How Much Does a Destination Wedding Cost?

A destination wedding is something that many couples daydream about – saying "I do" in a far-away destination, such as a tropical island abroad – and celebrating with their closest friends and family for days. Most often, however, the thought is immediately followed by questions like, "Can we afford it?" and "Is it realistic for our budget?"

Inherently, many assume that destination weddings come with a high price tag. After all, destination weddings often take place in beautiful, out-of-the-box locations (think, the Caribbean) and are held at luxurious, top-notch wedding resorts. They can require international travel, on top of several nights of accommodations for both the wedding and honeymoon stay. Yet despite all of this, the costs are considerably low. Today, the average cost of a destination wedding abroad is half the average cost of a traditional, at-home affair.¹

Let’s get to the specific budget breakdown:

Average cost of a domestic wedding in 2020: $19,000

Average cost of a destination wedding in 2020: $7,445

Average costs can vary year-to-year (especially taking Covid-19 into account) and place-to-place, but generally speaking, destination weddings are more cost-effective for couples. Based on our customer data, couples who marry abroad spend less than $10,000, on average, for their entire wedding experience.¹ Meanwhile, traditional, local weddings cost closer to $20,000-$30,000 per couple.²

For both types of weddings, location can make all the difference in the dollar amount. For example, traditional weddings in New York City can cost upwards of $50,000+ for couples, while a wedding near the midwest may cost closer to $25,000.² Meanwhile, domestic destination weddings – weddings held 200+ miles from home, but still within the United States – cost about $28,000 for couples, according to The Knot's 2017 Real Weddings Survey.³ This is largely due to the fact that domestic weddings have a longer guest list, where the couple is paying a per person (or per plate) fee out of their own pocket. With an all-inclusive destination wedding abroad, this hefty cost is covered in the flat (and affordable) package price.

Do Couples Pay for Guests Attending a Destination Wedding?

A common misconception regarding destination weddings is that the couple must pay for guests' travel. While you may choose to cover airfare and/or hotel accommodations for a close loved one or two, (perhaps those who could not afford to make the trip otherwise), this is not the expectation. After all, couples having a traditional wedding don't typically cover travel costs for out-of-town guests.

If you are concerned about guest expenses, there are ways you can offset their costs of attending a destination wedding. One of the most common ways to do so is to forego registering for wedding gifts. You may request that your guests do not purchase gifts, as their presence at your celebration is wonderful enough. If this is the case, be sure to communicate this (we recommend having it on your wedding website), so guests know exactly what to expect.

You may also check with your Destination Wedding Specialist to see if any additional deals are offered once you meet a certain number of rooms booked. Some destination wedding resorts will offer free rooms after a certain number of bookings are made (which you can reserve for special VIPs), while others may offer free group excursions and upgraded suites.