Regular readers of this blog know we’re not big fans of destination weddings. A Reddit thread shared the latest problem with the concept:
“Awhile back my sister went to our parents to ask for help to pay for her destination wedding, our parents don’t have it like that. Our parents came to me and asked if I would loan them money to help my sister’s wedding. I told them no, but I did tell them I would gladly pay for their travel and accommodations plus anyone else that would like to go.
Now this caused an issue with her soon be husband’s family. They allegedly find it strange that our family can afford to fly people to the wedding but not help pay for the wedding. I told my sister our family cannot, but I can. After that I never heard anything else so figured it was cleared up.
Recently i brought the wedding up with our parents since it will be in May and wanted to make arrangements. They did not get their invites yet, so I reached to my sister and asked for the details. She told me they were not invited since they thought they would not be able to attend due to the price even though she was aware I was going to cover the cost for them to attend.
My sister said they plan to do something local after the fact and it is not a big deal.
Either way I am torn cause had I just helped cover some of the wedding costs maybe our parents would be able to apart of her day. Our dad is taking it the hardest. Idc so much about my sister’s feelings but I do feel bad for our parents and feel that is what makes me wrong in this situation.”
So, what’s wrong with this picture? What’s wrong with destination weddings? Let us count the ways:
- Except in extraordinary circumstances, parents are THE essential participants in wedding celebrations, next to the couple themselves. Parents made the event possible in the first place by bringing their child into this world. Sacred scripture tells us to honor thy father and mother. Excluding them from the wedding guest list dishonors them.
- Destination weddings exclude way too many other guests who can’t afford to travel and pay for lodging and meals far from home.
- The entire purpose of a wedding flows from tradition that recognizes your guests as witnesses to a solemn, and yet joyful, event. They attend not just to have a good time, but to support the new couple in their marriage.
Destination weddings negate these primary principles. They have the potential of drowning the parents, the couple, and the guests in unnecessary debt.
Besides, weddings are more celebratory when ALL of the most important people in your lives participate. There’s no need to travel elsewhere when the best party of your life takes place in your own home town. And wedding entertainment specialists like Columbus Pro DJs know how to unite your guests in a celebration for the ages.
Save yourself a ton of money and nix destination weddings. Then call us to see if we’re available for your Columbus wedding celebration.
