Explore Honeymoon Statistics, Destination Wedding Trends & Everything in Between!
Destination weddings have been growing in popularity over the years. Couples often choose to have their weddings in scenic locations or popular tourist destinations, combining their wedding celebrations with a vacation for themselves and their guests.
The pandemic had a huge impact on the industry with it suffering a loss of $150 billion globally, however, it's recovering to pre-pandemic levels, growing from $21.31 billion in 2022 to $28.31 billion in 2023.
Couples are making the most of being able to reschedule their weddings to include all their loved ones, with guest numbers to destination weddings reaching an all-time high. Discover more on how destination weddings have changed post-pandemic.
TOP DESTINATION WEDDING AND HONEYMOON STATISTICS:
The destination wedding market saw significant growth in 2024, reaching $36.49 billion.
This represents a 32.0% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from 2023.
The market size is expected to grow to $137.16 billion in 2029 at a CAGR of 30.2%
More than 50% of couples planning destination weddings are now prioritising sustainability.
The European Destination Wedding Market is projected to hit $27.3 billion by 2025.
The market is expected to reach $66.2 billion by 2035, at a CAGR of 9.2%.
Guests spend, on average, $1,400 on accommodation at a destination wedding.
In 2024 the average destination wedding package price was $6,550, up from $5,500 in 2023.
Destination wedding packages range between $1,000 to $20,000.
The average planning timeline for a destination wedding was 9 to 12 months.
Approximately 350,000 destination weddings happen every year. This represents about 25% of all weddings in the US.
8 days is the average length of a honeymoon.
In 2024, approximately 21% of UK weddings took place abroad.
In 2024, it's estimated that around 42 million weddings took place worldwide.
Destination weddings account for about 17% of the global wedding market.
On average, 2.4 million weddings are performed in the US each year.
This translates to over 115,000 weddings each day.
India has the most weddings globally, with around 10 million weddings annually.
A 2024 report by Russell-Cooke forecasts a 28% decline in UK marriages by 2050.
The average number of guests at a wedding in North America was 115, and in the UK, the number of guests was 80.
In 2024, the average wedding cost was $33,000, down from $35,000 in 2023.
The average cost per guest in the United States is roughly $300 per person.
The global wedding services market was estimated to be worth $899.64 billion in 2024.
This market is projected to grow to $1,129.56 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 12.7% from 2025 to 2030.
The UK wedding industry is worth approximately £10 billion a year.
The average wedding dress costs $2,100, and the average wedding venue costs $12,200.
The wedding industry is worth $899.64 billion and is projected to grow, with a CAGR of 12.7%. Even though the wedding industry is seeing consistent growth, there has been a 28% decline in marriages in the UK and a 5.7% decline in wedding spend.
However, spending has decreased due to the cost-of-living crisis, inflation, and a shift towards more budget-friendly and sustainable options. In addition to this, couples are choosing to spend less on a wedding and save more to put towards their future, financial security, buying a house, and starting a family.
Sources: Paradise Weddings, Wed Inspire, Research & Markets, Index Digital, Story Amor, Russell Cooke, The Knott, Grand view research, Start up loans, CBI,
In 2024, the global honeymoon market was valued at $131.56 billion.
There has been a 55% surge in honeymoons to Australia.
15% of Gen Z honeymooners visit the Maldives.
14% of Gen Z newlyweds are choosing Greece.
14% of Gen Z couples are opting to visit the Caribbean on their honeymoon.
Bali and Africa are emerging as popular destinations, with 7% of Gen Z choosing to honeymoon in Bali and 7% in Africa.
39.3% of honeymoons were taken in Europe, with Germany being a popular choice.
America accounts for 35% of the global honeymoon market.
26.3% of honeymoons were beach locations.
7 - 10 days was the most popular length of stay for a honeymoon.
15% of the honeymoon market consists of couples willing to spend over $7,000 on their honeymoon.
The average amount spent by UK couples on their honeymoon is £4,608.
72% of married couples have a honeymoon.
65% of couples used their gift lists to fund their honeymoon.
What do people look for in a honeymoon location? Couples are often looking for romance, tranquility, beauty and luxury when exploring honeymoon destinations.
The most popular type of honeymoon is beach destinations, with honeymooners typically wanting to experience exotic and romantic locations such as the Maldives, Greece, the Caribbean, and upcoming destinations such as Bali and Africa.
Sources: Rock My Wedding, Grand View Research, Bride Book,
Leading Destination Weddings
Las Vegas
Hawaii
U.S. Virgin Islands
Jamaica
Bahamas
Number of Weddings Performed Annually
100,000
19,556
5,100
5,000
4,000
New York is the most expensive wedding location. The average wedding costs $70,000.
350,000 destination weddings take place annually.
Approximately 1,000 weddings are held in Santorini, and 90% of those are destination weddings.
In 2024, there were over 12,000 international weddings in Italy.
Florida, California and Nevada are the top wedding destinations in the USA.
40% of destination weddings in the USA take place in international locations.
Mexico, Hawaii and the Caribbean are the top three wedding locations outside continental U.S.
90% of couples say that climate was the number one reason for choosing a destination.
35.5% of Americans see destination weddings as a chance to take a holiday.
70% of weddings take place in continental U.S.
Where is the best place to have a destination wedding? Las Vegas comes out on top as the most popular location in the world for couples to have their wedding reception. It is also recognised as The Marriage Capital of the World, it is very easy to acquire a marriage license in Las Vegas and it is also very inexpensive.
According to Kuoni, the top destination wedding locations are: the Maldives, Seychelles, Italy, Antigua, Las Vegas, Mexico, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, New York, Barbados and St Lucia.
These destination wedding statistics demonstrate that destination weddings are becoming increasingly popular and it is claimed that 25% of couples marry abroad. Weddings abroad are often an intimate and exciting alternative to a traditional wedding, with 40% of destination weddings in the U.S. taking place abroad.
Sources: TripSavvy, BusinessWire, GroupTravel, Ampersand, Wikipedia, Kuoni, Greek Reporter,
In Europe, the average cost can be around €17,500 (approximately $19,500) for 30-50 guests.
Mauritius is the cheapest country to get married in the world. It costs an average of £12,492 for the full package.
Mauritius is cheaper than every European wedding destination by over £6,500.
The most expensive place for a destination wedding is France, costing an average of £26,060.
Antigua is the cheapest Caribbean island to get married abroad, costing just £4120, 69% cheaper than getting married in the UK.
$27,227 is the average spend on a destination wedding in the U.S.
The average cost of a destination wedding in the UK can range from £8,500 to £11,099.
The average budget for a destination wedding can vary, but it ranges from $10,000 to $25,000.
The cost of a destination wedding will vary hugely depending on the location. Beautiful destinations such as Mauritius and the Maldives come in much cheaper than European destinations. The Maldives costs on average £13,106, whereas Italy costs around £24,738 - a huge saving for a wedding in such a stunning location.
Hiring a venue in London can cost on average £5,564, compared to Mauritius at just £511. Some venues are sometimes included for free if the wedding party is staying at the resort.
The cost per guest, however, is a lot higher for a destination wedding because the pair getting married needs to consider aspects such as airfare, accommodation, meals, transportation, and guest activities.
Sources: GroupTravel, TripSavvy, TheKnot, GroupTravel, SN Travel, With Joy,
69% of millennials prefer having destination weddings.
49% of Gen Z are considering or have had a destination wedding.
33 is the average age of a bride choosing a destination wedding.
70% of those who have a destination wedding graduated from University and have an average household income of $110,000.
33% of all destination weddings are second marriages.
Millennials are most likely to have a destination wedding.
They are also very popular amongst those already married, and 33% of all destination weddings are second marriages. The brides and grooms getting married for a second time tend to be older and in better financial shape. The average household income for those who have destination weddings is $110,000.
Intimacy is common for destination weddings as the number of guests is lower. Those who have been married before will want a more private and intimate experience the second time round, which is why a destination wedding is ideal.
Sources: TripSavvy, GroupTravel, Ampersand, Hotelier India, NDTV,
Guests spend, on average, $1,400 on accommodation at a destination wedding.
65 is the average number of guests at a destination wedding in 2024.
Guests spend an average of 5 days/4 nights at a destination wedding.
Accommodation costs an average of $350 per person per night.
Adding $600 for airfare, guests spend an average of $2000 to attend a destination wedding.
Some studies indicate an average of 60-70% of guests accept invites to a destination wedding.
88% of destination weddings include children in the guest count.
17.8% of guests do not attend destination weddings because they do not know the couple well enough to justify the cost.
11.8% do not attend destination weddings because they cannot justify taking the time off work.
9.7% of guests are not able to get the time off work.
40% of couples who have a destination wedding pay a portion of travel expenses for their guests. It is normal for the couple to pay for their family and immediate family members.
We have already established that fewer guests attend destination weddings as the cost per person is much higher, taking time off work and travel distance, being big factors for guests to decline invitations to destination weddings. The average number of guests at a destination wedding is 65, whereas a conventional wedding has an average guest list of 141.
Research shows that between 60-70% of guests attend a destination wedding they are invited to, whereas 75-85% of guests attend a traditional wedding. Another common reason guests may not attend a destination wedding is that they feel as though they do not know the couple well enough to justify the cost of the travel and accommodation of a destination wedding.
Sources: GroupTravel, TravelAgentCentral, TheKnot, TotallyPromotional
90% of couples say that climate was the number one reason for choosing a destination.
14.1% said they chose a destination wedding, so they could honeymoon in the same place.
10.7% of those who chose a destination wedding wanted to check the location off their bucket list.
8.4% wanted to limit the number of attendees.
6.6% wanted to cut costs.
4.1% chose a destination wedding as a nod to their heritage.
Why do so many people travel for their wedding? A lot of couples often have a special connection to a specific location and therefore choose it as the perfect destination for their wedding. It is a great opportunity and excuse to travel, specifically for travel loving couples. It is also a fantastic way for their guests to experience something new and exciting as the guests can have a good time whilst celebrating in a beautiful location.
Data shows that climate is the top reason a couple would choose to have a destination wedding as 90% of couples pick their destination based on the weather. It is a great way to escape the bad weather and get married in a hot location.
Sources: GroupTravel, TravelAgentCentral, MangoMuseEvents
In 2020 in the US, two-thirds of weddings did not take place and as much as three-quarters in Germany and the United Kingdom.
The peak months of April and September 2020 were particularly hard hit with 80% of weddings postponed.
The global wedding industry lost over $150 billion, with a $46 billion loss in the US, €10.36 billion in Germany, and $9.6 billion in UK.
The pre-pandemic wedding market generated £14.7 billion annually in the UK alone and some 400,000 jobs.
Nearly 20% of weddings in 2021 were destination weddings (up 10% from 2020).
About 50% of those destination weddings were hosted in international locations.
This is almost up to pre-pandemic numbers for destination weddings (21% in 2019).
The most popular destination weddings in the USA take place in Nevada, Florida, and California.
Destination weddings are big business, summing up around $16 billion in annual spending.
As many as 2.5 million weddings took place in 2022, up from 2.2 million in 2019, prior to the pandemic.
The average price paid for a wedding dress in 2020 was $1,631.
In 2023 the average price is anywhere between $1,800 to $2,500.
The average budget in 2023 for a destination wedding is around $35,000 up from $20,300 in 2020.
The global destination wedding market grew from $21.31 billion in 2022 to $28.31 billion in 2023 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.8%.
The destination wedding market is expected to grow to $78.89 billion in 2027 at a CAGR of 29.2%.
In 2022, the average number of guests increased to a 5-year high.
The average number of wedding guests attending a destination wedding was 50.
Destination wedding packages range between $1,000 to $20,000.
When comparing it to $30,000, which is the average cost of a wedding in the U.S.
Guests spend, on average, $1,400 on accommodation at a destination wedding.
The most popular month for 2022 was May.
The wedding industry was hit hard during the pandemic suffering a loss of over $150 billion, however, it is almost back to pre-pandemic levels. Couples have been waiting to either book or reschedule cancelled weddings, however the industry has struggled to catch up. Wedding vendors have been inundated with new enquiries for spring and summer and vendors are trying to rebook weddings cancelled over the past 2 years.
The post-pandemic demand has collided with supply chain backlogs, labour shortages and inflation, resulting in higher prices for brides and grooms across the country. The average budget in 2023 for a destination wedding is around $35,000 up from $20,300 in 2020.
Even though there have been increases, couples and guests don’t want to miss out with wedding groups getting larger with a 8% increase in 2021, and 12% increase in 2022.
For 2022 see a move away from beach weddings in favour of Sky Terraces and gazebos!
Top 5 Destinations for 2022 were:
- Riviera Maya
- Akumal / Tulum
- Dominican Republic
- Jamaica
- Cabo
Sources: Value Penguin, Paradise Weddings, Yahoo Finance, Budget Savvy Bride, Forbes
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