It?s easy to assume that destination weddings simply have to be expensive: after all, they generally imply airfare, lodging, meals, and ground transportation at the very least. However, if having a destination wedding makes the most sense for you (for instance, if all of your guests will be traveling somewhere anyway because they are spread-out), flip the script on your mindset. Here’s how to use advanced planning and thoughtful considerations to make your destination wedding an affordable, if still luxurious, experience.
Plan Ahead (and Invite Ahead!)
You may have heard that save-the-dates and invitations should only be sent a certain time before the wedding, but in the case of a destination wedding, send those save-the-dates and invites as soon as you lock in your details. The longer people have to plan, the cheaper the accommodations and flights will be for them, and the easier it is to get time off of work, too. Planning ahead is almost always a more affordable option than a last-minute choice to fly to Tahiti. As you begin planning your wedding, consider taking advice from a local wedding planner in the area, and get them to help you keep the destination wedding glitz and glamour to a minimum. After all, you are picking a beautiful location, so there shouldn?t be as much need for frills and decorations to make the wedding incredibly memorable. Obviously, spend on whatever you want, but any money you can save in your general wedding budget can be used to make the...