Destination Wedding Budget: What It Actually Costs and How to Plan One Small

The most persistent myth about destination weddings is that they're automatically cheaper than getting married at home. Sometimes they are. Often they're not — at least not in the way people expect. Understanding where the money actually goes in a destination wedding is the first step toward building a budget that works, whether you're planning a $15,000 Mexico beach wedding or a $60,000 Italian villa celebration.

What the Average Destination Wedding Costs

The average destination wedding runs between $28,000 and $35,000 total. By comparison, the average US domestic wedding costs $33,000–$35,000, and the average UK wedding costs £30,000–£35,000.

At first glance, destination weddings look like a wash financially. The key difference is the guest count: the average destination wedding has 50–80 guests, compared to 115–150 for a traditional domestic wedding. The smaller guest list is where destination weddings produce real savings — but only if you're comparing a large domestic wedding to a destination wedding. If you were already planning a small domestic wedding, a destination wedding may actually cost more.

Cost by destination (couple's costs, approximate):

These ranges cover venue, catering, photography, florals, music, officiant, and basic décor for 50–80 guests. They do not include the couple's travel, accommodation, or any pre-wedding events.

The Destination Wedding Budget Categories

Venue and Catering (35–50% of budget)

At an all-inclusive resort, venue and catering are often bundled. Resorts offer packages like "The Romance Package" or similar, which typically includes ceremony setup, a reception with dinner for a set number of guests, cake, and a bar package. The headline price looks attractive — sometimes as low as $3,000–$5,000 — but these packages require a minimum number of guest nights at the resort (usually 25–50 room nights). If your guests don't collectively meet that threshold, you pay the difference.

For independent venue hire (a villa in Tuscany, a private beach club in Mykonos), catering is separate and costs vary widely. In Italy, caterers typically charge €80–€150 per person for a seated dinner. In Portugal, €60–€100. In Thailand, local caterers charge much less — sometimes $20–$40 per person — but quality and food safety standards vary.

Photography and Videography (15–25% of budget)

Destination wedding photography has a wide price range depending on one key decision: do you hire a local photographer or bring one from home?

Local photographer pros: Lower cost (no travel fees), familiar with venue lighting, established relationships with venue staff. Local photographer cons: Portfolio may be smaller, communication may require more effort, you can't meet in person before booking.

Importing your photographer from home pros: Established relationship, you know their work, easier pre-wedding communication. Importing your photographer from home cons: You pay flights, 3+ nights of accommodation, and a per diem — typically adding $2,000–$4,000 to their package.

For most couples, a well-researched local photographer in the $2,500–$5,000 range with strong Google Reviews and a portfolio on Instagram represents better value than bringing someone from home.

Florals and Décor (8–15% of budget)

Florals cost dramatically different amounts in different countries. Flowers in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and Bali are far cheaper than in Europe. A floral arch that costs $800 in the Riviera Maya might cost $2,500 at a comparable Italian venue.

Custom décor items that you want from your home country need to either be packed (checking luggage weight limits) or shipped ahead — and international shipping costs add up. A better approach for destination weddings is to lean into the local aesthetic rather than trying to replicate a specific décor vision from a Pinterest board.

Music and Entertainment (5–10% of budget)

DJs are widely available at most major destination wedding locations. Live bands are harder to source locally and much more expensive if you're importing them from home. Check whether your venue has a noise curfew — many European villas and boutique hotels enforce an 11 PM or midnight cutoff.

Legal and Administrative Costs (2–5% of budget)

Many couples underestimate this category. Costs include: - Marriage license fees at the destination: $95–$600 depending on country - Apostille fees in your home country: varies by state/country, typically $20–$100 per document - Certified translation costs: $50–$150 per document - Blood test costs if required (Mexico): $100–$200 for both parties, done in-country - Local civil registrar fee (separate from the venue fee in many countries)

Guest Experience Costs (5–10% of budget)

Welcome bags are standard at destination weddings. A typical welcome bag per guest costs $15–$40 to assemble (local snacks, a destination-themed item, an itinerary card). Hotel delivery fees add $3–$7 per bag. For 60 guests, that's $1,080–$2,820 just for welcome bags.

Welcome dinners, farewell brunches, and group excursions are now expected as part of the destination wedding experience. Budget $40–$80 per person per event if you're hosting these.

How to Plan a Destination Wedding on a Small Budget

"Small budget" for a destination wedding is relative, but here's how couples have successfully kept costs under $15,000:

1. Choose Mexico or the Dominican Republic with an all-inclusive package. These are the most cost-optimized destination wedding options available. An all-inclusive resort package covers venue, food, drinks, cake, and ceremony setup. At Secrets, Sandals, or Dreams properties, you can get a ceremony package starting around $3,500–$6,000 (plus the room night minimum). With 30–40 guests all staying at the resort, the package effectively pays for itself.

2. Keep the guest list to 30 or under. This is the single biggest lever on cost. Cutting from 60 to 30 guests saves you roughly $80–$150 per head on catering alone, plus proportional savings on seating, stationery, and florals. Many couples find that an intimate destination wedding with their closest family and friends is more emotionally meaningful than a large event anyway.

3. Skip mid-week and shoulder season dates. A Thursday wedding in November in Mexico costs significantly less than a Saturday in January. Vendors charge less, venues have more availability, and your guests' flights are cheaper — which makes it easier for them to say yes.

4. Hire local vendors for everything except photography. Photography is the one category worth spending on because you can't redo it. For florists, hair and makeup, DJs, and catering, local vendors at the destination are almost always cheaper than importing from home.

5. Replace the big reception with a dinner. A formal seated reception with dancing, a DJ, lighting, and extended bar service is expensive everywhere in the world. An intimate multi-course dinner at a local restaurant for 30 people costs a fraction of a dedicated reception venue setup. Many couples find this approach is more their style anyway.

6. Do the legal paperwork at home. Getting legally married at a courthouse or registry office in your home country costs $50–$200. Doing it abroad costs $200–$600 plus all the apostille and translation fees. If legal simplicity is a priority, have the paperwork ceremony at home and focus your destination budget entirely on the experience.

Managing a destination wedding budget across multiple currencies, with vendors billing in different time zones, requires a system. The Destination Wedding Planning Guide includes a budget spreadsheet with expense categories pre-built, a currency conversion tracker, and real cost benchmarks for the most popular destinations.

Get the complete destination wedding planning toolkit