Destination Wedding Pros & Cons

A ceremony more like a honeymoon? Pro. Telling your family you’re getting married without them? Con. See which side outweighs the other.

One of the best things about a wedding (beside’s marrying the love of your life) is having all the people you love in one room. It’s a feeling like no other. And who knows when that opportunity will arise again. For that reason, we are big fans of weddings. But a destination wedding doesn’t have to mean your family totally misses out…

What if you turned the tables? Instead of getting married in front of all your family and friends and then going solo on your honeymoon with your partner, what if you decided to travel with the love of your life, get married, and then celebrate back home with friends and family? That’s a win-win destination wedding if you ask us!

So let’s break down the pros and cons of a destination wedding! (One list may be longer than the other…)

The Pros:

Saving money

It may seem surprising if you’re thinking of having a ceremony somewhere like Greece or the Maldives (see above). But weddings, even backyard ones, typically cost more than you think. According to The Knot, a typical wedding costs $28,000. A destination wedding trip for two? About $8,300. And while having a large wedding and then going on your honeymoon is the norm, it may be worth the cost savings in more ways than one.

Another cost saver is that there’s no bridal party. So you only need one bouquet, which even allows you to splurge a little more on the one! Not to mention the large costs of lodging people and paying for dinner for tens or hundreds of people are nonexistent. Sure, you’ll still want to offer food at a reception back home, but you can opt for simple drinks and apps. And lastly, you cut down the cost of photographer time. With a traditional wedding, photographers will be there all day. With a destination wedding, the photographer is there for way less time.

Less moving parts

A wedding is chaos. Beautiful, controlled chaos. There is not a free second in the day. But with a destination wedding, your whole day is dedicated to just the ceremony. You get to take your time getting ready, you get to actually eat, and you get to spend the time after the wedding being alone with your partner relishing this gigantic moment.

The same goes for the reception. Sure, you could do it up and have an all-day party. But even then, it’s one location and no distractions to keep you from actually interacting with your guests. You could opt for a 5-9 pm reception in your own backyard. Super manageable.

More time for connection

It may sound counterintuitive, but by spreading out the ceremony and the reception into two events, you create more space for actual connection with those you love. Firstly, you get to have time alone with your partner on your wedding day. And then when you have the reception, you get to be fully involved in connecting with your family and friends. You get to fully experience those you love who have never met interacting with each other! Your favorite cousin and your partner’s college roommate might just become besties, and you get to be a part of it. And because you already had that special time with your partner, you can be fully present with your friends and family without feeling like you’re sacrificing time on a day that’s about you two as a couple. Not to mention you get more time to talk about your awesome trip!

Less family expectations

While not having your family there is a con (as you’ll soon see), there is the benefit of not having expectations of others on you on your big day. You’re in complete control—no making sure everyone’s happy, no putting out fires, no drama.

The Cons:

Missing your people

Depending on who you are and your relationship with your family, this con could feel small or it could feel really huge. Some people are so close to their family that they couldn’t imagine not having them there. On the other hand, some couples lead pretty independent lives to the point that this aspect wouldn’t outweigh the pros. But there’s no way around the fact that when you’re getting married at a destination wedding, you won’t have those you love looking on. You won’t have your dad to walk you down the aisle or your siblings to stand by your side. But before getting too bummed about that idea, remember you’d still see them all later at the reception if you opted for that route!

Lack of a sentimental location

For a lot of us, the most sentimental locations are going to be near home base. Whether it’s where you got engaged, where you bought your first home, where you went camping as a kid, or even your own back yard, we all have places we cherish. And some people feel immense hometown pride. By going elsewhere, you may feel a lack of a sentimental element. And if you and your partner are from different places, one of you might miss the chance to experience a place that’s precious to the other. While you can still have your reception at a cherished spot, it may not feel as sacred.

You still have some work to do

A destination wedding feels a lot like a honeymoon—you’re going somewhere beautiful and you get to adventure. But, you still have some planning that needs to get done. You have to plan where the ceremony will take place, take care of marriage document logistics, transport or find a local bouquet, and find a local photographer. So it isn’t entirely a honeymoon.

But before you get discouraged, remember there are wedding planners who are happy to plan a destination wedding. They’re experts at what they do and will take care of every single part. And given the smaller scope of the work, they’ll often offer cheaper packages. So, actually, we take it back—a destination wedding (planned by a wedding planner) is a honeymoon.

As you can see, there are more pros than cons when it comes to a destination wedding with an at-home reception. However, that doesn’t factor in the weight of each point. Not having your family there may be important enough to negate the whole idea. And that’s totally okay! Traditional weddings are tradition for a reason! But whether you decide to go the destination route or not, if you’re looking for wedding help please reach out. We can’t wait to be a part of making your big day happen.