A
destination wedding is the best of both worlds—a time to celebrate your
vows while also taking a much needed vacation. But there might be a few
extra costs that you don’t anticipate in your wedding budget, so be
sure to take these into consideration.
Transportation.
Not
only will you and your guests need to pay for airfare, but you also
need to factor in the cost of traveling to/from airport to the hotel and
to/from hotel to all wedding events, which adds up quickly especially
if you provide these expenses for guests, says Nathan Johnson, founder
and lead designer for GRO Design
"Normally if it's a U.S. city, guests sometimes pay for their own
transportation, but if you host a destination wedding internationally,
it's important to provide for guests so they stay safe and you don't
have any issues that could ruin the guest experience."
Hiring a wedding planner.
When
deciding to host a destination wedding, it's important to really think
through whether or not to use the wedding planner that a location will
provide vs. bringing in your own personal wedding planner, says Johnson.
"On the other hand, by bringing in your own wedding planner, you might
achieve economies of scale by having your planner look for local deals
rather than just accept the prices from the destination."
Making decor changes.
Many
times, destinations offer package deals that might include things such
as floral, chairs, tableware, table cloths, etc. in a one-price-
covers-all package. However, if a bride makes any customized changes
such as different chairs, silverware, floral, those package deals grow
in cost, says Johnson.
Shipping costs.
A hidden cost is sending home any gifts people give you at the wedding, says Mark Wilcox, editor at weddinginfo.com
"At best, you will have to pay extra for luggage fees. Most likely you
will have to pay to have it shipped, which can be very expensive if you
are overseas."
Welcome bag delivery.
While booking your hotel ask about its policy on receiving and delivering welcome bags to guests rooms, says Jessica Janik of The Invisible Breidmaid
There are hotels that will have a delivery charge for placing the bags
into each guest’s room. “If it’s free great, but if it isn’t see if they
can hand them out to guests when they check in or opt to give guests
their bags at the rehearsal dinner."
Guests not staying at the property.
If
you have guests who live in the area you are having your destination
wedding and aren't going to stay on location, beware, says Janik. "Some
resorts charge guests attending only for the event requiring them to
purchase a day pass which can sometimes be over $100."
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