Luxury Weddings in 2025 & 2026 : Destination vs. U.S.

Planning a luxury wedding means you’re not just thinking about flowers and food, you’re thinking about the entire experience. And one of the biggest decisions you’ll face early on is:

Should we host our wedding close to home in the U.S. … or take our guests on an unforgettable destination celebration in Europe, Mexico, or beyond?

Let’s walk through what that actually means for your budget, your guests, and your overall experience.

What Counts as a Luxury Wedding?

When I say “luxury wedding,” I’m not talking about the $30K national averages you might see on Google. In 2025, a true luxury wedding usually begins around $100,000 and often reaches into the multi-six-figure range. Think private estates, couture gowns, fully custom design, immersive guest experiences, and entertainment that feels like a full-scale production.

At this level, the decision isn’t about whether to splurge, it’s about where your money delivers the most value.

Where the Money Goes: U.S. vs. Destination


Luxury Weddings in the U.S.

Venue Costs: In major cities like New York, Los Angeles, or Dallas, premium venues often start at $50,000–$100,000 just for the space or a food & beverage minimum. That’s before décor, entertainment, or rentals.

Guest Counts: Luxury U.S. weddings tend to host 150–200+ guests, which means catering alone can easily push your budget into the six figures.

Experience: Most U.S. weddings are structured as one main day, with rehearsal dinners and brunches added separately (and billed separately).

So your money is concentrated on one incredible day, but it may not stretch as far as you’d like when it comes to creating multi-day experiences.

Luxury Destination Weddings (Europe, Mexico, Asia)

  • Venue Buyouts: In regions like Provence, Tuscany, or Mexico, you can often privatize a villa, hacienda, or estate for 2–3 days for the same price as one day at a U.S. luxury venue.

  • Example: French châteaux and Tuscan estates range €10,000–€35,000 for a weekend, often including rooms on-site.

  • Many Mexico resorts bundle venue + food + rentals + staff into their pricing, giving you strong value for multi-day formats.

  • Guest Counts: Destination weddings typically see 70–100 guests. Fewer guests = less catering overhead, and more budget per guest for design and experiences.

  • Experience: Destination weddings almost always turn into a 3-day celebration, welcome dinner, wedding day, and farewell brunch. Your guests walk away having lived an experience, not just attended a party.

In the right region, the same six-figure budget can create an entire weekend abroad instead of a single day at home.

When Destination Isn’t “Cheaper”

Not all destinations offer savings. Some iconic venues are just as (or more) expensive than the top U.S. spots:

  • Lake Como’s Villa Balbiano: Starts around €50,000+ for one day.

  • Amanzoe in Greece: Full resort buyouts are quoted at $250,000–$500,000+ before catering or décor.

These venues are stunning, but if your dream is a “postcard” property, plan for multi-six-figure budgets regardless of location.

Guest Experience: What Your Guests Will Notice

Destination Weddings

  • Guests get a full vacation built around your wedding: wine tours, boat rides, recovery brunches.

  • Smaller guest counts make the event feel more personal and intimate.

  • Travel costs and time off can limit who attends, so you may not have everyone.

U.S. Luxury Weddings

  • Higher attendance, especially for older relatives or friends who can’t travel.

  • Easier logistics: no passports, visas, or long flights.

  • Your budget often goes toward scale, large guest counts, elaborate production, but usually condensed into one day.

Logistics: What Couples Need to Consider

  • Legal vs. Symbolic Ceremonies: Many couples marry legally in the U.S. first, then host a symbolic ceremony abroad to skip red tape.

  • Vendors: You will need to decide whether to fly your dream photographer, videographer, planner, and glam team abroad, or hire locally. (Flying them ensures your aesthetic stays consistent, but it adds travel costs.)

  • Guest Care: Destination = concierge-level hosting. Think airport transfers, group dinners, and welcome gifts. In the U.S., logistics are simpler, but you’ll likely spend more on décor and scale.

Which Is Worth It for You?

  • If you dream of an immersive, design-heavy experience spread across several days with a more intimate guest list → Destination is worth it. Your money creates more touchpoints, more memories, and more beauty.

  • If you want everyone there, 200+ guests, grandparents, extended family, full community, and you’re tied to your home city → U.S. luxury is worth it. Accessibility wins.

  • If your heart is set on an iconic postcard venue (Lake Como, Amanzoe, Paris palaces) → either way, plan for a multi six-figure budget. This choice is about the setting, not savings.

Final Thought

A six-figure wedding budget can look completely different depending on where you spend it.

  • In the U.S., $150,000–$200,000 may cover one incredible day with a larger guest count.

  • Abroad, that same budget could host three days of experiences with a smaller guest list, and give your friends and family a once-in-a-lifetime memory.

At the end of the day, it’s not about which is “better.” It’s about what feels most aligned with your love story, your priorities, and the experience you want to give your guests.

Back to Archive