Is An All-Inclusive Wedding Package For You?

All-inclusive wedding packages may sound like a dream to some brides. Having a vendor who not only takes care of the venue, but also catering, decor, and everything in between would take a lot of pressure off of planning the big day. But how do you know if it’s right for you?

First, you need to make sure you know what “All-Inclusive” means in the package. Does it include flights? Can you ship your own decor and would that be included? Do you have to fly in any of your own vendors or does “All-Inclusive” actually cover everything you can think of? Having this laid out for you will let you know exactly what the venue will take care of and what you will still need to plan on your own.

You also will need to make sure the all-inclusive package will fit into your budget. A typical wedding in South Florida could be $35,000 so it may seem amazing when you get a quote from a vendor in Mexico for an all-inclusive wedding for $10,000. But like I mentioned above, you will need to do your research and figure out what that $10,000 includes. If there are a bunch of add ons, extra fees, or anything else that you will still have to cover, the cost of it may end up not being as inexpensive as it may seem.

Another thing you may need to consider is if you still want to bring in some of your own vendors. Yes, some all-inclusive packages include a photographer, videographer, DJ, and more. But if it’s not someone you’ve met or have any kind of relationship with, you may end up having a subpar experience with some vendors because they were not thoroughly vetted by you.

For example, as a destination photographer, I can do your engagement photos ahead of time to figure out how to best pose you, what you’re most comfortable with, how we communicate and other things you may not be able to do with a photographer included in your package. While I may not know that specific spot on the corner, I can work with your wedding coordinator, venue, or even take a scouting trip myself to make sure we find the best locations for photos. We would be able to capture shots that are more personalized to you, while a photographer provided by the venue would probably have a specific shot list they follow.

This does translate to a lot of other vendors, so if you do choose to do an all-inclusive package they are generally more “cookie-cutter.” That’s not to say you can’t make some changes to make your wedding more unique to you by shipping some of your own decor or changing some things up.

An all-inclusive wedding package can be amazing and save you some of the headache of finding vendors, but if you want a more personalized wedding you may still need to make adjustments and bring in some of your own vendors or decor. As long as you do your research and figure out which details are most important to you on your big day, your wedding can be everything you’ve dreamed of!