The Pros and Cons of A Destination Wedding

A dreamy destination wedding is appealing to so many couples looking for a more intimate option for their special day. While destination weddings are popular, sometimes adventurous and make for amazing photos, there are also a few things that make them a bit difficult.

Pros of A Destination Wedding

1. Intimate & Experience-Driven 

When you opt for a destination wedding, the world is your oyster. You can choose anything from an exhilarating adventure in the mountains to a relaxing beach to find the perfect place to tie the knot. For so many couples, this sounds much more appealing than a traditional wedding in a church or banquet hall. This is also a recipe for success when it comes to wedding photos and videos. If you find a photo and video team that sticks around for the whole experience, you won’t regret it.

2. More Cost Effective

Getting married in a more traditional setting can cost so much these days. Oftentimes international wedding venues or elopement destinations can minimize your costs a lot, depending on where your wedding will be taking place. Some people find all-inclusive deals at lower prices, while some save money on hiring fewer vendors. If you’re planning for an elopement or micro-wedding, you may find that all you need is a photo and video team.

3. Venue Flexibility

When you’re choosing your wedding destination, you’re presented with such a wide variety of venues that it’s almost impossible not to find one you love (and one that is available on your date). This is one of the most stress-reducing aspects of planning a destination wedding.

4. Built-In Vacation

An international wedding is essentially a vacation in itself! And the best part of that is that you can choose any place you want. Lots of couples actually combine their destination wedding with their honeymoon since they’re already in travel-mode. But even if you want to switch it up for your honeymoon, this is another money-saver. It’s often cheaper to fly internationally to your honeymoon destination once you’re already out of the country – especially if you’re close by!

Cons of A Destination Wedding

1. Costs for Guests

This is the main reason that couples wanting big weddings may decide against a destination wedding. Depending on the location you choose, some guests may have financial restraints or travel obstacles that prevent them from being able to attend. This also depends on whether or not you’ll have discounted accommodations or meals available for guests since those are additional travel expenses.

2. More Planning Required

If you’re planning for anything other than a simple elopement, planning a destination wedding can be tricky. Sometimes there can be language barriers which could slow down or cause miscommunication throughout the process. It’s also a bit harder to get a feel for your venue, accommodations and other activities if you’ve never been to your chosen destination before. Many couples recommend budgeting for a trip prior to your wedding to plan certain aspects in person.

3. Difficulty Obtaining Marriage License

This depends on the laws of the country you’re getting married in, and it also depends on whether or not you’re making your marriage legally official while you’re there. Other countries have laws that can be difficult to translate and plan for, so this can cause some obstacles when it comes to planning a destination wedding. For example, in order to have a legal wedding in Japan, you must obtain an Affidavit of Competency to Marry from the embassy or the Japanese consulate.

In conclusion, it seems that there are more advantages than disadvantages when it comes to a destination wedding. While certain things may be tough, it really does depend on the location you decide on. If you’re looking for the perfect destination wedding photos and videos, make sure to check out LUVIA for the wedding experience of a lifetime.