8 Tips To Plan a Destination Wedding That Doesn’t Break Your Friends’ Budgets
Written by
Angela Mae
Edited by
Jenna Klaverweiden
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Many couples dream of a beach wedding or a reception held in a tropical paradise, but asking your friends and family to fly out to Bermuda — or wherever else you dream of getting married — can put a major strain on their wallets. If you’re not careful, it can also cause stress or tension within your relationships.
The last thing you need is to have to worry about everyone else’s financials or whether your favorite aunt or close friend from college will be able to attend your wedding. But you also shouldn’t have to give up your dream wedding or settle for something that doesn’t absolutely delight you.
If you want to plan a destination wedding that doesn’t break your guests’ budgets, here are some things you can do.
Plan Well in Advance
One of the best ways to ensure everyone has the means to attend your wedding is to give lots of advanced notice.
“Send out your save the dates and invites as soon as possible to be considerate of your guests,” said Anne Van Gorp, resident wedding expert at Joy.
“This allows them to take advantage of potential discounts that may exist for booking airfare and accommodations early, in addition to allowing guests to begin earmarking or saving funds over the course of many months to use towards the trip,” she said.
But just how early should you be planning your destination wedding? Jennifer Allen, a wedding specialist, officiant and CEO of Just Elope, suggested 18 months or more.
“This extended timeline allows guests to work the wedding into their budget and make smaller, more manageable payments over time rather than a large lump sum,” she said.
Take Care of the Transportation
You might not be able to pay for everyone’s airfare, but that doesn’t mean you can’t handle the local transportation.
“If budget allows, a nice gesture for your guests is arranging transportation from the wedding venue to the room block hotel(s), or even ground transportation options to/from the airport,” Van Gorp said.
Making it easier on your guests to get around is never a bad thing. This won’t fix any financial issues, but it can help with the stress of being in a new place.
Secure Group Rates
Getting group rates on things like accommodations can cut costs for both you and your guests.
“When possible, negotiate and secure room blocks at nearby properties for your guests!” Van Gorp said. “Properties are incentivized to offer a discounted rate if multiple rooms will be booked.”
Along with this, see if you can book things — like flights or accommodations — in bulk for your guests.
“Look into group discounts for flights and hotels,” said Jim Campbell, CEO of Honeymoons.com. “[W]e often coordinate with vendors to secure bulk booking rates. This can provide substantial savings which can either be passed directly to your guests or absorbed into the wedding expenses.”
Be Flexible
Unless you’re on an extremely tight schedule, try to leave some wiggle room in your schedule so that everyone has the option to accept or decline certain activities based on their interests and budget. A little bit of flexibility can also help if your guests want to arrive or depart early or late.
“Be flexible with the wedding weekend schedule to allow guests to take advantage of cheaper travel days or accommodation options,” Van Gorp said. “Understand that guests may not be able to attend a Friday welcome dinner or Sunday post-wedding brunch, and that’s okay!”
Get Married During Off-Peak Times
Of course, if you have a specific date that’s meaningful to you and your spouse-to-be, you might not be able to switch up your dates. But if you just want to have a beautiful wedding with all of your loved ones, see if you can schedule it during a less popular time.
And don’t just go with off-seasons — see if you can get a little creative with where you get married too. Just don’t sacrifice your own happiness to be overly accommodating for everyone else.
“Choose off-peak seasons for your destination wedding, as rates for flights and accommodations are usually lower during these times,” Van Gorp said. “Generally speaking, the farther you venture, the more expensive the wedding, so considering domestic locales instead of international cities could help with overall costs.”
Coordinate Expenses With Everyone
Sometimes, all it takes to cut down on costs is to find ways to share expenses. After all, why should your guests spend $100 per person on ground transportation when they could carpool with four people and pay $25 each?
“I suggest guests coordinate with other couples or groups who may be attending the wedding to share expenses such as transportation or accommodations,” Van Gorp said. “Sometimes an Airbnb rental with multiple rooms and a kitchen can allow for cost-savings around both price per night and meals.”
Have Open Communication
“Communication and empathy are essential to avoid straining relationships when inviting loved ones to your special day far from home,” said Kayden Roberts, chief marketing officer and relationship coach at Camgo. “Communicate openly and compassionately from the get-go [to] ensure guests understand what expenses they must manage.”
Having clear communication and setting realistic expectations about the financial aspects of your wedding can also prevent misunderstandings or potential resentment later on between you and your loved ones.
Go With All-Inclusive Packages
“Opting for an all-inclusive resort can help guests better anticipate the cost of the trip,” Campbell said. “These packages typically include meals, drinks and sometimes even certain activities, which means fewer surprises when it comes to spending.”
Check around for different resorts and wedding venues to see what’s offered at your destination.
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