Are Caribbean Destination Weddings Really More Affordable?

Well, it depends. In this blog post, we'll explore the factors that determine whether a destination wedding would be more affordable than a local wedding in your U.S. home town.

You're engaged and thinking about a Caribbean destination wedding. You've probably already stumbled across all-inclusive resorts offering free wedding packages and read articles about how much cheaper destination weddings are, and you're wondering whether it's all too good to be true.

According to The Knot, the average cost of a U.S. wedding in 2021 was $28,000. This average varies significantly across the country, with the lowest being $15,800 in Wyoming, and the highest being a whopping $44,000 in Washington, D.C.!

So, are destination weddings really less expensive on average? Let's talk about some of the benefits that may make a destination wedding cheaper.

1. Smaller guest lists: Hosting a wedding at an international destination almost guarantees that you won't have the same turnout that you would if you were tying the knot locally. Since the per person catering cost is usually one of the highest ticket items of a wedding, this is a huge financial benefit of destination weddings.

2. All-inclusive packages: Most all-inclusive resorts in the Caribbean offer all-inclusive wedding packages that include items like bride and bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnieres, simple ceremony florals, ceremony officiant, and sometimes even photography. These packages can certainly help couples save money if they are able to stay within the package inclusions.

3. Free wedding packages: Some resorts offer free wedding packages for staying a minimum number of nights. These wedding packages are usually very simple but can come with additional inclusions for staying longer or bringing a few more guests along. If your ideal destination wedding is an intimate ceremony, these free wedding packages are ideal for saving a significant amount of money.

4. The benefit of natural beauty: One of the major benefits of having a Caribbean destination wedding is that natural beauty is always included, thus reducing the need for extravagant décor and florals. Since this is one of the major expense categories of most U.S. weddings, this benefit can be huge savings for the couple.

5. The wedding & honeymoon combo: You're already in paradise. Why not stay there for your honeymoon? There's no shortage of stunning resorts in the Caribbean, making it easy to seamlessly transition from wedding to honeymoon, whether staying at the same resort or switching to another. Combining the wedding and honeymoon into one trip is a great way to save money.

Now, let's move on to some of the considerations that may increase your overall wedding costs.

1. External vendor fees: All-inclusive resorts are great, but can be very rigid about the vendors they allow for weddings. Nearly all resorts have an in-house vendor list, as well as a list of fees that apply for using any external vendors. These fees are not cheap, and if you are using multiple external vendors, they can add up very quickly!

2. Flying in vendors: Let's say you already have a relationship with an amazing local photographer and couldn't imagine anyone else capturing your special day. Well, that's great — but you now have to cover their travel expenses in addition to their professional fees. Oh, and don't forget about the external vendor fees we just talked about. This would apply to any local vendor you may want to bring with you for your wedding.

3. Covering travel for VIPs: If you are set on having a destination wedding, one of the first things you should do is make sure your VIP guests are able to travel to your preferred destination for your wedding. If they're not able to for financial reasons, but your heart is set on the destination, you may have to cover the travel expenses for your VIPs. This is something to figure out and factor into your wedding budget very early on in your planning process.

4. Extravagant & luxury destination weddings: While the natural beauty of the Caribbean usually minimizes the need for extra décor and florals, your vision may be a luxurious display of décor and florals against that stunning natural backdrop. These types of destination weddings are on the higher end of the cost spectrum and may not be less expensive than a wedding in your home town would have been when all is said and done. Though, it will undoubtedly be absolutely beautiful!

With this information, what should you do next? First, find out the cost of the wedding packages for your preferred resort venue (Fly Getaways can help with this). Then, add up all the extras, like your wedding day attire, vendors, and anything else you want that's not included in the resort's wedding package. Compare your total to the average cost of a wedding in your area and you'll have an idea of whether a destination wedding will be a more budget-friendly option than a local one.

The Bottom Line

By keeping décor to a minimum, using in-house vendors, and hosting an intimate to small wedding, you can have a much less expensive wedding abroad that you would at home.

However, if you want extravagant décor and florals, expect a mid to large sized guest list, are selective about your vendors, or will need to cover the travel expenses of some of your guests, your wedding can be just as or even more expensive than a local wedding — and that's okay, too, as long as it's within your budget and turns out to be the wedding of your dreams!