Many couples choose a destination wedding for the beauty and romance. In these tight times, everyone, even brides, are looking for ways to save money, while still throwing their dream wedding. The great news is that a destination wedding can be an excellent way to trim your wedding budget and still have an extraordinary and magical wedding. By planning ahead and selecting your destination wisely, you can save thousands on your destination wedding, and still throw a memorable and beautiful wedding.
Wedding size: First, destination weddings tend to be about 30% smaller than traditional weddings. This allows destination wedding couples to invest in little extras for their guests, such as wedding favors and welcome gifts, while still spending less than a traditional wedding. Some couples are even inviting very few guests to their destination wedding, and then hosting a simple reception at home to celebrate with a larger group. This can be an excellent way to save money and still share in the excitement of the moment.
Location and timing: Every bride knows that wedding costs can vary widely based on the wedding location and time of year. This is especially true for a destination wedding. It is smart to consider travel costs when selecting your wedding location. Consider getting married off-season for your particular destination. For instance, September – November are less popular tourism months in Hawaii and Mexico, which means hotels and flights will usually be less expensive during these months than during the peak in January – March. Also, some destination wedding locations are inherently less expensive locales than others. For example, Anguilla tends to be very luxurious with mostly ultra-exclusive hotel and villas or restaurant options. In contrast, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Aruba have a good mix or both luxury and mid-range hotels, and have a wider budget range for restaurants and activities. By selecting a more moderately priced island, you will be able to save money on both your travel and your wedding.
Packages: Today, most hotels in destination wedding locations such as the Caribbean, Hawaii, and Mexico, offer wedding packages. These often include reduced prices for hotel rooms as well as complete wedding ceremony and reception packages. A package can make planning your wedding simple and can save you money by including all the essentials, like musicians, photography, and a wedding officiant. But, make sure you look into each package to understand what is included and what is extra. Many wedding packages include non-essential extras, such as a commemorative wedding certificate. Ask if you can customize your package to remove any non-essential items or items that you can provide yourself, such as local flowers for your wedding bouquet.
Do it yourself: Finally, if you have the time, there are a number of wedding elements that you can do yourself. Here are a few common examples and ideas to get you started:
- “Save the dates” – Send postcards picturing your wedding location announcing your wedding. These save money on postage and get your guests excited for your wedding.
- Welcome gifts – Wait until you arrive at your destination and head to the local CostCo or novelty store. Stock up on local favorites and beach essentials, and put in a plastic beach pail with your wedding date written on the outside.
- Music – Create two IPod mixes, one for the ceremony and one for the reception. Bring your own IPod speakers and save thousands compared to a band or DJ.
Destination weddings don’t have to cost a fortune. Learn practical money saving tips to plan the beach or island wedding of your dreams, without breaking the bank
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