Pro’s & Cons of Destination Weddings

Destination Wedding Cons

It’s Expensive

Yes, weddings, in general, are expensive and you might think you’re saving money by getting away and inviting fewer people, but there are numerous things that make the cost go up. From the multiple back and forth trips you have to make when planning, to constantly having to ship things, the small selection of vendors, the extra events you’ll want to host – it all starts to really add up.

You’re not just planning one day, it’s a whole weekend.

When you have a destination wedding, not only are you coordinating everyone’s flights and hotels, but you’re also kind of expected to have things ready for your guests to do while they are there. I mean, they flew out there just for you and want to be with you….and you want them to have the best time – so while it’s amazing – it’s also a lot to plan.

Some of your most beloved loved ones won’t be able to make it. 

From cost reasons to health associated reasons, not everyone will be able to make it. We had a few friends who truly could not afford to make the trip and grandparents that are no longer able to fly & it did break out hearts they couldn’t be there and it was definitely a hardship in our wedding planning process.

Extra of levels of stress

Since everyone is out there, you’re kind of constantly worried that everyone is okay and is having a good time. That no one is left out, that everyone has something to do. Colton and I constantly had to keep reminding ourselves that we needed to have fun too and couldn’t spend the weekend worried about everyone.  We had to remind ourselves that everyone our there was a grown up and would figure things out for themselves but it was so hard for us.

Destination Wedding Pros

Wedding Planning Memories of a Lifetime

While it was expensive to continuously make trips to Napa during the wedding planning process, some of my most cherished memories are from those trips. To my mom and I’s Mother’s Day trip last year, to the one with Colton’s parents in April, those times were so precious to me and are trips that I will remember forever.

A whole weekend of fun

As I mentioned earlier, you’re not just planning a night – it’s a whole weekend…. but WHAT A FUN WEEKEND IT IS. Each day and each moment just kept getting better and better. Instead of the whole thing being over in one night, we had a whole weekend of fun and building memories.

My favorite part was that by the end of the weekend, all of the guests were so close. Everyone knew each other and bonded like nothing I have ever seen. It was so amazing to see both of our worlds truly become one.

Smaller Guest Count

This is something that Colton and I wanted from the get-go. We wanted to really have the opportunity to enjoy ourselves without having to spend the whole wedding going from table to table thanking people we didn’t really know…..

We truly only invited our closest friends and family. The people that have made a true impact on our relationship and the people we are today. If it were in Houston, it would have been 400+ people and we just didn’t want that. By having a smaller guest count, we didn’t feel obligated to invite every person we have met in our lives, which took a huge amount of stress off of us during the wedding planning process.

Intimacy

There was no better feeling than standing upon the altar, marrying the love of my life, surrounded by the people who truly love Colton and I the most.

Having a smaller destination wedding gave us the opportunity to really enjoy ourselves and our times with our friends and loved ones. As I mentioned above, everyone became so close over the course of the weekend. This was my favorite. Just watching them all become one, while Colton and I became one. There was so much love in the air and I just don’t think it would have felt that way if there were hundreds of people there.

Vacation for everyone 

Let me tell you, it was a party! Some of our guests hadn’t taken vacations in years. Most had never been to the Valley and it was so fun leading up to the wedding weekend hearing how excited everyone was for the trip.

It was hands down the most loving weekend of our lives and I wouldn’t trade it for the world. I am so incredibly thankful for our families who made it possible and our loved ones who came out to celebrate us! I truly cannot wait to show you all more photos!!!! Trust me, I am anxiously awaiting them – lol.

xo,

Lauren