If your dream wedding includes a beautiful resort, mesmerizing natural beauty, and modern amenities within your budget, there are several affordable destination wedding options out there.
Whether you want a beach wedding with sand between your toes as you walk down the aisle or a forest setting as you read the vows with your life partner, several destinations will steal your heart and create unforgettable memories.
Destination weddings are unique and you can make them even more special with the right planning and personal touches. Your wedding can be wild and adventurous or quiet and romantic. Find the right destination and your wedding will be exactly how you want it.
Why Go for a Destination Wedding
According to a report by Expedia, about 69% of U.S. people believe a destination wedding is less stressful than a regular one. Approximately 42% of married Americans would want to get a destination wedding if they could do it all over again.
And there are good reasons behind such feelings. A destination wedding is dreamy, enchanting, and truly magical. If planned well, it could be more economical than a regular city wedding.
You might think it takes a lot of planning, but in reality, a destination wedding is usually handled by the resort or hotel you book, which means it’s less hassle than a regular wedding.
Average Cost of an Affordable Destination Wedding
At first glance, you might think that a destination wedding is costlier than a regular wedding. However, with a destination wedding, you actually cut back on costs.
For starters, a destination wedding is a combination of a wedding and a honeymoon, so you don’t have to spend extra for a honeymoon.
If you get an elopement wedding package for just the two of you, it’s going to be extremely affordable. Some elopement packages are available for as low as a few hundred dollars.
Add the flight and accommodation costs of the bride and groom and you’ve got yourself the perfect destination wedding. At a regular wedding, you’ll have to book a large venue and invite many people, which increases the costs.
When it comes to a destination wedding, you can keep it intimate and save a lot.
The Most Affordable Destination Wedding Locations All Over the World
Let’s discuss some locations that will offer you amazing views and won’t cost much.
Cancun
This unique city in Mexico has everything – turquoise waters, pristine beaches, vivid nightlife, and lush green gardens. Experience pure bliss with a wedding that’s marked by amazing natural views and an enriching cultural experience.
While in Cancun, make sure you visit the Mayan monument ruins that offer impeccable insight into the rich heritage of the place.
Cancun is among the most affordable destination wedding places in the world. Whether you want an elopement or a lavish wedding, it will not burn a hole in your pocket.
The resorts here are budget-friendly so you can have a luxury affair at less than half of what you’d spend back home.
An elopement wedding on a private beach in Cancun will cost you only $200. This will include the costs for a ceremony officiant. For $400, you will get an officiant, a bouquet, and a custom ceremony.
If you want to invite your close friends and family to the wedding, the prices will increase. On average, couples spend about $5000 to $7000 when they tie the knot in Cancun. For this amount, they get all-inclusive deals from 4+ star resorts here.
If you’re looking for an affordable destination wedding, make sure you keep Cancun on your list. Here are the 5 best Cancun wedding venues.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica doesn’t just have beautiful beaches, it also has dense rainforests and colorful wildlife. It’s a magical landscape that offers unspoiled natural beauty at its best.
If you’re hypnotized by flora and fauna, this is the place to be. From cloud-covered forests to flamboyant birds and from active volcanoes to sandy beaches, this mystical land has everything to woo you as a couple.
You might be an adventure enthusiast, a nature lover, or a hopeless romantic, Costa Rica has something to offer to everyone.
The resorts and hotels here are very accommodating and will make sure your wedding is exactly how you planned it. Whether you want to read your vows on the beach or in a forest setting, they’ll make it possible.
And many of them offer all-inclusive deals as well. So you can just sit back and relax while they plan everything.
A simple elopement ceremony would cost you about $200. For $1500, you can have 10 guests at your wedding. This would include the costs of guest seating, a wedding cake, a champagne toast, and a wedding arch.
For just $1500, you can have the perfect wedding at a beautiful destination with your close family and friends. This is much cheaper than reading the vows back home.
Check out the complete details for planning a Costa Rica wedding.
Tulum
Tulum was once a calm little beach town. Thanks to several new resorts and boutique hotels, it’s now an excellent tourist place. While it’s rich in natural beauty, it also carries a unique cultural richness that reflects in the ancient Mayan ruins you’ll find here.
It’s a magically scenic town that serves as an affordable destination wedding location. If you’re in love with the idea of tying the knot at a beach under the golden setting sun with your feet in the warm sand, Tulum has something for you.
It’s a Mexican place that is light on the pocket and rich on the palate. It carries exquisite flavors in its spices and is famous for its scrumptious dishes. When you’re here, explore the Mayan ruins, discover beautiful cenotes, climb the cliffs, and enjoy the local dishes.
A luxury wedding at Tulum at a good resort will cost you about $5000 for up to 30 guests. This is an all-inclusive price. This comes down to even less than $200/guest. This will include a private wedding at the beach along with food and drinks.
If you have room for some more costs, you can make changes to the package accordingly.
Here’s a list of the top 5 Tulum wedding resorts and other details about the place.
Puerto Vallarta
Combine a tropical paradise with a quiet little beach town and you get Puerto Vallarta. It’s a sunny little coastal escape that’s rich with resorts. Since most resorts and hotels charge nominally, it’s an affordable destination wedding location.
It’s a small town and isn’t very touristy, which makes it an ideal destination for a quiet and romantic wedding. Experience the richness of its landscape while being lost in each other as you read the vows on the beach.
While it’s a small town, it has several amazing resorts, which means you can stay in complete luxury and enjoy the honeymoon period.
And if you’re an art lover, walk to the traditional shops and art galleries of this town. There is so much to explore while you’re here – marine life, historical places, conventional boardwalks, and of course, a wedding on the beach.
An all-inclusive event for up to 10 guests will cost you about $5,000. This will include the beach ceremony with décor, DJ, a wedding cake, a private buffet for your guests, and an open bar.
This means approximately $500/per person, which makes it a very affordable destination. Keep the accommodation short and you’ll be able to easily afford it.
Here are some amazing resorts and other details for a Puerto Vallarta wedding.
Cabo
The resorts in Cabo are strikingly beautiful, which makes it such a charming place. What will it be for you? A serene beachfront wedding or a private event at a beautiful location in a resort? Cabo has everything you want.
Walk to the Lover’s Beach and witness the Sea of Cortez unite with the Pacific Ocean. Since this beach has calmer waters than others, it’s the perfect place for couples in love.
Whether you want a desert landscape, a beachfront terrace, or beautiful ocean views, you’ll find it all here. And it’s a pretty affordable destination wedding place too. An elopement ceremony here would cost you about $1600. This price will include photography charges.
If you have $6000 in your budget, you can have a ceremony with up to 20 guests. At this price, you’ll have a ceremony in a private space, live music, dining options, and an open bar.
A wedding ceremony back home will cost you much over $6000, making Cabo an affordable destination.
Here are some resort options for a Cabo wedding.
How to Have an Affordable Destination Wedding
A destination wedding at any of the locations mentioned above will save you some dollars.
The problem is, you want your wedding to be grand and it’s tempting to select the most premium options for everything. However, as you start selecting a venue, décor, cake, menu, and other things, the charges will start building up. Here are some tips to help you have an affordable destination wedding.
Plan an intimate wedding
If you don’t want to blow your budget, keep the guest list short. Plan an intimate affair with your family and close friends.
If you don’t want to offend your acquaintances, you can have a small reception back at home. Trimming the guest list means saving on travel and accommodation costs.
Start planning early
When you start planning early, you can get early bird offers like discounts on flights and accommodation. Also, you can be in better control of the event when you start before time. There’s enough time to research the most affordable destination wedding location and venue.
Plan the décor smartly
Décor costs a lot. When you plan an indoor reception, you’ll need to pay for flowers and lights. However, with a beach wedding, there’s minimal décor involved.
What you need is a wedding arch and seating arrangement for the guests. And that’s it. The décor is done.
Consider off-season
If you visit the destination in the peak season, the flights and hotels are going to be expensive. However, in the off-season, you might get attractive discounts.
Before you pick the right date, consider the weather conditions of the place as well. Make sure you don’t go during the hurricane season. A season that has enough sun and not too many tourists would be the best.
Wear casual wedding attire
When you get married at a beach, you have the freedom to choose a casual beechy dress instead of a proper wedding gown. This can save a lot of money as wedding gowns are never cheap.
The same goes for the groom. A casual beach attire will be far more affordable than a tuxedo or a three-piece suit.
All Inclusive Destination Wedding Deals
When you want to have an affordable destination wedding, make sure you look for all-inclusive deals. Such deals will give you a clear quotation of how much the wedding is going to cost and what will be included.
This way, it’s easier to plan your budget. All-inclusive means rooms for the guests and unlimited food and drinks.
So once you settle for an all-inclusive deal, you don’t have to think about your spending all the time. The party starts right when you arrive.
With all-inclusive deals, you can have a premium wedding at almost half the cost of what you’d pay back home. Plus, when you book such a deal, most resorts will offer you freebies such as a complimentary room upgrade for the couple. You might also get a free spa session.
Some resorts also offer free weddings if you stay at the resort for a minimum number of days. For example, if you stay for three days at the resort, they will waive the wedding costs.
When you book a resort, try to understand all the deals and discounts they offer. Ask them if they have special discounts running. You’ll be surprised at how much you save.
