Returning from a destination wedding in Okinawa, my colleague Karen came back with some sweet potato tart and bitter gourd tea souvenirs for us. Since Karen is quite adventurous and her partner is a seasoned traveler, the two have decided on a destination wedding and to forgo their honeymoon.
Are destination weddings more affordable than hometown weddings? Not necessarily! A friend of Karen’s who held a wedding in Okinawa and invited more than 20 relatives and friends ended up spending 4 times the amount of a local wedding. This was largely due to airfare and accommodation costs.
Whether a destination wedding is cheaper really depends on how you plan it. Costs are obviously a lot lower for couples who go on the trip alone, compared to those who invite and pay for their guests. Below are six money saving tips for a destination wedding.
1. Pick an off-peak date
Airfares and hotel prices during peak periods can be twice as much as the off-peak season. Especially if you are also paying for your guests an off-peak date can help bring down the cost tremendously. Before confirming your wedding date, always keep an eye on flight promotions from airlines.
2. Save on extras
Shop around for wedding packages offered by of different agencies and steer away from items that incur additional charges such as photo albums, fresh flower decorations and live band. The reputation and experience of the wedding agencies should also be taken into consideration apart from their prices.
3. Have your honeymoon at the wedding location
Take advantage of a destination wedding by having your honeymoon and wedding photos taken at the wedding location! This can help bring down the overall wedding costs as well.
4. Bring your own gowns
Buying a wedding gown online according to your budget may as well be a better option, as you wouldn’t have to worry about the cost of damaging and repairing a rented gown . You can also wear the gown for the ceremony and wedding photos too.
5. Choose a local restaurant
Instead of paying extra to the wedding agency to arrange your wedding party, why not organize one yourself at a local restaurant?
6. Earn points with credit cards
Pay your wedding expenses with credit cards to take advantage of promotions and earn gifts, mileage, and points that can be redeemed for air tickets and home appliances. Be sure to settle your credit card bills on time though.
Besides the pointers above, brides- and grooms-to-be should also be decided in terms what they want for their weddings. Changing plans halfway can be costly. To stay within your budget, check out the Wedding Budgeting Worksheet available on The Chin Family website.
