Planning a Destination Wedding

Photo Credit: DTR Interiors

Destination weddings are becoming more and more popular as busy brides want a relaxed, extended celebration of their nuptials. In fact nearly one quarter of all U.S. brides will have a destination wedding. This is according to a survey conducted by XO Group, the creator of two of the internet’s largest wedding websites: TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com.

The majority of destination weddings are held within the continental United States – primarily Florida, California and Nevada. Of the brides who choose to leave the continental U.S., the Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii are top destinations.

Here are a few things to keep in mind when planning a destination wedding:

Budget

While they often have fewer guests in attendance, destination weddings may often cost more than their traditional counterparts. Some resorts may offer destination wedding packages and an all-inclusive option, however transportation costs, hotel fees, wedding planner fees and other incidentals can quickly add up – especially when a bride is planning most of the wedding from hundreds of miles away.

Guests

Traveling to a destination wedding may be a fantastic vacation for your guests – or it may be quite difficult. If you’re leaving the United States, your guests may need to update their passports. A destination wedding also means additional expenses in hotels and airfare. Availability may also be an issue, as destination weddings can last several days longer than traditional weddings.

Location

Summer in the Caribbean sounds nice, but are you prepared to cope with a hurricane? Winter in Colorado can be romantic, but a blizzard can interfere with flight schedules. Carefully consider your location and the time of year during which you wish to have your nuptials.

Wherever you plan on having your wedding, make sure you protect your trip – and your honeymoon – with travel insurance.

Have you been to a destination wedding? Tell us about it in the comments below.

Note: Available plans and coverages may have changed since this blog was published.