Destination Wedding: Cost Cutting Tips

Destination weddings do not have to cost a fortune. In fact, the bride and groom may find that by having their honeymoon at the same location as the wedding, combined with a smaller guest list, may be less expensive than a home town wedding. Of course these savings need to be balanced out by the higher cost to the guests , who are probably incurring travel lodging and meal expenses.

There are some ways to save on the expense of the wedding without sacrificing quality. Following are tips to save money on your destination wedding:

1. Plan your wedding for the off season.. By avoiding the high season, you can save substantially on the price of everything, from the banquet to the lodging. Traveling during the months immediately before and after the busy season, called the shoulder season, can net excellent weather, less crowds and lower prices. Airfares and hotel accommodations can be significantly less expensive on the off season.

2. Have the wedding on a day other than Saturday. Saturday is the most popular day for weddings. By being flexible about the wedding day, you can probably get the wedding meal and other services at lower rates. Consider a Friday night or Sunday afternoon for your wedding ceremony and celebration.

3. Take advantage of package deals. Ask your travel agent or the hotel sales person for package deals. The sales person at the hotel is often able to offer special package rates on accommodations for the guests. They may offer complimentary accommodations and meals for the bride and groom. Without being obnoxious about it, ask the sales person for discounts and complimentary perks while negotiating the plans for the banquet or dinner.

4. Use local vendors. Instead of importing services from your home town, use the services of the vendors at the locale where the wedding will be. Florists, musicians and photographers from the destination will know what works best there and have inside information that they can use to your advantage. Using local vendors will also give your wedding the unique charm of the destination that you have selected.