Why I Love Destination Weddings!

Bare feet in the sand. The ocean stretching behind you in a hundred shades of blue. Your closest friends and family leaning in with smiles and happy tears as you say “I do.”

A breeze ruffles your veil (or your hair, or both), the waves keep time with your vows, and just like that -you’re married. Not in a nondescript ballroom you’ll never visit again, but in a place that feels alive, vibrant, and part of your forever story.

Then, the real fun begins! A burst of sparklers announces you as the new Mr & Mrs, Champagne glasses clink, the music kicks up, and your reception flows from laughter-filled tables to a dance floor that won’t quit. You finish the night with the high-energy burst of a Hora Loca—a carnival-style explosion of music, costumes, and pure joy. The kind of celebration you and your guests will still be talking about on your 25th anniversary.

This spectacular end result is definitely why I love destination weddings – but I also love them for the value they offer and the problems they actually solve for my couples!

Three Days > One Day (Do the Math)

A traditional wedding day is practically over before you can finish your second glass of champagne. Months of planning melt into a whirlwind of hugs, photos, and “the timeline”, followed by a little second-guessing the next morning, whether you even got a chance to personally say “Thank You” to everyone.

With a destination wedding, you don’t just get a day – you get a chapter. The welcome party sets the tone: relaxed, joyful, a little sun-kissed. The wedding day itself? Magical, fun, and no one is worrying about driving home. Your celebration wraps up with a breezy morning-after brunch and/or a group catamaran sail into turquoise waters.

✨ Instead of a single blur, your celebration becomes a lifelong memory, stitched together over three days of laughter, shared adventures, and clinking glasses under the stars.

Your Guest List, Without the Baggage

Let’s be honest: one of the first things to tackle in planning a wedding is assembling the guest list and it can quickly start to feel like herding cats! You want to celebrate with people who matter, but suddenly the list includes your mom’s coworker, your dad’s golf buddy, and a neighbor who once babysat you. The pressure comes from everywhere—family expectations, guilt, and that nagging voice whispering, “What if they’re offended if we don’t invite them?”

And here’s the kicker: the more names you add, the more your budget groans under the weight of feeding, seating, and entertaining a small army.

✨ Destination weddings have a way of cutting through all that noise. The very act of traveling, taking time off work, and booking a few nights at the resort naturally filters the list down to the people who truly want to be there—not just for a slice of cake, but for you. So invite away and eliminate the drama!

The Truth About Wedding Budgets

Southern California weddings – especially at outdoor “garden” venues – are gorgeous. They’re also expensive, and sometimes the fine print hides the real sting.

Out of curiosity, I wanted to see how a local wedding would actually stack up budget-wise against a destination wedding – so I did a little research comparing 5 Local Garden-Style venues in Southern California against hosting a wedding at the Hard Rock Los Cabos Resort & Spa. At all 5 local venues, they charged a venue fee, a catering charge, and a bar charge per person – with a minimum guest count of 100–125 for a Saturday wedding. This means even if you had fewer guests, you’d still be required to pay for that minimum guest count. While other Los Angeles venues may have different policies, these numbers are from venues I compared personally.

For these 5 venues, the starting cost for venue fees plus per-person catering and bar service ranged from $25,520 to $28,695—and that’s before you’ve even touched décor, flowers, or entertainment, etc.

Now picture this at Hard Rock Los Cabos:

✨ No venue fee when you hit the room block.
✨ Ceremony essentials covered: setup, bouquet, boutonniere, sparkling wine toast, and your coordinator.
✨ The bigger the guest list, the bigger the perks—think free rooms, upgrades, and private event hours.

Here’s the twist: with Hard Rock, more guests can actually lower your cost per event. When was the last time you heard that about a wedding budget?

Venue	Guest Minimum	Starting Total
LA Garden Venue (Low)	125	$25,520
LA Garden Venue (High)	125	$28,695
✨ Hard Rock Los Cabos	10 Rooms	$0
✨ Hard Rock Los Cabos (+ Perks)	20 Rooms	$0

Curious about the details? Download the full comparison PDF ›

It’s More Than Just About the Savings …

Yes, saving money feels good. But a destination wedding gives you so much more than a line item win.

✨ A backdrop you can’t fake – waves, palm trees, and sunsets that look painted just for you.
✨ Real connection time – no rushing from table to table, just conversations that last.
✨ Built-in honeymoon vibes – once guests head home, you simply stay put and slip into newlywed mode.

It’s a celebration and a getaway rolled into one.

When a Destination Wedding Isn’t Your Love Language

As much as I adore them, I’ll be the first to say they’re not for everyone.

If there’s someone whose presence is non-negotiable and they can’t travel – you may want to choose somewhere closer to home. And if the idea of planning from afar without being hands-on at every step keeps you awake at night, an at-home wedding might feel more comfortable.

That said, most worries vanish when you have a destination wedding planner who knows the resorts, the process, and exactly how to smooth every bump before you even see it.

Pro tips without pulling your hair out

✨ Start planning 12–18 months ahead so guests can save and get time off approved.
✨ Work with a destination wedding planner who’s been there – literally.
✨ Send Save-the-Dates early with crystal-clear travel details and booking instructions
✨ Build in downtime so guests can choose adventure or a nap by the pool.

A Wedding That Feels Like You

For me, the magic of a destination wedding isn’t just the sand under your feet or the sunset in your photos. It’s the way it frees you to be fully present – to laugh until your cheeks hurt, to dance barefoot, to savor every bite, sip, and song without feeling rushed.

If that’s the kind of celebration you’re dreaming of, I’d love to help you make it real.

✨ Ready to start planning your destination wedding—at Hard Rock Los Cabos or anywhere your heart leads you?