Destination Weddings- What are your thoughts, Are they easier?

If you get married in a foreign country it's ALWAYS a better idea to get married here first (if you're planning on living here, that is.....) . It's easier, every time you need it, it's in English, you don't have to worry about blood tests or translating things. We do dozens of these every year.

I'm planning my wedding in Playa del Carmen, and I cannot wait. Guests are paying 1775 CAD/double room all inclusive with flights from Vancouver (cheaper from Toronto and Calgary. And more or less depending if they have 3 or 1 to a room). We are working with Sandos and staying in their Playacar resort. We debated between several hotels and preferred the beach (and the gym for FH) of this one. We looked at Jamaica, British Virgin Iles, and other Caribbean countries, but Mexico was the best for our money.

Going in, we thought we'd save money, but with the Canadian dollar being so low, we aren't saving as much as we hoped. That said, we are having 20-30 people fly from across Canada to celebrate with us. We decided on a DW for two reasons: one, FH wanted to elope and this was a compromise, and two because FHs family is out east, and mine is out west, people would be travelling regardless of where we did it (and flying within Canada isn't cheap hahaha and then add hotel and food...) so it made sense for us. At this point I'm most upset that my grandma can't make it (health reasons), and my best friend is unsure (totally understandable, but it still sucks), but we are doing a reception 6 weeks later out west in our hometown.

Finding vendors is through the hotel, although we went with a different photographer, which added the vendor fee or three nights at the hotel (she had to stay two anyway) so we didn't add that part at the beginning (although still cheaper than flying someone from Canada for 3 nights). So our photographer is probably the biggest expense (it was my most important thing after the wedding itself, and FHs second most important thing after the open bar!). Our VIPs are super excited -my mom has never even had a passport! And spending a week with some of my most favourite people is the cherry on top of getting married to my best friend!

The other thing to mention is that the hotel/vendors I have been in touch with are on a different time than us...which they call "island time". If you are like me and a little more Type A, not getting answers right away can be frustrating. But I was warned going in, and FHs aunt is our travel agent, so if I can't get something answers, usually it's a quick email to her that helps.

Sorry for the run on sentence. On mobile and it doesn't appreciate my paragraph breaks!

Alietta would you mind telling me what resort you went to? I was thinking the Dominican for my DW and $1500 for a couple seems like an awesome price!

@Chrissy4985 I would definitely suggest having a symbolic ceremony at the resort instead of having your legal ceremony. This will cut costs and restrictions for you. As you said, a blood test is required in Mexico as well as translations, birth certificates, translations back into English, and you and your witness will need to arrive at the resort 3-4 full business days in advance depending on the state. Other countries have less restrictions, but, overall, it is much easier to get legally married at home before/after your ceremony at the resort.