Airbnb Or Hotel? How To Choose The Best Destination Wedding Venue

When planning your dream destination wedding, arguably the most important logistical decision you’ll make is where the special day will take place.

While couples most popularly choose a hotel or resort, going with a vacation rental has its own unique draws as the setting for your “I dos.” At the end of the day, picking the best accommodations and wedding venue will boil down to what a couple prioritizes most. Some may prefer having the included conveniences of planning a hotel wedding, while other lovebirds may prioritize the ability to incorporate more personalization into an Airbnb wedding.

When considering what will be best, before searching for the right accommodations and venue, it’s important that couples iron out some basic details about their nuptials. 

• What is the date of the wedding?
• How long will the couple and their guests be at the accommodation chosen?
• Who will stay at the selected accommodation in addition to the couple? 
• What types of vendors will you need, and around how many total will you have?
• What’s the overall budget? 

Below, read through several consideration points that’ll help choose whether an Airbnb or hotel will be better for your destination wedding. 

Should You Choose A Hotel Or Airbnb For More Onsite Wedding Assistance?

Many hotels and resorts that commonly host weddings will have a designated wedding or event coordinator to help ensure your special day runs smoothly. That coordinator usually assists couples during the planning stages of their nuptials. They may also be of service to you on the day of your wedding, and afterward, depending on the property, selected event package, and whether you’ll be staying at the accommodation for your honeymoon. Notably, onsite wedding coordinators can be helpful for couples who need guidance on which vendors, decor, DJs, and other major choices about their wedding. Contrastingly, couples who choose an Airbnb usually have to source, secure, and arrange their wedding vendors all on their own, or hire an independent wedding planner. 

Which Gives You More Creative Control: An Airbnb Or A Hotel?

Hotels usually have dedicated vendors, caterers, DJs, and rental services that they’ll utilize for your wedding. If there are multiple options for something in particular, you and your partner will get the chance to pick the one that best suits your budget and tastes. As mentioned, an onsite event coordinator may be able to provide recommendations and help you choose. 

If you’re planning an Airbnb wedding, you’ll be responsible for coordinating the vendors and staff needed all on your own. While this may leave you with more flexibility and customization (providing for a more personalized wedding), it’ll require more time and energy from the couple — especially if there’s no wedding planner for additional support. 

Is An Airbnb Or A Hotel Better For Privacy?

Many couples choose to rent out an Airbnb property for the exclusive, intimate setting it creates for them and their wedding guests. If the property has enough bedrooms, it can also serve as accommodations for family members, your bridal party, and/or guests. Having the property to yourself makes the wedding double as a group vacation, which some couples find appealing. 

If you go with a hotel, your wedding ceremony and reception will likely be in a private or semi-private area. Other guests on the property or even in proximity to your hotel may have a view of you tying the knot. Also, couples and their guests will be around various hotel workers and hotel visitors throughout their stay, even if the couple reserves a room block for their party. 

Is An Airbnb Or A Hotel More Affordable For A Destination Wedding?

Of course, cost is a major factor for most couples planning their nuptials. And when a destination wedding is in the works, money can easily grow from a factor to a concern.

Having a wedding at an Airbnb or a hotel can vary dramatically in total costs. Couples may be able to save money by securing their own vendors for an Airbnb wedding. However, they might also have to pay for things like event insurance, property staffing on their wedding day, and food and entertainment for their guests throughout the length of their stay. Additionally, those couples will likely be responsible for getting tables, chairs, glassware, and other necessary items for their wedding, as well as getting those things to and from the property.

Meanwhile, at a hotel, couples may be able to snag a wedding package including all-inclusive dining for their wedding party, an event coordinator, and all the necessary decor and vendors. 

What Else Should Couples Consider When Choosing Between An Airbnb And Hotel For Their Destination Wedding?

Before booking, couples set on having their destination wedding at an Airbnb should thoroughly educate themselves about that property’s rules and regulations. Many Airbnbs strictly prohibit guests from hosting parties, events, and large gatherings onsite. That said, if you’re having trouble finding a location, it’s worthwhile reaching out to property owners directly and seeing if they’re willing to let you use their property for your big day. 

To assist an Airbnb owner in practically assessing whether their property is suitable for your wedding, it’s a good idea to give them the basic outline you made of your wedding information. That’ll give them an understanding of what you’re proposing and planning. The outline should include the dates and times of your stay and its major events (rehearsal dinner, wedding, reception — including the DJ cutoff time — etc). Also worthwhile sharing is how many people will be staying on the property, your anticipated guest count for the wedding, and if you can, a list of the vendors that you’ll be using. 

Relatedly, many Airbnbs are in areas with loud noise restrictions between certain times of the night and early morning, so ask about whether that’ll impact your plans. 

Also, if most of your guests will be driving to your wedding location, regardless of whether it’s at an Airbnb or a hotel, inquire about whether the property will have enough parking. 

It’s important to think about the details of every part of your wedding and your guests’ experience before booking either an Airbnb or a hotel for your nuptials. Whichever you choose, ensure that all your wedding’s vendors, music, and decorations are cleared to be present at that location. The more you communicate with your venue and get things pre-approved, the better chances you have of your special day going down smoothly.