How to choose a wedding location with international guests
Planning a wedding across multiple countries often leads to decision paralysis because having too many options makes it impossible to narrow down a venue or date. This endless indecision stops couples from starting the planning process altogether.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1limiting the guest list to immediate family and close friendsDid this help you?
- 2having a second reception in a second countryDid this help you?
- 3using translation tools like Google Translate and ChatGPT to overcome language barriersDid this help you?
- 4Splitting celebrations into multiple combos like a church ceremony and family dinner in one country and a wedding party in anotherDid this help you?
- 5Refusing to attend the wedding, staying at alternative lower-cost hotels or Airbnbs nearby, or driving home instead of staying overnight.Did this help you?
- 6Choosing to host the wedding where they currently live even if most guests must travelDid this help you?
- 7Turning the wedding into a fun destination weekend trip for guests who have to travel anywayDid this help you?
- 8Paying for a party bus or renting a double decker bus to transport guests safelyDid this help you?
- 9Suggesting guests use gift money to pay for a nearby hotel roomDid this help you?
- 10Giving guests advance notice so they can plan for the drive and accommodationsDid this help you?
- 11giving both options like a spot close to the venue to crash after and nicer areas in the city for a tripDid this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Help us pick a country for our wedding, before we lose our minds”source ↗
“For those of you who are from 2 different countries, living in a 3rd one, how did you decide where to have your wedding?”source ↗
“however, because we have so many options, we're in paralysis mode and haven't even been able to start planning this beautiful event...”source ↗
“We are trying to figure out where makes the most sense to have our wedding and are struggling”source ↗
“I’m just seeking some advice at the moment, as my fiancé and I are feeling quite overwhelmed with the planning process”source ↗
“We’re currently trying to create save the dates / design our website, and struggling with how to word everything and to give clear travel instructions for both countries.”source ↗
“Honestly my head is spinning with all of the details - we initially wanted to elope to keep things simple, but of course it’s spiraled into something much bigger with having two “receptions” in two opposite countries.”source ↗
“I still can’t decide on the date and destination of our wedding.”source ↗
“Wouldn’t it potentially be 2 nights? Tbh, be prepared for it to deter some guests. Lugging my makeup and dress for the ride, get there the night before, make sure my dress isn’t wrinkled, and wake up early to get to the venue, grab breakfast, wait a few hours for you guys to take photos, party and then spend another night wake up and make the long ride home… if it was a Bach I’d totally come, but as a guest not part of the wedding party it would deter me.”source ↗
“we did not want to plan a wedding somewhere we had to travel to.”source ↗
“I’m in the same boat. I think it’s totally fine.”source ↗
“My fiance and I found the absolute perfect venue... BUT it is a nearly 2 hour drive from where we live.”source ↗
“Part of me, thinks this is way too much to be asking friends and family to drive.”source ↗
“My fiance and I keep waffling on if we should put the deposit down or not....”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 7Ceremony and reception at different venues
- 3How to schedule a legal marriage before a destination wedding
- 4Should I get my wedding planner or venue first?
- 7Is a holiday weekend wedding a bad idea for guests?
- 3How to find reliable childcare for a destination wedding
- 3Inexpensive mountain wedding venues with views