What to Know About Regional Destination Weddings (And Why They’re So Popular)
The phrase “destination weddings” conjures up images of tropical beaches, English castles, and perhaps George and Amal Clooney on a water taxi in Venice, Italy, en route to their civil ceremony. That doesn’t mean that all destination weddings necessitate an expensive flight budget or demand lengthy scouting trips and micro guest lists. For, just as road trips are a go-to American pastime, drive-to destination weddings are emerging as a popular alternative for U.S. couples looking for something “in between” a backyard wedding and a far-flung ceremony.
To get more intel on regional destination weddings — and advice on how to plan one — we’ve spoken to Lisseth Orellana, owner and lead planner at ALLORE Events & Design, a boutique event planning company serving the D.C., Maryland and Northern Virginia market, who shares her insights for couples interested in learning more.
Why Choose a Regional Destination Wedding?
When it comes to making the decision to host a regional destination wedding, “I think it’s all situational,” relays Orellana. “Some clients want to have that ‘destination’ feel, but don’t want to travel across the country to host those weddings. They’re very considerate with their guests too — not all of them can fly. So how do you get that within the area?” she explains.
For Montgomery couples, “The good thing about the East Coast is there’s so many venues within reach, especially in the DMV,” she adds, noting that there’s virtually a new wedding venue opening in the tristate area every month. Guests then can either drive to the wedding themselves or take Amtrak train service up and down the coast.
Another way a regional wedding is more convenient than an international ceremony? In situations where you are unable to use a planner close to you, the planning process can get convoluted. “When you think about logistics of being in a different country, you’re kind of at their disposal of when to communicate with you,” Orellana notes, as language and time zone barriers can disrupt quick flows of information. In contrast, wedding venues within driving distance allow couples to schedule vendor meetings in-person, eliminating the need to build lengthy and costly prewedding trips into the timeline.
As for what’s trending lately? Virginia, in Orellana’s experience, as more and more Maryland/D.C. couples are becoming aware of its breadth of venues. “Virginia in itself is basically wine country on the East Coast. So many venues, so many wineries, and you can get that outdoor setting that you were looking for in a destination wedding … within reach.” Space (and parking) may also come easier in Virginia (versus the metro area) for couples who are planning bigger celebrations.
Orellana has also seen inquiries for Delaware and had a couple recently host an engagement shoot in Pennsylvania. “It’s really [all in] what you’re looking for,” and what aligns with a couple’s needs, she concludes.
Considerations to Keep In Mind
When planning a regional destination wedding, there are multiple factors at play that wedding planners help couples parse through. “If you’re looking to work with particular vendors, do they travel … or are you looking to work with just vendors that are in that area?” she poses. “And, of course, the season. If you’re hosting an outdoor ceremony, what does that look like? Is that something feasible in that area?”
There’s no simplistic answer to what kind of budget a regional destination wedding requires, either. “It definitely varies depending on your guest count. What’s more important to you — is it the cuisine? Is it the dancing? Because it can quickly add up, even if [the wedding] is in your backyard, because you have to bring in all the rentals,” she explains. “I think it’s all about how you manage your vendors and your expectations. … I’ve hosted intimate weddings of 30 guests or less and it’s still a high-value wedding, just because of the details.”
And while in the past destination weddings were typically used as a way to downsize a guest list, that may not be the case anymore. “What I’ve seen, because destination weddings have been so trendy, a lot of people will [now] utilize that time for their own vacation,” meaning guests who may once have skipped a long commute will now commit to attend and turn it into a family vacation — something new to keep in mind when planning, no matter the distance of your ceremony.
And in a Couple’s Own Words…
Orellana’s favorite example of a recent regional destination wedding comes from her clients, Taylor and Calvin, who found a Stafford, Virginia venue to be the perfect setting for an unforgettable day. “We chose Potomac Point Winery because it felt like the perfect blend of romance and natural beauty. From the moment we drove through the gates, we were taken by the rolling vineyards, Mediterranean charm, and golden sunsets that made everything feel a little more magical. It captured the elegance we wanted while still feeling warm, inviting and uniquely us,” they shared in a statement.
