Destination VS Local Wedding

Congratulations on your recent engagement and upcoming wedding! As you’re getting ready to start planning your wedding, you might be wondering about the costs involved. Do you plan something local? Perhaps venture out and do a destination wedding? You’re in luck because we’re going to address the pros and cons of both options!

Destination Weddings

Marie Ketring Photography

When planning a destination wedding, there are some details that need to be planned well in advance. The logistics and transportation can be a bit more complicated than a wedding at home. If you are leaning towards a destination wedding, we recommend finding a venue that your guests can stay at, such as a resort or an estate, to cut down the costs of transportation and lodging. 

Usually, a destination wedding involves having a smaller guest count, so if you’re wanting an intimate wedding, a destination wedding is a way to go. 

Make it a vacation! Since your guests are already taking time (and money) to go to your wedding, encourage them to make a vacation out of it and extend their stay for a couple of days. A helpful tip is to come up with a list of activities and sightseeing for your guests to enjoy throughout their stay. 

There will be more research that goes into planning a destination wedding because you’ll have to learn about the culture, seasons, and geography of the area for yourself and for your guests. Hire a travel agent who can help you and your guests book airfare, help with venue research and activities, and so on.

Local Weddings

Melissa Oholendt Photography

If you have a ton of family and friends who you are wanting at your wedding, and most are local, it might make more sense to have a local wedding to ensure you can have everyone there who is important to you. 

Transportation is also easier for local weddings. Guests can drive themselves, carpool, take an Uber, or you can provide a shuttle service to and from a hotel or the venue so the guests can get home safely. 

Selecting the perfect date will be easy, due to you already knowing the weather and climate of the area. It’s also easier for guests who will not have to travel to make pretty much any weekend date work. 

The location or venue can have meaning to you and your partner if it is local. If there is a spot you two frequent often or a venue you have both loved for a while, this is the perfect opportunity. 

There could be countless reasons why one option is better than the other, but all that matters is that you and your partner are happy. Talk it through with them and whatever option sounds more exciting and fun for the both of you is the best option.