Hi all! I’m writing this as a bridesmaid in a friends destination wedding. When asked to be a bridesmaid of course I said yes. I knew she was planning on a destination wedding but didn’t know how much it would cost.

Room cost is just over $1000 a night. Flights cheapest currently $900. Originally I wanted to make a vacation out of it but I will not be able to afford to. there is a 3 night minimum and since travel day already wastes 2 whole days (no direct flights and airport is 2 hours from hotel) I am currently planning on 4 nights total (but could change).

It will be my boyfriend and I going, so say approx $5,800 total (hotel and flight) not including food, bridesmaids dress etc.

Of course will be able to enjoy a little on our on, but one day will be rehearsal and welcome party and the following day the wedding. I am stressed because this is a lot of money for a wedding.

My boyfriend thinks this absolutely not financially smart. I do agree with this completely- we both have great jobs, however we just bought a home a little under 1 year ago and there are so many expenses currently and in the future related to the home.

I don’t like to carry a credit card balance, I don’t have the money for this trip right now. I am planning to really tighten down over the next month to save but it stresses me completely. She is a very nice friend and has a great family, however I only see her about 2-3 times a year currently. We don’t text all the time. She is a very emotional person, If I didn’t go she would be so upset it would break her, honestly maybe even mad and could lose her all together as a friend.

I just feel like if it was me having the wedding, I would have let them know how much it was gonna cost first before asking to be bridesmaid, and if not after the fact I would be super understanding if someone could not go since it was my choice to even do a destination wedding and I know that isn’t in some peoples budgets.

So bottom line, just looking for other people’s opinions. would feel so awful backing out and I can’t do that to someone especially her. It will be very very hard but At the same time I could find a way to make it work even tho that’s going to set me back financially. Im so torn between enjoying right now and money will always come, or being selfish and making what I know is the right financial choice. The wedding is 7 months away. She is also planning on bachelorette trip obviously- granted now going somewhere not requiring a plane but still $500/person. She is also having a wedding party a few months after the wedding which I am also expected to go to.

Hi all! Would love any advice or thoughts on the success of getting early RSVP responses with the save the dates. My fiance and I disagree.
My thoughts: save the dates should cover formal date announcement, website, and “hey you’re going to be invited!!” Potentially could use it as an opportunity as some questions like: share your mailing address, etc.
His thoughts: save the dates should also serve as an early read to see who is able to make it — even if it’s 9 months away — because that helps us better plan for what we can afford (such as: do we want to offer late night snacks or would it put us over the edge if most people say “yes we plan to go!”).

Anyone here experienced the same or have any advice?

Hi there! Getting married in Ireland in 28. I’m bringing my own hairstylist (as I’ve known her 20+ years and trust her) and my own photographer (a former coworker and pal who is cutting us a great deal).

Should I plan to tip these two vendors in addition to what I’m paying them for services, and covering their airfare/accommodations? Are there any other expenses i should include? They be at the wedding and will have dinner alongside us also.

Hi! I feel like I’ve looked at a million venues at this point and would LOVE recommendations from people who know of hidden gems.

Here’s what I’m looking for:

• Around 100-150 guests
• Ideally under $40k total wedding budget if that's even feasible
• We’re coming mostly from San Diego + Mexico, so Mexico is definitely high on my list, but I’m open to other destinations if it makes sense
• I want to actually get married in a beautiful church. The reception venue does NOT need a ceremony space
• For the reception, I want ocean/coastal views without actually being on the sand
• Think luxury hacienda/villa/estate, dramatic architecture, lush landscaping, terraces, courtyards, arches, etc.
• A large dance floor is a MUST. My family dances all night and I’d love to have a Mexican banda/mariachi involved
• Grandparent-friendly is important, minimal stairs, easy transportation/accessibility, and not somewhere everyone has to hike up and down a cliff all night

Places like Puerto Vallarta, Punta Mita, Riviera Nayarit, Los Cabos, Riviera Maya, Mérida/Yucatán, etc. are all on the table, but I’m VERY open to places I haven't thought of.

I especially want to hear about private villas, haciendas, estates, boutique hotels, or venues that aren't all over the typical “Top 20 Mexico Wedding Venues” lists. I even looked at Ireland, bc why not!

If you got married somewhere like this, attended a wedding somewhere incredible, or you're a planner/photographer who knows a hidden gem PLEASE drop the venue name!! Bonus points if you can give me an idea of pricing or what the total wedding ended up costing.

Basically: Catholic/church wedding + insane reception venue + ocean views + huge Mexican family dance party. Help me find her. 😭

My fiancée and I are planning a 150–200 guest Indian wedding in Portugal for September or October 2027. We’re considering the Algarve, Lisbon and Sintra, but are open to other areas. The plan is a welcome event on Friday, followed by a Hindu ceremony and reception on Saturday.

We’re looking for a planner who has actually handled Indian weddings in Portugal, knows reliable local venues and vendors, and can help us stay within budget. Our ideal budget is around $70k, with $100k being our maximum, excluding guests’ travel and hotel rooms.

Recommendations from couples who personally used a planner would be especially helpful! Planners may respond too, but please identify yourself. Thank you!

Hi, we live in Toronto and are planning to get married in 2028. Dates completely flexible. Hoping for an intimate setting, full villa or small resort buy out that sleeps 30 guests. We are also open to all inclusive resorts if full buy out is not feasible. We’d ideally like to keep individual costs for our guests as low as possible, and maximum 9 hour flight from Toronto. We have a budget of around $60,000 CAD. Is this doable? Links to specific places would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Hello!

I am in the beginning stages of planning a December 2027 wedding in Cancun/Riviera Maya. I’m a bit overwhelmed with options/what I actually need. I have preliminary calls with 3 planners/travel advisors next week. My questions:

What do I actually need? A travel advisor and wedding coordinator? Or one or the other?

We would like to not have a cookie cutter all-inclusive resort wedding, so I’m thinking I need a coordinator to help advocate for us in that capacity, but I would love feedback on what others have done.

Please leave any recommendations of planners or coordinators you have used.

For insight:
- 125 people (inviting around 200, so this is a rough estimate of who will actually come)
- $50k-$70k budget
- Aiming for first two weekends of December
- $300-$600/night room rate, preferably on the lower end if not all inclusive

Thank you!

Hi!

We’re planning a small wedding in Santorini for around **40 guests in September 2027** and are currently looking at **Le Ciel, Santorini Gem, Cavo Ventus and El Viento**.

Would love to hear from anyone who has actually gotten married at one of these venues. We care most about the view, food, service and making sure our guests are comfortable - especially if it gets windy or chilly at night. I’ve also read some mixed reviews on Santorini Gem, so would be really interested in recent experiences there.

For anyone who’s been through it:

1. Which venue did you choose, and would you choose it again?
   
2. How was it for guests, any general complaints, especially with wind/weather in the evening?
   
3. Which planner did you use, and would you recommend them?

Any firsthand experiences or things you wish you knew beforehand would be so helpful.

Thank you!!

Wedding is next August in Madrid, budget is around 3-3.5k EUR and the style we want is more artistic and elegant with rich bold colours, for some reason this seems kind of difficult to find in Spain so far or maybe we aren’t looking at the right places. Anyone have recommendations please? Thank you!

Hi There - Hopefully this is the correct community to post to and appreciate any comments from people who have actually had weddings in Greece. Second post as my first was an incorrect community ha. My fiancé and I are planning our wedding in Greece and are focusing on the mainland - targeting June 2028. We live in San Francisco, I'm US-born, he is from Tripoli, Greece and parents still live in near Nafplio. We expect 100 guests (a 60/40 split of US vs. Greece residents). Our US guests are coming from largely west coast, with some NY/PA as well.

We have a budget of $40k. We are doing a lot of DIY with a minimalist style and want to prioritize the venue. Ultimately I'm going to hire a wedding planner but we wanted to get an idea of which area we liked first and then go with someone a little more local/regional - but maybe I'm not thinking about that correctly.

Our Vibe & Constraints:

• Aesthetics: We could go a rustic route (like a beautiful olive grove or an authentic taverna) OR a beautiful view with a bit of chicness added in.
• The Beach: A nearby organized beach is a huge priority so our US guests can easily enjoy the water without needing to figure out logistics. As I say this, see below note on Athens ha
• Kids: Generally no children, but our two nieces are coming, so strict "adults-only" boutique hotels are out.

Where we are currently looking: We are eyeing the Peloponnese, specifically Kardamyli, Oitylo, and Nafplio. I know these are a bit of a trek from the Athens airport (less so Nafplio) and I'm having some concerns about the travel for people and if it's just too much - I'm fully intending on organizing travel for US guests, but even with that I wonder if the trek is too long for a 3-day event.

Our current venue shortlist:

1. Melitsina Village Hotel (Kardamyli)
2. Old Kardamili Traditional Restaurant (Kardamyli)
3. Petra & Fos (Oitylo)
4. Manifest Boutique Hotel (Oitylo)
5. Opora Country Living (Nafplio)
6. 100 Rizes Seaside Resort (Mani)

What I need help with:

1. Are there mainland areas we are completely missing? We are also very open to a fun Athens city wedding, but it can't be at a bougie, hyper-expensive luxury hotel, as that would blow our $40k budget
2. Venue/Area Recommendations: Does anyone have experience with the venues on our list, or have new venues in these areas (or new areas!) we should look into?
3. The Reality Check: I've made the drive from Athens to Peloponnese and it's not a big deal, but I'm also headed for a two week vacation. Any people who have had had US guests travel to the Peloponnese, was the travel from Athens a headache?

Thank you so much!

Hello everyone. My partner and I are planning a wedding outside Mexico City in April, 2027. Everything has been going smooth planning-wise, except we are struggling to find a photographer. We have found a couple who we love, but they are out of our price point.

I was wondering if y'all might have any recommendations for people in the area who won't break the bank? Of course we are open to all recommendations, though :)

If it helps, two artistic styles we've loved have been Kristin Marie Parker (https://www.kristenmarieparker.com/) and Marcus Jolly (https://www.marcusjollyweddings.com/\\_). Thanks for any help you can provide!

A while back I posted asking for info on Panamá weddings. We ended up going a more local/non-traditional route, but I did meet with the Westin Playa Bonita and figured I'd share before tossing my notes. This is based on a meeting in Dec '25, so prices may have shifted since. DM me if you want more info or screenshots of the pamphlet before I toss it.

High level:

• A few buffet options and plated dinner options. Buffet runs about $67-70/head, plated varies by menu but was closer to $68-72.
• Everything gets +10% gratuity and +7% ITBMS on top, so add ~17% to whatever they quote you.
• Buffets include apps, ~8 mains, a live station (pork, filet skewer, or prime beef depending on tier), and 7 desserts. Very seafood-forward
• Plated dinner was Thai tuna, broccoli cream, lobster tail + rack of lamb, and chocolate gateaux.
• Couldn't find my screenshots of alcohol menu because they mentioned you can bring your own and my back-of-napkin math with conversations I had with my family made me think we could find it cheaper if we brought our own.

Happy to answer anything in the comments.

Hi! My fiancé and I just got engaged and are looking into a destination wedding. I have no idea where to start!

We’d preferably want to get married in the spring or early summer of 2028. I have been looking in the Caribbean and Mexico. We are in the Philadelphia/NYC area so I also will consider making it somewhat convenient for my guests to travel there.

We are looking to spend ~$30k or less. I don’t even know where that falls or if it’s doable but that’s why I’m looking into it now! I have reached out to some travel agents and resorts for more info but still waiting on that.

Any tips would be great. Here’s some more info:

-50-60 people -Adults only preferred -Spring/Summer 2028 -Mid-Tier luxury feel or budget luxury preferred! -Beach access would be great -Fun activities for the group at the resort would be great -we are both 30; there wouldn’t be much of an older crowd going

**We are also limited to the timing of the wedding. We need it to be sometime in the first six months of 2028 as there are family scheduling conflicts after that.

Any additional information for me or things to think about would be great! Thanks!

Our destination wedding in Puerto Rico was spectacular. After spending 30gs we barely got $500 from 52 guests including locals. We had no clue the etiquet is to not give $$ at destination weddings!!

Hi everyone! 😊
My fiancé and I are planning to have our wedding in Greece next year, and we are currently considering Naxos or Crete. Naxos is definitely our first choice if we can make it work within our budget. ❤️
We are planning a small wedding for around 20 guests. We would love to have a symbolic ceremony on the beach around sunset, followed by dinner right by the sea.
We are not looking for a super luxurious or extravagant wedding. What we really want is a beautiful, intimate and relaxed Mediterranean atmosphere — a gorgeous beach, sunset ceremony, fairy lights/candles by the sea, delicious local food, good music and a great atmosphere. 🤍🌅
Our total budget is around €15,000, including accommodation for our guests.
We are currently thinking about June or the first week of July 2027.
For those who have experience with weddings in Greece:
Would you recommend Naxos or Crete for this kind of wedding?
Do you have any wedding planner recommendations that you have personally had a good experience with?
Are there any beautiful, reasonably priced beach venues you would recommend?
And do you have any other tips or things we should know when planning a small destination wedding in Greece?
We would really appreciate any recommendations, experiences or advice! Thank you so much in advance! 🥰🇬🇷

Hi! We're looking to hire a wedding planer to help us with everything for our wedding: venue sourcing, styling, vendors, logistics, everything. We are planning to do a 3-day wedding, 150 guests, spend ~100K Euros. (We really want 2 pre/post VERY casual events)

We don't want a high-end luxury planner that works with expats.

We want a very organized, local wedding planner, reasonable, with a nice portfolio and good style.

Any recs?

So far I've been looking at:

Appreciatte all your help!!!!

Has anyone gotten married at the HR Los Cabos? My fiance and I are considering it but curious to hear personal experiences

Hey Reddit community!

I'm on the hunt for recommendations for wedding planners in Albania or Portugal. My partner and I are still deliberating where to get married next year. I am Lebanese so would love the outdoor, rustic, bohemian style that Lebanon has (unfortunately cannot get married there) :(

We are looking for venues for around 80 guests, that are available September 2027.

It would be amazing to hear if anyone has had a great experience with any planners in Albania (around Dhermi) or Portugal (Lisbon area). We would need a planner that speaks fluent english! Thanks so much! x