception. You will need to plan many different aspects of your wedding trip, including where your guests will stay once they've arrived at your destination, and how they'll get there (via plane, or cruise ship, etc). You'll also need to make reservations for any group outings you plan to have while at your destination, such as tours or dinners out. DestinationWeddings.com can help you to find the best rates for you and your guests (such as deciding between the wholesale rate and group rate, both of which are good in different circumstances). They can also get you in contact with the correct people at resorts and other attractions, so that you will lock in the best rates available, saving you and your guests' money.
Paying for your Destination Wedding Guests
Typically, a destination wedding guest pays his/her own way. If you give your invited guests plenty of time and notice, they'll be able to take advantage of the packages you've set up for them and hopefully attend. It is considered a nice gesture to pay for the travel costs of your wedding party, although this can be expensive, so you may just make some arrangements to pay part of the cost.
How Many Guests at Your Destination?
As most of your guests will be paying for their own accommodations and travel to and from the wedding, you may wonder how many people you should invite. Consider cost of travel, accommodations, and entertainment when making out your guest list. If you’re going to help pay for a portion of your guests’ costs, it’s a good idea to send out “Save the Date” notices well in advance of the wedding so that you can begin to budget and accommodate for your guests. For other guests who can't make the trip, or can't afford the trip to your destination, it's advisable to send an announcement after the wedding.
Cutting Guest Travel Costs
You can try to cut travel costs for your destination weddings in several ways. First, talk to your DestinationWeddings.com specialist to see about pricing for your chosen destination. He or she will be able to help you to choose the most cost-efficient places and methods of travel for your destination wedding. You can also choose to have your wedding ceremony at the beginning of a cruise (so that guests need only travel to your port of departure) or in a location that's near to where you live. If you've always wanted to get married in an exotic locale and you live in Florida, it will be cheaper for you to travel to the Caribbean than it would be to travel to Hawaii. You can also research the “off” times for your destination; if most people travel to a location in the summer months, you might choose to have your wedding there in the fall, when prices will be cheaper.
Paying for Events While at a Destination Wedding
While your guests are at your destination wedding, you will have to consider how many events and activities you are going to pay for. Besides the wedding ceremony and reception, you will probably want to take tours, have special dinners and other events before the wedding takes place. If you choose to pay for events, including tours, activities and sightseeing, be sure to let your guests know ahead of time so that you can arrange for the proper accommodations and travel based on the amount of people. It's also good to have this number for budgeting purposes. Keep in mind that some guests traveling from far away might enjoy some rest and relaxation at your destination wedding spot, so leave some time for being lazy.
How Much Should the Bride and Groom Pay?
The couple getting married is, in many cases, the ones paying for a destination wedding. More and more, the couple themselves are choosing where and how to get married, which also means that the couple takes part in paying for the wedding ceremony, wedding location, and reception after. The wedding couple is also responsible for paying for any rehearsal dinners or “required” events before the wedding. Other than those duties, the couple is not obligated to pay for travel costs or entertainment for their guests, even in a destination wedding.
Parents Paying for a Destination Wedding
The cost of a wedding is often covered in part by everyone involved. Usually, the couple pays for much of the costs, and both the bride and the grooms' families chip in. If the bride's family does end up paying for most of the cost of a destination wedding, they may not be obligated to pay for the travel costs (and other expenses) of the groom's family - they are to be treated as any other guests.
Please Remember:
Destination weddings take considerable planning and research, and the best properties & accommodations often book far in advance of the wedding date.
The earlier you begin planning your wedding, the greater the likelihood you will be able to book the perfect property for you and your guests.
Start Planning your Destination Wedding Today.
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