Destination Weddings & Eloping: 2026 Canadian Travellers Guide
GoTravelWithSara.com | Written by Sara, Travel Advisor and Group Travel Planner
Okay, quick answer first, because I know some of you scrolled straight here. A destination wedding isn't automatically pricier than a hometown one, and it isn't automatically cheaper either. It genuinely comes down to your guest count. A tiny overseas elopement can cost you a few thousand dollars.
The short version? A 100 guest destination wedding can easily run as much as a house down payment. But depending on where you land, you can also save serious money, we personally saved over $20,000 CAD compared to a traditional wedding back home in Canada.
So, I Eloped in Bali , Indonesia.
Here's the Story.
Over a year ago, July 2025 (wow, throwback), I was standing barefoot on a cliff in Uluwatu, on the southern tip of Bali, watching the wind absolutely annihilate a hairstyle I had paid real money for, marrying the love of my life in front of exactly zero relatives. We broke the tradition. I never thought I’d do my wedding in Bali, but I couldn't stomach the culture of overspending, going over budget, and feeding a room full of people for one night just to set ourselves back financially. I hope this page helps you wherever you are on your journey.
Funny little secret nobody tells you… those ‘movie moment’ wedding ceremonies happen right around golden hour on purpose. Sure, it's gorgeous for photos, but honestly it's because the wind off the Bali beaches gets wild once the sun starts setting, and somehow that made the whole thing feel more real. If you can imagine what its like to step into your favorite slow motion beach moment romantic kiss, or any sunset over the ocean movie moment. Bali is where you need to be. Even if you’re not getting married. It is one for every list, a ‘must-visit’, ‘must-see’ bucket list, need to try, once-in-a-lifetime.
That weekend turned me from "the travel advisor who books everyone else's honeymoons" into someone who genuinely cannot stop talking about destination weddings. *Cue wedding music
Also, my travel advice.. humidity does not care about your beauty budget. By hour two, it wins. If anyone promises you your hair and makeup will survive a full Bali afternoon untouched, they are lying to you with love, and you should love them back but not believe them. As they say in Bali, Terima kasih!
Why Newlyweds are Skipping the Ballroom for a Boarding Pass
Here's a fun fact that will not shock anyone who has priced out a wedding venue lately: the average traditional wedding now costs more than most people's first car and in some cases, more than a down payment on a home. By 9pm, half your guests are hunting for the bar instead of watching you say your vows.
That's the exact reason destination weddings and elopements have exploded. You trade an expensive event for an experience of a lifetime. I’ve known and dealt with a number of brides to be and they say their wedding has been a blur of new faces, photos, and meeting new people. Nobody remembers the tablecloth color, I promise you that. But people remember standing overlooking the Bali landscape from the wedding ceremony space at the Bali Jannata Resort & Spa. Hearing the crashing of the ocean waves. Or overlooking the seas from a elopement on a cliff with the tide crashing two hundred feet below. Or even a beach in Tulum where the water's so warm you forget you’re in the ocean. (the deep dark ocean…eeek!)
Is a destination wedding actually more expensive?
Here's the part that surprises everyone: not automatically, and sometimes it's way cheaper. It just needs different planning. The kind where knowing Bali's dry season runs roughly April through October matters a lot more than any Pinterest board you've built, or Instagram reels you’ve saved. The kind where "book the flights first, pick the venue second" saves you a five-figure mistake. This is genuinely where I come in.
From you local venue to a view worth a thousand photos in Bali, Indonesia
Popular destination wedding & elopement locations
Lake Como, Italy; lakeside villas, mountain backdrops, and a level of over-the-top romance that makes even your officiant tear up a little.
Sedona, Arizona; red rock canyons, desert light that photographers lose their minds over, and zero passport required if your guests are visa-shy.
Maui, Hawaii; oceanfront cliffs, waterfall backdrops, and a ceremony soundtrack you don't have to hire, the waves handle it.
Ibiza, Spain; whitewashed villas, sunset boat ceremonies, and a nightlife scene that turns your reception into an actual party instead of a polite dinner.
The Scottish Highlands; centuries old castles, moody fog for the photographers who love drama, and bagpipes that make even the least sentimental guest cry.
Cartagena, Colombia; colorful colonial courtyards, rooftop ceremonies over the old city walls, and a flight time from North America shorter than people expect.
Banff, Canada; turquoise lakes, mountain peaks as your backdrop, and zero time change or passport hassle for your Canadian guest list.
Bora Bora, French Polynesia; overwater bungalows, lagoon ceremonies, and a honeymoon that starts the second you say "I do" instead of three flights later.
Why couples are choosing elopements over traditional weddings
Lower cost without lower magic moments.
Fewer logistics, zero seating chart drama
A honeymoon and a wedding rolled into one trip
Photos that don't look like everyone else's ballroom shots
The Double-Dip Loophole
Combining your destination wedding and honeymoon into one trip eliminates double flight costs, extra resort transfers, and dynamic pricing traps. You get twice the experience for half the spending.
The High-End Illusion
A cliffside terrace or oceanfront private beach regularly costs far less than a standard local banquet hall rental. You unlock multi-day luxury without local markup fees.
Zero Seating Chart Drama
A destination naturally filters down your guest list to your favorite human beings. Smaller headcounts eliminate obligation invites, forced small talk, and seating politics completely.
Uncommon, So good they’ll say its AI-type pictures.
Trading carpeted ballrooms and generic LED setups for natural coastlines, being in paradise, historic architecture, and that golden sun glow gives you photos no one else in your social feed can copy.
Planning Your Destination Wedding Shouldn't Feel Like Work, taking Wedding clients for 2027, 2028, and 2029.
Elopement Packages: Small Wedding, Zero Stress
If you're leaning toward eloping, no judgment, obviously, I did it, most destination resorts now offer all inclusive elopement packages that bundle a legal or symbolic ceremony, an officiant, a photographer, flowers and a small decor setup, and sometimes a private dinner after.
Elopement packages genuinely take the planning down to almost nothing. You show up, you get married, someone hands you a cocktail. That's kind of the whole point. I can help you compare packages across destinations so you're picking based on what's actually included, not just which website has the prettiest homepage.
With the money we saved from having a regular traditional wedding we were blessed to be able to eat at Koral & the Cave! A picture is worth a 1000 words.
Cultural Weddings and Etiquette: Not the Place to Wing It
Here's something I learned fast planning destination weddings for clients from all kinds of backgrounds. A wedding is never just a wedding. It's tradition, family, religion, and sometimes centuries of custom, all happening in one weekend, often in a country layering its own customs right on top of yours.
This is the part of destination wedding planning that worries couples the most, and honestly, it should get more attention than it usually does.
The Questions That Trip Couples Up
Religious requirements. Some faiths need specific ceremony elements, or an officiant of a certain standing, and not every destination venue is equipped or licensed for that.
Family expectations versus destination logistics. A tea ceremony, a baraat, a first look with grandparents, these matter deeply, and they need to be built into the day's timeline on purpose, not squeezed in as an afterthought once the venue's own schedule is set.
Local customs at your destination. Some countries have specific etiquette around weddings held there, even for visitors, dress expectations at certain venues, or restrictions on where and how a ceremony can legally or culturally take place.
Guest etiquette across cultures. Gift giving customs, dress codes, and even what counts as polite RSVP timing can vary a lot between your guests' backgrounds, and clear communication up front avoids a whole lot of quiet confusion.
Why This Is Exactly Where a Travel Advisor Earns Their Keep
Anyone can compare hotel prices online. What a travel advisor actually brings to a culturally significant wedding is the research and the relationships that keep your day respectful, smooth, and true to what actually matters to you and your families.
I ask the right questions early, before you've put down a deposit, not after. What religious or cultural elements are non negotiable? Who needs to be involved in specific parts of the ceremony? Are there elders or family members whose comfort and mobility need to shape venue choices?
I vet venues for real compatibility, not just pretty photos. Some resorts have hosted dozens of multicultural weddings and know exactly how to accommodate a specific ceremony structure. Others have never done it once, and that gap only becomes obvious the week of the wedding if nobody checked ahead.
I coordinate with vendors who understand the customs involved, officiants, photographers, and coordinators who've done this before and won't need it all explained to them in real time on the actual day.
I handle the etiquette communication to guests, so you're not the one sending twelve individual messages explaining dress codes or gift customs to different sides of the family. That comes from me, clearly and once, so you can focus on everything else.
And I make sure legal and cultural requirements don't conflict. Sometimes what's legally required in a destination country and what's culturally or religiously required for your ceremony need to be sequenced carefully, legal ceremony here, cultural ceremony there, and getting that order wrong can create real complications.
At the end of the day, this is your family's story, not a generic template. A good travel advisor's job is to make sure the place you chose to say your vows actually honors where you both come from, instead of asking you to leave part of that at home.
What a Travel Advisor Actually Does, Besides Booking Flights
I want to be honest about this, because people are often surprised how much falls under what I coordinate. Researching and comparing venues based on your vision and guest count. Setting up the group booking link so guests book at the group rate. Coordinating wedding accommodation blocks so your whole group stays together. Helping plan excursions or a welcome event for guests who arrive early. Navigating the legal requirements for marrying abroad, which vary wildly by country. Being the point of contact for guest questions so you're not fielding fifty text messages the week of your wedding.
And all of this comes at no extra cost to you, same as any trip I plan. I'm compensated by the suppliers, not by charging you a planning fee.
Questions I Get Asked Constantly
Is a destination wedding legally binding? Depends entirely on the country. Some destinations make it simple to get legally married on location, others need you to legally marry at home first and treat the destination ceremony as symbolic. I walk every couple through exactly what their chosen destination requires.
How far in advance should we start planning? For a full destination wedding, twelve to eighteen months out gives guests enough time to plan and budget for travel. For an elopement, some destinations can be arranged in just a few months, Bali included.
What if some guests can't afford to travel? This is real, and worth planning for. A lot of couples host a smaller at home celebration afterward for anyone who couldn't make the trip, so nobody feels left out of celebrating with you.
Do I need a wedding planner at the destination too, or does a travel advisor cover that? Often both work together. I handle the travel logistics, group bookings, and guest coordination, while many venues include or can recommend an on site wedding planner for day of details like florals and timeline.
Okay, Your Turn
Whether you're picturing a big group celebration on a beach in Tulum or a quiet cliffside elopement like mine in Bali, the planning doesn't have to be the hard part. That's what I'm here for.
Come tell me where you're picturing yourself saying I do, and let's build a plan, and a budget, that actually gets you there. I'll bring the enthusiasm, you bring the vision, we'll figure out the sarongs together.
Thats what working with me is like, I’ve coordinated company wide events for over 500+, travel for numerous execs, founders, and helped countless of everyday people, solve their travel needs. Former CATSA Airport security officer, turned Head of Facility Security, I’ve been the chaos coordinator for a number of C-suite headstrong busier than most individuals. I’m used to these trenches and I can help you navigate. I'm not just booking a resort and wishing you luck. I'm the person who's negotiated group room blocks, chased down a wedding coordinator at 11pm over a missing arch, and personally worn the sarong in question. You get a destination wedding planned by someone who's actually done it, not just sold it.
Is a Destination Wedding Actually More Expensive?
Here's the part that surprises everyone: not automatically, and sometimes it's way cheaper. It just needs different planning. The kind where knowing Bali's dry season runs roughly April through October matters a lot more than any Pinterest board you've built. The kind where "book the flights first, pick the venue second" saves you a five figure mistake. This is genuinely where I come in.
Eloping vs Destination Wedding: Not the Same Thing, Please Stop Mixing Them Up
People use these words like they're interchangeable and I need you to know they are not, because the planning looks completely different. I learned this the hard way explaining to my own mother why she wasn't invited to watch me get married in person. That was a conversation.
Eloping, modern day. Just the two of you, maybe a photographer, maybe an officiant, and in my case, one extremely patient hairstylist losing a valiant battle against ocean wind. No guest list. No seating chart. No group flights to wrangle. No one asking what time the ceremony starts because there's simply no one there to ask. It's fast, it's intimate, and it's for couples who want the moment to belong entirely to them.
Sara's insider tip: if you're eloping somewhere with a big time change, Bali very much included, build in a full recovery day before your ceremony. Jet lag does not care how important your wedding day is. You will thank me for that extra nap.
Destination wedding vs. Eloping: Still a full wedding. Guests, a reception, maybe a whole weekend of events, it just happens somewhere your people need a passport to reach. That means group flights, room blocks, welcome dinners, and excursions for the folks who flew in three days early because someone always does. Compare that with a getaway elopment. Could be just your core, or just your other half, or better half ;)
This is exactly where hiring a travel advisor stops being a nice extra and becomes the difference between a magical weekend and a group chat full of confused aunts asking what time the shuttle leaves. There is always a confused relative or friend. Always.
Getting Married in Bali as a Canadian: The Actual Paperwork
Alrighty! let's get into the slightly less romantic but very necessary part.
What to Get Before Leaving Canada
For a marriage in Bali to be legally recognized, Indonesian law requires foreign citizens to provide a document showing they are free to marry.
At Your Local Canadian Registry / Notary: Get a Certificate! sworn affidavit/statutory declaration stating your marital status (single, divorced, or widowed).
From the Embassy of Canada in Jakarta: Canada does not issue a standard "Certificate of Non-Impediment" (CNI). Instead, you submit your notarized statutory declaration to the Canadian Embassy in Jakarta (via mail or in-person) to receive a Statement Letter in Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad. You must present this Statement Letter to the Indonesian Civil Registry Office (Kantor Catatan Sipil) in Bali.
Your visa. Canadians are not visa exempt for Indonesia, sorry, I know. You'll need a Visa on Arrival, or the e-VOA if you apply online ahead of time through Indonesia's official Molina Imigrasi portal, or the longer C1 Tourist Visa if you're staying past 30 days. The e-VOA covers a 30 day single entry stay, and doing it online before you fly is genuinely worth the extra step. It skips the arrival hall line at Denpasar and gets you into the faster e-gates after a fourteen hour flight, when you are absolutely not looking your best.
Official Link: Apply directly through the Indonesian Immigration eVisa Portal.
Travel Advice: Review current entry regulations on the Government of Canada Indonesia Travel Advice page.
Canadian Passport validity. You need at least six months left from your arrival date, plus a fully blank page for the stamp.Check this three months out, not three days out. I've had clients get stopped at check in over this exact thing, and it is heartbreaking every single time.
The Bali Tourist Levy. A small entry fee, around IDR 150,000, paid online ahead of time through the official Love Bali platform. Keep that QR confirmation on your phone, you'll need it on arrival. Do not, and I mean do not, pay a "helper" who approaches you in the terminal offering to do this for a fee. It takes four minutes on your phone.
Official Link: Pay your entry fee directly on the Love Bali Official Portal.
Travel Advice: Review government travel and fee updates via the Government of Canada Indonesia TravelAdvice page.
Cash on hand. Indonesian rupiah (IDR) Bali runs on a mix of card and cash depending where you are. Temple donation boxes, small warungs, local drivers (download the apps, Grab or Gojek), often wherever you go, it’ll be Cash is Queen. Land with some rupiah (IDR) already converted rather than hunting for an ATM the morning of your ceremony while wearing Wedding dress, or wedding suit.
Sara's insider tip: use ATMs attached to actual banks, BCA and Mandiri are reliable, and avoid the standalone ATMs clustered around tourist strips in Kuta and Seminyak. (a little harder to find in Kintamani vs every corner in Changuu) They tend to carry higher fees and are more prone to card skimming, or ghost RFID tapping. Grab a local SIM (Telkomsel is the most reliable for signal outside Denpasar) or we used an Esim the moment you land, you'll want maps and a ride app working before you're navigating Uluwatu's cliffside roads. Life saver!
Something for shoulders and knees. If any part of your trip touches a temple, and in Bali it usually will, you'll need a sarong. You can get one from the local markets. (sidebar. ALWAYS haggle and negotiate). Learn the basic Bali traveller phrases but you’ll save money and more importantly TIME walking back and forth in +37Cº Venues typically provide them, but pack a light one anyway because your guests will absolutely want to make a spontaneous temple stop at a Temple, and you don't want to be the group standing outside looking confused. The lines can be massive even during a rainstorm.
Is a Bali Wedding Actually Legal? Here's the Honest Answer
This is the bit that surprised me most, and I did a lot of digging before my own wedding. Indonesian law requires a legal marriage to include both a religious ceremony, under one of the five officially recognized religions, and civil registration afterward. Both partners also need to share the same faith, or one has to formally convert.
That is a lot to ask of a couple who just wants a cliffside moment and a good dinner after.
Which is exactly why so many couples, including yours truly, choose a symbolicceremony in Bali. The vows, the dress, the cliffside moment, all of it, and they handle the actual legal paperwork separately, either before the trip or once they're home. The Bali ceremony is every bit as real and every bit as emotional. It's just not the piece of paper that makes it official on record.
So Yes, Courthouse Weddings Are Very Much Still a Thing
If you're picturing a Canadian courthouse or city hall moment, you're picturing something totally real, and honestly it's the move most destination couples make. A civil ceremony through your local courthouse or a marriage commissioner is quick, cheap, and only needs the two of you, your witnesses, and your license. A lot of couples do this quietly, sometimes it's just the two of them and two witnesses on a random Tuesday. No dress, no flowers, just the legal box checked off. (or if you’re feeling up for it, turn it into a lil celebration)
Here's what I usually tell clients going this route:
Handle the civil ceremony at home first, ideally a couple weeks before you fly, so it's off your plate before you're focused on everything else. Bring a certified copy of your marriage certificate with you, some venues and photographers like having it on file even for a symbolic ceremony. And tell your Bali officiant ahead of time that the day is symbolic, so the vows and structure can be built around celebrating your marriage instead of legally performing one.
This is honestly the piece I help clients through the most, because it removes so much stress. You get the courthouse handled quietly at home, and then you actually get to be present for your Bali ceremony instead of stressing about Certificates of No Impediment on what's supposed to be your honeymoon.
Where to Actually Get Married: The Popular Spots
Sure, you'll see some of these on a generic "top ten" list somewhere. But this is the real, real. From the beauty, to the budget, to the breathtaking backgrounds. If you’re considering a destination wedding, one of these spots are sure to check your boxes.
Bali, Indonesia. Clearly a fan. I may be a bit biased all things considering. Cliffside chapels in Uluwatu, jungle backdrops around Ubud, and a dry season window (April through October) you need to plan around, not after. Venues like Alila Villas Uluwatu and Villa Ylang Ylang show up constantly for a reason, but ask about smaller, lesser known cliffside plots south of the main strip if you want privacy. I'd know.
Tuscany, Italy. Rolling vineyards, centuries old stone villas, and a built in excuse to make your welcome dinner an actual multi course Italian feast. This one's for couples who want their wedding to feel like a movie and don't mind spending a little more for it. Elopement packages start around 3,000 to 5,500 euro for the basics, symbolic ceremony, officiant, and photography somewhere like Val d'Orcia or Fiesole. Want a private villa with dinner included, budget closer to 7,500 to 10,000 euro. Full legal weddings with translated documents run higher once the paperwork gets added in.
Tulum, Mexico. Close enough for easy guest travel from North America, warm enough to guarantee your beach ceremony, and it's popular for a reason. Tulum hits that sweet spot of accessible but still feels like a total escape. Resort elopement packages for two start around 1,400 USD and cover the ceremony, officiant, cake, and a romantic dinner. Want it more custom, private photographer, cenote or beachfront, that runs 2,500 to 9,000 USD depending what you add.
The Amalfi Coast, Italy. If your Pinterest board is basically all lemon trees and cliffside terraces, this is your answer. It's the priciest of the bunch, but the scenery makes every photo look professionally staged, because it basically is. Simple ceremony packages start around 3,250 to 4,500 euro. Most couples chasing the full cliffside experience with a private terrace, photography, and a coastal dinner land closer to 7,500 to 12,000 euro.
Santorini, Greece. Yupp! The wedding planners still pick the blue rooftops of Greece. World famous. The whitewashed buildings and caldera views really are as good in person as on Instagram, which almost never happens. Santorini works best with smaller guest counts since the most photogenic venues tend to be intimate. Basic packages start around 2,900 to 3,700 euro for a symbolic ceremony at a public spot like Oia or Imerovigli. Add a private caldera terrace, hair and makeup, and professional photography, and plan for 6,000 to 9,000 euro.
Costa Rica. For the couple whose guests are going to want to zipline the day after the ceremony. Costa Rica blends destination wedding with genuine adventure trip, which makes it a favorite for the more outdoorsy crowd. True two person elopements run 3,000 to 6,000 USD including ceremony and photography at a beach, waterfall, or rainforest lookout. Fully guided multi day experiences with a dedicated photographer trailing you across locations can run 11,000 USD and up.
The Honest Cost Breakdown: Local vs Overseas
I eloped. Registry, Officiant, Civil ceremony with immediate circle and an official government approved signing overlooking the Japanese botanical gardens, an amazing surprise dinner at the Renaissance hotel YEG for the very creative, unique and filling 7Paintings. I did not spend a single dollar on a guest list, vendors or productions. So when couples come to me trying to choose between a hometown wedding and something overseas, I'm not just pulling numbers off a vendor spreadsheet. I've actually sat with my own budget and asked myself if it was worth it, which is a very different exercise than reading about it online or a 'saved video’.
Everyone assumes one of two things, and both are a little wrong. Couples usually walk in believing that a destination wedding is automatically cheaper because "everyone says so," or that it's only for people with money to burn. Neither is really true. What actually decides your cost is guest count, food and flights. Ive heard horror stories of couples trying to fly 240 people to Portugal. Or 185 people (with kids) flying from multiple cities to Dominican Republic. At that point that's not a destination wedding anymore, that's a small international conference with cake. Yes we also can help you book those!
What a local wedding actually costs. No flights needed, near home, obvious upside. But local does not mean cheap, and I want to say that clearly because I've watched clients get blindsided by it. Places like Bali or Vietnam or Thailand have the huge upside of the currency conversion. You’re money just gets you more. Sometimes couples want to (Ball out on a budget) which he did surprise me with fireworks during our “first kiss”. For a mid sized wedding, around 100 to 120 guests, in an average North American city, you're looking at $25,000 to $65,000 all in for a full guest list, full production wedding. Not small. Having a good event planner, or event event strategist makes the world of a different helping with the decision fatigue.
Here's the part nobody says out loud. Local weddings have a guest list problem. When it's easy for people to show up, everyone says yes. Your dad's college roommate. Your fiancé's whole office. The cousin you haven't spoken to since pre-covid 2019. Guest count is the single biggest cost multiplier in any wedding, and local weddings balloon because its local.
What an overseas wedding actually costs. Here's where I get to bust the myth I hear constantly, that going overseas automatically blows the budget. It's not about spending less per guest. It's about spending differently, on fewer people, in exchange for something money genuinely cannot buy you at home. For a couple hosting 30 to 50 guests, think Tuscany, the Riviera Maya, a Greek island, but it varies if you’re including a local wedding venue in the Philippines or Bali, here's roughly where it lands:
Venue rental: $6,000 to $15,000
Catering: $75 to $200 per person
Photo and video: $4,000 to $8,000
Florals and decor: $3,000 to $8,000
Attire and alterations: $2,500 to $5,000
Music, DJ or band: $1,500 to $5,000
Officiant: $500 to $1,000
Invitations and stationery: $500 to $1,500
Hair and makeup: $500 to $1,000
Miscellaneous buffer, tips, fees, extras: $2,000 to $5,000 (you think you’ve planned it all but after 280+ trips booked, there are always miscellaneous costs)
Your guests' travel doesn't hit your budget line, but total it up and you're usually at $25,000 to $55,000, often less than the local total, because your guest list naturally shrinks down to the people who love you enough to pay for hotels and a roundtrip flight (plus the time off!)
I'll be honest about the catch though, because I always am. Your guests are absorbing real cost when you go overseas. Flights, hotel nights, time off work. That's thousands of dollars per person that isn't on your budget but is very real on theirs. A thoughtful couple accounts for that. A partially subsidized room block, a welcome bag, or at the very least, 9 to 12 months notice so people can actually find a reasonable flight.
The costs that sneak up on everyone. Currency conversion and international transfer fees can quietly add 2 to 4 percent to every single vendor payment if you're overseas. Vendor travel fees, if you're flying your photographer out with you. Weather contingency, tents or backup indoor space, which everyone forgets in both scenarios. Marriage license logistics, since some countries want you there in person days ahead just to file paperwork. Gratuities, which add up faster than anyone expects. And what I lovingly call the just-one-more-thing tax, the extra lanterns, the floral runner you didn't plan for, the late night snack bar. It's real. Give yourself 10% breathing room for it. I mean that from experience.
So which one actually saves you money? Honest answer, no glamour attached. It's not really local versus overseas. It's guest count versus expectations. A large local wedding, 150 plus guests, will almost always cost more than a small overseas wedding of 40 or fewer, sometimes by tens of thousands of dollars. A small local wedding and a small overseas wedding land in a similar range, and at that point it's about the experience you want, not which one is technically cheaper. A large overseas wedding is the most expensive option here, no contest. If you're picturing 150 people on a cliffside in Amalfi, budget for that reality, my friend.
If your gut says small, intimate, unforgettable, overseas usually wins on both cost and experience. If your gut says everyone I've ever loved needs to be in one room, local is usually the kinder path financially.
What I'd Actually Tell You to Do
Test cellular service right where the ceremony happens. Stone walls and mountain valleys love to swallow signal whole, and hmmm… this makes sense when guests are trying to post, call rides, or coordinate on the fly.
Lock the currency exchange rate right inside vendor contracts. A subtle shift in the market over nine months will quietly eat your entire budget buffer alive.
Ask about dietary meals up front. Venues love sneaking premium single-plate surcharges on gluten-free or vegan meals if you don't roll them into the main head count early.
Keep the final 10% payment in your pocket until the morning after. Paying in full before showing up strips away all your leverage if something goes sideways during setup.
Toss an AirTag into every VIP's checked bag. When a key suit or gown misses a tight connection, you can tell the airline the exact corner of the terminal it's sitting in.
Pay extra baggage fees and fly your event decor over with you. Sending boxes through international customs is a quick way to watch your welcome signs get held hostage at a warehouse for three weeks, and on the real.. this makes sense once you realize baggage claim bypasses border hold up completely.
Put high resolution scans of every passport, vendor agreement, and marriage document in an offline folder shared with one trusted wingman or even someone at home. Losing paper in a foreign country is a headache you don't need.
Land a full 48 hours before any official events start. It builds a bulletproof cushion for lost bags, flight cancellations, and that brutal initial hit of jet lag.
And please don't let "cheaper" be the only thing deciding this for you. I’ve learned the hard way that saving $90 on that overnight RedEye flight comes with a cost lol. Ask yourself which version of your wedding day you'll actually remember fondly in twenty years. I know which one I remember, and it wasn't the cheapest option on the table. But the great thing about Bali and what I do for a living is if you can dream it, we can pretty much do it.
Group Rates: The Planning Superpower Nobody Talks About
This is genuinely my favorite part of planning destination weddings for clients, because it's the part that actually saves people real money.
When you book a block of rooms and coordinate group flights through an advisor, resorts and airlines offer pricing that isn't available on the general public booking pages. On top of that, plenty of resorts will throw in perks once you hit a certain number of booked rooms, think complimentary upgrades, a free excursion, or even a discounted or comped ceremony venue fee for the couple.
I handle this entire thing for my clients. I set up the group booking link, guests book their own travel on their own timeline, and everyone gets the group rate automatically. No spreadsheets. No chasing down Aunt Carol for her passport number, bless her.
Ready to Plan Yours?
You don't need to research on TikTok, or continued to save reels on Instagram (<—check me out :-) You need someone who already stood on the cliff, lost the hairstyle to the wind, filed the actual paperwork, and knows exactly which mistakes to help you skip. Book a free consult with Go Travel With Sara and let's find your version of what your ideal destination wedding looks like.
