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What You Need To Know About Attending A Destination Wedding

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Like most people, I love to travel. Alongside running this travel blog, I’m also a documentary wedding photographer in Cornwall, South West England (Mark Shaw Photography) so I get to travel lots through my work. Recently I found out a couple of close friends were planning a destination wedding, I was instantly excited. That was, however, until I started thinking about the cost, time off work and everything else that would come with the trip. While destination weddings are a great way to tie the knot, for potential guests, they can be a minefield. Normally, when you attend a wedding, all you have to worry about is choosing a gift and booking your taxi home. However, when you are invited to a destination do, you have lots of other things to consider as well.

 
image by destination wedding photographer Andy Green from Harrera Images
 
To help you navigate your way through attending your first destination wedding, I have put together a guide to everything that you need to know.

UNDERSTAND THAT IT WILL BE EXPENSIVE

For guests, attending a destination wedding can cost anything between £600 and £2000 – that’s a lot of money. The amount that attending the wedding will cost will depend on where it is being held, the accommodation options and how long you plan on staying for.

 

REALISE THAT YOU CAN SAY NO

It might feel rude, but if you just can’t afford it, the bride and groom will understand. You might be sad about missing the celebration, but if you don’t have the money to go, you don’t have it. Don’t be afraid of upsetting the happy couple, they will understand.

 

A GIFT IS NOT NECESSARY

For weddings in another country, you don’t have to bring a gift. The first reason for this is because it isn’t practical – no one wants to take a toaster on a plane. The second is because you will have already spent enough money on attending the wedding, so you don’t need to buy a gift as well. With destination weddings, your presence at the celebrations should be more than enough for the bride and groom. If you do want to get them a little something, you could always buy them a present once you get home.



TAKE NOTE OF THE DRESS CODE

Just like with regular weddings, destination weddings also have dress codes. While some are casual, others require formal dress, so make sure to take note of the dress code. You should find information about this on the invitation, if there isn’t any, contact the bride and groom to ask.

ASK THE BRIDE AND GROOM ABOUT HOTEL

If you are unsure where everyone is meant to be staying, get in touch with the happy couple and ask them. Often, the package that the bride and groom get includes hotel rooms. So it’s important to ask them about this before booking a room. Obviously, you will still have to pay for your room, but you may get it at discounted price if it’s part of a package deal. If you have to find your own hotel room, research hotels that are as close to the wedding venue as possible. Destination weddings can be a lot of fun, just as long as you know what to expect. If you have been invited to a wedding abroad, take note of the tips above, before confirming your attendance.

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