Chances are your
destination wedding will be less expensive than if you'd gone a more traditional route. If you've chosen to celebrate at a resort, you'll probably be offered a choice of several wedding and reception packages. All the details will be rolled into one final price, and you'll never have to deal with coordinating a dozen vendors. What's more, your wedding and reception will be followed by a built-in honeymoon. It could be a savings bonanza!
Whether you've chosen a resort or decided to fly solo and plan a foreign wedding reception on your own, we're sure there will be fewer people in attendance than if you'd celebrated back home. This, in a word, will SLASH your budget. The money you'll spend on a coordinator will not seem excessive at all compared to the thousands you'd have spent on table trees and champagne for 200. Here are our tips for saving on the celebration.
All Inclusive
Many couples choose to have a destination wedding for economic reasons. Even the swankiest resorts often roll the ceremony, reception and honeymoon into one big package that can save you thousands. If you plan to have a huge reception, however, it's best if money's no object. Think of any resort as if it were an expensive hotel.
Off Season
Plan your destination wedding off season and save. Many resorts, particularly those dreamy tropical places, stay beautiful for most of the year, but the high season for tourists lasts only a few months. Picturing Paris in the springtime? Try an October wedding and spend the leftover francs on the honeymoon!
Avoid The Fees
This suggestion may not be for everyone, but if you have a quick civil ceremony at home, you can avoid any hidden fees you may have to pay abroad. You could have your ring exchange in your favorite destination and avoid a lot of paperwork.
Restaurant Celebration
If you've planned a non-resort wedding overseas, choosing a restaurant rather than a hotel for the reception will save on location fees and the price of catering. And the attention you'll get will be a lot more personal.
Hire The Coordinator
Hiring a wedding planner at your destination won't be cheap, but we can't begin to tell you how worthwhile it will be. Local coordinators know the best sites, restaurants and yes, money saving options. Hiring someone will save your sanity and it may save you cash in the long run too!
See More: Budgeting , Destination Weddings