Is a destination wedding right for you?

Do you and your fiancé/fiancée like to travel?

Yes: If you and your partner love travelling and creating special memories together, a destination wedding is the perfect fit for you! Your destination wedding will be like a leisure vacation, with a few days dedicated exclusively to your wedding and celebrating your union. Plus, with the help of the Sunwing Weddings team, you can focus on having a blast in paradise rather than dealing with all the planning details that go into travelling and executing a wedding.

No: While you don’t need to be an avid traveller to consider a destination wedding, enjoying travelling is definitely important if you’re going to host a destination wedding. Take some time to consider all the factors that go into a destination wedding such as flying, staying at a resort, etc. This will help you determine if a wedding down south is right for you.

Have you ever been to an all inclusive resort?

Yes: Amazing! Having previously been to an all inclusive resort will help you pick the right wedding resort for you since you have an idea of what sort of amenities and facilities you want your resort to have. It will also allow you to focus more on wedding planning and less on wondering what the all inclusive experience will be like.

No: Not a problem! Our destination wedding consultants can help you envision your vacation experience at an all inclusive resort. However, preliminary research into how certain resorts operate (i.e. amenities, dining options, activities and entertainment) will give you a good idea on what to expect and will help you narrow down your resort selection.

What sort of dress code are you envisioning?

While a more laidback dress code is usually encouraged for destination weddings, you don’t have to rule out a destination wedding if you’re envisioning something more formal. We recommend considering factors such as weather, venues, packing logistics, etc. to assist in determining your dress code. Our destination wedding consultants can help you pick the perfect location, time of year and resort for the dress code you envision.

What are your expectations as far as gifts?

Having a destination wedding comes with a few obstacles when it comes to wedding gifts. Depending on your expectations, there are a few things you should keep in mind. If you want a large gift registry with all the things, remember that your guests will be travelling for a week to celebrate your wedding – which can be a large expense when factoring in flight/hotel costs and taking time off work. They may not be willing (or able to afford) to also purchase a large gift off your registry. When having a destination wedding it is not generally expected for guests to also give gifts - their presence at your destination wedding is the best gift you can hope for!

Plus, keep in mind that your guests will be travelling and will have to bring your gifts to destination with them – and then you’ll have to bring them back home! Couples who choose a destination wedding and have a gift registry usually have their gifts mailed to their home or host a gift ceremony before or after their destination wedding week.

How likely is it that your friends and family will be able to travel?

Before deciding upon a destination wedding, you should consider how many of your friends and family would be willing to travel to join you. Typically, the total number of guests for a destination wedding is lower than that of a traditional wedding at home – which can be great if you want to have a celebration with just your closest family and friends. It’s also a great option if you have friends and family from all over the world; a destination wedding allows you to meet somewhere in between. Make a list of everyone you want to invite and send out a couple of feelers to really gauge who would be willing to travel.

Are you looking to save money?

While destination weddings are often cheaper than having weddings at home, there are still a few things to keep in mind when weighing the costs. Remember that you’ll need to pay for the cost of your one-week trip plus the cost of the wedding, which will vary depending on the package you choose (and yes, there are free options).

If you just want to have a simple ceremony on the beach with a semi-private reception, that’s often included free of charge when your group books a certain number of room nights. This normally includes a basic but beautiful ceremony and a semi-private reception at one of the resort restaurants – a great option if you’re looking for a budget-friendly and laidback affair.

If you’re looking for a traditional wedding with a private reception including dancing and an open bar, you’ll have to pay for food and beverage packages as you would with a local wedding. While use of the resort bars and restaurants during their regular hours of operation is included in your stay, anything above that is at an extra cost to cover any additional labour and supplies.

Do you want to be heavily involved in the wedding planning?

Yes: Being involved in every step of the wedding planning process can be a bit tricky, since the wedding is taking place in a different country! That being said, there are still plenty of ways you can get involved in the planning. Your destination wedding consultant can send you maps, photos and videos of your resort’s venues so you can see all the spaces as if you’re there in person. You’ll also be able to choose from a variety of flower, cake and linen options. Plus, you can still bring some DIY items from home – but the on-site team has vendors who can supply pretty much everything you need.

No: You’re in luck – destination wedding planning is usually a joint effort between the happy couple, the destination wedding consultant and any staff or vendors in destination. While you’ll still get to decide on your wedding day vision and make sure everything is to your liking, your wedding consultant will take care of all the nitty-gritty so you won’t have to stress out over things like placing the flower order or knowing where to get the best table linens.

How tech-savvy are you? Do you think you can manage to organize your entire wedding virtually?

When planning a destination wedding, it may not be feasible to go down to the hotel in advance to see, smell and taste everything in person – which is why Wi-Fi and computer access will be your best friend during the destination wedding planning process. Your destination wedding consultant will be able to send you photos, videos, links, virtual tours and all the different décor options via email. As long as you can connect to the internet, the process will be smooth and stress-free! Your consultant will ensure you can see all the options before you arrive to make sure you feel confident in your selection and choices for the big day.

What’s most important to you when planning your wedding ceremony?

Envision your dream wedding ceremony – where does it take place? If you’ve always envisioned getting married with your toes in the sand or on a glamorous terrace overlooking the ocean, a destination wedding would be a great option for you!

You’ll also want to consider your preferences in terms of legal and religious ceremonies. If you want a legal ceremony, you’ll need to consider the cost and paperwork associated with legally marrying in a different country (including translations and certifying the marriage when you get home). Many couples decide to legally marry at home before their trip and do a symbolic ceremony in destination. You’ll also have to consider that while a lot of countries recognize same-sex marriages, not all of them do, so research which destination works for you.