Destination wedding business is expected to continue its steady rise with impressive numbers. And advisors and destination wedding planners are seeing couples adding even more to their events. The Global Destination Wedding Market size was valued at $29.7 billion in 2023, according to Spherical Insights. The market size is slated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 23.86 percent from 2023 to 2033, with the worldwide destination wedding market size expected to reach $252.4 billion by 2033, says the market research and industry consulting firm.
According to wedding site Zola’s First Look Report on 2025 Wedding Trends, some 32 percent of weddings this year will be destination weddings. Destination Wedding & Honeymoon Specialists Association (DWHSA) members are seeing “steadily growing demand for luxury destination wedding services in recent years,” according to John Hawks, Executive Director of DWHSA. “One popular luxury wedding trend is planning a ‘wedding week’ — inviting guests for longer stays to enjoy several days of planned activities (paid for by the couple in many cases) ranging from golf rounds at top courses to entire spa days,” says Hawks.
This year, destination wedding business is stronger than 2024, according to DWHSA members and suppliers, adds Hawks. “Coming out of COVID, more couples seem determined not to delay traveling together and planning truly memorable ceremonies, even if it means cutting budget corners in other parts of their lives or planning a ‘bucket list’ wedding that's a destination elopement.”
Defining Luxury
Luxury means something different for everyone, according to Jeni Chaffer, Destination Wedding Specialist and Agency Owner at Journeys Travel Inc. in Bourbonnais, Illinois. “While I do think it's a large part [of the destination wedding market], the price point of ‘luxury’ varies,” she says. “Many couples want a luxury wedding but are concerned about the cost to guests. They tend to modify the accommodations and then spend more on the ceremony and reception portions, or perhaps include an excursion for guests.”
Hawks agrees: “Even if [couples are] sticking with mid-tier resort brands to make stays more affordable for their guests, they're willingly spending more on add-on ceremony services and off-site vendors to upgrade the weddings themselves.”
Luxe Planning
Thania Alvarez, Weddings Manager at Majestic Elegance Costa Mujeres in Mexico, says “couples who choose a luxury destination wedding seek exclusive and highly personalized experiences.”
She notes that at Majestic Resorts, she is seeing couples who want premium locations for beachfront ceremonies, whether on the sand, or at the resort’s “Sky Wedding Gazebo” terrace, or in a garden gazebo. She adds that “private events such as welcome cocktails and personalized receptions, high-quality gastronomic options that elevate the experience, and decorations and live entertainment tailored to each couple’s vision,” are also what couples are seeking.
Kitzia Morales, President of the International Association of Destination Wedding Professionals (IADWP) based in Merida, Mexico, says that “couples are making significant investments in entertainment, including DJs, live performances and immersive experiences. Décor and guest activities such as tours and spa days are also top priorities. Additionally, photography and videography have become increasingly important, as couples want high-quality content to share on their social media.”
Cristy Zorrilla, Senior Wedding Specialist at Majestic Mirage Punta Cana, agrees. “One of the most important details at weddings is capturing the special moments through professional photography and videography,” she says. “These memories last a lifetime, allowing couples to relive their big day for years to come. With a luxury destination wedding, such as those in Punta Cana, high-quality photos and videos are even more essential to showcase stunning scenery, emotional moments and elegant details.”
The DWHSA 2025 Romance Travel Trends report states that “larger investments in photography and videography to preserve destination wedding memories (e.g., hiring the photographer to stay for the entire trip, not just the ceremony; paying for film photography instead of digital shots) is a big trend.” So are “custom-planned welcome and farewell events (e.g., a catamaran sunset dinner cruise on the first night as guests arrive or a post-reception after party with a bonfire and s’mores on the beach).”
Alvarez is seeing such additions for destination weddings as pre-wedding events with welcome cocktails and rehearsal dinners with a variety of culinary options; live bands, fireworks, themed shows, personalized decorations and souvenirs for guests during the receptions; and group activities such as tours, tastings, spa days or a golf outing during the stay.
“Couples want the entire wedding event just like they would have if they planned it at home — bands and musicians, over-the-top floral and decor, seating groups, reception entertainment, fabulous lighting, and more,” says Cheryl Bailey, Owner, Travel Planner for Yellow Umbrella Events in New Braunfels, Texas. “Plus, they're adding local touches and traditions like a Mayan greeting or ceremony, mariachis or Catrina bride & groom performers at their cocktail hour, and water drummers or even a Mayan fire show during their reception.”
Bailey adds that she is getting many “requests for additional reception entertainment — something that will leave the guests with amazing memories or something that the guests have never seen before.” She continues: “Everyone wants their wedding to be ‘the wedding’ to remember. Starting with curated gift bags for their guests at the beginning of the weekend, private cabanas or catamarans booked for the group's day before the wedding hang out time, and ending the wedding day with things like tons of reception entertainment, drone or fireworks shows, a last jump in the pool at the end of the night, after parties at the resort's on-site night club, etc.”
Popular Destinations
The Knot Worldwide 2025 Wedding Trends to Watch Report says that “couples having a wedding far from home are gravitating toward unique and picturesque locations for destination weddings.” Mexico is the number one “top markets for destination weddings around the globe”, according to the report.
“Mexico is a country rich in traditions, history, and culture, yet it constantly reinvents itself,” says Morales. “It offers stunning beaches, charming colonial towns and breathtaking natural landscapes. Many venues are already designed with weddings in mind, offering outstanding services and settings.”
Bailey specializes in Mexico destination weddings. She says that Mexico is “so easy to travel to from the U.S., with so many direct flights, making it an easy choice.” She continues: “Plus, there are so many great resort options to fit a variety of wedding budgets and aesthetic styles.”
The Dominican Republic ranked number six in terms of top markets for destination weddings around the globe, according to The Knot’s report. “Punta Cana is one of the most popular destinations for luxury weddings because of its stunning natural beauty, all-inclusive and customizable experiences, and luxury resorts and venues,” says Zorrilla.
Alvarez adds: “Punta Cana offers the most diverse flight options from across the U.S. and Canada, making planning for friends and family convenient. Not to mention that the beach in Punta Cana is among the best in the world.”
Chaffer agrees that Punta Cana is a popular destination known for its beautiful beaches. “There are some amazing resorts and wonderful vendors available in Punta Cana,” she says. “The florals in the Dominican Republic that have been part of my events are extraordinary.”
Advice for Advisors
For advisors looking to start or expand their luxury destination wedding business, Alvarez suggests that they plan ahead as dates book up quickly for popular venues and to work with in-house vendors to ensure “smooth logistics and seamless coordination.” She also suggests that advisors “promote the full experience: a destination wedding is not just about the wedding day but the entire stay.”
Hawks stresses the importance of pro-active marketing. “Now's the time to promote yourself aggressively in your local market area as a romance travel specialist,” he says. “Every supplier and every destination is out there pushing romance travel options in their ads, social media, etc., but you have a huge competitive advantage because you can be the live expert right at the couples' fingertips — answering questions, giving unfiltered reviews of properties and places, and solving problems so they can focus on their big trips.”