How do you feel about destination weddings?

I always wondered what the point was. If you want a small wedding why not get married locally and then fly by yourseves to where you want to go. It puts a burden on others who then are expected to spend big bucks to attend. Though perhaps the couple are expecting to pay for everybody's expenses, then that is a different thing. But it is not only the tickets there and back plus hotel room, but arrangements to be gone from home and work for more than just a day or two.

If you are trying to avoid a huge wedding, then elope. That is what many couples did in days gone by.

I think a marriage is about the two people getting married and they should choose to get married however they want. But there should be no pressure for anyone to participate in long distance plans.

With that said, I think families want to celebrate and I respect that. I liked our intimate Las Vegas wedding, but we had a party when we returned. This was our compromise.

I think it's fine as long as the bride and groom understand the possibility of guests not attending.

I, myself, would never be able to attend a destination wedding. If I was going to spend big bucks travelling somewhere, you bet your butt I was going to treat myself to a vacation, not blow thousands of dollars to have the privilege of giving the bride and groom a wedding gift they probably wouldn't write a thank you note for, and eating  a mediocre  choice of chicken, beef, or fish catered dinner.

My DH and I are celebrating our 17th anniversary in a couple of weeks. We met and lived in Puerto Rico and dearly wanted to be married there. It held a lot of significance for us. Most of our family would have happily traveled there, but my Grandparents would not. They could afford it, but had no intention of getting on a plane. They were not travelers at all. So we got married in Indiana because it was important to me to have them there. That was my choice, but I do wish I could have had the wedding in Puerto Rico. Maybe renewal for our 20th? LOL

I tend to avoid them. Just because the bride and groom or their family was able to swing that cost does not mean everyone else can.

DH had a friend from college invite us to his wedding in FL. We wanted to go and looked into cost of travel. We had other expenses pop up that took away that ability.

People who do destination weddings either know they have a lot of people that can afford to travel or are expecting a small turnout. Inviting everyone is easy to do when you know that less than half can afford it.

I’ve never been invited to one, so they’re fine lol.
I’ve known a few people to do it though, and I think as long as they understand that maybe everyone they want to be there can’t, then go for it. For guests to use their vacation time, savings the bride and groom have to be aware maybe not everyone is that generous for a wedding gift.

If my BF get married someday, I could see where we would get married at a destination. But as a 2nd marriage for both of us, I don’t want a big deal event. Maybe my kids, but honestly I don’t need anyone else there.

I think a wedding in Banff would have stunning photos! That’s the point for beautiful wedding photos. Getting an invite a year in advance gives people a lot of notice to save up for it.

My friends seem to go to a lot of destination weddings, it seems like it gives them a reason to vacation somewhere.

Me on the other hand, I would only go if the destination interested me.

I've never been invited to one so they're fine by me

Honestly, I think they are kind of selfish. Flame away!

I think people should do whatever they want, but I also think that young professionals with plenty of money (often those who have destination weddings IME) often aren't aware of the cost and logistical nightmare of traveling for families. Or conversely, the issue of trying to find appropriate child care for several days if the kids are not invited.

My brother and his wife initially wanted to get married in Bali. My sister and I had to have a frank talk with him about how it would be impossible for us to attend with our toddlers in tow and how anyone we'd trust to keep them for several days (i.e., mom and dad) would also be at the wedding. I gather SIL's brother had a similar discussion with them. They ended up changing the wedding to a resort in Florida, which was still difficult and expensive, but somewhat more manageable. OK, actually, it was a nightmare for me personally as DH could not take the time off work to attend and I managed a beach trip with a half-day of fancy dress and a late night party by myself with a one and three year old. But I digress ... we got there and they got married, and DD3 was the flower girl, and it was fine.

As others have mentioned, do what you want, but be prepared that not everyone will be able to attend. (Sometimes that might be the point, LOL.) And if you come from a family where many/most are struggling financially, I think it can be perceived as pretty selfish to ask people to spend what may be their only vacation money for several years to attend a wedding at a place of your choosing. In that case I think it's more sensitive to have your destination wedding with just a few close friends and then have a big party everyone can attend when you get home.

I've only been invited to one and it was my dgd on a Florida beach. We and Her parents rented a huge house with room for our whole family. We do that almost every year anyway and she knew everyone would come.
We had a great time.

I would not go to anyone’s destination wedding except my kids. When I have a vacation and pay for it and take my limited time off work I want to choose where I’m going.

I think people should have their wedding wherever they want, but they have no right to be upset or angry if guests can't make it.

To be honest, I have 1 sibling and 5 sibling-in-laws, not two of us live in the same state, so every wedding is a 'destination' wedding to us.. We would have to take a plane and stay in a hotel regardless.

Well if I got an invite I would ask myself two questions.

Can we afford the trip? If no then problem solved. If yes:

Do we care enough about that person to make that our vacation plan for the year.

Generally I have no issue with someone having a destination wedding but I think they should be prepared for not everyone to show up. Unless of course they’re paying for everyone! I have heard of one person wealthy enough to do that. It was a friends nephew.