Who said Destination Weddings are more expensive? Everything you need to know about planning your Destination Wedding; Tips from The Eventeur

Mar 5

The number one question asked when it comes to wedding planning is often about the investment required to make your dream day a reality. That’s why we teamed up with The Eventeur, one of North America’s leading destination wedding planners, to debunk any myths and clarify the do’s and don'ts of hosting a destination wedding, and the effect it may have on your piggy bank.

First of all, who is The Eventeur?

The Eventeur is a destination wedding concierge consisting of a team of award winning, destination wedding planners and full service certified travel agents. The Eventeur offers custom tailored travel management and design-savvy planning services to North American couples who wish to get married abroad.

Q&A with The Eventeur about your destination wedding!

515: We have had the pleasure of working on many destination weddings together! Where have been some of your favorite destinations to plan weddings at?

The Eventeur: Mexico consistently stands out as a preferred choice for our destination wedding clients. It encompasses numerous unique destinations, each with distinct characteristics. (Check out our blog about why Mexico could be the perfect destination for your wedding here.)

Another option that we simply adore is Casa de Campo, in the Dominican Republic. It is another favorite, especially for couples seeking a European ambiance closer to home.

515: What destinations are the most cost effective for a destination wedding?

The Eventeur: I’ll give you a summary below of the 3 categories we find destination weddings fall in and will list them in order of least to most expensive:

All-inclusive resort for guests accommodations + an on-resort wedding – this is typically in locations such as Riviera Maya, Puerto Vallarta, Cabo, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, as well as a few other Caribbean Islands. Generally speaking, this is the least expensive on the spectrum given clients are not looking for a ton of add-ons. Once they do begin adding a lot of extras and outside vendors, their cost can grow. Budgeting in this scenario is more so a variant between resort to resort vs. destination to destination.
All-inclusive resort for guests accommodations + off-site wedding venue – this could be a private villa, restaurant, beach club or wedding venue. The added benefits of this route include privacy, flexibility and the opportunity for personalization. This option also allows clients to choose an accommodation option that works best for guests’ travel budget without having to consider the resort’s wedding venue options. This combination has the most variability in terms of budget but allows them the most customization. A general rule of thumb is the more ‘saturated’ the destination, the higher the pricing in this case.
Lastly, a non-all inclusive property for guests accommodations as well as wedding events. Potentially, this is the most expensive of the three scenarios and a big deciding factor on the total cost will be based on venue, food and bar. That being said, this allows our clients to customize their entire wedding experience.

515: What's the biggest piece of advice you can offer a couple who is planning their destination wedding?

The Eventeur: Highlight the importance of thoughtfully choosing their venue, focusing not only on wedding events but also on guest accommodations. Consider engaging the expertise of a professional destination wedding planning team (like us, hi there!) prior to making their choice. Ultimately, the destination plays a pivotal role in creating the ideal setting, and ensuring they’ve considered all aspects during the venue selection process will make their planning journey more enjoyable.

515: What is the proper etiquette for hosting a destination wedding? What costs should hosts consider covering for their guests?

The Eventeur: If needed, transportation to and from the wedding venue should always be provided. Depending on the type of accommodations, airport transportation may be covered by guests, but should be convenient and simple to arrange with a group rate. Typically, at minimum, one event in addition to the wedding should also be hosted. For example, a welcome party or a group excursion.

515: When asking guests to travel for a destination wedding, is it polite to recommend no gifts?

The Eventeur: Yes and no. This really is a personal choice but it is generally customary to give a wedding gift, even at a destination wedding however the size of gift may be modified due to the travel expenditure.

515: What are some costs that sometimes surprise couples who choose to have destination weddings?

The Eventeur: Great question! No one likes last minute surprises.. The two things that should always be considered are inclement weather accommodations, i.e. a rain plan, and any local legal requirements or permits to ensure compliance with the latest regulations of the country they are getting married in.

515: What are the benefits of not using a resort or local photographer and bringing an experienced wedding photographer to a destination wedding?

The Eventeur: A destination wedding photographer brings a unique perspective to both the venue and the destination. Opting for a destination wedding photographer not only adds a fresh and distinctive touch but also opens up the possibility of capturing more than just the wedding day. Many couples choose the destination route to savor time with friends over several days and having a photographer present allows them to consistently capture the essence of the entire experience. Further, it is also critically important to consider a photographers' style, editing, turn-around times, language barriers and ease of ordering prints and albums. For these reasons, we will always recommend 515, no matter the location!