What does a wedding abroad cost?

The beach was neatly cordoned off with ribbon, the groom arrived by boat over the water and she came down a staircase in a huge dress that made me dizzy from below. He picked her up halfway, how romantic, and in the evening we celebrated love with the sunset of Santorini in the background. A wedding abroad is unforgettable, but: how much does it cost?

The same applies to getting married abroad as in the Netherlands: it just depends on how extravagant you want to be. There is the option to secretly marry at a holiday location, which can be done for a pittance. For convenience, let's assume you would like to see some guests show up. This brings me immediately to an important point, because who do you invite and what do you pay?

Consideration 1:
Do you pay for your guests' flights and accommodation? If so, then you have an excuse to cross off all those acquaintances and distant relatives from the guest list. No one expects you to cover all that. It is an option to pay for the travel and an overnight stay for parents, brothers, sisters, and witnesses, but it is not mandatory. In short: it just depends on what you take on yourself. It is certainly customary to only take the people you really love with you and leave your colleagues and distant friends at home. Much nicer if you weren't waiting for them anyway.

Consideration 2:
Let’s talk money. There is a misconception that getting married abroad is much more expensive, but that doesn't have to be the case. Often, renting a wedding venue and the dinner and party abroad is much cheaper than in the Netherlands, especially if you marry at a Mediterranean location. Additionally, the guest list thins out significantly if you decide not to take everyone with you.

A rough calculation:
Experts in weddings estimate a cost of 300 to 400 euros per guest. They assume that you will pay for the party (which seems logical) and two overnight stays. If you invite 30 guests, you are looking at around 10,000 euros. Of course, add suits, dresses, and the pampering of hair and skin, and you are quickly heading towards 15k. Not cheap, but all in all, not an amount that surprises you in the Netherlands when you get married.

So do you have wedding plans? It is definitely an option to look across the border.