Post # 1
Member
236 posts
Helper bee
Not getting married yet, but SO and I have talked about it, and I have been wondering this for some time. Sorry if it’s a stupid question…
I moved away for college, where I met my SO. My extended family is concentrated near my home; his is dispersed throughout the country. We live in the south, a couple hours from a popular US vacation spot. We hope to get married there, if/when we do. If we did, pretty much everyone from my side and most of his would have to travel 500+ miles to come. The only guests who wouldn’t have to would be our college friends (who are still in school, and I figure have the least financial ability to travel anyway) and his friends from home.
Would this be considered a DW? I don’t want to burden people, but I’m not sure where else we would have it.
EDIT: this wouldn’t be a resort type deal, have to buy a package, etc. We’d have a church wedding and hopefully the reception in a nearby public space. People would be free to stay wherever they wanted, they would just have to incur travel costs.
Post # 2
Member
3173 posts
Sugar bee
Just have it at the popular vacation spot. I wouldn’t think of it as a Destination Wedding. Oftentimes, people have to travel for a wedding anyway.
Post # 3
Member
6834 posts
Busy Beekeeper
We had ours in our own area. I suppose it’s technically destination but it seemed worse to pick my hometown or his and put all financial burden on just one person’s family (2000 miles for mine and 1000 for his). So we dumped the burden on everyone instead and helped with housing for those more financially strapped. People understand when family is so scattered.
Post # 4
Member
1255 posts
Bumble bee
I think it’s only a Destination Wedding if the couple doesn’t currently live there and it’s also not either of their hometowns.
About 80% of our guests had to travel from out of town, but that’s because we have family and friends from all over the country. I don’t think that’s what makes it a destination wedding, since no matter where we had it people would have to travel.
Post # 5
Member
5313 posts
Bee Keeper
No I don’t think that would be classed as a destination wedding.
Post # 6
Member
1736 posts
Bumble bee
Nope if you live there it’s not a Destination Wedding.
Post # 7
Member
7780 posts
Bumble Beekeeper
I consider it a destination wedding when it is not held where the bride/groom or parents/families of the bride or groom live. If you are from Jamaica, live in Tulsa, and you want to get married in Jamaica it’s one thing. If you’re from Chicago, live in Tulsa and everyone, including you, has to travel to Jamaica for the wedding it’s a Destination Wedding.
Post # 8
Member
236 posts
Helper bee
I guess where I’m getting tripped up is that we would technically have to travel to get there, but it’s about 3-4 hours and within the same state. Maybe I’m just overthinking things! I just feel bad about making people come so far, and nervous about whether they will. It means a lot to have my family there – and he has some family near mine, so my home would be easier than where we are now – but I can’t imagine trying to plan a wedding from 1,000 miles away. It seems like a logistical nightmare.
Thank you, Bees!
Post # 9
Member
1699 posts
Bumble bee
I think it would be awesome, even with the travel, however, I would also plan a small reception back in your home town for friends/family who can’t make the trip. But I like a chance to have another party lol, and I’d only do this if your family or friends would want it and help plan it.
Post # 10
Member
4104 posts
Honey bee
Technically, its not a Destination Wedding. My Brother-In-Law had a wedding where he lives and no family members on either side lived there, so most traveled. Not going to lie, it sucked being forced to spend all that money since it was a family wedding and we couldn’t really say no. With that said, unless you want to travel for your own wedding, it kinda just is what it is and not something I think people can be irritated by, even if it isn’t so fun to spend the money.
Post # 11
Member
6834 posts
Busy Beekeeper
collegebee : You might find your numbers are lower than you anticipate – I had about 50% of my invitees actually attend. But you really can’t sacrifice his grandma for yours, for example, by going tp one person’s home town. Better to give them both the option of attending. We were also about 3 hours from our own home. Some family came early to see the house and travelled from there.
Post # 12
Member
1801 posts
Buzzing bee
Since you and you Fiance also live 3-4 hours away, I personally would consider this to be a destination wedding. But it sounds like a lot of your family and friends would have to travel if you had it in the town you live in anyways so no big deal! Almost everyone that came from my hubby’s side were from out of town.
I think the location sounds lovely and you should go for it, if that’s where you want to do it :).
Post # 13
Member
2564 posts
Sugar bee
I’d classify it as a domestic destination wedding because everyone, including you, has to travel more than 2 hour to get there.