Should I Have A Destination Wedding In Europe?

May 13

If you’re stuck trying to decide between having a destination wedding in Europe or a local wedding in your hometown, this guide is going to help you decide.

I’m not going to try to convince you of anything. I’m going to help you uncover the truth about what’s actually right for you.

If you’re currently stuck between having a destination wedding in Europe or doing something locally, you already know it’s not always a clear path forward or a simple decision.

It’s a really difficult choice. From my experience, I’ve watched couples grapple with it for weeks and even months, wasting time going down rabbit holes only to realize they were chasing the wrong dream the entire time. I don’t want that to be you.

So let’s cut to the chase. Here are the five questions you need to ask yourself to make it crystal clear whether or not you should have a destination wedding in Europe.

Family Alignment

The first question sounds obvious, but so many people struggle for months before they actually ask themselves this: is my family bought into this idea, especially the key decision-makers?

Before you do anything, you need to ask your family, specifically anyone who has decision-making power outside of you two, whether they would actually support something like this.

Now, you may be thinking, “Okay, my family doesn’t have any say.” That’s awesome. But where I do see family members gain influence is when they’re contributing financially.

I always say money equals decision-making power. Money equals control, at least to some extent. That’s true in wedding planning and in life.

So if anybody is contributing financially, they potentially have some skin in the game. You really should ask them, “Do I have your blessing to even go down this path?”

The biggest mistake I see couples make is assuming, “Oh yeah, I can get them on board, but first I need to do all the research. I need to figure out the costs. I need to choose a few venues.”

They spend months gathering data to present to these decision-making relatives, only for the idea to get shut down in two minutes. That’s when the heartbreak sets in.

So skip ahead to the hard conversation before you waste time gathering information for something that may have been a nonstarter from the beginning.

You don’t need full approval right away, but you do need to know they’re at least willing to entertain the idea.

Bring them into the process early so it’s not a huge surprise later when you say, “Italy?” and they respond with, “Absolutely not.”

Non-Negotiables

The second question you need to ask yourself is: Are there any guests whose absence would completely ruin your day?

Who are your non-negotiables? Ask them whether they would realistically be able to attend.

If someone is a deal breaker for you, you either need confirmation that they’re going to come or you need to make peace with the possibility that they may not.

For the record, anyone can say, “Two years from now? Sounds great. I’ll be there.” But life happens. Financial situations change. Jobs change. Time-off requests get denied. Family planning happens. Medical issues happen.

Even if someone says yes today, they still may not be able to make it later.

If hearing that truth makes you deeply upset, a destination wedding might not be right for you.

You need to feel confident in your decision regardless of who ultimately shows up.

Of course, emergencies can happen even with a local wedding five minutes away from home. But realistically, it is harder for people to get to a wedding in Europe.

I once worked with a couple getting married in Greece whose maid of honor was incredibly excited to attend. At the last minute, she realized her passport hadn’t been updated and she couldn’t travel.

Unfortunately, passport issues are one of the most common reasons important guests miss destination weddings.

The maid of honor ended up watching the ceremony over FaceTime, crying because she couldn’t be there. It was heartbreaking.

Even people with every intention of attending can run into obstacles beyond their control.

So ask yourself honestly: Would you regret your decision if someone important couldn’t make it?

If your answer is, “That would be heartbreaking, but this wedding is about me and my partner creating the adventure we’ve always dreamed of,” that’s a good sign that a destination wedding could still be right for you.

Budget Reality

Next question: Can I afford it, and are my expectations realistic?

Let’s talk about money.

A lot of couples ask me which option is less expensive. The answer is always: it depends on what you value.

The couples I work with are typically planning multi-day destination wedding experiences abroad with around 50 guests. They value experiences over things.

That means they prioritize beautiful venues, incredible views, entertainment, and amazing food and beverage experiences over excessive décor upgrades or endless rentals.

For weddings like that, couples are typically spending around $1,000 USD per person.

That budget usually covers a really high-quality three-day experience in Europe that still feels timeless and elevated without going overboard.

Compare that to many weddings in the United States or Canada, where that same $1,000 per person might only get you six hours at a local venue.

In major wedding markets like New York, California, or Newport, some venues charge $50,000 just to walk through the door for a single evening.

That same budget spread across three days in Europe can often include much more.

Of course, not all of Europe fits within that price range. Markets like Lake Como and the Amalfi Coast are significantly more expensive.

But there are still incredible destinations throughout Europe where your money stretches much further.

Think carefully about whether that $1,000-per-person benchmark feels achievable for you.

If it does, that may be a green light for Europe.

If it feels tight, you may need to reassess your guest count or reconsider whether a destination wedding is the right financial fit.

Soul Connection

Now let’s get a little emotional. Do you feel a soul connection to a destination?

A soul connection is that invisible emotional tether to a place abroad that you can’t fully explain.

Maybe you’ve always loved traveling. Maybe there’s a country or city you’ve never even visited, but you feel deeply drawn to it anyway.

It doesn’t need to make logical sense. For some couples, the soul connection is simply wanting to celebrate their wedding through travel because travel is such a huge part of their relationship. For others, it’s tied to a specific place.

I once worked with a couple who got married in Malta because the groom had done a fourth-grade school project about Malta and had dreamed of going there ever since.

None of us had ever been before, but that emotional connection was enough. They followed it, and it became an incredible experience.

For my own wedding, my soul connection came from watching Mamma Mia! as a child. The image of Sophie riding the donkey up the hill at sunset with twinkle lights over the water became the vision in my mind.

That led me to Greece. It didn’t logically make sense. I was simply drawn there.

So ask yourself: is there a destination calling to you?

Because sometimes that pull is a sign that a destination wedding was always meant to be part of your story.

Ten Years

This next exercise brings clarity almost every single time.

Take a journal or even the notes app on your phone. You and your partner should go into separate rooms and answer this question individually:

On your 10-year wedding anniversary, what do you hope to remember most about your wedding experience?

Go deep with your answer. Then come back together and compare.

Why does this exercise work so well? Because weddings are ultimately memory-making experiences. You experience them once, and then you carry those memories with you for the rest of your life.

This question strips away trends, outside opinions, social pressure, and superficial details. It gets to the emotional core of what truly matters to you.

For me, my answer was this: I wanted to remember being outside under string lights, slightly buzzed, dancing to ABBA with all my friends and family thousands of miles away from home, feeling the same joy I feel whenever I travel with my husband.

So that’s exactly what we prioritized. We prioritized the open bar, the outdoor dance floor, the string lights, and the DJ.

And six and a half years later, those are still the memories I treasure most.

But someone else’s answer might be: “I really want to dance with my grandmother at my wedding.”

And maybe Grandma can’t travel. That answer matters too.

You need to listen carefully to what your heart is telling you because this exercise tends to reveal the truth very quickly.

Once you decide which direction you want to go, use that answer as your north star throughout wedding planning.

It will help you avoid spending money on things that don’t actually matter to you.

One objection I hear constantly is: “Is it selfish to ask people to spend money and travel all that way for my wedding?”

If you ask me, no. It’s your wedding. Your guests are adults. They can decide what works for them.

You can invite people with no strings attached.If they come, amazing. If they don’t, that’s okay too.

The issue only arises if you become angry or resentful toward people for not attending.

But if your mindset is, “We’d love to have you there, but we completely understand if you can’t make it,” then you’re approaching it in a healthy way.

An invitation does not equal an obligation.

So what’s your answer?

Is your family aligned with the idea?
Are you okay with some important guests potentially not making it?
Does the budget realistically work for you?
Do you feel a soul connection pulling you toward Europe?
What do you want to remember most 10 years from now?

If most of your answers point toward a destination wedding, you probably already know what you want.

And if they don’t, then you have your answer too.

There is no wrong choice here. The right wedding is simply the one that aligns with your priorities, values, and vision for your future memories.

If, after asking yourself these questions, you feel completely certain that you want a destination wedding in Europe, but you have no idea where to start, you can inquire about working with me.

We specialize in multi-day intimate destination weddings in Europe on a budget.

And whether you decide on a destination wedding abroad or a beautiful celebration closer to home, congratulations on choosing the path that feels right for you.

If you need help understanding your budget, expectations, and guest count, I have a free guide linked below to help you!