Yesterday I ran into a dear old friend I hadn’t seen in years. I was casually picking up a routine chai latte at a bakery when a surprise tap on the shoulder lead to an excited “Hello!”.
To my delight, he shared news that he too had recently become engaged to his love. So naturally, we launched into all things “wedding talk”.
And the first question off the starting blocks… “Where are you getting married?”.
To my surprise, he had no idea. He then mused on 3 possible options… A home grown Australian garden wedding, a destination wedding or an elopement. All three sound utterly charming and romantic to me!
But before I knew it, I had catapulted my proverbial 2 cents (whether he wanted it or not), and with perhaps too much enthusiasm, rattled off all the reasons why a destination wedding is the way to go!
Now before spilling my “pro destination wedding” beans with you, may I confess that YES I am in a position of bias because YES my fiancé and I have settled on tying our love knot overseas. So of course I have a vested interest in this particular topic and in case you hadn’t detected it, I am obviously very excited about getting married in an exotic location! HOORAH!
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1. YOU CAN REIN IN THAT GUEST LIST
There’s no denying that a destination wedding is a huge commitment. It requires travel, accommodation and, in some circumstances, time off work. All this means your wedding is much more likely to be a small, intimate affair and if that’s the vibe you’re after then don’t hesitate to head for your dream spot in the world.
2. YOUR GUESTS WILL BE IN EXTRA HAPPY HOLIDAY MODE
No grumpy, over worked or tired party goers here. Your guests will be in a relaxed and festive spirit. They’ve got their holiday glow on and work is but a distant memory. They don’t have to be anywhere the next day and they sure as hell didn’t drive to your wedding so here’s to endless cocktails and midnight dancing. Cheers!
3. NOT JUST A WEDDING DAY BUT A WEDDING WEEK
Let’s be honest, few people are going to fly in the night before and jet off the day after.
It’s likely your loved ones will be sticking around for more than a few days. This means quality time engaging in all sorts of fun activities in an exotic destination.
This also means the bride and groom can avoid running around on their wedding day making sure they have a “hello and thank you” moment with every single guest because chances are, you’ve already had a proper catch up with everyone over the days leading up.
4. DESTINATION WEDDINGS CAN BE COST EFFECTIVE
It’s no secret that weddings can be friggin’ expensive. But worthy overseas wedding resorts offer fantastic all inclusive deals. And before you freak out and think I’m suggesting a paint by numbers carbon copy wedding, think again. Many resorts now cater for bespoke style weddings with an in house planner to help you create your unique and special day along with all your personal touches.
5. AN EXTENDED HONEYMOON? YES PLEASE!
You get to have a pre honeymoon mini moon! Need I say more?
And did you know that many resorts are known to surprise the bride and groom with a room upgrade on their wedding night. Hip Hoppity Happy days!
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So if you find yourselves questioning whether or not you should or shouldn’t host your love fest overseas, I hope you throw these considerations into the mix. Or perhaps you have an engaged friend toying with the idea who is in need of a gentle nudge towards making a decision? Be sure to share this list with them!
As you know, I have always been an advocate for travel. Stepping out of your homely comfort zone and exploring the world enriches your soul in so many nourishing ways. For my fiance and me, a destination wedding was an absolute no brainer. And it delights me to no end to think that an overseas adventure with our nearest and dearest will be beautiful tied in with our special day. I simply can not wait.
I am so excited to continue to share my journey to the aisle with you guys. Be sure not miss a post by signing up to my free updates up the top. And if you have experienced an overseas wedding escapade, I would love to hear all about it in the comments section below. As always, I welcome any advice with open arms.
Lots of love
Peanut xo
By Gemma Pranita
My husband and I also had a destination wedding. Granted, our destination was only a couple of states away, but it saved us thousands $$$. It was very private because my hubby is not one who likes to be the center of attention. We had a guest list of 30 people, we skipped the whole bridesmaids and groomsmen thing, and all of our guests were honored to be invited due to it being so private. We actually managed to get a photo of us with all of our guests in a group and the photographer didn’t have to back up a hundred feet to the point where you can’t make out who is who. I am definitely all for destination weddings. Great post!
I love the intimacy of your wedding. 30 people is a wonderful amount. I once went to a wedding in Mexico with about 30 guests and we had an absolute ball! I only new about 6 people who attended and by the end many new friendships were born.
Thanks for sharing!
Gem x
Totally agree Gemma, my idea of nightmare wedding would be inviting distant relatives that you never see whereas wedding abroad would be your nearest and dearest & best friends & those who care enough to travel. Greece would be my destination of choice ! xxx
Oh the wedding guest list nightmare. It is such a struggle. Perhaps I should write a piece about that. No matter how hard you try, you simply can not please everyone.
I am still agonizing over this issue.
And Greece! What a dream that would be. It is definitely on my bucket list of places to visit.
Gem x
My fiancé and I live as expats in Vietnam, and that’s where we’ll be married in 82 days! Our town, Hoi An, looks like it’s straight out of a beautiful picture book. We already have 45 guests from overseas, so excited about celebrating our wedding and having a holiday. It’s not a destination wedding for us, but our home is the destination for all our family and friends from home. We’ve got a full wedding week of fun planned, which we could never afford back in our home countries. Plus, it’s so cheap! Tailor made wardrobe, designed by me and made very cheaply by local artists and designers. Roses cost 20c each here. Beer is 50c. What a great opportunity to forget the budgeting woes of the western world, and provide an amazing experience for our loved ones and an unforgettable celebration of our love.
Amen to that Hannah!
No doubt your wedding will be absolutely beautiful. I can’t believe roses are 20 cents?!?! That’s insane.
I hope your wedding is bursting at the seams with flowers.
I bet your loved ones will fall madly in love with Vietnam. And you get to build those memories with them.
Wishing you so much happiness!
Love Gemma xo