Destination wedding invite etiquette

I would find it rude to receive something that basically said "reserve this date for my wedding, btw, this is how much it's going to cost you." Even if you did decide to do this, it's not going to help your calculations or RSVPs as guests aren't going to RSVP to a save the date. I would send save the dates as normal and include your wedding website where all of the travel details can be found.

I went to a DW and they basically told us to contact their travel agent for the resort prices.. we ended up going with their travel agent because it was cheaper. Now that I’m having my DW I also decided to go with a travel agent because I don’t want to deal with guests asking me questions on booking and transfers.. I decided to txt everyone last month the rate for a single occupancy or double and the type of room. Once I send my save the dates I will include my wedding website and in the web I have the breakdown and the information to book it through my travel agent with that special rate, which is way cheaper.. I don’t think I would include them on the Save the dates because people will have follow up questions.

is the $1,200 single occupancy for a week? And $850 double? Just curious why the single occupancy is more $$ compared to double.. where is your DW at?

I think what you can do is send save the dates with a link to your website and just direct them there for additional travel information. Or as PP have said you can direct them to contact your travel agent.

Do they all have to stay stay at the hotel? You can always give them the hotel you will be at, but then fine one or two other hotels close by in some of the smaller price points. I attended a destination wedding once at the Sandals Royal Bahamian in Nassau. Not everyone was able to stay there, but the couple was able to secure guest passes for those at different hotels.

Ehh yeah, this seems uncalled for. You can provide helpful links (hotel website, closest airport etc), but there is no one way to travel so your guests should be free to sort that out themselves— 1200$ for a hotel is outrageously expensive so some might look for cheaper accommodations, which is absolutely within their right! So, best left to your guest.
Also for what it’s worth, RSVPs come after the invite, but the save the date , so I don’t think this would really have the desired effect

Sorry *NOT the save the date, not “but the save the date”

I agree with ASMini914. You can create a wedding website to house all this information. FH and I received a STD for a DW and the website link was on there. They had a very easy to understand cost breakdown via travel agent package on there. They also created a Facebook group and sent reminders about when booking for the agent was due.

I agree with some of the other posters! I think its great to inform your guests prior to them committing to something financially. I would definitely not just breakdown the cost for them. If I got a cost breakdown I would be overwhelmed and my likelihood of going would be small. I think if you give them a website or contact person that they can call to receive more information on pricing that would be your best way to go! Then you aren't the one breaking down the cost for them, someone else is!

View Quoted Comment I love the suggestion of the Facebook group... I’m not working with a travel agent, so beyond added the information to my wedding website I think I’ll have to field all questions. I’m using a wedding coordinator but I’m only using for them for partial service and this isn’t one...

View Quoted Comment I’m getting married in Puerto Rico and I’m not working with a travel agent so I can’t direct potential guest to them. Someone suggested a Facebook group page to keep people updated (I’m definitely going to do that). I do have a wedding coordinator unfortunately, they are only providing partial services and this isn’t one.
Im going to look for other hotel accommodations within a 15 mile radius and add that information to both the wedding site and the Facebook group page I’ll create.
The single occupancy is more expensive because the guest would cover the hotel rate and all related cost by themselves vs. the ability to at least split the hotel rate in ½ ($226 + $35 resort fee a night @ 3 nights $783.00) by themselves and the estimated cost of a round trip flight to the island is $275-$300. Lastly airport transportation to resort $69 1 way.

View Quoted Comment Hi Valerie!
where are you having your destination wedding?

View Quoted Comment Thanks for the suggestion and I agree $1200 for 3 nights 4 days is outrageous 😩 I’m working overtime trying to get the rates lower and that’s the rates with “room block special rate”

View Quoted Comment Hi Tiffany,

Puerto Rico

View Quoted Comment San Juan, Puerto Rico

View Quoted Comment Good luck! That will be a great way to keep guests updated. You can create an initial group with all those invited and then if there is a need to still share information closer to the wedding you can create another group with only those who have RSVP'd yes.

My Travel agent sent out our save the dates and it included prices. I personally would have have included it if I sending them myself though.

View Quoted Comment I just mean, if there are cheaper local hotel options, some of your guests might seek those out. It’s fine to have the wedding and block at the fancy resort , but there will be people who want to come and save money. When we had friends who got married at a Four Seasons hotel, the rooms they blocked there were $400/night 😳. If we were feeling fancy, we may have sprung for it, they had many family members that did...but we did a little research and found a nice cheap hotel a little ways away. We knew we’d have to spend a little extra on transportation, but was well worth it, and allowed us to attend the wedding without breaking the bank. So I guess my point was, giving the guests those numbers makes it seem like it’s their only option, but there are ways people could attend the wedding without spending so much, so that’s up to them to feel out. I’ve also attended weddings where I sprang for the resort to be right in the middle of the action and have an indulgent vacation, but that not always the way I can roll haha.

AGree with McSkipper, and would add if your resort charges a fee for people staying elsewhere, the bride and groom should pay that

View Quoted Comment

I agree with this - send a save the date with a website address. If people ask you about cost direct them to the website.

If it makes you feel better about cost, my brothers wedding was $4K for two of us to go to Mexico. My family stayed offsite and ended up paying $100 a day per couple to attend and my brother didn't pay for that. Upon reading this, I really think they should have but...

Have you thought of getting a travel agent? This will make it so much easier for you and your guests especially when traveling out of the country.

View Quoted Comment Puerto Rico is in the US. It’s not out of
the country. I wanted to cut cost where needed and a travel agent I think will be an added wasted cost 😏