Poll: Definition of DW?

katiepoppy

FI and I are considering getting married 100 miles from home in a somewhat touristy/resorty area.  It made me start thinking about the definition of a DW and whether or not this would be considered one.

kikibaby

D = Destination.  How does it make a difference how many miles away it is?

ExpatPumpkin

Destination wedding = people have to travel and stay at least one night away from home...  That's my definition

We had a DW in Colorado - We and our guests traveled from all over the States, Europe, and Mexico.  No one could have possibly made it home that night unless they flew in their own plane

tlv204

I don't consider it one, because I wouldn't make  a vacation out of it. I just went to a wedding last weekend about 175 miles from home at a lake resort, and had fun, but for some reason I wouldnt' call it a destination wedding.

However, I don't think the title "DW" really means anything. If someone were to try to have a DW 100 miles away then also have an at home reception, I might think it a little odd.

sucrets4

In my mind, a DW is something far away from where anyone in your or FI's family lives, therefore requiring everyone to travel.  I apologize for being redundant if this is the actual definition.

sucrets4

Oh yeah, I meant to add the "needing to stay overnight" thing.  If you can drive there and back in the same day, then I don't think it's a DW.

katiepoppy

Thanks for the responses!  Even though the wedding is still far off, I have just been thinking about whether people would want to stay in the area after a dinner reception 100 miles from home.  When we get closer we will probably start asking family and friends to get an idea of whether or not we would need hotel blocks/OOT bags/etc. for those who live within 100 miles.

sucrets4

It depends what time your wedding is.  We had an afternoon wedding, and relatives with kids were able to make it a day trip.  Other family from the same town decided to stay over the night before, but they left right after the wedding.

I had no idea that a day wedding would be so convenient for people and it made me happy that it worked out well for them.

apple_green

Katie - Where do you live and where are you thinking of having the wedding? I'm in NorCal too. We live in Sacramento and our wedding is in Santa Cruz. I think of it as a semi-DW.

katiepoppy

Apple: We live in Walnut Creek and are planning to wed in Monterey. My parents have a home down there on the coast and we love to go for weekend getaways.  We have a favorite local restaurant and will eventually have to figure out if we want them to cater or have the reception at the restaurant.I checked out your bio - your site is beautiful!  What restaurant are you having your reception at?

eastunder1

To me, a destination wedding is not about miles traveled.  I live 1400 miles away from most of my family and friends, but when I travel to their area for weddings, I don't consider that a destination wedding in the slightest.    I have to drive two hours to it?  So what.  Thats just an out of town wedding.  Not a destination one. 

Is *everyone* involved in the wedding - from the guests to the groom - getting on a plane to get to it?  Is it warm and tropical?  Would I consider it as a vacation spot?  Now we're into true "destination wedding" territory.  

Although, depending on what you're needing to figure out here, whether or not it is a actual "destination" wedding could just be splitting hairs. 

As far as whether or not I would want to stay over night, I think that would depend on how late your reception ran, how much fun it was, and what the alcohol situation was.  A snoozer of a dry wedding that ends at 7pm?  I'm driving back.  It's only an hour and a half.   An open bar fun rager that goes until midnight and probably has an after party to boot?  I'm definately staying overnight. 

banana468

I think they can take a few forms.

The most AW type IMO is when the couple pick a place that's just "far away" so that their guests can turn it into a vacation and NO ONE is local to the area.  I know people who were married in Mexico at a resort and their wedding was a DW for all guests.

Then there are those who don't live in the area where they're getting married but other people do.  That's not exactly the DW but it's close.

Either way, if your wedding would require an overnight stay in a hotel for your guests, offer a variety of price points or be prepared for some guests who will decline.

MyNameIsNot

I consider it a DW if pretty much everyone has to travel long enough to stay over night.

Most of our family is away, so even though we got married at home, 85% of our guests were OOT.  Not a DW.  Had we gotten married in either of our home towns, not a DW.  Had we chosen another location, DW. 

100 miles away from town where pretty much everyone lives is a DW IMHO.

squirrly

I'm also in the "if nobody lives there and we have to stay overnight" camp.

And, just for comparison - our wedding is about 70 miles from a decent chunk of our guest list.  The drinkers on that list will likely stay overnight; the rest will go home after the reception.

carrieoz_76

I've lived in WC, and I would not consider Monterey to be a DW for those who live near you.  Ppl can pretty easily drive there from home, and would only have to stay overnight, and if they're local they've probably been there a few times before, so no, I wouldn't consider it a "destination."

But I agree with PP.  It doesn't really matter if it's a DW or not.  It will require travel and a hotel stay for at least a night depending on the time of your ceremony and reception, so you should think about doing a hotel block and making some activity recommendations.  And given how close it is to your home, I think it would be odd to do an AHR afterwards.

katiepoppy

Thanks all!  Yeah, there will definitely NOT be an AHR.  We are thinking a late afternoon ceremony followed by dinner. As we get closer we will just see who wants to make the drive home after - some may not due to drinking/driving at night - and offer a hotel block if necessary.