Destination weddings?

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Posted by mark'smama

I am a little bias on this topic since I am having a destination wedding.

But to me it all depends on how much you really want to have a large wedding and if you can have a smaller wedding. Since destination weddings tend to be on the more intimate side.
We have a really large family but what matter to me most is the people that have been with us through everything and that would be our intimidate family. We are also planning on having a cocktail party after our return so that we still get the chance to celebrate with our friends and extended family.

Anyway, We are having our wedding in the winter in a big skiing town so we figured it is a great way to have our family celebrate our joining plus get in a little winter activities.
It isn't so far away that they have to pay for airfare plus they really wouldn't need to take more then a day off from work, that is even if they wanted to take anything off from work.

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thanks, for sharing your plan, that helped, I appreciate it!!

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Posted by BernandRob

I say you know your guests better then we do. If you are ok with having a small intimate wedding I say go for it. Know that some people just might not be able to come b/c of money issues. Make sure it is something you are really interested in, also if you know a lot of people who are doing this, and you would be inviting the same people it may become a burden. A guy I work with his daugher was at about 5 of them last year. I guess she likes them.

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I have 3 of them with in 3 months

Key West - Jan.
Seattle - March (first week)
Vegas - March (last week)

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Posted by Rachel1013

I REALLY wanted a destination wedding and have alawys dreamed about getting married in the Carribean on the beach. When I started planning the wedding that, of course, was my first thought. My parents were fine with whatever I decided, but then it came down to FH side of the family. His parents are divorced and I don't know how his mother would have been with going. His grandmother, along with my MOH don't fly. And it just started to become this huge ordeal. And on top of it, couldn't do a destination wedding and then a honeymoon, so I'd have all these people on my honeymoon w/ me. SO anyway, we decided that having a wedding at home was the best idea. I think I will renew my vows on an island down the road. Good Luck!

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did you think about getting married by taking a cruise to the carribean to avoid flying?

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Posted by mylove

Also- for anyone that cannot attend the wedding, we will be having a party at home after so that everyone can celebrate with us.

Side note- we are requesting NO GIFTS

Just offering suggestions to address the many challenges people face when planning a destination wedding.

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thanks: Did you have an engagement party? Was it big? intimite? formal? casual?

the reason I ask is b/c we're debating what to do:

have a big wedding style e-party this year (excatly 1 year before)

then have just the weding

have a e-party

wedding in St. Thomas

then have a wedding celebration the big wedding reseption In NY like we planned, but instead of having the ceremony showing the video.

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Posted by nferrandi

I'm all for destination weddings. Our friends got married in Jamaica, and even though we all bitched and moaned about the expense, it was well worth it. I would also suggest you give people quotes for 3,5 and 7 days and let them decide how long they would like to stay.

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thanks that's a great idea, I didn't even think of that , we just assumed 3 nights, thansk so much

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Posted by Soon2BeMrs.S

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Posted by nferrandi

I'm all for destination weddings. Our friends got married in Jamaica, and even though we all bitched and moaned about the expense, it was well worth it. I would also suggest you give people quotes for 3,5 and 7 days and let them decide how long they would like to stay.

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thanks that's a great idea, I didn't even think of that , we just assumed 3 nights, thansk so much

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People may feel that as long as they're spending $700 and getting on a plane, they may want to make more of a vacation out of it. I know that almost all of us (and there were about 50 or so of family and friends) decided to stay an entire week.

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Posted by nferrandi

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Posted by Soon2BeMrs.S

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Posted by nferrandi

I'm all for destination weddings. Our friends got married in Jamaica, and even though we all bitched and moaned about the expense, it was well worth it. I would also suggest you give people quotes for 3,5 and 7 days and let them decide how long they would like to stay.

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thanks that's a great idea, I didn't even think of that , we just assumed 3 nights, thansk so much

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People may feel that as long as they're spending $700 and getting on a plane, they may want to make more of a vacation out of it. I know that almost all of us (and there were about 50 or so of family and friends) decided to stay an entire week.

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thanks WE love that idea!!! , how long in advance did your friend let you know, we're thinking of sending STD's w/ the date, w/ St. Thomas, USVI, and our webpage address.... is that what's customary?

We are having a destination wedding in Ireland- we know not everyone will come and we understand that- so we are having a n e-party here to celebrate with those people...

We sent out std's way in advance and have created a website to help our guests plan their trip as well!

also to add- i am having a small bp and asked them that in lieu of a bridal shower for them to put that money towards theiur plane ticket! Bc I know it was a lot to ask!!

truthfully? I dont like them. i have a very busy schedule and love to travel, and I hate the idea of having my limited travel time and expense taken by a required destination. I hope this doesnt sound mean, but its my personal feelings. I have a friend (not a close one, but close enough where I feel i should attent her wedding) who is getting married at a spot ive been to twice, and I would really rather not spend the $$ going to again. Additionally, she is picking an extremelty difficult time for me to travel.

Anyway, I dislike them. I feel like its a forced vacation.

But i know others love them. its your wedding and do whats best for you!!

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Posted by PaddysGirl15

We are having a destination wedding in Ireland- we know not everyone will come and we understand that- so we are having a n e-party here to celebrate with those people...

We sent out std's way in advance and have created a website to help our guests plan their trip as well!

also to add- i am having a small bp and asked them that in lieu of a bridal shower for them to put that money towards theiur plane ticket! Bc I know it was a lot to ask!!

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Paddy's girl: Not to pry, but Are you using The Wedding Channel's wedding website page? We were hoping to use it, but as we're in process of creating our page we want to make it private, and we (I ) can't figure out how to...

Nope your are nt prying at all!!

Actually we did one through the KNOT.

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Posted by Soon2BeMrs.S

[thanks WE love that idea!!! , how long in advance did your friend let you know, we're thinking of sending STD's w/ the date, w/ St. Thomas, USVI, and our webpage address.... is that what's customary?

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They sent out STDs about a year before. Then they sent out price quotes with the travel agency info about 10 months before. And then every few months they would send countdown notes. It was really cute. She did all of them on the computer herself with tropical paper.
They got married at a Breezes resort, so they really helped her a lot with the planning. One word of advice, do a hair trial when you get there, but my friend didn't like her hair and redid it herself. And the same for the flowers. The bo-ks were pretty but not exactly what she had envisioned.
Overall, they were absolutely thrilled with their wedding and they wouldn't change a thing. It was by far the most intimate, laid back, beautiful wedding we've been to.