Couple Book Flights to Destination Wedding, Then Have Awkward Realization

Newsweek

a day ago

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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A couple online made a proactive booking for a destination wedding in Buenos Aires—but were met with a surprise upon arrival.
In a TikTok video posted by @sarliunlimited, the girlfriend posted about the mistake that led to an awkward, yet ultimately "priceless," six-day escapade spent deliberately avoiding the happy couple when they learned they weren't actually invited.
"When our friends got married in Buenos Aires, my boyfriend was so sure we were invited, he booked flights and hotel," she captioned the video. "Turns out, it was immediate family only, so we spent six days hiding from them on the resort until they left, and to my knowledge they still have no idea we were there. Priceless."
Stock photo: A couple prepares to fly together at the airport.
Stock photo: A couple prepares to fly together at the airport.
Prostock-Studio/Getty Images
The revelation sparked amusement and confusion among TikTok users.
"They'll find it funny and probably wouldn't have minded if they knew," one person wrote. "At least they know you guys are ride and die friends."
Another speculated on the wedding party's intentions, suggesting, "Maybe they did that so not to put the travel expense expectation on everyone? Though, I think I'd have explained to my friends."
This couple's unexpected hide-and-seek highlights a consistently growing trend in the wedding industry: destination weddings. According to The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study, based on a survey of nearly 17,000 recently married couples, destination weddings are quite common. A destination wedding is traditionally "defined as a ceremony and/or reception held outside the couple's hometown," according to The Knot, and requires travel for some, if not all guests. Destination weddings are often held in beautiful international locales.
In 2024, 18 percent of couples opted for a destination wedding, proving it's a popular alternative to a traditional hometown celebration.
Interestingly, though, The Knot's data reveals that only 18 percent of these destination weddings were considered tropical, and just 14 percent took place in a different country. This indicates that the majority of destination weddings today are domestic, what The Knot refers to as "domestination weddings."
Experts predict that domestic destination weddings will continue to grow in popularity due to their ability to offer more tailored guest experiences.
While the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is $33,000, a destination celebration averages $39,000, according to The Knot. However, destination weddings often have lower guest counts, leading to a higher cost per guest.
Despite the rise of domestic celebrations, though, international destination weddings like the one in the creator's video remain popular. The Knot's data indicates Mexico was the most popular international destination at 34 percent, followed by Europe at 26 percent and the Caribbean at 21 percent.
Destinations in Central and South America, like Buenos Aires, account for nine percent of international destination weddings.
Newsweek reached out to @sarliunlimited for comment via TikTok.