With “traditional” wedding costs once again on the rise more and more couples (not to mention moms and dads) are looking at Destination Weddings as a romantic and unique alternative to that “big event”. When couples sit down and really take into account what “the wedding” really entails they can see why the Destination Wedding has become so popular over the past decade. 

First you have the aforementioned $18,000 to $24,000 average cost - Let’s say our pay-your-own-way couple could get away with just $12,000 … Does that include the Rehearsal Dinner – not a chance! … Add anywhere from $350 to $3500 for the Rehearsal Dinner – let’s say they spend $1,000 … Does that include the Honeymoon – not even close! - Add anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000 (with an area average well over $4,000+) so let’s use $4,000! 

So our pay-your-own-way couple or the parents of a wedding couple can, jointly look at easily spending anywhere from $17,000 to $35,000+ once the rice and confetti clear…and that’s NOT looking at some of the more elaborate affairs that often will double these numbers! 

With all-inclusive resorts growing in sophistication and popularity over the past 20 years, the Destination Wedding has come into its own. Realizing how popular and affordable these special events can be, many of the “all-inclusives” now include a basic wedding package FOR NEARLY FREE when you and your wedding party stay at their resorts. 

If you’re not really familiar with the “all-inclusive” concept, at the better resorts it means your stay is “all-inclusive” with your accommodations, all meals (generally from at least 3 to 6 restaurants on property), all beverages (that includes everything from soft drinks, through beer, wines, champagne and all other alcoholic beverages), water and land sports (skiing, sailing, scuba, tennis, golf, et al), all tips (no tipping allowed at many of these resorts), all taxes, room service, nightly entertainment, and at some resorts you also have spa treatments included plus even laundry and dry cleaning included!

The advantage of an all-inclusive destination wedding? Well, for starters, with everyone staying on property the cost of the rehearsal dinner is INCLUDED, the cost of the wedding is INCLUDED, the cost of the reception is INCLUDED (unless you want something even more extravagant than what is usually offered at these great resorts) and then the cost of the honeymoon is…well, you’re already there, aren’t you? 

Couples generally offer friends and family options of 2-night to 7-night stays (pay your own way please) while often including in “cost of the wedding” the wedding couples travel and accommodations for at least a week, the cost of two sets of parents for 3 to 7 nights (many parents also see this as an opportunity to take a vacation or second honeymoon of their own) and either pay for their one or two best friends to travel or at least supplement the cost of the best friends trips. 

Suddenly you have a unique, romantic tropical wedding for fractions of pennies on the dollar – you can have as many friends and family as want to participate (nearly all of them at their own expense) and you will have everything planned and done for you with nearly NO STRESS and NO STRAIN on your part. This is likely why so may encore brides absolutely LOVE the idea of a destination wedding. 

If you plan far enough in advance (let’s say six months to a year) you will find many more of your friends will be able to plan vacation time around your wedding date. We see nearly as many weddings with 20 to 40 additional guests as we see the smaller 3 to 5 couple wedding party. 

What does it take to have a destination wedding?

First you want to find a great travel agent who knows FIRST HAND the destinations and resorts being offered. This same travel agent should also have extensive destination wedding experience, and it sure doesn’t hurt if the agent also knows the on-site wedding coordinators, the on-site managers, etc. SECOND, you should be able to sit back and relax – the agent and the property management will handle 99% of all your work and requests. 

Where can you go?

Well, the most popular all-inclusive destinations include Jamaica (number one by far), St. Lucia, Antigua, St. Kitts, Nassau, the Yucatan (Mexico from Cancun to Cozumel including the Mayan Coast) and then the Turks & Caicos, St. Johns and finally Fiji.

How about the most popular time to go?

June through September traditionally have the most inexpensive charter flights to many of these destinations and afford couples the opportunity to invite many more people at a much lower cost to the people invited. Following the summer months November is the next most popular time and then “high season” which runs from Christmas through Easter each year.

Where do you get married?  

Generally you will have a number of choices for the wedding ceremony. Most resorts offer you the beach, a wedding gazebo or special garden area of the property. Some resorts offer indoor facilities while one we know of has a beautiful yacht. While you can always make a selection before you go, many sites will have the wedding coordinator meet with you the day after you arrive and walk around the property with you to show you all of your choices! 

Is the marriage legal and accepted in the U.S.?

You bet it is! As long as it has been handled properly from this end (and your travel specialist should know all the requirements) and as long as you meet the basic requirements of the country or state you are getting married in, the wedding is legal and recognized in the U.S. (and as long as you are planning a wedding at one of the destinations mentioned in this article). You will have different restrictions in different countries but for the most part your paperwork needs to arrive at your resort at least 30+ days prior to the event and the wedding couple must arrive at least 2 days prior to the wedding (some destinations require “2 business days” which means weekends don’t count). 

Is a destination wedding for you?

If you think this is really a great idea STOP for a moment and start thinking about the immediate families. All too often the bride and groom think “this is the way to go” and then have an awful time with the parents who want it to remain local, or with friends who don’t feel they can afford to go. Once you believe the destination wedding is right for you make sure you discuss this with friends and family and get their input… it’s amazing how may couples are paying their own way but are pressured by family to have a wedding the way the family wants them to have it. 

Do you need additional people with you to make the wedding legal?

No, you sure don’t. Many of these resorts provide you with the officiant, witnesses, music, flowers, photography, cake and champagne as a basic FREE or almost FREE package. Optional items may include an expanded photo package, Videography, live musicians, additional flowers or floral displays, or specially prepared meals.  

What about a cruise ship?

Can we be married on a cruise?

Can we get married by the captain at sea or in a port-of-call?  

The answers are yes, no, yes or maybe! While a cruise is generally not really an all-inclusive destination (tips, shore-excursions, beverages, etc. are almost always extra) it’s close enough to add to our list in this article.

  YES you can be married on a cruise ship but you must be married BEFORE the ship sets sail from its American port of embarkation. Dozens of couples every week are allowed on their cruise ship before the rest of the passengers; they are also allowed to bring anywhere from 8 to dozens of friends and family onboard for the ceremony. Then those not taking the cruise disembark prior to sailing. These weddings are seldom free but are always very inexpensive (usually just a few hundred dollars).

  NO the captain can no longer marry you. You will have to acquire a marriage license from the state the cruise ship is leaving from (you can do this through the cruise line or your travel agent). The captain will, however, most often than not have a cocktail party for the newlyweds (shared with other newly weds on board).

YES you can get married in a number of ports-of-call but only IF you have met the requirements and made the proper plans for the wedding prior to sailing. This can be difficult and sometimes frustrating… and then there is the MAYBE… the MAYBE means that even if you plan to be married in a particular port-of-call and even if all the requirements and planning are complete and you have everything in order… well, the ship may not stop at the destination it is scheduled to stop in!!! Every year dozens of ports are by-passed or itineraries flip-flopped due to bad weather or other unusual circumstances. This cannot be predicted but does happen, which means you may have a wedding planned but just can’t get there! The smart money says “don’t plan on getting married in a port-of-call during a cruise”.

While the more traditional wedding and wedding plans still reign supreme and are unlikely to be replaced by the Destination Wedding, more and more couples are learning just how easy, hassle-free and fun a destination wedding can be. So if you are looking for something a little different, a lot easier, more cost effective, and a whole lot more fun you may want to look into the warm nights and tropical breezes-side of weddings… the Destination Wedding.  

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