An Argument for Destination Weddings

Introduction

I know this is a favorite claim among “I’m not like other girls” girls, but I’m not lying when I say I really never thought about my wedding as a kid. I loved fairy-tale princess weddings as much as the next red-blooded American child, but they never really captured my imagination. This might be because I didn’t grow up in a part of the country with much of a wedding culture; it might also be because the weddings I actually attended in my youth were, frankly, just not a ton of fun. The most fun I had at a wedding between the ages of 0 and 27 was when I was 8 and my cousin and I tried to give the bride a hug after playing a game we had creatively coined “mud fight.” Other than that, weddings tended to be what I now think of as “bat mitzvah” weddings: the formulaic procession of ceremony, cocktails, hotel ballroom, overcooked catered dinner, awkward dance floor, leave when your feet hurt too much to even pretend to be having fun anymore. Very fun at 13, but a bit rote at 33. I’ve definitely been to great weddings with this formula – but to a lot of “meh” ones as well.

I’m clearly not alone in this thinking. I’ve been seeing less of these weddings and more non-traditional variations: backyard parties, dive bar events, simple courthouse affairs, and yes, the increasingly popular destination wedding. Gun to my head, I would probably have said what I used to picture for myself was some kind Carrie Bradshaw skirtsuit courthouse event—until I hit upon the idea of a destination wedding. I first visited Positano on a whim when I was doing a grad school course in Italy in my mid-20’s, and found it so beautiful and magical that I just wanted to maybe, dare I say…visit with the love of my life? Bring all my friends and family there? Throw a massive party? On that trip I essentially Stendhal Syndrome-d myself into finally wanting a wedding.

When I attended my first destination wedding (coincidentally in Positano – don’t worry, my friend had no idea I’d had a Positano moment – she is blameless!), I became 100% sure it was what I wanted for myself: a long weekend of beautiful surroundings, complete relaxation, and, best of all, a life changing travel experience with a wonderfully curated group of humans. I went to a few more destination weddings after that, including some with my now-husband, and by the time we got to planning our own festivities, I knew exactly what I wanted. And guess what: we had it!

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Goal 1: No Poverty

1. Affordability

Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

1. Venues

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being

1. VIP Guest List

Goal 4: Quality Education

1. The Once-in-a-lifetime experience

Pros

Affordability

I won’t beat around the bush: anyone who’s had anything to do with a wedding in the U.S. knows it is needlessly, stupidly, insultingly expensive. Many outlets report a nationwide wedding average of $30,000, but most people I know who got married in a big or medium-sized city spent between at least $50,000 and $100,000. As a Swedish friend observed, “American weddings are a circus.” We love our big once-in-a-lifetime affairs, and vendors know this – and know people will pay whatever it takes to get their perfect day. Flowers, catering, hair, makeup, photography, basically everything gets a massive markup in the U.S. when it’s for a wedding. However, many places, even traditionally expensive countries, simply don’t have the same obsession with big weddings as Americansand price their services accordingly. These prices and savings obviously fluctuate depending on where you go and where in the U.S. you’re comparing it to, but with some research and planning, there’s a very good chance that your dream venue, aesthetic, food, and more would be more affordable outside the U.S.

Venues

Again, the U.S. has a wedding obsession, and everyone in possession of a beautiful venue here wants to get their bag. In the U.S., if you have a big historic house, a nice slice of nature with event capabilities, or an aesthetic hotel, you’re going to price them in accordance with American wedding demand and prices. When I was shopping around for venues in Europe, I was shocked at the prices. I found our venue (on the charmingly-titled “rentavilla.com”) and fell in love with it. This venue–a chateau in southeastern France just a couple hours from Paris by train–cost less for three nights, with all guests able to stay on the property, than the average cost of $10k for one night at a venue in the Bay Area (“average” being perhaps a useless metric, as most venues within my hometown of San Francisco range from $20k to $70k, and nearby wine country isn’t much better).

Let me say that again: I got a beautiful, historic chateau with a pool and many acres of land, with no curfew and rooms for all of my ~60 guests, for three nights and four days, for less than I would have paid for about 8 hours of party time at a venue in the Bay Area. I’m not exactly sure how Europe manages this; all I can think is it just has a lot more beautiful old buildings lying around. This also seems to be the same for a lot of non-American countries outside Europe, where you’re even more likely to find a venue that costs less than what you’d be paying in America.

VIP Guest List

This is may be a con for some people, but I found this to be a pro. With a destination wedding, it’s much more acceptable to have a streamlined guest list. Additionally, the obligation invites are more likely to weed themselves out. Feel obligated to invite your freshman year roommate whose wedding you went to five years ago and who you haven’t seen since? Chances are they won’t want to blow all their vacation time at your wedding, and will politely bow out. Same goes for that cousin you don’t like, that step-great-aunt, and all the other randoms you may feel obligated to ceremonially include

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value
• Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage
• Target 12.2: By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources
• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

No specific indicators are mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: coveteur.com

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