Many people are predisposed to thinking that a destination wedding is the cheaper way to go . . . in actuality, a destination wedding can be much more expensive. Depending on how far you plan on traveling, you’ll need to figure in the cost of plane tickets and hotel rooms for yourself and the rest of your wedding guests. Also, by planning the wedding overseas or across country, you can easily end up spending much more on elements such as the cake and catering because you won’t have the ability to shop around. 

Who’s coming? 
Before you start envisioning your ceremony in a German castle or on the Maui coast, call your parents and closest friends and family and see if they’ll even be able to attend. Be considerate to their needs and give them plenty of time to save money – you may need to plan 1-2 years in advance. If the majority of the guests won’t be able to make it, it’s up to you to decide whether or not a destination wedding is worth it.
The Pros to Eloping 
As the cost of weddings doubles every couple years, eloping grows more and more popular. Many couples are high-tailing it to their favorite country for a private and romantic ceremony, followed by a casual celebration with friends and family upon their return. If you plan this right, you can have all of the important constituents of a wedding without the fuss. 
 

Research is Key 
Before deciding what country you want to run off to, do some research. There are hundreds of options – some much more expensive than others. For example, a Mexican beach wedding is more cost-effective than a Hawaiian wedding. If you live in the big city and want something outdoorsy and picturesque, there may even be spots within your state that you don’t even know about. Don’t choose something thousands of miles away when you get the same amenities for half the cost. The larger the selection you have at your disposal, the more you’ll ultimately save on your wedding.
 

Visit the Wedding Venue 
Plan on visiting the prospective venue prior to beginning the wedding preparations. This makes sense: you wouldn’t buy a dress without first trying it on – you should approach your wedding with the same, if not more, deliberation. Things look much different in person than they do in photographs, so don’t ever rely on visuals alone. Nowadays, photographers have a way to make things look much bigger and spacious than they actually are. Be smart and visit the location months before the big day. This will give you a better idea as to what you’re looking for and what decorations you’ll need to get. 
Get a Wedding Planner 
The best thing to do is to hire a bridal consultant who is local to the wedding venue area. This way he/she can take care of everything for you; calling and emailing all of your choices and letting you make the ultimate decision. In the end, your job will only be to show up with the rest of the party. Not only does this take the stress off of you, it can also save you money if you hire someone through a hotel or resort.