Our happy couple, Tara & Michael, tie the knot in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico on October 24, 2020 (photography by Lindsey Medich)
Introduction
It’s easy to say 2020 had an everlasting effect on the destination weddings – with the Covid-19 pandemic essentially shutting down international travel for quite some time, couples were faced with difficult decisions in regards to their dream celebrations. Downsizing, eloping and postponing were all too common, and we evidently see that in our 2020 Destination Weddings Trend Report.
2020 Destination Wedding Stats:
- The most popular month to get married in 2020 was: February (pre-pandemic), followed by October
- The overall average cost of a wedding in 2020 was $19,000 (according to The Knot)
- The average cost of a destination wedding in 2020 was $7,445 (with DestinationWeddings.com)
- Airfare: ~$1,000
- Accommodations: $2,945
- Wedding Package: $3,500
- Average number of guests: 26
- Average planning timeline: 415 days
- Percentage of destination wedding that have children in attendance: 50% (down from 60% in 2019)
- Guests spend an average of $1,750 on destination wedding accommodations and stay about 4 nights
- Top destinations to get married in 2020: Riviera Maya (Mexico), Punta Cana (Dominican Republic), Cancun (Mexico), Montego Bay (Jamaica), Cabo San Lucas (Mexico)
- Top emerging destination wedding locations for 2021 and 2022: Puerto Vallarta (Mexico), Negril (Jamaica), Aruba, Ocho Rios (Jamaica), St Lucia
- Top destination wedding resorts of 2020: Royalton Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa, Finest Playa Mujeres, Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa, El Dorado Royale, Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
- Popular destination wedding trends in 2020: mini-monies/micro-weddings, elopements, boho-desert decor, signage promoting social distancing, etc.
- Destination wedding trends to watch out for in 2021 and 2022: sequel celebrations, Japandi-style decor, shorter planning timelines
