How much would you pay to go to a destination wedding?

[Ohyasss]

Average income, 4 people (2dcs, dh and I) We avoid summer hols and normally steal time around half term and a few days into term. Only one dc is in primary other is nursery. Invited to a wedding smack bang school hols (next yr)

how much would you pay?

im currently balking at the cost as it’s double what we spend on our naice summer (not school hols).

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Our dm eventually got us speaking again by very sneaky means, which was fine, but we never addressed the issue, or spoke of it again. Thinking back, I don’t think any of our family went, so I don’t know why I got it in the neck! However, they are now divorced…… ds and I aren’t close anymore, which I can’t get worked up about tbh.

Lots of people on here really hate weddings! It all comes down to whether you actually want to go and can afford it. I would in those circumstances, but not if it was unaffordable or someone I wasn’t close to.

I had a destination wedding, we fully understood not everyone would be able to make it; we were considerate with our venue and location, and informed guests of local places to stay cheap, out on a bus to the venue, we had an open bar all day/evening and plenty of food for the full day for everyone at the wedding. I don’t think the couple should pay for everyone to attend that’s ridiculous, we found accommodation recommendations for our guests meaning with flights etc would cost them £400pp to come for the week half board, we had a low cost stag and hen out there to cut costs… I’ve been to UK weddings that have cost me £250 per night to stay in the hotel alone, and buying extortionate drinks all day I have easily spent £700 and not left the country… I would say as a guest, look at the cost and practicality for your family to go, and weigh up if it’s feasible for you, if so then think if they mean enough to you that you justify paying that… also consider is it really that much more than going to a UK wedding?

It’s not just the financial cost it’s the use of annual leave too.

I wouldn't want to spend anything. I can't think of anything worse to spend my money and annual leave on.

My brother went to New York to get married .............just him and his wife with 2 witnesses who lived in New York (friends). They didn't want anyone to travel with them.

So I’ve a rule with hols, accommodation has to be at least as nice my home or I’m not wasting my money. Generally won’t stay in anything less than a 4 star, making an exception for Walt Disney world though. At the mo, hotels, that I’d want to stay in are coming in are the best part of 5k for a week. The 2* star ones are about 3k for a week self catering. Our annual budget for holidays is 4/5k and we’ve already booked that for next year. I basically cant go, I can’t spend 10k on hols in one year- that’s madness to me.

even if they got married zone 1 london, I’d stay In a premier inn close by the night before and maybe after. I don’t drink alcohol and probably wouldn’t stay late in the night as I’d be with my kids. Definitely wouldn’t even cost me £500

Why would you not want to go? You could make a holiday out of it and you’ll have those memories with the kids forever. It’s a wedding which you can make into a holiday I would pay whatever it was tbh.

She’d not want to go probably because she said it’s a ‘brits on tour’ type place, she’s not close to the bride, and the couple have only just started dating recently, and it’s hugely expensive.

OP just say sorry we can’t go as we’ve already committed to taking the DC to Disney next year and can’t afford two holidays.

You’d pay £3k to stay in a 2 star run down self catering hotel for a week, when you could get a 5 star all inclusive? Or 5k in a nicer hotel for a week?

or 10k for holidays In one year?

you must be very wealthy! Must be nice

Yeah I will, I simply cannot justify the expense other wise.

florida is our big holiday, booked in April before they got engaged and if I cancel I lose my deposit and it’s that simple

Depends if i want to go. I never took mine out of school though so we holidayed in main school holidays (couldn't go at half terms due to work)

Unless it was somewhere I wanted to go anyway then £0.

oh I tend to, the cost otherwise is eyewatering or I hunt around for a dea

Saying 'I can't afford it' is perfectly acceptable. Anyone who decides to marry abroad must know lots of people won't make it

Zero - it would be a decline.

I would only consider it for a sibling or child. Otherwise it's a no for me.

If brides and grooms really was to consider their guests then they shouldn't expect this of them.

What's WDW?

Walt Disney world

We had a destination wedding back in 2000 in Barbados. We didn’t invite anyone though & we’re quite happy
for it to be the 2 of us

I wouldn't attend a destination wedding and have turned down invitations to a few.

"So I’ve a rule with hols, accommodation has to be at least as nice my home or I’m not wasting my money. Generally won’t stay in anything less than a 4 star."

You are me OP! I'm with you there!

Normal budget for a weeks holiday for the 4 of us including food so wouldn't begrudge £5k (sometimes we spend more) if it was somewhere I want to go and can make a good holiday of it.

I'd love to be invited to a wedding abroad. I've been to 3 in my life including my own. Costs equivalent to standard European breaks of the time. Really nice to be on holiday with friends and family.

I wouldnt. I understand why people like to do it but then you can't expect people to be able to go. Save the money for things that matter. I'd never expect anyone to use their hard earnt money that way.

I was invited to one last year. I cancelled and took a hit on flights that cost 800 quid for me and my then 3 year old.
Cunts didn't even acknowledge that I was left out of pocket. I very quickly realised I'd rather lose 800 than spend another 2-3k on top on a holiday that is actually not a holiday at all and just someone's dictated invite.
Everyone I know who went spent upwards of 5k. And this destination was not kid friendly. Every aspect was dictated; you HAD to book a specific hotel, there were 3/4 days of the 7 that had wedding related shit going where attendance was MANDATORY, so the majority of people (who had kids and this was a wedding in Greece in the height of summer) were stuck in that hotel partaking in bullshit the kids didn't want to do.
I made the decision to not subject my child to such tomfoolery on her first holiday abroad. Their own immediate family had 6 kids under the age of 7 at the time and they didn't even allow them to book into more fun and child friendly hotels.
All so the bride and groom could have their vomit inducing Instagram wedding.
I, on the other hand, had a lovely week of sightseeing with my DD in good old blighty and upgraded my kitchen instead 😎.

I'd happily spend a couple grand (if I had it now, which I really, really don't!) If it was my close or immediate family and I could attend on my terms and make sure the destination was perfect for my DD.
Hell I'd do it for a friend. But, as I said, only if it was worth the money as a holiday and not a 1 day event.

I wouldn’t be going unless it was a close friend or family member