PLAN AFFORDABLE DESTINATION WEDDINGS: BUDGET & TRAVEL

Say "I Do" Without Spending Too Much: Your Guide to Amazing and Cheap Celebrations Away

Want a beautiful place for your wedding day? Learn how to get married in a wonderful location without spending all your money. Your adventure starts here!

Planning a wedding can feel like a difficult task with money, but dreaming of a cheap destination wedding can come true. We are Silvia and Marco, wedding photographers. We’ve seen many couples get married in lovely places in Italy and Europe. And we can tell you: you don’t need a lot of money to have a wedding like a fairytale far away. We’ve seen how couples have planned beautiful and meaningful weddings without spending too much Silvia often says.

This guide will help you plan cheap destination weddings that you’ll remember and that won’t cost too much. Let’s find out how you can plan the perfect destination wedding on a budget.

a bride in a white dress looks off camera a groom in a white suit is out of focus in background
CoscarellaPhoto - Editorial & Candid Wedding Photographer in Rome and Italy
Table of Contents

Planning & Budgeting for Your Affordable Destination Wedding

Setting a Budget

First, let’s talk numbers. Setting a budget that works is the base of planning any wedding, but it’s very important for destination weddings on a budget. Start by deciding how much money you have. Be honest about what you can pay for. Then, divide it up. Put money aside for different parts: the place, travel, where to stay, clothes, photos (very important for us!), food, and the nice little extras.

Use a list or an app to carefully watch where your money goes. Marco is great with lists, I (Silvia) say, It really helps to see where your money is going! Remember, knowing how much money you have from the start will help you make good choices and stop surprises later.

Choosing Affordable Places to Get Married

The place is everything! Picking the right place can change your costs a lot. Think about places that are not too expensive. Many very beautiful places cost less. Think about places where travel, rooms, and things you buy there cost less. Check if you need a visa and passport, and if it’s safe and healthy there. And of course, the place should be somewhere you both like. After all, this is your dream wedding.

We’ve taken photos at amazing weddings in hidden spots, showing that beautiful doesn’t always mean expensive. You can get ideas from our Wedding Stories – Photography Portfolio in Italy and Europe.

Smartly Managing Who Comes

Who you invite really changes how much you spend and the planning for a cheap destination wedding. Think honestly about how many people you can have without spending too much. Remember, you might pay for more than just their food – like helping with rooms or having welcome parties.

A smaller wedding can cost less and be more personal and special. Some of the best wedding moments we’ve seen have been at smaller weddings, Marco says, You can really see the love between the couple and their closest friends and family.

Making a Plan

Being organized is your best friend when planning a wedding that doesn’t cost too much. Making a plan with dates is important. Decide on the main things to do like booking flights and places, sending invites early, and getting your agreements with vendors ready. Set dates for booking and paying so you don’t pay extra fees and get the best deals. Having a plan for all the things you need to do helps you stay on track and not get too stressed.

We often say to start with your wedding date and plan backwards to make sure you have enough time for everything.

Looking at Wedding Deals

Many places where you get married, like hotels, have wedding deals for couples getting married there. Take time to look at and compare what these deals include. Check what’s in the deal, what’s not, and the price. Make sure you understand the rules before you agree. Sometimes a deal looks cheap, but you have to pay extra for important things later. Ask if you can change the deal to fit what you need and how much money you have. Look for the great deals that give you a lot for your money.

Should You Get Help? Thinking About a Wedding Planner

Deciding if you want a wedding planner for your wedding away is a big choice. They cost extra, but a good planner can actually save you money because they know the area and the best people to work with. Think about the good and bad things about having help. A planner can take care of the small details, so you can relax and enjoy planning, especially from far away. But, if you like planning and are good at it, you might not need one and save money.

If you get a planner, find good ones and know exactly what they will do and how much they cost.

a couple in wedding outfits walk and hold hands with a blurred background
CoscarellaPhoto - Editorial & Candid Wedding Photographer in Rome and Italy
a bride walks up a staircase in a wedding dress perfect for destination weddings
CoscarellaPhoto - Editorial & Candid Wedding Photographer in Rome and Italy

Logistics & Travel for Your Cheap Destination Wedding

Booking Flights and Rooms Smartly

Getting the best prices on flights and rooms is very important to keep your affordable destination wedding stays that way. Book flights early, especially if you’re travelling when many people travel. Be flexible with when you travel – even leaving one or two days earlier or later can sometimes save you money. Understand the rules about cancelling before you book. If many people are coming, think about booking flights and hotels together, which can often give you a discount.

Planning How to Get Around

Think about more than just getting yourselves there. Plan how to get from the airport for you and your guests. Think about how your guests will travel locally, especially if the wedding and party are in different places. If you’re planning things to do before or after the wedding, think about how people will get there. Public transportation in many European cities is good and cheap!

Affordable Places for Your Guests

Remember that your guests will also pay for travel. Giving them different choices of places to stay for different budgets is a kind thing to do. Suggest cheaper hotels and bed and breakfasts as well as nicer places. Tell them clearly how to book, if you have special prices, and which hotels you suggest. Maybe make a page on your wedding website with this information.

What the Law Says: Getting Married in Another Country

Don’t forget what the law says! Learn about the process of getting a marriage license in the place you choose. This can be very different from country to country. Find out what papers you need early and make sure you have everything. You might need to be there a few days before the wedding to do what the law requires.

Travel Insurance: Something You Need

Always remember to get travel insurance. Make sure you and your guests are covered if something unexpected happens, like trips being canceled, getting sick, or losing bags. It doesn’t cost much to know you are safe if something goes wrong.

Staying Healthy and Safe

Before you and your guests travel, check if you need vaccinations or need to do anything to stay healthy in the place you are going. Know about local health and safety tips. Sharing this information with your guests is a good way to care for them.

greenery and a building make this a perfect location for affordable destination weddings
CoscarellaPhoto - Editorial & Candid Wedding Photographer in Rome and Italy

The Wedding Event: Making Magic Without Spending Too Much on Your Affordable Destination Wedding

Picking a Place That Doesn’t Cost Too Much

The place where you have your wedding is very important. Look at different choices to find one you like that fits your budget. Beach places, hotels where everything is included, private houses, and even old buildings can cost different amounts. Think about getting married when it’s not the busiest time or on a weekday to save money. We’ve seen beautiful, affordable destination weddings in lovely places in the countryside that are just as amazing as big fancy halls.

Planning Your Ceremony Without Spending Too Much: Saying “I Do” Beautifully

Your ceremony doesn’t need to be very fancy to be special. Choose a beautiful place for the ceremony that you really like. Keep it simple but nice. Think about writing your own promises to each other to make it even more special. Simple decorations and music can make it feel beautiful without spending a lot.

Reception Time: Celebrating Well Without Spending Lots

Deciding what kind of party you want is important for controlling costs. A party where people stand and eat small appetizers might cost less than a formal dinner where everyone sits down. Look at different food choices and think about local food, which is often cheaper and tastes real. Making your own decorations can be special and save money. For music, a good DJ can keep everyone dancing without the cost of a big band.

Photos and Videos: Saving Memories

As photographers, we think saving your memories is important. But, there are ways to do this without spending too much. Hire good photographers and video makers whose work you love, but tell them how much money you have to spend. Talk about how many hours you need them and what you want to get from them.

Think about if you need both photos and videos, or if just having one fits your budget better. Read our guide on How Much Does a Wedding Photographer Cost? Pricing Guide for more information. Tell them which specific photos you really want so they know what’s most important. We always try to take great photos that tell the story of your day, no matter how much you spend.

Fun Things to Do That Don’t Cost Too Much

While expensive entertainment can cost a lot, there are many ways to make your wedding fun and memorable. Think about having local dancers or musicians or doing activities that show where you are. Good music playing can keep your guests dancing all night!

Choosing the Right People to Help You

Choosing the right vendors is important for your wedding to be good and for your budget. Get prices from different photographers, video makers, flower shops, food providers, DJs, and others. Don’t be afraid to ask for better prices and cheaper choices. Reading what people say about them and looking at their work is important. You can find helpful Reviews – Wedding Photography Client Testimonials on our website.

a bride and groom pose for a photo for their affordable destination weddings in italy
CoscarellaPhoto - Editorial & Candid Wedding Photographer in Rome and Italy
a bride and groom stand together the bride holds a bouquet of flowers on their wedding day
CoscarellaPhoto - Editorial & Candid Wedding Photographer in Rome and Italy

Guest Experience: Making Everyone Feel Welcome at Your Destination Wedding on a Budget

Welcome Gifts and Information

Showing your guests you care doesn’t mean you need big gifts. Prepare welcome gifts and information bags with useful things like maps, travel tips, when things are happening, and who to call if there’s an emergency. Small things from the local area can be a nice touch. This small act of kindness means a lot.

Things to Do Before the Wedding

Plan some easy things to do before the wedding, like a welcome dinner at a local restaurant or walking around to see the sights together. These are great ways for guests to meet and have fun without costing a lot. Think about things that show how special the place you chose is.

Talking to Your Guests and Helping Them

Talk to your guests often. Answer their questions about travel, where to stay, or anything else they need. Helping them feel comfortable and ready is important.

Things to Do After the Wedding

Planning optional breakfasts or activities after the wedding for guests who stay longer is nice, but not required. Keep it simple and easy, maybe just a last meal together at a restaurant that doesn’t cost too much.

a couple sits on a ledge of a pond in a park an idea for affordable destination weddings
CoscarellaPhoto - Editorial & Candid Wedding Photographer in Rome and Italy

Thinking About the Earth at Your Affordable Destination Wedding

Choosing Places and Services That Are Good for the Earth

Many couples want to think about how their wedding affects the environment. Look for places and services that are good for the Earth. Often, using local businesses is both good for the environment and saves you money.

Making Your Wedding Less Harmful to the Earth

Think about how to make your wedding have less impact on the environment. Make less trash by sending invites online or having gifts that don’t have lots of wrapping. Use decorations you can use again and think about local food and flowers that are in season.

Helping Local People

Choosing local services and things to do helps the local economy and culture. It’s a great way to do good and let your guests experience the real place you’re in.

Balancing Out Travel Pollution

Think about balancing out the pollution from travel. There are groups that let you invest in projects that help the environment to make up for the pollution from your flights and your guests’ travel.

a bride and an older man sit in a white convertible smiling on a sunny day during a wedding
CoscarellaPhoto - Editorial & Candid Wedding Photographer in Rome and Italy

Planning affordable destination weddings is possible if you plan carefully and make smart choices. Remember, the most important thing is celebrating your love with the people you care about in a place that’s special to you. By focusing on what really matters and being smart with your money, you can have a beautiful and memorable wedding without spending too much. And who knows, your amazing photos might even end up on our Featured – Wedding Photos Published in Magazines and Blogs page!