Destination wedding

We are having one. The only people who live in the area we picked are my FH's parents. While it definitely sucks that people won't be able to make it, we were in the unique position that most everyone would have had to traveled no matter where we held it. I think it's important to discuss with your VIP people and ensure they can make it, and if you are okay with something smaller and more intimate, then go for it.

It really depends on your priorities. Destination weddings can be lovely, but it was important to us that all (or most) of our loved ones could attend.

I never cared for the destination wedding myself, mainly because I come from a really poor family, and if I were to do that, most of my closest people would not be able to make it. We work hard, and all are employed, it's just the kind of cost that my people would not be able to afford. We make enough to support ourselves and our families, just not the kind of "extras" that come with a destination wedding. Also, I've been invited to a couple of destination weddings (by cousins), and had to decline, because the cost of getting there was more than I could afford.

I'm even missing my brother's wedding in a few months, because I can't afford $1000 to make the trip. He's very understanding about that, but it sucks for me to not be there. I was there the first time he got married, because he had it locally.

So, I'm not a big fan. But I also believe that every couple should do what's best for them. So, if your dream is a destination wedding, go for it!!!

Depends on what you mean by destination. We got married in a city where very few of our guest list lived, but it was within 2-3 hours from everyone - we were trying to centralize.

I'm not a fan of a traditional destination wedding (going to Mexico, top of a mountain, etc - when you're from nowhere near there). It is such a huge ask of your guests to get to the airport, pay for longer flights, and essentially pay to take a vacation that they don't get to pick or plan. It's often cheaper for the couple getting married precisely BECAUSE it's more expensive for everyone else.

I think those could be really cool. It's like a vacation and wedding all in one but for me it was more important for us to be able to have everyone too

Ours wasn't a "destination" but it was in Denver and more than 50% of our guest list was out of state (including my entire family and 8/9 of my bridesmaids). We sent out save the dates 10 months out, offered affordable hotel options, helped guests make travel plans, etc. We obviously got more "no" responses than if it was closer to some guests, but we expected that and were so happy with our big day.

Thank you everyone

You have to decide what's important to you. A destination or more family/friends being in attendance. Also, DW's aren't necessarily less expensive. It's a big ask of your guests, so those who do show should be hosted well. I think having one really depends on the reasons why. For example I have a nephew getting married in 2021. He's from IL and his fiancé is from CA. They both now live in TX. There will be extensive travel regardless of where they hold it, so they decided on Vegas. Everyone in our family understands their reasoning and those who can afford it will attend. If having family and friends be there for you is important, then why not have your wedding locally and take your honeymoon at the place you wanted to have your DW at?

We are doing a DW were getting married in Myrtle beach. With that being said when we decided on that our guest list went from almost 100 people to 25. We picked it because my FH and his family has never been to the beach, and with my mother being from Florida i went every year.

Like most people said it is usually more expensive on the guest, which for us it isnt nearly as bad on our guest, since it is only a 10 hour drive and we are only requiring out little bit of guest to provide their own way there we are paying for a house for everyone to stay in. But that is because 25 people literally includes our siblings, parents, and one set of grandparents each. (Both of us are only close to one set of our grandparents)

But when we get home we are doing a cook out to celebrate our marriage with all of our family that 'wasn't invited' (most of his family is pretty bad off and he has way to many family memebers.)

So like everyone said it is up to you. I would weigh out the pros and cons for each. Ours is cheaper because what we are paying for a week at the beach for everyone we would barely find a venue for in Kentucky

For a lot of people, their family is so scattered that anywhere is a destination. In that case, it may not matter whether the place is a destination to the two of you, so long as it is not in a high cost area or require foreign travel.

However, if pretty much everyone is local, or if you're thinking about a high cost area or one in a foreign country, I'd be wary. You do tend to cut your guest list, which may lower the cost for you--but only by raising the cost for everyone else. It also means that the people who are there are not typically the ones who are most important to you. Rich Uncle Henry can be there, but your sister the poor college student can't.

If the idea is to cut costs, you can do that by simply inviting fewer people, rather than choosing a destination wedding. That way, the smaller crowd is the ones you most want, rather than the ones who can afford to be there. You can still take your honeymoon in any destination you like.

We did it and are so happy we did. Our guests said they loved the venue and enjoyed the wedding and their mini vacation. A few people couldn’t make it but overall the people we wanted were able to make it.

We are having a destination wedding in the Riviera Maya. We just got engaged and only were able to give our guests 3 months notice. We are having a much larger turnout than expected. We're so excited! It is a little stressful planning from so far. But, it's gonna be worth it!