How to have a Destination Wedding with 50 guests for under $10k
Shannon Vega
Destination wedding specialist
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Seems impossible right? Especially if you have been doing research on pricing for a local wedding! I am here to tell you it can definitely be done if you know the secrets to hosting an affordable destination wedding. Here is what I would do if I were in your shoes knowing all that I do:
I would choose to host my wedding at one of the Hard Rock properties which gives me the options of Hard Rock Riviera Maya, Hard Rock Cancun, Hard Rock Los Cabos, Hard Rock Vallarta and Hard Rock Punta Cana. I have been to all of these properties and Hard Rock Los Cabos is my personal favorite because I love the design of the resort. It has just the right mix of fun and luxury which is exactly the kind of place I would want for my wedding.
Hard Rock offers a complimentary ceremony package for up to 30 guests.
Hard Rock offers a complimentary ceremony package for up to 30 guests. Additional guests start at $8pp. Here is where it gets really good. If I have 50 guests that should be somewhere around 20-25 rooms and for filling those rooms Hard Rock will essentially reward me with a 1 hour welcome party for all of my guests that I can use the night before the wedding as well as a 2 hour wedding reception that includes dinner and open bar. I think I want something closer to a 4 hour reception so I am going to add 2 hours to my reception at $6 per person per hour.
Based on 50 guests I now have my welcome event, ceremony, and 4 hour dinner reception booked and I have only spent $760. I guess that leaves a pretty big part of my budget left to spend on some fun extras like DJ ($1200), photography ($3000) and wedding cake ($800) (or maybe a churro bar)!. I think I will allow a good part of my budget to go toward a photography package since I want them to cover 4-5 hours. I don’t want to leave anything out.
I know I want a nice room since it is my special day but I don’t have to worry about booking the nicest room because when I book 25+ rooms, Hard Rock will upgrade my room. I will book the least expensive room, which is still a pretty amazing room, for 7 nights and cross my fingers that I earn that upgrade. I am going to allow myself $2000 to spend on my room.
I am also going to need
flights
($400 per person)
flowers
($300)
hair and makeup
($300)
and I would love to plan an extra something for my bridal party.
Since Hard Rock also has their amazing Limitless Resort Credit I can book an excursion off property, spa services or even golf for myself and all 50 of my guests and only pay the 25% tax that is required. I think I will host the 8 girls in my bridal party to a mini spa day and pay for their massages and then we can follow it up with brunch and mimosas. A 50 min massage is $230 but I only need to pay 25% of that cost as part of the Limitless Resort Credit program so that comes to $57.50 per person or $517.50 total. My husband wants to take his group of 8 groomsmen on the Mayan Extreme Tour which includes zip lining and swimming in a Cenote. The regular cost is $99 per person but at 25% we only need to pay $25 pp which brings his total to $225.
If we add this all up (ceremony, 4 hour reception, wedding cake, wedding day hair and makeup, photography, DJ, flowers, room for 7 nights, roundtrip flights, spa day with bridal party and adventure day with groomsmen) we come to a grand total of…
<insert drumroll>…… $9902.50!
If that isn’t enough, Hard Rock is also going to reward me after my wedding depending on how many rooms I have booked. Promotions are subject to change however right now they are offering every 10th night free. If I have 50 guests (25 rooms) and they have all booked 3-5 night stays, that is going to be somewhere around 100 room nights which means I will earn 10 FREE NIGHTS. Free nights are given as a refund back to the bride and groom after travel so if my guests paid $200 per night than I would earn $2000 back in my pocket. That sounds like a great start to a honeymoon for me!
With the current state of the world, it is tough to know how to move forward with a wedding. I know so many couples have had to reschedule or postpone their already completely planned wedding and others have completely scrapped their original plans for something different. If you are one of these couples or possibly newly engaged (woohoo for 2020 engagements keeping love alive) and have been thinking about how to move forward with your wedding I would be happy to help. Your dream doesn’t have to match mine. I have so many resorts in my database (brain) and I am sure at least one will be your dream come true.
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Meet Shannon,
Your Personal Destination Wedding Planner
Hi, I’m Shannon Vega! Owner of Your Big Day Away! I’m an award-winning travel advisor, certified destination wedding specialist, and—most importantly—I was a destination wedding bride myself. Which means I’ve been in your shoes (or sandals, if you’re tying the knot on the beach!). So I know what it’s like to start dreaming of saying “I do” in a picture-perfect paradise, surrounded by smiling (and teary-eyed) friends and family. And—I know what it’s like being left to figure out alllll the logistics that lead up to your big day all by yourself.
That’s where I come in. I’m here to make your beach-y wedding dreams come true—for you and your guests. Because here’s the secret I learned planning my own destination wedding—it’s not just “our day.” It’s everyone’s day. I was thrilled to walk down that white sand aisle, yes. But I was just as thrilled to spend the entire weekend surrounded by the friends and family we loved.
That’s why, when I work with my own destination wedding clients, their guests’ experience becomes my TOP priority. I’ll make sure that when you get hitched, it goes off without a hitch. And that you and your loved ones have the absolute time of your lives after the ceremony. Because this isn’t just a wedding—it’s a sun-kissed, love-fueled, seaside c-e-l-e-b-r-a-t-i-o-n.
So get ready to party, together! I’ll make it happen with ease.
— Shannon
Start Here:
Right This Way
To Your Big Day
Schedule your FREE 30-minute planning call with Shannon now or email shannon@ourbigdayaway.com Let’s chat dream destinations, “wow”-worthy resorts, and how we can effortlessly pull together the wedding you’ve been yearning for.
Testimonials
highly communicative
Our agent (Shannon) was highly communicative which was VERY helpful, worked closely with me when I had issues, and was extremely professional and helpful the entire time.
Stephanie & David
helpful with quick responses
Shannon has been very helpful with quick responses and answering a LOT of questions! I'm very happy with everything so far!!!
Barbra & Al
Did a great job!
Shannon, our wedding specialist, did a great job. She was quick to respond to any of my questions, and had great communication with me the entire time. She also answered all my guests questions.
Sally & James
PHENOMENAL
Oh my goodness Shannon is PHENOMENAL. Everything I would want in a planner she never made me feel like I was unorganized or confused she was so understanding and helpful. I wish I could work with her throughout the process!!!!
Michelle & Mike
Great experience
Our destination weddings contact, Shannon, was amazing. Always helpful, quick to respond, and always nice. Great experience. The second destination wedding we've gone through in which she was our contact and would love to do it again.
Lauren & Ivan
absolutely magical
Thank you for facilitating the resort logistics. We may have had some travel issues, but thank you immensely for stepping in with USA transfers. Our wedding was absolutely magical. Also, special thanks for putting in the request for the rooftop jacuzzi AMAZING!
Sara and Evan
everything went perfectly!
We just arrived back from Mexico yesterday. Just wanted to say a huge thanks for all the help in getting us and all of our guests down there. It was absolutely amazing and everything went perfectly! Everyone loved the resort.
Jessica