Are you Destined for a Destination Wedding?

You may have started touring wedding venues and researching florists, bakers and caterers, and become disappointed with what you’ve found so far. The cost of a wedding can be outrageous – a ceremony and short reception at a banquet hall or hotel can be upwards of $20,000 – $30,000 money most couples would rather save for their future.

Imagine being able to save money and still have the wedding of your dreams. Destination weddings are becoming all the rave because they are affordable, beautiful and are just as enjoyable for guests as they are for the bride and groom. While destination weddings are a great choice, they’re nearly impossible to plan alone. Finding the perfect vendors and venue thousands of miles away can be stressful and overwhelming. Make sure when planning a destination wedding that the resort you select provides you with a personal planner for your event that can work with any budget, and has a great contact list of various necessary vendors; photographer & florist to name a few.

Set Your Sites High!

One of the most nerve racking decisions regarding your wedding pertains to your reception; more specifically, where it will be held. Consider the following before you book a reception location to ensure you’ve made the best selection for your big day.

• After you and your hubby to be set your wedding date, create a tentative guest list for a rough estimate of the number of people you’ll need to have room for. A location for 50 will be completely different than one for guests of 300!
• Immediately after you determine a headcount, begin to research & book a location as soon as possible. The sooner the better! You will be surprised how fast venues get booked. The longer you wait, the more frustration you’ll be hit with as you find yourself crossing your favorite locations off your preferred list.
• You’ll notice reception site costs can add up quickly, depending on the formality, the menu and the location itself. Most sites that include catering charge between $25 to $250 per plate. Sites that do not include catering charge flat fees that can range from $1,000 to $10,000 or more.
• You can save money by getting married in months other than June, July, August, September or October. You’ll save even more money if you can avoid a Saturday night reception. Fridays and Sundays are often less expensive due to a lower booking demand.
• If you’re contemplating an ”out of the ordinary” reception location such as an art gallery or aquarium, keep in mind that although these are unique settings, you’ll have to handle many more details yourself,  compared to a location that already has a party plan in place.
• If you’ve decided on holding your wedding and/or reception at home (yours or someone else’s) to save money, be mindful that you’ll likely have to rent items that would normally be provided for you at a hotel or banquet hall. Such items can prove to be costly.
• Holding your reception at a hotel can provide some money-saving perks. If many of your guests  stay at the said hotel, you may get a discount for bringing in business, so be sure to negotiate. You may find yourself with an upgrade to the honeymoon suite at no extra charge.