Thinking about a DESTINATION WEDDING! NOT sure, HELP!!

dmurph Posted: Feb 04, 2008 12:29 PM

Thinking about a DESTINATION WEDDING! NOT sure, HELP!!

I am considering a destination wedding, maybe the Bahamas. Can anyone share their experiences with me? Good and bad. THANKS!!

Kris0703 Posted: Feb 04, 2008 01:02 PM

Re: Thinking about a DESTINATION WEDDING! NOT sure, HELP!!

I am always on the bride and groom's side by saying it really matters what you want and can afford. But, I recently was invited to a destination wedding and sadly can't go. It would be way to much money for us right now. I know the bride is getting a little upset bc a lot of people are declining, but we are all in tough spots right now. Most of us are planning our own weddings or buying houses, etc. It would have cost us $1500 for the weekend!!

KPAC Posted: Feb 04, 2008 01:26 PM

Re: Thinking about a DESTINATION WEDDING! NOT sure, HELP!!

We really wanted to do a destination wedding. We started looking into some nice places in the carribean but quickly realized, if you decide to invite guests for a whole weekend away you have to invite them all to the RH and a brunch the next morning. I just felt it wouldn't be right to expect people to come that far & spend that much $$$ to not involve them in everything.

For in the end we expected majority of our friends who are big travelers to come, and close family would come-- that it really wouldn't be significant cheaper at all.

So we decided to do a mini-destination wedding away in Montauk. So we have the ability to have everyone together for the weekend and get married on the beach!

Good luck with your decision. I think there is a destination board on here somewhere too!

jessica08bride Posted: Feb 04, 2008 01:31 PM

Re: Thinking about a DESTINATION WEDDING! NOT sure, HELP!!

i love destination weddings! but we always have to make a vacation out of it. i believe it is more cost effective for the bride and groom but more expensive for the guests. including flight and hotel, we've always had to spend about $1000K. not including gifts and such. but the bride and groom always paid for the RD and brunch the next morning. I get very excited at destination weddings, and as long as we make a vacation out of it, i dont mind spending the money. they are beautiful! i personally could never do that bc i cant let go of that control of planning lol.

AR31 Posted: Feb 04, 2008 03:35 PM

Re: Thinking about a DESTINATION WEDDING! NOT sure, HELP!!

I love desitnation weddings too.. it's fun.. and it is really cost effective except for your guests.. at the end of the day.. do you really want your guests footing the bill for your wedding??

We have a wedding to go in April.. only FH is going.. I can't make it.. he's going for 2 nights.. and will be spending about $1000 in airfare alone .. it's a lot of money for 2 nights.. and apparently quite a few guests were unhappy about this situation..

diva7531 Posted: Feb 04, 2008 04:00 PM

Re: Thinking about a DESTINATION WEDDING! NOT sure, HELP!!

I wanted a destination wedding and tried to plan it far enough in advance so that my friends would have used the long weekend as their vacation, but we got pressure from the family to have a reception a home.
We HM'd in Aruba and met a planner named Robert Arenz, he is great. Look for reviews on planners on the islands that you are thinking about, Good Luck and HAppy Planning

PoppedInASnap Posted: Feb 04, 2008 04:01 PM

Re: Thinking about a DESTINATION WEDDING! NOT sure, HELP!!

were doing a desination wedding in disney. Yes it willbe smaller but soemthing i will remember for my entire life...

xBrunette Posted: Feb 04, 2008 04:06 PM

Re: Thinking about a DESTINATION WEDDING! NOT sure, HELP!!

Fh and i were well still are thinkin about having a destination wedding... we think it would be easier for us, cuz we only invite the like 10 ppl to go for an intimate wedding... then i was thinking about renting out a hall or something and have a party when we get back for everyone... it just seems easier and dont have to deal with stress over family.. but then again.. you're not going to have a 'traditional' wedding... and you have to be able to let go of control, cuz it is somewhere else... hope it works out for u...

KPAC Posted: Feb 04, 2008 04:16 PM

Re: Thinking about a DESTINATION WEDDING! NOT sure, HELP!!

Two of the places we looked at:

Jamica Ritz Carlton
El Conquestitor in Peurto Rico....

Honestly went on vacation to the El Con. AMAZING and immediately though of having my wedding there. ha ha the rents nixed that one!