I live in Perth, Australia and I am planning to have my wedding at Cable Beach in Broome. Its a 2-3 hour plan trip to Broome from Perth.
What I want to ask is, Should I pay for the plane tickets for my guests? or the accomodation? (one night) Which I know will be ridicuously expensive.
And if i expect them to pay for the flight and accomodation..Would it be rude to accept their wedding gift? Because they are already forkin' out so much to come to the wedding.
I am only plannin' a small wedding (30 or less guests).
Has anyone had a wedding interstate or overseas? Or even better, did anyone get married at Cable Beach? What did you do? Any advice will be really appreciated. Thanks in advance =]
2006-10-12 18:47:38 · 11 answers · asked by Kelly P 1 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
I think it is very normal for guests to pay their own travel costs and still give a wedding gift! It is nice of you to be concerned, but don't feel guilty. If they didn't want to celebrate your wedding and marriage, they would not have accepted the invitation!
That said, if you really don't want or need gifts, you can make it know that you would prefer no gifts. You should also try to offer your guests another meal like breakfast the morning after the wedding.
2006-10-12 18:57:21 · answer #1 · answered by Katherine 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I don't know what the customs are in Australia, but I know in America it is perfectly normal for the guest to pay for his/her own transportation and give a gift. I married about three months ago and would never have been able to afford paying for the guests. But that is why you send out an invitation... to ask them if they would like to come to your wedding. You are not making them.
After saying all that, I will say that I paid for one of my groomsmen to fly to my wedding. But that was more of because he did not have a lot of money and I really wanted him there.
One suggestion would be to give a little gift to each guest for coming. Normally you only give a small give to each person, so maybe (as a thank you for flying out) you can give a nicer gift.
2006-10-12 19:12:31 · answer #2 · answered by bwiley123 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Congratulations! It's very thoughtful of you to even consider paying their travel expenses. But it is unnecessary. Include travel information (including airline reservation phone #, local hotels that will offer discounts on group bookings) with your invitations. Also, either on your invitation or on a small separate card, write, "No gifts please!"
Once they receive the invitations, they'll have to decide if they are financially able to attend. I'm sure some will appreciate not having to also spring for a gift. Also, many who chose to attend will likely get you some kind of present anyways, just out of tradition.
You are also not obligated to pay for their hotel rooms, but it is customary for you to ask the hotel for a discount for your guests when you reserve a block of rooms. Make sure to let the guests know to mention the wedding party when they book their rooms so they get the discount.
The way you pay them back for spending so much is with a lovely reception with dinner and dancing. They should understand that they weren't the only ones who had to spend a lot of money. Good luck!
2006-10-15 01:04:48 · answer #3 · answered by anonymous 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be adult about the whole thing. If you have a budget and it doesn't include flights then be up front and when you send out the invitations people will not be expecting you to provide them with accommodation and flights. You might think of putting in a note giving them information on flight, costs and hotel accommodation. This will give them a clear indication that you are not funding a holiday. If they give you a gift then receive it in the manner in which is given - with love and because they want to - receive it with grace and thanks. Remember to have the wedding you always dreamed of and don't worry about the other stuff - you can only do so much with money!
2006-10-12 19:42:36 · answer #4 · answered by shimmy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
how many of your guests would be travelling some distance anyway. it is NOT expected for the bride & groom to pay peoples travel expenses. when my daughter got married - on the beach at Magnetic island; about 25% of the guests were from elsewhere - we live in Thuringowa( Townsville's twin city; you cross the street & are in a different city)
they ALL paid there own way. some were from Mackay - 3/4 hours drive & others from Brisbane.
if guests know early enough they may be able to get relativiley cheap airfares.
they asked people to attend to share their celebration - but asked the guests to pay for their own meal rather than bring a gift,
2006-10-12 20:31:45 · answer #5 · answered by fairypelican 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to pay for your guests to attend a destination wedding. And, no, it would not be rude to accept a wedding gift. If someone who is close to you can't afford to come, you can always offer to pay, but otherwise, you are not obligated to. You sound very sweet, thinking of others. This is your time! Best Wishes! Your wedding will be beautiful and everyone will be happy to share it with you!
2006-10-12 19:38:41 · answer #6 · answered by Isabella 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that it is appropriate to pay for wedding guests' flight tickets. That is usually their responsibility, not yours. However, providing accomodations *is* your responsibility. Most hotels will give you a huge discount for renting out rooms for wedding guests. Try calling them and seeing what deals they have. Say one hotel offers you a deal of $500 for 7 rooms--but the hotel before you just offered $450 for the same amount of rooms--tell them. They may be able to go a little lower, they may not.
Best of luck from one person planning a wedding to another!!!
2006-10-12 19:22:28 · answer #7 · answered by Bachman-ette 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When you plan a destination wedding, you are not responsible to pay for the transporation and lodging of guests. If you are able to do so, it is a gracious gesture, but it is not required of you.
Gifts are a completely beside the point. People, if they gift you, gift because they WANT to gift-- it has nothing at all to do with how far they travelled for the occasion, or any other factor.
2006-10-13 11:26:29 · answer #8 · answered by Etiquette Gal 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Paying plane tickets is great if you can afford it but it can be very expensive. I got married last yr and paid for 20 people's ticket from one state to the other and it was so darn expensive! My husband and are still paying for those airline tickets after a yr. Instead of paying tickets for everyone why not pay for their accomodation as a way of thanking your guest for coming. This way it won't be to expensive for your guest..
2006-10-12 18:59:18 · answer #9 · answered by uniqaznmeg 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my cousin had his long distance too and we all paid for our own plane tickets...but then again the families could afford it....(theyre all doctors and lawyers...etc) so i guess it depends. if u think that your guest CANT afford it, then it would be really difficult to put that kind of burden on them, or if u KNOW some guest that really can not afford, then maybe u should "help" them out...i dont really know, you are in a tight spot. but if your guest CAN fork out some money to come to your wedding then there is nothing wrong with them paying for it.
2006-10-12 19:00:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋