Here we are again with another wedding debate! Destination wedding Vs. Local wedding. There are pros and cons to both options – you might want a huge wedding with all of your friends you’ve known since the second grade, you might want to have a local wedding where everyone in a 50 mile radius can come. Or if you want a smaller intimate wedding with just the people that you are closest to and have a mini vacation out of it, you might want to have a destination wedding. (that’s what I did!) Below we have experts in the field weigh in on this great debate! Let us know what you think!
Jenn of Green Wedding Shoes Blog: In looking for weddings to feature on Green Wedding Shoes, I’d have to say that local weddings are typically my favorites. The couples usually put in lots more details and personality into their day which my readers love to see. Also, most of my readers are planning local weddings, so those help them find inspiration – although it’s fun to mix it up once in awhile and share a destination wedding :).
Kelly McWilliams of Weddings by Socialites: “Destination weddings are my favorite to plan for a few reasons. First, I love that a destination wedding allows for all the wedding guests to get to know each other before the wedding (typically at a welcome reception or other planned gathering). When they have this time to meet and find out how they’re all connected, the ceremony somehow just feels so much more intimate and meaningful to everyone. The reception in turn is even better because everyone is friends and experienced the ceremony as a group and not strangers. Secondly, I love that when planning a destination wedding I’m planning events for people who are truly going to be ecstatic about getting a weekend away to a new place and that they get to celebrate with everyone they enjoy most. I also love that with destination weddings we can break some of the traditional rules that just don’t work. That means we can make each event as unique as we like. Finally, I love being introduced to new locations and professionals.”
Jeff Hendlin of Bridal Guide Magazine: I am a big fan of destination weddings. So are an increasingly number of engaged couples who are breaking from the traditional hometown weddings and opting to exchange their vows away from home. The boom in destination weddings has also been recognized by hotel/resorts companies in exotic vacation destinations. You’d be hard pressed to find a major resort in Mexico or the Caribbean today that don’t have well-staffed wedding departments. Some have even created catchy titles for the heads of these departments like Chief Romance Officer and Director of Romance.
Jennifer Stein of Destination I Do Magazine: “Suffice it to say, I’m a HUGE cheerleader for destination weddings, I mean, we have an entire magazine devoted to the very subject! But to say they are “better” would be untrue. It totally depends on the couple and their situation. The reason I think destination weddings offer more is because they allow friends and loved ones to celebrate together with the bride and groom for longer than just several hours on the day of the wedding. Most weddings away give guests the unique opportunity to spend some serious quality time with one another in a fabulous vacation destination which, many times, maximizes the overall experience for everyone.Hometown weddings are the bedrock of our industry and give couples the traditional option so many feel more comfortable with. But for couples who are doing a hometown wedding…my advice would be to travel to an exceptional honeymoon destination to really live it up and start your new life together off right!”
Photo by Kira Sugarman Shemano
Photo by Anna Kuperberg
Photo by Boutwell Studio
Photo by Megan Ann Photography
Photo by Jose Villa
Photo by Shawna Herring
Photo by Rochelle Cheever
Destination weddings all the way! I was a destination wedding bride and we shoot a lot of destination weddings. They are more relaxed, more intimate, and so romantic!
Destination!! Gave me an excuse to invite only the people I REALLY wanted there. Made the day so much more special!
It really does depend on how the couple want to celebrate their wedding. Many seem to forget it is their wedding and many family disputes result when trying to finalize the guest list. As a provider of a venue for Caribbean destination weddings I suppose I am biased but having seen many couples celebrate their wedding day in a relaxed, informal but exotic setting, in the company of family and friends who have made the effort to be with them I think this is the way to go. It is a special day for the couple and having a wedding planner organize everything they are free to relax and enjoy their wedding with those who really do wish them well.
I love hometown weddings – you can’t believe celebrating with all the people you love most in a place that’s very special to you.
DESTINATION all the way. Peaceful, relaxing & you get to choose the landscape!
Ours was destination by necessity. Our family and friends were spread out across the US, and we didn’t know where we’d be living when we started planning. Plus, we lives 1,000 miles apart until six weeks before the wedding! So we chose Asheville, NC, for its beauty and proximity to most of our guests. We never looked back and wouldn’t have it any other way!
This may be off subject, and I apologize if it is, but I say destination weddings. As a Massachusetts officiant, I marry more couples from out-of-state, than I do locally. Two reasons for this; first, It is legal in Massachusetts for same-sex couples to get married here. I have probably married more same-sex couple than any other wedding officiant in Massachusetts. So many same-sex couples come to Massachusetts because we are gay friendly. Sometimes, it is just the couple, but most times, they bring their families and friends. Secondly, as a huge Boston Red Sox fan, I am known for marrying couples at Fenway Park. You would be amazed at how many people who do not live in Massachusetts who are huge Red Sox fans, and want to get married at Fenway Park. Every single couple that I have married from out-of-state, have all said that they have no regrets! They loved getting married in Boston and found our state to be friendly and helpful.