Destination Wedding and Etiquette regarding travel expenses
My fiance and I are planning a wedding in Hawaii. Our families live in separate provinces in Canada and we live in Australia and we figured that this would be the easiest and best way to meet halfway, in addition to a romantic setting.
We are paying for the accommodations for our families for the week, our personal flights from Australia, the ceremony and the reception afterwards. My question is related to the travel expenses. Both sets of parents are retiring and our able to pay for their flights. My sister has a large amount of school loan debt and my parents are assisting her. My fiance's sister has a young family and lives comfortably (2 cars, house, home entertainment systems etc.)
My fiance feels that we should pay for his niece and nephew's flights ($2500) as his sister has hinted that it will be expensive for all 4 of them to fly there. I feel that we can offer to supplement their flights (up to half the cost) as we will be incurring debt for the other wedding expenses. We live rather simply and modestly in a 2-bedroom apt. and do not own a car. I think that since the wedding is 6 months away, his sister's family can appropriately budget or his parents offer to assist them financially. His family have thus far offered no financial assistance otherwise.
I feel that this is fair to both families, but my partner disagrees. Any advice is much appreciated.
The wedding couple is not expected to pay for travel or accommodations for their guests. So, you are already being very generous. It is a nice gesture to offer to pay half, but you do not have to. If all of them cannot attend do to money concerns, you could send them a video of your wedding. Please do not feel guilty.
Destination Wedding and Etiquette regarding travel expenses
