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The Million Dollar Question, Answered By The Experts

What’s The Cost of a Destination Wedding?

 

It may be different seasons around the globe but it’s definitely raining destination weddings everywhere in the world! The past couple of years were a big setback for couples who had to hold off on their plans to get married. But now the desire to have a destination wedding has bounced back with double the intensity.

 

The Average Cost Of A Destination Wedding

 

A destination wedding is certainly a special way to celebrate your love, but there are several factors that go into consideration that you need to carefully consider. We asked over 100 wedding planners from across the globe to find out how much an average wedding costs in different parts of the world.

While many elements might go into determining whether you should have a destination wedding, like the location, the number of days, the number of events, the local currency exchange rate, the time of year, the number of guests, and more, the average destination wedding cost is $50,000.

 

 

Jacqueline Vazquez from Lifetime Events by Jacqueline, USA says- ” The cost of a destination wedding depends highly on several factors starting with the location, the number of guests, and style. My clients are looking to create an experience for their wedding, and that experience is different for everyone. There are couples who are looking for a unique experience, and others who are looking for an all-inclusive experience. Determine the average costs including fine-tuning what the couple is truly looking for as they identify the ultimate wedding experience they want for themselves and their guests.”

Giving some more insights on the cost, Chris DW Houwer from Recrea Service & Consulting SL, Spain tells: “The cost of a (destination) wedding can be divided into 2 parts:
* A fixed part, regardless of the number of persons attending to cover costs such as wedding sets, ceremony, and photographers.
* The cost per person covers mostly catering.

So this way, we can ideally divide the cost into:

1. Experience
2. Location
3. Number of guests
4. Style
5. Food and Beverage

“The cost of a destination wedding varies depending on the number of guests, the destination itself, and of course the style. A wedding hosted in a hotel may cost less than a castle wedding, as well as an upscale venue can have a huge exclusive use fee.” Says Suita Carrano, Prestige & Luxury Weddings by Sposa Mediterranea from Italy.

“The average cost of a destination can vary so widely! It can depend on location, length of the events hosted and time of year. With that in mind, we most commonly see destination wedding clients spending ~$1500 – $3000++ per guest on their hosted events (welcome party, ceremony & reception, and send-off). This figure is determined by the overall investment of the weekend divided by the number of attending guests (= cost per guest). This would not include covering the cost of their travel (airfare or car rentals) or their lodging, so it could most definitely grow from there.” Adds Maureen Renée, a wedding planner from USA.

The answer lies in the budget limit, according to Michele Durpetti, a US-based wedding planner. “It really depends on the kind of wedding the couple is designing and what is included in the budget. For example, are travel expenses for loved ones included as well? Are accommodations included? All of these decisions will impact the budget as much as guest count and location will impact the cost as well.”

 

Picture Courtesy: @oliverflyphotography

What Influences the Cost of a Destination Wedding?

 

Wedding planners collectively list this as one of the biggest influences when deciding to go for a destination wedding- Location.

“The place of destination (there are border costs, center costs, etc). The type and offering of providers in the locality: If it is a location that has very few suppliers, who are good of course and who fulfill your expectations vs. what you need for the integral design of your wedding, it is likely that as any law of supply and demand, the costs may be a little higher than normal. This is where the comparison among providers will become a must Wedding Planners task, to see what is better: working with those providers or, taking your trusted providers directly to the Destination and verifying estimated costs. And of course, as in any wedding, it finally will depend on the type of production you wanna get, live and experience at your wedding, along with your guests.” Highlights Evelyn Paz, Founder of Event Flow by Evelyn Paz from Mexico. 

Jossy Quezada, a wedding planner from Peru emphasizes the importance of location. She tells- ” The first thing to consider in destination wedding planning is finding the location. I think the cost totally depends on the location and the experience you want to share with your guests. Something that you have to keep in mind is that this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and your guests will have higher expectations. Don’t let the Pinterest wedding of your dreams ruin your wedding vision based on budget and number of guests.”

Highlighting the impact that COVID had on the wedding world, Nancy Barkley, Founder of Honeymoons and Get-A-Ways, USA shares “There are many factors that influence the cost of a destination wedding. 2022 is a huge year for weddings due to postponements and cancellations. Delays in shipping, staff shortages, supply shortages and sickness from COVID are contributing to the costs. The size of the guest list, the venue chosen, venue accessories, decorations flowers, and the time chosen (high season vs. low season, weekday vs. weekend) Then the products and services the couple chooses ranging from the dress, tuxedo, entertainment, hair makeup, food and beverage, photographer, wedding planner, the list go on.”

“The place of the wedding plays the highest role in determining whether a couple would opt for a destination wedding or not, collectively agree Maria Luisa from Ambito Eventos, El Salvador; Natalia Moisienko from Chic Weddings & Events, Mexico; Kaveri Vij, Founder of Designer Events Inc. from India; and Siobhan Craven-Robins, a wedding coordinator from UK.

 

Guest List

The bigger the size, the higher the costs. That’s the golden rule. Jamie Chang, Mango Muse Events, USA shares “As with any wedding, the size of the wedding will influence the cost and that applies to destination weddings as well. The couple themselves also highly influence the costs of a destination wedding. Their style, tastes and desires for the wedding will all play into the costs and budget. But one of the biggest influences is the location. Wedding costs differ not only within a country but within an area of that country. And then of course wedding costs can drastically differ depending on the country you choose. Things like exchange rates and service charges (geared at tourists) will also play a big factor in the cost of a destination wedding and those are all location-specific. And then if you’re planning and hosting additional events outside of the destination wedding (which most do) or covering travel expenses for guests, those choices and what you plan and choose to cover will influence the total cost for the wedding.”

Consider talent availability! Rahul Kumar, Founder of Vivaah Celebrations from UAE sheds light on the budget and availability of vendors while going for a destination wedding. “The air travel costs, accommodation costs, and on-ground logistics costs are some of the key factors that can influence a destination wedding budget. In addition to this, the availability of talent at the destination is a big difference-maker. If the destination is chosen as a remote and unique destination, then you may need to source talent from other cities or countries which can further increase costs. It is highly recommended to prepare an Estimated Budget Sheet before exploring any destination for a wedding to get an indication of expenses to expect before committing to a destination.”

The guest count greatly influences the cost of a destination wedding.

Sileola Bello from Rae Affairs, USA lists it down for us to make it simpler.

1. Guest count: How many guests intend to have for your wedding greatly impacts your bottom line cost for your wedding whether it is a destination wedding or not, but it is especially true for a destination wedding if you are covering any travel or accommodation cost for your guests. Even if you are not covering the cost for travel and accommodation, with a destination wedding you are most times not only having the wedding day food and beverage to cover but you are also covering pre and post-wedding events such as a welcome party, a post-wedding brunch, a fun activity, etc and all of these costs add up very quickly when you consider the number of guests you are inviting and will have to cover food and beverage of all the various events you have associated with the wedding.

2. Vendors: Depending on the destination location selected, you will want to have a plan for if you will be using local vendors at the destination or flying in your preferred vendors from around the world. It is not uncommon for couples to fly in a photographer, videographer, DJ and sometimes a makeup artist. If you are flying in a significant number of vendors this choice could impact your cost because you will have to cover transportation and accommodation.

3. Decor: There is an unspoken assumption that because it is a destination wedding the decor and flowers should cost less. Depending on your selected destination and also depending on the type of decor you want, the cost of florals can also influence the cost of a destination wedding.


Tracey Manailescu from Tracey M Events, Canada
suggests asking these questions to yourself to make it easier: Ask Yourself:

Will it be at a resort or a private villa?
Will there be multi-day events, excursions and experiences for the couple and their guests?
How much of the budget will go towards décor and catering?
Will the venue and lodging be at a popular tourist location, or will it be off of the beaten path and somewhere over the top (Thailand, Spain, Croatia, Romania or Cambodia)?

“Depending on the destination but generally includes the ratio of furniture rental, decoration, lodging of hosts and guests, coordination of the entire event, bride and groom assistant, room decoration, preparation of the wedding day, DJ, food and drink, wedding cake, stylist, makeup artist and much more.  The number of guests, the country, the venue, the desires of the customers and the important points for them for their wedding. e.g., having more than one reception, more expensive catering, photographer, videographer, the service of a wedding designer, the stationery, the wines, and spirits, the olfactory ambiance, and yet an infinity of details.” Describes Agrevett Soldevilla, AS Detalles, Dominican Republic.

“The first and most important thing is to hire a Destination Wedding Planner. They will send you all the information about vendors and venues, she makes the negotiations and coordinates everything to make a successful and unforgettable wedding. The guests’ number, if the reception will be held in a historic monument or a specific luxury venue; the catering, if the menu is a buffet or a served plate, the different kinds of liquor available in the bar; the inspiration for decoration and the photographer.” Advices Fenny Torres, a renowned event planner from Guatemala. 

The kind of decor you want is also a game-changer.

“In our case: venue decoration (if the couple wishes extra floral arrangements) or extra guests (we need to arrange seatings for all guests at the beach for instance), and the choice of the food for the party! Some can enjoy the barbecue buffet, and some wish for gourmet catering.” Tells Lena Hansen, Nordic Adventure Weddings, Denmark.

“The date, the venue, the wedding pros selected, and the decoration. Also, what entertainment do you want to have: a DJ, a live band, or specialty vendors (cigar roller, fireworks, etc.).” Adds Dora Thillet from Puerto Rico.

“Choice of luxury hotel with food and beverages, international travel cost, decor and technical equipment for event entertainment.” Adds Atul Patel, Red Events and Hospitality India Private Limited, India.

“Flights and accommodation are one of the biggest factors that influence the cost of the destination wedding.” According to Linda Brown, Founder of Oh So Pretty Planning from South Africa and Daniela Caputo, a wedding planner based in Canada.

Dollar exchange is another factor listed by Carly Wade, Managing Director, CL Weddings and Events from Australia.

 

Who Pays for What?

 

 

We have mixed inputs when it comes to wedding payments. To round it up, it’s a personal choice between the bride, groom and their family.

“The age-old traditions are out for modern weddings and couples are approaching the wedding cost in a different manner. “Currently the trend among Millennials is to pay for their wedding day.” Tells Agrevett Soldevilla, AS Detalles, Dominican Republic.

“When it comes to what the hosts pay vs what the guests pay, typically guests will be in charge of all of their own travel, which includes flights, accommodations and transportation to and from the airport (and possibly transportation to the events if they’re not staying onsite). Hosts will usually cover all of the costs associated with the wedding and events. However, in some situations, events or activities outside of the wedding might be organized by the host, but with some costs passed down to the guest if they want to participate (especially if there are lots of activities being planned). In other situations, the hosts may choose to cover the accommodations in full or even the entire travel costs (this is more likely in the event of a small, intimate wedding). What and how much extra the host decides to cover is typically a function of the overall budget and what’s important to them.”

Ishrat Joosub from Outlandish Events South Africa gave some tips on how to go about wedding payments!

“For a destination wedding, firstly, I think the bride and groom need to sit down and chat about it. The first contribution should be from both of them. If parents want to help out, that’s all great. It would be the same as having your wedding locally so whoever was planning to pay for the expenses, whether parents or both parents and couple pitch in, that would remain the same for a destination wedding.

Rehearsal dinners are also a cost factor, are you keeping that at your destination wedding or is that something you would scrape off? It all depends on the bride and groom and their parents. Again the same concept would apply if you were having the wedding locally. When it comes to the invited guests, again all comes down to the bride and groom’s budget. They don’t have to pay for the invited guests but if they want to then that’s great! If the couple is not paying for their invited guests, then that should be communicated early on when sending out the invitations. To be tactful, maybe the event mention group rates to the guests or include them in the invitation. Guests will remain responsible for all their spending on this trip as if they were on a normal vacation.

I personally feel at the end of the day, who pays for what is a personal family matter and depends on the caliber and wealth equity of the family. The high-class or elite families will most likely cover all costs whereas the middle-class families will budget and invited guests who really want to be part of the celebration has to pay for their own flights and accommodation as well as other spending on the trip. When it comes to flying out your wedding planner and her team etc, then the couple is responsible for all their costs so it’s good to the budget that in the wedding budget before even approaching them for a quote.”

“It really depends on cultural backgrounds, family backgrounds, financial status and personal beliefs.” Outlines Pamela Agbesi, The Wedding Agency, Ghana. “Depend from family to family. Sometimes it’s shared 50- 50. And in some cases, bride side pays 100%.” Adds Krishna Patel, CEO of Krish Events, Thailand.

Divya Chadha, Founder of A Klass Apart from India-UK shares her experience with Indian weddings. “These days more and more couples & families just split the entire wedding bill together. For Indian weddings (and this can be applied for other cultural weddings too) Bride / Bride Family specifically pays for bridal services such as brides hair, makeup, Mehendi, and draping services Groom / Groom Family specifically pays for groom services such as Turban tying; groom entry known as baraat; and the vidai. When it comes to accommodation – typically guests pay for their own rooms & travel at destination weddings; however, the bride & groom families may choose to “host” a certain number of rooms for their own families / close friends and they split that in accordance to their requirements.”

“The spouses choose and pay for the place, the location, the style, the settings, the photographer and obviously the date. Guests pay for their flight, accommodation and various transfers.” Says Thelma Morales, Sparks Wedding, Guatemala. “Often it is the newlyweds who, in order to avoid stressing their guests, even if they do not pay, organize accommodation and transfers.” Adds Clorinda Bellone, Founder of Clorinda Bellone Èlite Event Planning from Italy.

“It all depends. Sometimes the host takes care of the full bill once guests arrive at the destination and sometimes guests cover their travel & accommodations and the host covers the event cost. Most of the time now the couple’s families are splitting the cost down the middle.” Highlights Nirjary Desai, KIS (cubed) Event, USA.

“Most of the time bride and groom are the ones. Parents contribute for Rehearsal dinner.” Tells Illeana Roxana Reyes, Romantic Cabo Weddings, Mexico. Similar sentiments were shared by Adetokunbo Oshunlalu, Ace Luxury Events from Nigeria.

“The couple/families pay for the vendors and the resort. If the resort is all-inclusive, guests will be paying for the room, as well as, the food and beverage that is part of the resort. A common misconception is that the guests are also paying for the private event food as well, where it is the host paying for that. In a traditional European Plan resort, the host will incur the cost of all food and beverage for the private events and the guests will pay for each meal outside of those fees. Typically, this is why all-inclusive resorts are more popular for most hosts.” Says Preeti Vasudeva, Founder of Preeti Exclusive Events, USA. Leena Murthy from Turmeric Inc. India seconds that.

“Traditions are still big in our region of the US, so the Bride’s family still pays for most of the wedding unless the couple is older, then they may pay for it themselves. Sometimes the Groom or the Groom’s family will cover a few vendor categories like bar or entertainment.” Aptfully puts Anna Swanson, CEO, Swanson Signature Event from USA.

“Guests are traditionally expected to cover their personal lodging and transportation expenses, but it’s important that you make this as gracefully clear as possible. Tactfully lay out expectations by providing recommendations to accommodations or booking websites. If you’ve booked a hotel room block, emphasize that each guest needs to reserve their own room within it. Your wedding website and save-the-dates will be your best tools in getting the word out.” Reiterates Mariska van der Meer, Definitely Yes, Netherlands.

“I think this is very personal. We don’t need to stick to old-school traditions. Many of my clients pay for the wedding themselves, while others split the cost, and some parents want to pay for it. I think this is something that needs to be discussed between the couple and their families.” Tells Cara Lee Pearce, The Mosaic Wedding Company, South Africa.

“For the guests, the couples will be able to set up transport logistics for the reception(s) to facilitate the movement of the guests on-site. The guests pay for their trip to the country chosen by the couple and their accommodations, etc.” Adds Cassia Thomas, a wedding planner from France.

 

Conclusion

 

Although planning a destination wedding may require a little more time and research, the end result will be SO worth it as you and your guests share an unforgettable experience together and create lifelong memories. If you’re just getting started, head out to www.dwpinsider.com to source everything- from planners to photographers to cake designers. EVERYTHING in one place!

 

Feature Image Credit: @orlovamaria