The Ultimate Guide to All-Inclusive Destination Weddings

All-Inclusive Destination Weddings: Other Things to Consider

• Are All-Inclusive Resort Weddings Cheaper?
  All-inclusive destination weddings are often much cheaper than traditional weddings. With a traditional wedding, you'll pay separately for your ceremony venue, reception venue, catering, drinks, decorations, music, officiant, and sometimes even table and chair rentals and linen rentals. These costs often add up quickly, especially if you invite lots of guests.
  
  With a destination wedding, it's common for the guest list to be smaller, as many friends and family members may choose not to travel or be unable to travel for your wedding. Destination weddings are typically smaller than 30 guests, and can even be as small as just the couple or the couple and a few close family members. Additionally, with a destination wedding, you often book a wedding package that includes all of your different needs for your big day. Not only are these conveniently packaged together through your resort, but they are often available at a discount since you are a guest of the resort.
  
  While destination weddings may typically be cheaper than traditional weddings, the more customizations you choose or guests you invite, the more that cost can climb.
• Who Pays for an All-Inclusive Destination Wedding?
  There are a lot of traditions around who pays for what part of a wedding. But with a destination wedding, this can be a little different. 
  
  Families looking to stick to tradition may opt for the parents of the couple to pay for the wedding package. But often, the couple will pay for their resort stay, and sometimes even their wedding package. They will also pay for their own travel to and from their destination.
  
  Because guests are also getting a vacation, they will often pay for their own resort stay and travel. They will not pay for any of the wedding expenses, outside of their own clothing. Some couples opt to forgo wedding gifts from their guests, as they're asking that their guests pay to travel to their wedding instead.
  
  No matter how you choose to divide costs, it's important to communicate with your family and friends well in advance to avoid any confusion. Let your guests know what their resort stay and travel are likely to cost, and let them know that you understand if they are unable to attend.
• How Much Should Guests Pay for an All-Inclusive Destination Wedding?
  Inviting guests to your destination wedding can be a little tricky. You might have an idea in your head of what you want to spend on your resort stay for your wedding. But you might not know what is or isn't in the budget for your family and friends. If you're worried that paying to attend could be a problem, you could look for more affordable resorts in areas that are less expensive to travel to. You can also look for resorts that offer group discounts on room bookings.
  
  Make sure that you are clear with your guests from the start about what you expect them to pay for. While they may know that they need to pay for their travel and resort stay, if you expect them to pay for excursions that you're doing as a group or meals outside of your wedding event, make sure that you're clear about that upfront.
  
  Keep in mind that traveling to another country for your wedding or booking a resort stay might not be financially possible for some guests. You could opt to plan a get-together or small reception after returning home to allow guests who are unable to travel to your wedding to still celebrate with you.