Where Do I Start?!

[Krystenmae]

HI!!! I'm Krysten, new to this site. My FI and I are bouncing around the idea of skipping the ceremony in our home state of Michigan and just going to Mexico for our wedding. Our current plan is to just do a quick quiet ceremony at home, and then do the symbolic ceremony in Mexico. We are thinking April, 2015 and maybe 15 guests (that's pushing it i think.) My question for you is....where do I start?! Is this really going to save us money? A local southeast Michigan reception with less than 100 guests was about to cost us upwards of $15000. I don't see the point in spending that kind of money.

If we do an all inclusive resort, what is the point of having a reception? can't we just go to dinner after and use the "nightlife" as a reception? Do people do this? HELP!!!

Edited August 19, 2014 by Krystenmae

[veryvalentine]

you can probably have your wedding be as economical or elaborate as you want it to be. 

I am getting married at the Grand Sunset Princess and the symbolic wedding is free if at least 10 platinum rooms are booked.  We can have a semi private reception at one of the restaurants which is included I believe.   So far no extra costs.

 

We are going to have our reception private which means we will paying $100/pp

 

It all depends on what you want to do and how budget friendly you want to keep it.  Most hotels offer different price points for different levels of options.

 

Your first thing should probably be to decide what time of  year you want to go to see whether it's an expensive time of year and also which hotel. 

 

Good luck- this a great forum at any level of destination wedding planning.

[LauraM]

A destination wedding can be as cheap or expensive as you want. Personally, mine is WAY over budget (as in, 2x the cost it would have been at home - and I did not expect that at all). However, we could have made it much more affordable if we really wanted to. I think the best part of a destination wedding is that it is whatever you want it to be. If you don't want a formal reception, and would rather do a night out on the town - awesome! There are SO many options and ways to customize your day. I think it's great that destination weddings offer so many possibilities to the bride and groom, it's a real way to do what you want to do, not what tradition says to do. Happy planning!

[calgarybride2015]

As the others have said, it really can be as inexpensive or expensive as you want it.  It can be as basic or as formal as you want. It can be as small or as big as you want.

 

If you are looking for something basic and nothing over the top you may find the smallest wedding packages offered by the resorts are enough for you - heck some resorts (like mine) offer them free depending on how many people you bring.  Mine is free if you get 10 double rooms for 7 nights. The basic package at my resort includes some of the essentials, but only offers dinner/cake in the Ala Carte restaurant and no reception... so this idea would work for you based on what you wrote above. 

 

While mine is cheaper because I only have 42 guests, it is still costing us around $15,000. In Canada we would have had a lot more people and it would have cost a lot more money. So still a savings.

 

I think you should seek out your destination, research resorts and their wedding packages and find one that best suits what YOU want for your wedding.   Then go from there.    Do whatever you want to do. Every lady on this board has a different idea in her mind of her ideal wedding. Sounds like you want something less formal and you will find it -- just start looking  All will fall into place as you go!

 

 

Happy planning!

Edited August 19, 2014 by calgarybride2015

[Lia33]

I agree with everything being said here! It's all up to you! Many resorts have free packages good for 15-16 people that are very basic. With a small group - you don't need a reception. A dinner, beach, drinks, a little nightlife will be enough. For what your looking for I think you can totally find something super affordable - especially if this can be your wedding/honeymoon in one. 

 

I think I will be going over budget - but it's not even my fault. It's my fiancé's doing....I'd much rather be much smaller than we actually are :/ I joke that this is his wedding, not mine....I don't think he likes that joke very much 

 

Start researching! Happy planning

[Moments That Matter]

Welcome to our forum community, Krysten, and Congrats on your upcoming wedding!!!

You're already off to a great start - as you can see from the replies you've already received - so well done! You'll find this is an excellent resource of info, ideas, suggestions, advice and support

 

For some added inspiration, here's a couple of images of the beautiful beach wedding "moments that matter" Linc captured recently at his wedding shoot here: Gernerations Riviera Maya Wedding Album

 

 

 

Wishing you all the best with your planning decisions:)   cheers!!! team MTM

Edited August 20, 2014 by Moments That Matter

[BrideToBeJolie]

HI!!! I'm Krysten, new to this site. My FI and I are bouncing around the idea of skipping the ceremony in our home state of Michigan and just going to Mexico for our wedding. Our current plan is to just do a quick quiet ceremony at home, and then do the symbolic ceremony in Mexico. We are thinking April, 2015 and maybe 15 guests (that's pushing it i think.) My question for you is....where do I start?! Is this really going to save us money? A local southeast Michigan reception with less than 100 guests was about to cost us upwards of $15000. I don't see the point in spending that kind of money.

If we do an all inclusive resort, what is the point of having a reception? can't we just go to dinner after and use the "nightlife" as a reception? Do people do this? HELP!!!

Congratulations!  As many have said, a wedding, destination or not, can be as expensive or inexpensive as you make it.  With about 15 guests, you can certainly keep the costs down.  I've seen some resort wedding packages are inclusive of up to 30 guests!  It's the additional per person charges that really add up.  

 

For example, the Now resorts packages range from $1000 to $3300 which include all you'll need for 15 guests!

 

http://www.nowresorts.com/jade/weddings/packages

[lealea]

I also want to keep the cost down and I think do what you both want. It will be fab anyway x

[spjwedding]

Ditto what everyone else said. It comes down to what you want. Mine would have been 25k for one day with 100 people at home and will be 13k including te wedding planner and an open-bar catamaran snorkel plus sunset sail for 25 people. We've done the AIs and decided to go off the resort track. The time with our family and friends exploring was more important to us.  Good luck!

[Royal Haciendas]

Congratulations Krystenmae!! Yes, we know what you mean.   We are wedding planners in Cancun (Our resort is The Royal Resorts) for Civil wedding services we suggest to the couple get it done at their home as it is less expensive and easier for them.

 

"can't we just go to dinner after and use the "nightlife" as a reception?"  

It depends what you want but It's not a bad idea and It's very normal in our destinations.

Do people do this? Yes, the people do this. <3

 

The reception is a good chance for share special moments with your guests (family and friends). 

If you think about to give it an opportunity and your venue in Mexico has beach, we suggest you do it on the beach is really beautiful and unforgettable. Also, your guests will be less than 20 persons, this will be really intimate.

 

Remember, It's your wedding, do what you love, invite the people you want, dance to the songs that bring you most enjoy... Be the king and queen of the rest of your life and enjoy all moments!!

 

~Sarah~

Edited August 27, 2014 by Royal Haciendas