For a myriad of reasons, engaged Canadians look to places outside of the Great White North to tie the knot. Whether couples seek the sunny shores of an island getaway or the opportunity to temporarily immerse themselves in another land, destination weddings are a popular choice for many. Some take advantage of a remote spot to combine both the marriage ceremony and the honeymoon. If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, you’ll need to know a few things about getting hitched in another country.
First Things First
Canada recognizes legal marriages in other countries as valid. After getting married in another country, neither you nor your spouse need to register your union. You’ll need to be familiar with the regulations of the foreign country, as marrying abroad may automatically make you citizens of that country. While your Canadian citizenship won’t be impacted by this, the foreign country may not recognize you as a Canadian. This would make you ineligible from receiving services from Canadian consular offices. Before you make that trip, find out where the nearest Canadian government office is and contact it for information.
Paperwork Matters
An embassy or a consulate of the nation where you’ll marry should be able to provide details for marriage requirements. Please note that these offices do not perform ceremonies or other related services. Different nations and jurisdictions vary when it comes to the required documentation, but you may be expected to furnish the following:
Valid Canadian passport
Birth certificate
Divorce or death certificate to prove that you’re legally divorced or widowed
Statement of parental consent for very young participants
Premarital blood test certificate
You may need to provide an affidavit to prove that you are single. Some nations may require you to pre-register before exchanging vows. You may also need to provide a certificate of non-impediment to marriage or a qualifying statement. Depending on the location, you’ll also need to investigate having documents translated in another language and authenticated by Canada.
Concerns for Marrying a Foreign Partner
You may be traveling abroad to meet and marry a person you’ve been dating online for some time. While love can bloom between two consenting adults anywhere in the world, be aware of the potential of someone marrying you just for citizenship reasons. Someone may be using you or your connection to commit fraud in another territory or back home. If you have concerns, an attorney who specializes in matrimonial law can provide counsel.
Foreign Laws Abroad
Besides impacting your citizenship status, marrying abroad may expose you to foreign laws that could prohibit you from returning. For example, in some countries, a husband can restrict the travel of a wife and children. He may also have full authority when it comes to use of legal documents. It cannot be stated enough that you need to carefully research requirements before putting a ring on it in another country. If you’ll be marrying at a particular venue such as a resort or within a house of worship, these institutions should be able to help.
LGBTQ+ Considerations Abroad
While same-sex unions are legal and recognized in Canada, this is not the case in other parts of the world. Some countries make a distinction between civil unions and marriages in this regard. Embassies, consulate offices and online websites can provide answers to your questions about marrying someone of the same gender. Look up countries that recognize same-sex unions and focus on venues that are LGBTQ-friendly.
Our planet is home to many beautiful places to commit yourself to another in matrimony. Even the simplest of ceremonies requires forethought, and this is especially true for nuptials outside Canada’s borders. It’s important to do your research, have the required paperwork and be aware of the implications that come with saying “I do” abroad.
The world has gone through some peculiar changes in the last few years. The biggest shift came with the rise of COVID-19. Throughout 2020, events around the planet, like weddings, were postponed or canceled outright due to health restrictions. While the regulations have eased a bit since the development of the coronavirus vaccine, the virus has mutated into a number of variants that are causing new concerns. If you’ve recently gotten engaged and want to plan a destination wedding, you may feel uncertain about the future.
Though there is no way to know what tomorrow holds for sure, you can still use what you’ve learned in the last year to make a plan for your wedding. Take these points to heart and see how to best navigate these uncharted waters.
The Destination Matters
First and foremost, where you want to tie the knot is going to greatly impact whether or not your plans are altered down the line. Some countries are handling the task of vaccinating citizens better than others. If you want to go to a nation that is seeing new spikes of COVID-19 because the population refuses to take the vaccine, then it is much more likely that travel to this nation will be impacted. The United States is a good example of this, with both cities and rural communities alike being riddled with cases stemming from gatherings of the unvaccinated.
This means that research will be the easiest way to know what to expect later. Try to steer clear of places like the United States if you want to guarantee that your plans will go the way you intend. However, this is not total assurance that your wedding will happen. Should the virus lead to lockdowns again, you will want to consider some extra points.
The Deposit Should Be Refundable
If you book a trip to a nation that puts major travel restrictions into effect, then you will definitely need to cancel or postpone your wedding. This is a point you should consider well in advance. When making arrangements, you need to talk to vendors and venue representatives about your deposit. Though faced with an unprecedented scenario, businesses are trying to make up for coronavirus-related losses in a number of ways. If you want that deposit back in case of unforeseen circumstances, you need to discuss this and make your point clear from the beginning.
The Guest List Must Be Small
Destination weddings tend to have smaller guest lists than local events. Still, you should try to make even more cuts if you’re planning an event during uncertain times. People tend to have very strong opinions about vaccination right now, meaning you cannot guarantee that everyone you invite will follow the proper protocol. To avoid spending your wedding with someone who might be a health hazard, review your list and try to only invite individuals you trust to do what is right. This provides you with peace of mind and reduces the odds of an uncomfortable interaction.
The Waiting Is the Hardest Part
When you want to get married, you don’t usually want to wait. Sadly, the strange nature of the world right now means that the smartest thing to do is bide your time. At the end of the day, you can do whatever you feel most comfortable doing. As long as you understand your plans could be altered by forces beyond your control, feel free to carry on and plan the destination event of your dreams. As a word of caution, you may also wish to have a backup plan just in case.
The world might be different now than it was a few years ago, but some forethought can do wonders when it comes to handling any situation. Consider all the factors involved with planning a destination wedding to decide if now is the best time to be going abroad for your nuptials.
The decision to have a destination wedding can be a big one. Not only will you be looking at your planning tasks from an entirely different perspective, you also must dedicate extra effort to the financial side of things. There are additional costs attached to hosting your nuptials away from home, so it is wise to plan ahead and create a strategy for covering all expenses. Review these points and formulate a plan that will help you feel excited and prepared for your big day.
Location: Selecting the Destination
Perhaps the biggest factor that will influence the total cost of your destination event is the location you select. The world is a big place, and there are some areas that command a higher price than others. Before you can determine your exact budget for other services, decide where you’d like to hold your wedding. After you’ve picked out a country and venue, you can begin looking at expenses like airline fare, vendors, accommodations, and other details.
Lodging
Before you dive into the costs related to the wedding itself, you’ll find it useful to research your options with lodging. When you’re asking friends and family to travel far from home, it is practical to offer them a decent place to stay. If your wedding is going to take place in or near a popular tourist destination, you’ll find certain venues offer packages and deals for larger groups. While it isn’t necessary for you to cover the expenses for guests, working with the hotel or resort to reserve blocks at a discount is a good idea.
Destination andVendors
Hiring businesses to cover services like catering, entertainment, and photography for your wedding can be difficult under normal circumstances. With destination events, the challenge becomes a bit more complicated. Since you’re likely not as familiar with the area as you are with your home community, you won’t have an immediate knowledge of your options. Some couples find it useful to work with professional planners or venue managers to arrange certain services. This can save you a good amount of time and a lot of effort, though it may cost you a bit more in some areas for the convenience.
Decorations
One small problem you may encounter when planning a destination event is decor. If you have to board a plane, the last thing you want is to travel with extra luggage containing decorations. What’s more, you may not have the luxury of being able to rush out to the store to grab whatever supplies you need after you arrive. Again, this is a situation where you’ll find it is best to work with your venue manager. Usually, the representative of the venue can coordinate this side of the event for you and make the space look however you’d like.
Unique Experiences
If you’re traveling with a very small group for your nuptials, you may want to go above and beyond with the experience. There is no need to adhere to tradition when you’re abroad, especially when you’re in a new location that offers lots of possibilities. When there are a few days to work with on your itinerary, consider some extra events for your guests. A trip to the local beach, a dinner at a fancy restaurant, or an opportunity to soak up some culture via a museum or theatrical performance can all be fun activities to explore.
Though a destination wedding provides the chance to see a different side of the world during a milestone event in your life, there are some details to work out early on. Focus on the financial side of your event and structure your planning process around the most pressing expenses. With a little research, you’ll have the insight needed to make your nuptials come to life in a way that aligns with your budget.
Read up on three ways to avoid annoying your wedding guests and ensuring a pleasurable experience for all who grace you with their presence.
Designing your wedding takes plenty of work and planning. It’s a shared effort involving you, your partner, and your vendors, but another party helps make the magic happen: your guests. You may not think of your special day as a collaboration between you and those invited, but they bring atmosphere and expectations to the party. Alienating them is the last thing you want to do, but some couples do things that upset friends and family or that permanently sever relationships. A little thoughtfulness goes a long way, so pay attention to a few common offenses that some nearlyweds commit and that you will want to make sure to avoid.
Guests Spend More Than You Think
Forbes contributor Dani Pascarella reveals that the average wedding guest spends about $430 to attend. That usually includes gifts and attire, but these expenses can double or even triple if the happy couple’s tying the knot out of town. Including travel and accommodations, destination wedding guests spent about $1,440 each in 2019. Pascarella discussed weddings in the United States, but those figures in Canadian dollars work out to $600 spent on local nuptials and $2,000 for destination affairs.
Set a Sensible Dress Code
In a February 2019 Insider piece, Madison Vanderberg retells outrageous tales of horrible wedding demands from entitled ‘zillas. One bride composed a very detailed dress code with colors, hem lengths, and textures, as well as a laundry list of items her female guests were forbidden to wear. Guests already face challenges when choosing what they’ll wear to a wedding, but pressuring them to fit ultra-specific requirements can backfire horribly.
At the same time, you shouldn’t leave your friends and family without any guidance. Wedding Wire Canada’s Alice Prendergast mentions the confusion and panic they may feel if there’s no dress code mentioned in your invitation. She offers advice to help guests figure out what to wear, but you don’t want to put them in that predicament. Vox’s Constance Grady provides a helpful guide to common terms like “black tie” and “wedding casual,” with illustrations to match. If you like, you can even include this or another useful link on your wedding website.
Consider Hosting Your Wedding Locally
Destination wedding guests spend more than half of their total expenses on travel and lodging. Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary bemoans the steep costs of attendance, but money is not the only issue. On the U.S. version of Wedding Wire, Kim Forrest mentions that 39% of surveyed wedding guests admitted that they didn’t like making travel and accommodations arrangements. People with the luxury of paid time off end up using it on travel, and those without vacation days must choose between attending the wedding and being able to pay their bills.
Between requesting time off, researching prices, and booking transportation and lodging, you may want to avoid the hassle. You can still create a fun and original experience by staying local but choosing a venue, date, and theme that fit your wedding’s vision.
Pay Attention to Ceremony Length
One of your most difficult tasks is selecting which elements to include in your wedding ceremony. You both may desire to customize your vows, incorporate family or cultural traditions, and include special music and readings. At the same time, you don’t want to make your ceremony too long. Brides’ Jaimie Mackey suggests keeping it to 20 or 30 minutes in length. You’ll be able to incorporate meaningful elements without boring your guests or causing them discomfort. Wedding Wire Canada offers some useful guidance for structuring your ceremony.
Designing a wedding can be equally exciting and challenging. It’s a balancing act in which you create an event that both reflects you as a couple and is enjoyable and relaxing for your guests. As you plan your big day, avoid common missteps and remember to practice common courtesy and think of your loved ones’ needs as well as your own.
There are many spectacular American wedding venues that offer the excitement of a destination wedding but are not as far-flung.
Destination weddings have long been a popular choice amongst couples who want to see the world while simultaneously tying the knot. While many couples opt to head to far-flung destinations across the planet, you do not have to go to extreme lengths to have a wedding held on foreign shores. In fact, you might simply consider an American wedding as a way to visit some of the most exciting locations and gorgeous venues around. America is a great choice for Canadians looking to throw destination weddings due to its general proximity and wealth of options.
If you haven’t seen much of America, you might not know exactly where to go for your wedding. Luckily, there are some easy ways to get your wheels turning. Take a look at some of the more popular American wedding venues. This can give you a general idea of what might catch your interest and inspire you to find the ideal American destination.
Looking East
To begin, you might want to think about the East Coast of America. Home to famous cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Boston, the East Coast is packed with amazing locations to consider. A large number of Canadians have been to cities like New York on vacation, and plenty of people want to get married in Manhattan. Unfortunately, it can cost you a small fortune to try and get married within New York City. While it is expensive, it is not impossible.
Instead of opting for a wedding in New York, think about having one on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. Cities like Hoboken and Jersey City are situated on the Hudson and offer a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline. On top of this, the venues located in New Jersey often come with smaller price tags than you might have imagined. If you have your heart set on an having your American wedding in New York City, then you need to make sure you are considering your budget and how to best move forward without going broke.
Go West
While the East Coast might be a tad more popular, there are plenty of people around the world who prefer the sunny shores and exciting cities found on the West Coast. Locations like the Pacific Northwest contain gems like Portland and Seattle, cities which have seen huge population booms in recent years. If you and your partner have visited this area before and love the way the natural world mixes with urban environments, then it could prove to be an ideal wedding location for your event.
The cities to the south also have a ton to offer. San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego are three of the most popular cities to be found in the American state of California. When you are looking to get married on some of the most captivating beaches found on the planet, then you most definitely are going to want to take a look at the options available to you in California. As with New York, some of these cities might prove quite expensive. Still, you might find a great fit by looking over venue and travel options early enough.
Fly or Drive to an American Wedding Destination
Throwing a destination wedding is a wonderful opportunity for you and your partner to see a new corner of the world. Your marriage is going to be a journey, so it might be fun to start your adventure from a place you have never been before. If an America wedding sounds like the right fit, be sure to look over all your options and pick a destination that makes the most sense for your tastes and desires.
Many people choose exotic beaches to hold their destination wedding. Generally you will want to pick a place that most, if not all of your attendees will be comfortable and will have fun.
The Destination wedding has been growing steadily in popularity for many years. At first glance, the thought of rushing away from Canada toward an international spot might be an expensive one. In truth, destination weddings are far easier to plan and do not require the same level of financial commitment. To be successful with your wedding, you will need to make sure you go about the process in the right way and consider a few key elements.
Times change and trends change along with it. While weddings have been happening all over the world for quite a bit of time, the ways weddings happen always shift in style and scope. For many years now, the trend for weddings has been to throw a large and somewhat lavish event. Even small-scale weddings can wind up costing a fortune due to the way many couples go about their events. Now, many people are turning away from this trend and opting for something more personal and affordable. Not all couples will benefit from a destination wedding but it can be interesting to learn some of the pros.
Keeping the Destination Wedding Cost Down
A wedding has a habit of being a costly endeavor. You need to rent a venue, find caterers, think about decorations, hire entertainment, bring on a photographer, and that is only the beginning of it. You might be spending frustrating amounts of money on everything from stamps for your invites to the tips you give to the servers at the end of the reception. Instead of dealing with all of that, you can condense all of your expenses in one swoop. A destination wedding limits your options in the best ways possible.
For example, if you decide to go to Costa Rica for your destination wedding, then you might want to stay at a specific resort. This resort probably sees a lot of weddings throughout the course of the year, and it may offer some excellent packages for you and your guests. This means you can find a venue, caterers, entertainment, and hotel rooms in the same place. On top of all of this, you will be surrounded by the lush views and cool breezes of Costa Rica.
Fewer Guests
Something to be mindful of with a destination wedding is that you will need to keep your guest list low. This is a perfect idea for couples who do not have extensive circles of family and friends. Unfortunately, you also need to make sure the people you are inviting are able to afford the trip. Keeping your own costs down for the wedding is one thing, but you will be asking your guests to shell out a lot more money for your event than they would have at home.
Before you start to make all of your plans, sit down with your significant other and come up with a realistic list of who you would like to be present for your wedding. Reach out to these people and speak to them about your idea. If it seems like most people wouldn’t be able to make the journey for your wedding due to financial constraints or scheduling problems, then you should probably consider another option. You could always go away somewhere tropical and inviting for your honeymoon.
A World to See
There are many different reasons to consider a destination wedding. With such a big world out there to see, you and your partner simply might want to start your married life in a new location. Before you get ahead of yourself, be sure to consider the specifics of your event and whether you’re making the right choice for you and the people you care about. In the end, make the decision that will help you and your significant other to have the special day you both desire.
For a myriad of reasons, engaged Canadians look to places outside of the Great White North to tie the knot. Whether couples seek the sunny shores of an island getaway or the opportunity to temporarily immerse themselves in another land, destination weddings are a popular choice for many. Some take advantage of a remote spot to combine both the marriage ceremony and the honeymoon. If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, you’ll need to know a few things about getting hitched in another country.
First Things First
Canada recognizes legal marriages in other countries as valid. After getting married in another country, neither you nor your spouse need to register your union. You’ll need to be familiar with the regulations of the foreign country, as marrying abroad may automatically make you citizens of that country. While your Canadian citizenship won’t be impacted by this, the foreign country may not recognize you as a Canadian. This would make you ineligible from receiving services from Canadian consular offices. Before you make that trip, find out where the nearest Canadian government office is and contact it for information.
Paperwork Matters
An embassy or a consulate of the nation where you’ll marry should be able to provide details for marriage requirements. Please note that these offices do not perform ceremonies or other related services. Different nations and jurisdictions vary when it comes to the required documentation, but you may be expected to furnish the following:
Valid Canadian passport
Birth certificate
Divorce or death certificate to prove that you’re legally divorced or widowed
Statement of parental consent for very young participants
Premarital blood test certificate
You may need to provide an affidavit to prove that you are single. Some nations may require you to pre-register before exchanging vows. You may also need to provide a certificate of non-impediment to marriage or a qualifying statement. Depending on the location, you’ll also need to investigate having documents translated in another language and authenticated by Canada.
Concerns for Marrying a Foreign Partner
You may be traveling abroad to meet and marry a person you’ve been dating online for some time. While love can bloom between two consenting adults anywhere in the world, be aware of the potential of someone marrying you just for citizenship reasons. Someone may be using you or your connection to commit fraud in another territory or back home. If you have concerns, an attorney who specializes in matrimonial law can provide counsel.
Foreign Laws Abroad
Besides impacting your citizenship status, marrying abroad may expose you to foreign laws that could prohibit you from returning. For example, in some countries, a husband can restrict the travel of a wife and children. He may also have full authority when it comes to use of legal documents. It cannot be stated enough that you need to carefully research requirements before putting a ring on it in another country. If you’ll be marrying at a particular venue such as a resort or within a house of worship, these institutions should be able to help.
LGBTQ+ Considerations Abroad
While same-sex unions are legal and recognized in Canada, this is not the case in other parts of the world. Some countries make a distinction between civil unions and marriages in this regard. Embassies, consulate offices and online websites can provide answers to your questions about marrying someone of the same gender. Look up countries that recognize same-sex unions and focus on venues that are LGBTQ-friendly.
Our planet is home to many beautiful places to commit yourself to another in matrimony. Even the simplest of ceremonies requires forethought, and this is especially true for nuptials outside Canada’s borders. It’s important to do your research, have the required paperwork and be aware of the implications that come with saying “I do” abroad.
The world has gone through some peculiar changes in the last few years. The biggest shift came with the rise of COVID-19. Throughout 2020, events around the planet, like weddings, were postponed or canceled outright due to health restrictions. While the regulations have eased a bit since the development of the coronavirus vaccine, the virus has mutated into a number of variants that are causing new concerns. If you’ve recently gotten engaged and want to plan a destination wedding, you may feel uncertain about the future.
Though there is no way to know what tomorrow holds for sure, you can still use what you’ve learned in the last year to make a plan for your wedding. Take these points to heart and see how to best navigate these uncharted waters.
The Destination Matters
First and foremost, where you want to tie the knot is going to greatly impact whether or not your plans are altered down the line. Some countries are handling the task of vaccinating citizens better than others. If you want to go to a nation that is seeing new spikes of COVID-19 because the population refuses to take the vaccine, then it is much more likely that travel to this nation will be impacted. The United States is a good example of this, with both cities and rural communities alike being riddled with cases stemming from gatherings of the unvaccinated.
This means that research will be the easiest way to know what to expect later. Try to steer clear of places like the United States if you want to guarantee that your plans will go the way you intend. However, this is not total assurance that your wedding will happen. Should the virus lead to lockdowns again, you will want to consider some extra points.
The Deposit Should Be Refundable
If you book a trip to a nation that puts major travel restrictions into effect, then you will definitely need to cancel or postpone your wedding. This is a point you should consider well in advance. When making arrangements, you need to talk to vendors and venue representatives about your deposit. Though faced with an unprecedented scenario, businesses are trying to make up for coronavirus-related losses in a number of ways. If you want that deposit back in case of unforeseen circumstances, you need to discuss this and make your point clear from the beginning.
The Guest List Must Be Small
Destination weddings tend to have smaller guest lists than local events. Still, you should try to make even more cuts if you’re planning an event during uncertain times. People tend to have very strong opinions about vaccination right now, meaning you cannot guarantee that everyone you invite will follow the proper protocol. To avoid spending your wedding with someone who might be a health hazard, review your list and try to only invite individuals you trust to do what is right. This provides you with peace of mind and reduces the odds of an uncomfortable interaction.
The Waiting Is the Hardest Part
When you want to get married, you don’t usually want to wait. Sadly, the strange nature of the world right now means that the smartest thing to do is bide your time. At the end of the day, you can do whatever you feel most comfortable doing. As long as you understand your plans could be altered by forces beyond your control, feel free to carry on and plan the destination event of your dreams. As a word of caution, you may also wish to have a backup plan just in case.
The world might be different now than it was a few years ago, but some forethought can do wonders when it comes to handling any situation. Consider all the factors involved with planning a destination wedding to decide if now is the best time to be going abroad for your nuptials.
The decision to have a destination wedding can be a big one. Not only will you be looking at your planning tasks from an entirely different perspective, you also must dedicate extra effort to the financial side of things. There are additional costs attached to hosting your nuptials away from home, so it is wise to plan ahead and create a strategy for covering all expenses. Review these points and formulate a plan that will help you feel excited and prepared for your big day.
Location: Selecting the Destination
Perhaps the biggest factor that will influence the total cost of your destination event is the location you select. The world is a big place, and there are some areas that command a higher price than others. Before you can determine your exact budget for other services, decide where you’d like to hold your wedding. After you’ve picked out a country and venue, you can begin looking at expenses like airline fare, vendors, accommodations, and other details.
Lodging
Before you dive into the costs related to the wedding itself, you’ll find it useful to research your options with lodging. When you’re asking friends and family to travel far from home, it is practical to offer them a decent place to stay. If your wedding is going to take place in or near a popular tourist destination, you’ll find certain venues offer packages and deals for larger groups. While it isn’t necessary for you to cover the expenses for guests, working with the hotel or resort to reserve blocks at a discount is a good idea.
Destination andVendors
Hiring businesses to cover services like catering, entertainment, and photography for your wedding can be difficult under normal circumstances. With destination events, the challenge becomes a bit more complicated. Since you’re likely not as familiar with the area as you are with your home community, you won’t have an immediate knowledge of your options. Some couples find it useful to work with professional planners or venue managers to arrange certain services. This can save you a good amount of time and a lot of effort, though it may cost you a bit more in some areas for the convenience.
Decorations
One small problem you may encounter when planning a destination event is decor. If you have to board a plane, the last thing you want is to travel with extra luggage containing decorations. What’s more, you may not have the luxury of being able to rush out to the store to grab whatever supplies you need after you arrive. Again, this is a situation where you’ll find it is best to work with your venue manager. Usually, the representative of the venue can coordinate this side of the event for you and make the space look however you’d like.
Unique Experiences
If you’re traveling with a very small group for your nuptials, you may want to go above and beyond with the experience. There is no need to adhere to tradition when you’re abroad, especially when you’re in a new location that offers lots of possibilities. When there are a few days to work with on your itinerary, consider some extra events for your guests. A trip to the local beach, a dinner at a fancy restaurant, or an opportunity to soak up some culture via a museum or theatrical performance can all be fun activities to explore.
Though a destination wedding provides the chance to see a different side of the world during a milestone event in your life, there are some details to work out early on. Focus on the financial side of your event and structure your planning process around the most pressing expenses. With a little research, you’ll have the insight needed to make your nuptials come to life in a way that aligns with your budget.
Read up on three ways to avoid annoying your wedding guests and ensuring a pleasurable experience for all who grace you with their presence.
Designing your wedding takes plenty of work and planning. It’s a shared effort involving you, your partner, and your vendors, but another party helps make the magic happen: your guests. You may not think of your special day as a collaboration between you and those invited, but they bring atmosphere and expectations to the party. Alienating them is the last thing you want to do, but some couples do things that upset friends and family or that permanently sever relationships. A little thoughtfulness goes a long way, so pay attention to a few common offenses that some nearlyweds commit and that you will want to make sure to avoid.
Guests Spend More Than You Think
Forbes contributor Dani Pascarella reveals that the average wedding guest spends about $430 to attend. That usually includes gifts and attire, but these expenses can double or even triple if the happy couple’s tying the knot out of town. Including travel and accommodations, destination wedding guests spent about $1,440 each in 2019. Pascarella discussed weddings in the United States, but those figures in Canadian dollars work out to $600 spent on local nuptials and $2,000 for destination affairs.
Set a Sensible Dress Code
In a February 2019 Insider piece, Madison Vanderberg retells outrageous tales of horrible wedding demands from entitled ‘zillas. One bride composed a very detailed dress code with colors, hem lengths, and textures, as well as a laundry list of items her female guests were forbidden to wear. Guests already face challenges when choosing what they’ll wear to a wedding, but pressuring them to fit ultra-specific requirements can backfire horribly.
At the same time, you shouldn’t leave your friends and family without any guidance. Wedding Wire Canada’s Alice Prendergast mentions the confusion and panic they may feel if there’s no dress code mentioned in your invitation. She offers advice to help guests figure out what to wear, but you don’t want to put them in that predicament. Vox’s Constance Grady provides a helpful guide to common terms like “black tie” and “wedding casual,” with illustrations to match. If you like, you can even include this or another useful link on your wedding website.
Consider Hosting Your Wedding Locally
Destination wedding guests spend more than half of their total expenses on travel and lodging. Washington Post columnist Michelle Singletary bemoans the steep costs of attendance, but money is not the only issue. On the U.S. version of Wedding Wire, Kim Forrest mentions that 39% of surveyed wedding guests admitted that they didn’t like making travel and accommodations arrangements. People with the luxury of paid time off end up using it on travel, and those without vacation days must choose between attending the wedding and being able to pay their bills.
Between requesting time off, researching prices, and booking transportation and lodging, you may want to avoid the hassle. You can still create a fun and original experience by staying local but choosing a venue, date, and theme that fit your wedding’s vision.
Pay Attention to Ceremony Length
One of your most difficult tasks is selecting which elements to include in your wedding ceremony. You both may desire to customize your vows, incorporate family or cultural traditions, and include special music and readings. At the same time, you don’t want to make your ceremony too long. Brides’ Jaimie Mackey suggests keeping it to 20 or 30 minutes in length. You’ll be able to incorporate meaningful elements without boring your guests or causing them discomfort. Wedding Wire Canada offers some useful guidance for structuring your ceremony.
Designing a wedding can be equally exciting and challenging. It’s a balancing act in which you create an event that both reflects you as a couple and is enjoyable and relaxing for your guests. As you plan your big day, avoid common missteps and remember to practice common courtesy and think of your loved ones’ needs as well as your own.
There are many spectacular American wedding venues that offer the excitement of a destination wedding but are not as far-flung.
Destination weddings have long been a popular choice amongst couples who want to see the world while simultaneously tying the knot. While many couples opt to head to far-flung destinations across the planet, you do not have to go to extreme lengths to have a wedding held on foreign shores. In fact, you might simply consider an American wedding as a way to visit some of the most exciting locations and gorgeous venues around. America is a great choice for Canadians looking to throw destination weddings due to its general proximity and wealth of options.
If you haven’t seen much of America, you might not know exactly where to go for your wedding. Luckily, there are some easy ways to get your wheels turning. Take a look at some of the more popular American wedding venues. This can give you a general idea of what might catch your interest and inspire you to find the ideal American destination.
Looking East
To begin, you might want to think about the East Coast of America. Home to famous cities like New York, Philadelphia, and Boston, the East Coast is packed with amazing locations to consider. A large number of Canadians have been to cities like New York on vacation, and plenty of people want to get married in Manhattan. Unfortunately, it can cost you a small fortune to try and get married within New York City. While it is expensive, it is not impossible.
Instead of opting for a wedding in New York, think about having one on the New Jersey side of the Hudson River. Cities like Hoboken and Jersey City are situated on the Hudson and offer a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline. On top of this, the venues located in New Jersey often come with smaller price tags than you might have imagined. If you have your heart set on an having your American wedding in New York City, then you need to make sure you are considering your budget and how to best move forward without going broke.
Go West
While the East Coast might be a tad more popular, there are plenty of people around the world who prefer the sunny shores and exciting cities found on the West Coast. Locations like the Pacific Northwest contain gems like Portland and Seattle, cities which have seen huge population booms in recent years. If you and your partner have visited this area before and love the way the natural world mixes with urban environments, then it could prove to be an ideal wedding location for your event.
The cities to the south also have a ton to offer. San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego are three of the most popular cities to be found in the American state of California. When you are looking to get married on some of the most captivating beaches found on the planet, then you most definitely are going to want to take a look at the options available to you in California. As with New York, some of these cities might prove quite expensive. Still, you might find a great fit by looking over venue and travel options early enough.
Fly or Drive to an American Wedding Destination
Throwing a destination wedding is a wonderful opportunity for you and your partner to see a new corner of the world. Your marriage is going to be a journey, so it might be fun to start your adventure from a place you have never been before. If an America wedding sounds like the right fit, be sure to look over all your options and pick a destination that makes the most sense for your tastes and desires.
Many people choose exotic beaches to hold their destination wedding. Generally you will want to pick a place that most, if not all of your attendees will be comfortable and will have fun.
The Destination wedding has been growing steadily in popularity for many years. At first glance, the thought of rushing away from Canada toward an international spot might be an expensive one. In truth, destination weddings are far easier to plan and do not require the same level of financial commitment. To be successful with your wedding, you will need to make sure you go about the process in the right way and consider a few key elements.
Times change and trends change along with it. While weddings have been happening all over the world for quite a bit of time, the ways weddings happen always shift in style and scope. For many years now, the trend for weddings has been to throw a large and somewhat lavish event. Even small-scale weddings can wind up costing a fortune due to the way many couples go about their events. Now, many people are turning away from this trend and opting for something more personal and affordable. Not all couples will benefit from a destination wedding but it can be interesting to learn some of the pros.
Keeping the Destination Wedding Cost Down
A wedding has a habit of being a costly endeavor. You need to rent a venue, find caterers, think about decorations, hire entertainment, bring on a photographer, and that is only the beginning of it. You might be spending frustrating amounts of money on everything from stamps for your invites to the tips you give to the servers at the end of the reception. Instead of dealing with all of that, you can condense all of your expenses in one swoop. A destination wedding limits your options in the best ways possible.
For example, if you decide to go to Costa Rica for your destination wedding, then you might want to stay at a specific resort. This resort probably sees a lot of weddings throughout the course of the year, and it may offer some excellent packages for you and your guests. This means you can find a venue, caterers, entertainment, and hotel rooms in the same place. On top of all of this, you will be surrounded by the lush views and cool breezes of Costa Rica.
Fewer Guests
Something to be mindful of with a destination wedding is that you will need to keep your guest list low. This is a perfect idea for couples who do not have extensive circles of family and friends. Unfortunately, you also need to make sure the people you are inviting are able to afford the trip. Keeping your own costs down for the wedding is one thing, but you will be asking your guests to shell out a lot more money for your event than they would have at home.
Before you start to make all of your plans, sit down with your significant other and come up with a realistic list of who you would like to be present for your wedding. Reach out to these people and speak to them about your idea. If it seems like most people wouldn’t be able to make the journey for your wedding due to financial constraints or scheduling problems, then you should probably consider another option. You could always go away somewhere tropical and inviting for your honeymoon.
A World to See
There are many different reasons to consider a destination wedding. With such a big world out there to see, you and your partner simply might want to start your married life in a new location. Before you get ahead of yourself, be sure to consider the specifics of your event and whether you’re making the right choice for you and the people you care about. In the end, make the decision that will help you and your significant other to have the special day you both desire.
