Why I Chose NOT to Do a Destination Wedding

 First off, I have absolutely nothing against destination weddings! I think they can be beautiful and magical and definitely work for some people. That said, here are the reasons we opted to not pursue a destination wedding, despite our love of travel.

Take Guests Into Account

When planning a destination wedding, you should consider your friends and family. Some family members are elderly and not inclined to travel, others may not have the finances to make the trip. If you want your wedding to just be a few very close family members, I would talk the idea over before finalizing any plans. Who knows! Some people may be dying for a pre-organized vacation and it could be a hit.

 Convenience

 Planning a wedding is a HUGE undertaking. Trying to coordinate florists, ministers, reception halls, DJ's, caterers and more. It is a LOT of work. Having your venue be within driving distance is much easier than trying to juggle time zones and international call rates. Unless you can find a reliable on-site coordinator to help you out, it may be prove to be almost impossible! And on top of arranging the usual wedding vendors, you'll also likely be asked to make international travel arrangements for loved ones.

Less Expensive

Finally, consider the costs. On top of all the usual wedding costs, you have to include international airfare which can easily climb above $1000. It all depends on how big your ceremony and reception are, but typically, weddings are expensive even when they are local. And don't forget about currency conversion! Of course, you can also off set the costs of travel by ultimately hosting a very small, intimate ceremony and reception abroad. Smaller = usually less expensive.

Ultimately, my husband and I were really happy with our choice to stay local. We found an absolutely gorgeous venue that was like an actual castle! We decided to do the event without an organizer - or should I say paid organizer. My husband and I spent hours and hours coordinating everything ourselves, and it ultimately went really well! We had an amazing time!

If you and your fiance are considering an international wedding, I would be happy to help coordinate the travel. Check out my website at MilesIntoMemoriesTravel.com.