Destination Dollars...How Does Your Budget Go?

One of the first and most important tasks you and your fiancé should tackle for any type of wedding is setting a budget. A destination wedding will come with costs that simply don’t exist with a hometown church or garden wedding. But with good planning, the extra cost can be managed, and the results will be well worth it.

 

Transportation – Plan to visit your wedding location at least once, maybe twice — or more — depending on accessibility and how elaborate your events are. Vendors you contract to bring with you will build their costs into your price, so be clear when it comes to your expectations. Also, be considerate of expenditures required for guests to attend. While not necessarily a cost you will absorb, your guests may need to do a little budgeting of their own. And, unless the wedding is at the airport, there will be a cost to get everyone from point A to point B, so be sure to figure that in, either for their budget or your own, depending on who is footing the people-moving bill.

Lodging – What options are available at your destination? Will you spend thousands to reserve a French castle for the weekend, or is there a more appropriate guesthouse alternative in the village? You may dream of an exotic hut on stilts perched over the Indian Ocean, but will your future in-laws appreciate the premium expense of a “room” that has no door, three walls and a mosquito net?!” Choose wisely.

Wedding and Special Event Attire – Will you be dressed to the nines in couture Vera Wang, a tiara from Harry Winston, and your most coveted Jimmy Choos? Or is a white cotton sundress and bare feet in a field of buttercups more your style? If it’s the former, lucky you. Add shipping and security to that working budget. If you’re closer to the latter, lucky you. Pack your bags!

Special Events – As with any wedding, your budget should allow for every invited guest to attend and enjoy the experience. If and when you receive regrets, you can redistribute your budget to include some nice upgrades — at the bar, on your dinner menu, or by offering a fun and memorable group activity.

Ancillary Costs – No matter where your wedding takes place, you will incur costs for items like invitations, favors, photography, videography, entertainment, flowers & décor, rentals, and hair & makeup styling. Do yourself a favor and make sure you hire professionals to handle it all, even if you have to serve the chicken instead of the lobster and prime rib. It will be money well spent. ~AW