Here we are again with another wedding debate! Destination Vs. Local. There are pros and cons to both options – you might want a huge wedding with all of your friends you’ve known since the second grade, you might want to have a local wedding where everyone in a 50 mile radius can come. Or if you want a smaller intimate wedding with just the people that you are closest to and have a mini vacation out of it, you might want to have a destination wedding. (that’s what I did!) Below we have experts in the field weigh in on this great debate! Let us know what you think!
Jenn of Green Wedding Shoes Blog: In looking for weddings to feature on Green Wedding Shoes, I’d have to say that local weddings are typically my favorites. The couples usually put in lots more details and personality into their day which my readers love to see. Also, most of my readers are planning local weddings, so those help them find inspiration – although it’s fun to mix it up once in awhile and share a destination wedding :).
Kelly McWilliams of Weddings by Socialites: “Destination weddings are my favorite to plan for a few reasons. First, I love that a destination wedding allows for all the wedding guests to get to know each other before the wedding (typically at a welcome reception or other planned gathering). When they have this time to meet and find out how they’re all connected, the ceremony somehow just feels so much more intimate and meaningful to everyone. The reception in turn is even better because everyone is friends and experienced the ceremony as a group and not strangers. Secondly, I love that when planning a destination wedding I’m planning events for people who are truly going to be ecstatic about getting a weekend away to a new place and that they get to celebrate with everyone they enjoy most. I also love that with destination weddings we can break some of the traditional rules that just don’t work. That means we can make each event as unique as we like. Finally, I love being introduced to new locations and professionals.”
Jeff Hendlin of Bridal Guide Magazine: I am a big fan of destination weddings. So are an increasingly number of engaged couples who are breaking from the traditional hometown weddings and opting to exchange their vows away from home. The boom in destination weddings has also been recognized by hotel/resorts companies in exotic vacation destinations. You’d be hard pressed to find a major resort in Mexico or the Caribbean today that don’t have well-staffed wedding departments. Some have even created catchy titles for the heads of these departments like Chief Romance Officer and Director of Romance.
Jennifer Stein of Destination I Do Magazine: “Suffice it to say, I’m a HUGE cheerleader for destination weddings, I mean, we have an entire magazine devoted to the very subject! But to say they are “better” would be untrue. It totally depends on the couple and their situation. The reason I think destination weddings offer more is because they allow friends and loved ones to celebrate together with the bride and groom for longer than just several hours on the day of the wedding. Most weddings away give guests the unique opportunity to spend some serious quality time with one another in a fabulous vacation destination which, many times, maximizes the overall experience for everyone.Hometown weddings are the bedrock of our industry and give couples the traditional option so many feel more comfortable with. But for couples who are doing a hometown wedding…my advice would be to travel to an exceptional honeymoon destination to really live it up and start your new life together off right!”
Photo by Kira Sugarman Shemano
Photo by Anna Kuperberg
Photo by Boutwell Studio
Photo by Megan Ann Photography
Photo by Jose Villa
Photo by Shawna Herring
Photo by Rochelle Cheever
May you be inspired,
Leila
