Know Some Simple Tips You Can Use To Keep Your Expenses Under Control
If you’ve always dreamed of a destination wedding but you don’t have a huge budget, you might think you need to settle for a wedding that’s close to home. It might surprise you to learn that you don’t need to do that. You can plan an affordable destination wedding that you and your guests will love.
What is the cheapest way to do a destination wedding? The key is knowing some simple tips you can use to keep your expenses under control while still providing you, your soon-to-be spouse, and your guests with an experience they’ll always remember. Here are 6 tips to help you plan a destination wedding that’s within your budget.
#1: Book Your Destination Wedding in the Off-Season
Our first tip is to consider a wedding in the off-season of your chosen destination. Everything will be less expensive than it would be if you were to have your wedding when your destination is packed with tourists. A few examples of off-season destination wedding locales might include:
- Mexico in the summer
- Mexico in the rainy months
- The Caribbean in the fall
If you decide on an off-season destination wedding, make sure that you understand how going at a less popular time might impact your plans. For example, autumn is hurricane season in the Caribbean, and you’ll need to keep that in mind as you schedule your wedding.
#2: Find a Resort with an All-Inclusive Destination Wedding Package
Anyone who has ever tried to plan a destination wedding on a budget knows that individual line items can add up quickly. By the time you’ve combined the costs of your wedding location, the officiant, decorations, food, and music, you might be looking at a destination wedding budget that’s far higher than you planned.
It’s for this reason that choosing an all-inclusive package is one of the most budget-friendly destination wedding options. Instead of reviewing multiple vendors, getting quotes, and trying to keep your expenses under control, you’ll have one price that covers everything you need to get married.
#3: Limit Your Destination Wedding Guest List
A huge guest list automatically translates to a more expensive wedding. You’ll be paying for every plate of food, so one way to make sure you have a realistic budget for a destination wedding is to invite only those guests whose presence is most important to you.
Destination weddings tend to naturally limit guest lists, since not everyone you invite will have the means to attend. You may want to have discussions with your family and close friends ahead of time to determine who will be able to attend and how large your guest list will need to be.
#4: Use Resort Vendors to Save Money
One thing that’s common is for destination wedding venues to charge a fee for couples that want to bring in their own destination wedding vendors. These fees can rack up quickly if you’re bringing in a florist, a caterer, a band, and so on.
The good news is that most venues have their own list of approved vendors. Many offer in-house catering. Considering that popular destination wedding venues are usually experts on obtaining the best of the best for weddings, you can save money and be sure that you’ll have delicious food and spectacular decor and entertainment.
#5: Leverage Your Guest List
You may be one of those lucky people who has a large group of family and friends who are eager (and financially able) to attend your destination wedding. If that’s the case, you can do your wedding budget a favor and leverage that hefty guest list into equally hefty savings.
A big wedding translates to easy money for your destination wedding venue. If they know they’re going to book 50 or 75 rooms for your wedding, they’ll be far more likely to offer you discounted prices on everything from airline tickets and rooms to a free upgrade on your honeymoon suite.
#6: Get Married at Home First
If you’re planning a destination wedding in another country, it’s important to research and understand local laws regarding marriage before you go. You should expect there to be fees and some legal hoops to jump through before you can get married—and those fees can add up quickly.
You can avoid paying those fees by getting married in your home country ahead of time. That way, you’ll enter as a legally married couple. You can still have a symbolic ceremony in your destination while skipping the costs associated with a foreign wedding.
Affordable Destination Weddings Aren’t Difficult to Plan
Destination weddings on a budget might seem impossible to plan, but they’re not. All you need are the tips we’ve provided here and the willingness to get creative and stay flexible as you put the details together.
Remember that you and your guests will have an unforgettable experience in your destination, and that you don’t need to break the bank to make memories that will last a lifetime!
Are you ready to plan an affordable destination wedding that you and your guests will love? Contact Complete Destination Weddings and let us help you create your dream affordable destination wedding.
Contact us today by visiting www.completedestinationweddings.com or calling 1-800-764-4220