my fiance and i are planning to have a DW in oahu. this is primarily due to the fact that we both have huge extended families and lots of friends and our guest list would be at least 350 people if we end up having it in the bay area. having a wedding away would cut our guestlist in half at the very least.
last night we checked airfare from the bay area to oahu for next year (our wedding will be in june 09) and they were starting at $750!!! we went to hawaii two years ago and our tickets were only $300+!
i know that everything nowadays is much more expensive due to our failing economy, but does anyone feel wierd about asking your guests to pay all that money just to go to hawaii? i know that our intermediate family and close friends will pay any amount of money to be at our wedding, but i just feel so selfish.
I don't think you're selfish. I got married in Kaua'i last year. Airfare was cheaper and from farther (from Newark NJ). I would call the airline and see if you can get a group rate for air. It's usually 10 people with the same flight for departing and returning. Sometimes they give the host a discount. It doesn't hurt to check with a travel agent either to see how they can help with a group. Don't commit then send an announcement email to gauge the interest. You'd be surprised how many join you for your wedding and use it as a vacation excuse.
Fares will likely fall as you get closer to the date-- they seem to reach their low point usually somewhere between 3 and 4 months in advance in my experience, with peaks on either side. There are several sites out there that will allow you to track fare trends for destinations and let you get a better idea of when to buy!
I use Yapta.com to track the changes on fares from various airports to our DW and many have dropped over $200 since I started tracking them 4 months ago (we're now 3 months out).
Airfare to Hawaii has actually become really expensive lately. My cousin is changing her DW from Kona to Jamaica because it's going to be about 1/3 of the price for guests to attend.
If you keep it in Hawaii, you might want to consider incorporating some "help" for your close family/attendants into your budget. That way you don't have to feel guilty if Grandma can't afford the trip.
Don't feel bad - essentially, you're asking your friends/fam to come on a vacation with you. If they can't make it, they can't make it... no biggie. That said, if there are a LOT of people who can't be there and you still want to mark the occasion with them, maybe you can have a party when you get back? It can be as simple as having people over to your place for drinks... (Plus, it's another opportunity for you to wear your dress again :-) ).
you all confirmed what i was feeling deep down inside. i appreciate your thoughts and now feel as if i can move forward in my planning without looking back. i wil definitely check out yapta.com and research airlines and travel agencies for the best deals. i'll let you know what i come up with...maybe it'll help others in their planning process!
Davndee, I responded to your post on another board, I think.
I totally agree with Miss Purple. It is a vacation for your guests...there just happen to be a wedding happening the same week at the same place. That's how I see it. "If they can't make it, they can't make it...no biggie". Have a backyard BBQ or whatnot when you get back to celebrate with those who couldn't make it. Make sure to provide photo albums so guests can see what they missed.
I am certainly feeling the same guilt/heartache over airfare to Hawaii. And I live here so it isn't really a destination wedding.
The best advise I have received is to do what feels right for me. And a wedding here is just so right. A friend recently had a destination wedding in Tahoe and she had 60% of her guest list that couldn't attend. But she said she didn't even miss them. She and her now-husband had a perfect day with the people that could be there.
Of course, fingers crossed that the airfare magically drops before my big day!
Airfare to Hawaii has become more expensive. Aloha and ATA shut down. So the other carriers are charging more. In March, as I was finishing our STDs for our DW, the airline craziness started. I was hestitant to continue with our DW, but my fiance and BMs encouraged me to go forward. Hawaii is our ultimate wedding. We appreciate the people who are making a vaca out of it. We are planning on doing a few special things for our guests, ie. a hike, good take home favors, fun OOT bags, and a picnic day.
Check out Hawaiian Airlines Wedding Wings. It used to have a 5% discount for wedding guests but I can't seem to find it or they have removed it.
my fiance and i are planning to have a DW in oahu. this is primarily due to the fact that we both have huge extended families and lots of friends and our guest list would be at least 350 people if we end up having it in the bay area. having a wedding away would cut our guestlist in half at the very least.
last night we checked airfare from the bay area to oahu for next year (our wedding will be in june 09) and they were starting at $750!!! we went to hawaii two years ago and our tickets were only $300+!
i know that everything nowadays is much more expensive due to our failing economy, but does anyone feel wierd about asking your guests to pay all that money just to go to hawaii? i know that our intermediate family and close friends will pay any amount of money to be at our wedding, but i just feel so selfish.
anyone other DW brides feeling the same way?
posted by davndee09 4 months agoI don't think you're selfish. I got married in Kaua'i last year. Airfare was cheaper and from farther (from Newark NJ). I would call the airline and see if you can get a group rate for air. It's usually 10 people with the same flight for departing and returning. Sometimes they give the host a discount. It doesn't hurt to check with a travel agent either to see how they can help with a group. Don't commit then send an announcement email to gauge the interest. You'd be surprised how many join you for your wedding and use it as a vacation excuse.
We had 28 people join us in Kaua'i most from NJ.
Good luck!
posted by jennypah 4 months agoFares will likely fall as you get closer to the date-- they seem to reach their low point usually somewhere between 3 and 4 months in advance in my experience, with peaks on either side. There are several sites out there that will allow you to track fare trends for destinations and let you get a better idea of when to buy!
I use Yapta.com to track the changes on fares from various airports to our DW and many have dropped over $200 since I started tracking them 4 months ago (we're now 3 months out).
posted by cherrypie 4 months agoAirfare to Hawaii has actually become really expensive lately. My cousin is changing her DW from Kona to Jamaica because it's going to be about 1/3 of the price for guests to attend.
If you keep it in Hawaii, you might want to consider incorporating some "help" for your close family/attendants into your budget. That way you don't have to feel guilty if Grandma can't afford the trip.
posted by tiffanick 4 months agoYou aren't selfish and shouldn't feel guilty so long as you don't get upset over guests being unable to attend.
posted by bellabella 4 months agoDon't feel bad - essentially, you're asking your friends/fam to come on a vacation with you. If they can't make it, they can't make it... no biggie. That said, if there are a LOT of people who can't be there and you still want to mark the occasion with them, maybe you can have a party when you get back? It can be as simple as having people over to your place for drinks... (Plus, it's another opportunity for you to wear your dress again :-) ).
posted by MissPurple 4 months agoTHANK LADIES FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
you all confirmed what i was feeling deep down inside. i appreciate your thoughts and now feel as if i can move forward in my planning without looking back. i wil definitely check out yapta.com and research airlines and travel agencies for the best deals. i'll let you know what i come up with...maybe it'll help others in their planning process!
posted by davndee09 4 months agoDavndee, I responded to your post on another board, I think.
I totally agree with Miss Purple. It is a vacation for your guests...there just happen to be a wedding happening the same week at the same place. That's how I see it. "If they can't make it, they can't make it...no biggie". Have a backyard BBQ or whatnot when you get back to celebrate with those who couldn't make it. Make sure to provide photo albums so guests can see what they missed.
posted by nejireta 4 months agoI am certainly feeling the same guilt/heartache over airfare to Hawaii. And I live here so it isn't really a destination wedding.
The best advise I have received is to do what feels right for me. And a wedding here is just so right. A friend recently had a destination wedding in Tahoe and she had 60% of her guest list that couldn't attend. But she said she didn't even miss them. She and her now-husband had a perfect day with the people that could be there.
Of course, fingers crossed that the airfare magically drops before my big day!
posted by Kini 4 months agoAirfare to Hawaii has become more expensive. Aloha and ATA shut down. So the other carriers are charging more. In March, as I was finishing our STDs for our DW, the airline craziness started. I was hestitant to continue with our DW, but my fiance and BMs encouraged me to go forward. Hawaii is our ultimate wedding. We appreciate the people who are making a vaca out of it. We are planning on doing a few special things for our guests, ie. a hike, good take home favors, fun OOT bags, and a picnic day.
Check out Hawaiian Airlines Wedding Wings. It used to have a 5% discount for wedding guests but I can't seem to find it or they have removed it.
http://www.hawaiianair.com/Programs/Pages/wed_wings.aspx#
I also talked to off2hawaii.com. There are some pretty good deals if you look into vaca packages. I called for more specific help.
Hang in there, it will all work out:)
posted by alohakt 3 months agoYou can also try farecast.com It is website that helps you gage when to buy airline tickets and when to wait.
posted by Susiewho 3 months ago