Marlys & Hunter’s destination wedding at UNICO 20 87 in Riviera Maya, Mexico. Photography by JJ Studio.
Introduction
In 2021 we saw the beginning of what’s soon to be the biggest wedding boom since 1984, with roughly 2.5 million weddings expected to happen in 2022. Bouncing back from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 wedding couples proved their resilience and hosted amazing celebrations both near and far. The destination wedding industry evolved to accommodate the everchanging CDC guidelines in international locations, including onsite testing to return safely back to the United States, vaccinated resort staff, and safety precautions to ensure all guests felt welcome and safe to attend their loved ones’ destination weddings in paradise.
Take a look back with us to see how our destination weddings unfolded in 2021, and what we’re looking forward to in 2022!
2021 Destination Wedding Stats:
- The most popular month to get married in 2021 was: November
- The overall average cost of a wedding in 2021 was $34,000 (according to The Knot)
- The average cost of a destination wedding in 2021 was $5,490 (with DestinationWeddings.com)
- Airfare: ~$1,000
- Accommodations: $1,675
- Wedding Package: $2,821
- Average number of guests: 39
- Average planning timeline: 565 days
- Guests spend an average of $1,400 on destination wedding accommodations
- Top destinations to get married in 2021:
- Riviera Maya, Mexico
- Cancun, Mexico
- Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- Montego Bay, Jamaica
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
- Top emerging destination wedding locations for 2022 and 2023:
- Negril, Jamaica
- Ocho Rios, Jamaica
- Costa Rica
- Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
- St. Lucia
- Top destination wedding resorts of 2021:
- Dreams Riviera Cancun Resort & Spa
- Dreams Las Mareas Costa Rica
- Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya
- Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Punta Cana
- El Dorado Royale
- Popular destination wedding trends in 2021: Incorporating safety measures, cultural traditions, sustainable details and personal touches, such as a signature drink at the reception.
- Destination wedding trends to watch out for in 2022 and 2023: Mix n’ match groomsmen suits, opulent entertainment for guests, show-stopping desserts, virtual stationary
