Your wedding day will be special regardless of where you go or who you invite. But what if you could experience that same wedding magic with wondrous views, tasty local food, and blissful weather? Allow us to introduce the many reasons to have a destination wedding.
Think of a place you’ve always wanted to visit. Now picture exchanging your vows there, surrounded by friends and family.
Pretty epic, right?
Whether that’s on a beach, against a historic backdrop or in front of a breathtaking waterfall — your destination wedding plans are only limited to your imagination.
Let’s explore why a destination wedding could be just the experience you’ve been looking for.
1. Get more intimate time together with your fav people
The pressure of putting together your guest list can be one of the more frustrating parts of planning your wedding. By deciding on a destination wedding, you can curate your guest list to include as little or as many people as you’d like. This means if you want something a little smaller, you may simply want to include those most important to you.
2. Extend your celebration to days or weeks
Destination weddings are essentially your wedding day and a holiday rolled into one. People planning this kind of wedding often extend their celebrations over several days, allowing attendees to relish every moment.
3. Immerse yourselves in a sense of place
If your wedding location is ripe with tradition and culture, why not try to infuse your celebration with elements of it. By including the unique ideas, music and cuisine of your destination, you’ll create something that is both respectful of your location and an unforgettable experience for everyone.
4. Unique local entertainment options
Fire dancers in Fiji. Local cooking classes in Vietnam. Martial arts in Thailand. Even fireworks displays on the oceanfront could all be options of things to include in your wedding that have a real local feel.
5. Stretch your budget further
“Aren’t destination weddings super pricey?” we hear you ask. Not necessarily.
Contrary to what you might expect, they are often more cost-effective than a traditional wedding. Your budget might go further depending on the location due to favourable exchange rates and affordable local services.
In Bali, for example, you’ll likely spend less on food and beverage costs for your group than in Sydney. Likewise, you’ll probably have a slimmed-down guest list, which offers tremendous benefit to our budget.
6. Gorgeous wedding photos
Whether it’s an evening sunset on the beach in Fiji, historic temples in Thailand, or the flora and fauna of your chosen location, the photo backdrops of destination weddings offer many opportunities.
7. The ceremony you really want
Always had your mind on a beach wedding ceremony? While you may not be as excited about your local beach options, heading to a destination that’s known for its beaches really sets things in the right direction for a beach wedding.
Plus, depending on the location, you might be able to have your destination wedding in a location with predictably sunny, warm weather. Extra points for that!
8. You can really treat your guests to an experience
Remember when planning your wedding day, many of your guests won’t have experienced a destination wedding before. This means they’ll likely see it as a short holiday and a chance to explore a new place and create their own memories. And all thanks to you!
9. It’s a chance to go on a big adventure
For couples with a sense of adventure, a destination wedding is an opportunity to embark on a new journey together. Whether exploring local landmarks, indulging in exciting activities, or simply enjoying the scenery, every moment becomes part of your love story.
10. Skip the work and relax, relax, relax
Unlike a lot of traditional weddings, which require organising a lot of different services yourself, destination weddings are different. It’s much easier to bundle together all your suppliers and your venue into one package.
11. Connect with your location
Many people who enjoy their destination wedding form a kinship with their chosen location, often revisiting it during special anniversaries. A lifelong connection like this means that by re-visiting it, you can relive the memories of your wedding over and over.
12. Slide right into the honeymoon
Many couples choose to extend their celebrations or treat their destination wedding as a short break. Well, why not take things a step further and use the location to transition into your honeymoon seamlessly. You’re already in a romantic setting, so why not make the most of it!
13. The possibility of going with an exclusive-use venue
Doesn’t it feel good when a holiday or break feels like it’s just for you? You’ll find that in planning a destination wedding, the exclusivity of the setting will deliver this feeling in spades. Weddings like this often provide an exclusive setting, allowing you to celebrate with your nearest and dearest in an environment that feels private, intimate and something you can call your own.
14. Create unforgettable memories
Why do people choose destination weddings? Well, that’s easy. They want an epic experience to celebrate their love. But most of all, they want to make memories.
So get thinking. Where have you and your partner always wanted to travel to? Close your eyes and imagine the sights, smells and sounds. Now imagine getting married there. If this fills you with happy thoughts, it’s time to start planning your destination wedding.