The phrase “destination weddings” conjures up images of tropical beaches, English castles, and perhaps George and Amal Clooney on a water taxi in Venice, Italy, en route to their civil ceremony.
That doesn’t mean that all destination weddings necessitate an expensive flight budget or demand lengthy scouting trips and micro guest lists. For, just as road trips are a go-to American pastime, drive-to destination weddings are emerging as a popular alternative for U.S. couples looking for something “in between” a backyard wedding and a far-flung ceremony.
To get more intel on regional destination weddings — and advice on how to plan one — we’ve spoken to Briana Dixon, founder of Baltimore wedding planning company Nouvelle Weddings, who shares her insights for couples interested in learning more.
Why Choose a Regional Destination Wedding?
The reasons for choosing any specific regional destination depend fully on a couple’s personal priorities.
“A lot of couples choose regional destination weddings for the scenery or venues themselves, or for the weather,” Dixon explains. “If a couple wants an industrial wedding, then they can find a lot of great options in Baltimore. If they want something on the water, then Annapolis or the Eastern Shore might be a better fit. If they are looking for a winery or an estate, then Virginia may be the place to look. And if they want something a little warmer, a little tropical, but still want to stay in the country, then a location like Charleston [S.C.] would be perfect.”
There are practical considerations that factor into destination decisions, as well.
“Couples may also choose destination weddings because it is an easier way to cut their guest list down,” Dixon explains, as those with big families or sizable friend groups may have a difficult time in culling a guest list outright.
“Choosing to get married in a location where most, if not all, guests need to travel can help to cut down on the guests that are able to attend,” while also avoiding the possibility of anyone’s feelings getting hurt. This, of course, lends itself to a natural pattern, as Dixon points out. “The longer the travel, the fewer guests we would typically see in attendance.”
Weddings are notoriously expensive, but while a vineyard in Virginia likely isn’t comparable to, say, a beach club in Monaco, Nixon notes that costs do depend on individual locations.
“A Baltimore wedding compared to an Eastern shore wedding could have very similar costs, just as a D.C. and a Northern Virginia wedding could. But, a wedding in Baltimore could be significantly less expensive than a wedding in D.C. Ultimately, it is going to come down to the specific regions and venues that you are comparing,” she relays.
According to data from website The Knot, the average cost for a hometown wedding in the U.S. in 2024 was $32,300, with domestic destination weddings averaging in at $39,000, perhaps a smaller-than-expected difference that underlines the multiple facets at play when a couple makes budget decisions for their celebration.
Above All, Note That Research Is Key
“I always recommend hiring a planner that can walk couples through the process, connect them with great vendors, and ensure any special factors are being considered,” says Dixon, who also notes that for regional destination weddings, a planner can function as a local contact to meet with said vendors and take site tours when the couple themselves can’t personally be in the area during the planning process.
“But, if they’re doing it without a planner, [couples] will want to do research into the area where they are getting married. If they aren’t familiar with the area at all [and don’t have recommendations from their network] … this could mean that couples need to spend more time researching vendors to ensure they are hiring great ones,” she emphasizes.
Another tip?
“Research weather patterns in that area,” Dixon advises, “since they may be different than what the couple experiences where they live.”
Take care to investigate average monthly temperatures, precipitation expectations and, of course, the presence of any particularly volatile seasons in a given climate.
What’s Currently Trending?
A few patterns emerge when looking at the modern couple’s interests. While more of a hike for Marylanders, Dixon notes that she’s seeing Charleston, South Carolina, grow in popularity due to the weather and scenery.
Shorter-drive markets she has seen trending include the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Charlottesville, Virginia.
As for her personal regional recommendations for Baltimore lovebirds?
“For weddings on the water, Whitehall Annapolis, The Inn at Perry Cabin [St. Michaels, Md.] and The Oaks Waterfront Hotel [Easton, Md.] are great,” Dixon shares. “For couples looking for more of a wine country, private estate or resort feel, Goodstone Inn [Middleburg, Va.], Salamander Resort and Spa [Middleburg, Va.], Brittland Manor [Chestertown, Md.], and Dover Hall [Manakin-Sabot, Va.] are beautiful options.”
