Many people might think that a destination wedding is nothing more than a pipe dream – an exclusive event for people who have the money to splurge on flights for themselves and dozens of family members.
However, if you dig a little deeper, costs of destination weddings can be brought under control, while the benefits of having an event away from the stress and pressures of home can be massive. So here are the main reasons why you should at least consider a destination wedding.
Why You Should Consider a Destination Wedding
1. The World is Your Oyster
Having a wedding near your home can be awesome: the UK has some incredible venues with excellent backdrops, superb catering, and brilliant suppliers.
However, if you have a destination wedding, the choices you have are essentially endless. The wedding industry across Europe and the United States is hugely well-developed, and more top-quality weddings are emerging from Asia and Africa every single year. Deciding that you’re going global gives you the opportunity to hand-pick a venue and a location that is perfect for the kind of wedding that you want.
Each potential venue has its own unique character that it’ll bring to you wedding: for example, Santorini in Greece brings utter romance and stunning views of the Aegean Sea; Bled Castle in Slovenia will make you feel like royalty; and Bali offers exotic flair with some charming local customs that will make your wedding unlike any other.
There’s simply more choice when you consider a destination wedding – the possibilities are endless!
2. It’s an Experience, Not Just a Single Day
One thing that many people don’t ever think about when considering a destination wedding is that it’s an experience, not just a single day. That may sound obvious, but allow me to explain why it makes such a huge difference to the enjoyment of your wedding.
Think about the feeling you get whenever you go on holiday. The excitement you have when packing your bags; the anticipation when you’re sitting on the plane; the awe and wonder when you finally arrive at your destination. Holidays allow us to disconnect from the stresses and strains of daily life, and enjoy a week or more of relaxation and adventure.
Now imagine that during that time away, you get married as well. It’s the perfect time to tie the knot: all the emotions that you’ve felt above are heightened tenfold in anticipation of one of the biggest moments of your life, and all of this while being away from the daily grind.
Single-day weddings on a Saturday after a normal working week just aren’t the same – there is so much pressure on that one day, and you’re unable to fully remove yourself from the stress of everyday life. This is one of the big reasons why more and more people are considering a destination wedding, because it’s a multi-day event that ticks all the boxes.
3. It’s Unforgettable
For many of the reasons mentioned above and more, destination weddings can be completely unforgettable.
Admittedly, it’s difficult to forget your wedding day no matter where it takes place, but surrounding the big day with bucketloads of other experiences in your chosen destination can make the time before, during and after your wedding totally unforgettable.
Imagine exploring the Amalfi coastline before your Italian wedding, island-hopping in Greece before your Crete-based big day, or going on safari before tying the knot in Namibia – you will forever associate those experiences with getting married, and they will always retain a unique and positive sheen whenever you recall them.
In contrast, a single-day wedding at home is sandwiched by normality. While the day itself will be unforgettable, the lead up to it is usually just like any other week. Why settle for the ordinary when you can strive for the remarkable?
4. It Can Be Cost-Effective
Many people are put off destination weddings because they think it’s too expensive. While it’s true that most destination weddings are more expensive than weddings that take place locally to you, if you look a little deeper, they can actually be extremely cost-effective.
If you consider a destination wedding as a holiday, wedding and honeymoon all rolled into one, there is a valid argument to be made that it actually works out as better value-for-money than having all three of those things separately.
As long as you pick the right destination for your wedding, you can enjoy a few days with family before the wedding, a week or so just the two of you after the wedding, and treat the wedding itself as the climax of your entire time abroad.
5. It’s a True Commitment
Finally, a destination wedding is a real commitment. Organising a destination wedding is not easy, and as a couple, you have to be extremely committed to not only the wedding itself, but also to each other, for it to work.
It’s also not a short process – most destination weddings are planned two or three years in advance, and some couples may baulk at that, as a lot can happen during that time. But couples who are confident in their relationship can consider a destination wedding to reflect the strength of their relationship and the security they feel as one of a pair.
If you’re looking for a celebrant for your destination wedding, look no further. I’m based in the UK but travel around Europe to create special wedding days for couples across the continent. Get in touch to learn more, or check out my wedding packages.
