I Was Sick Of Spending My Travel Budget On Weddings, So Now I Turn Every Invitation Into A Vacation

I like turning wedding weekends into mini vacations.

Anna Staropoli

• I've received lots of wedding invitations over the past few years.
• Many of the weddings I've been invited to have required me to travel.
• Now, I like to turn every wedding invitation into a mini vacation.

I don't know whether the influx of wedding invites I've received is a byproduct of the many celebrations that got delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic or a rite of passage for anyone approaching their late 20s.

Either way, the last few years have filled my calendar — and the outside of my refrigerator — with many an invitation and save the date. Many of these invitations have also required me to travel.

To maximize pricey flights, I've leveraged weddings to explore places like West Palm Beach, Cleveland, and even my own city. Here's how I've created the perfect marriage between wedding and personal travel.

I stay open and flexible to spur-of-the-moment experiences.

Anna Staropoli

Sandusky, Ohio, doesn't exactly scream "getaway," but for my cousin's wedding, my boyfriend and I embarked on a Midwest road trip.

While driving, I discovered two things: "A Christmas Story" was filmed in Cleveland, and my boyfriend had never tried Waffle House.

Before we even arrived at our hotel, we mapped out our return, making sure to hit the iconic filming location and the famous chain restaurant on the way home. I loved that attending the wedding gave us a reason to explore the area and try new things.

Once in Sandusky, I maintained that eagerness, visiting Lake Erie, trying Culver's custard, and exploring Marblehead Lighthouse.

To manage expectations, I've learned to treat each wedding trip as an introduction to a place.

A few years ago, I planned my first post-wedding trip to Miami after a friend's West Palm Beach ceremony.

While I enjoyed Miami, I chastised myself for everything I'd missed in the Palm Beaches. Beyond visiting the Norton Museum of Art, I saw little of West Palm.

Since then, I've adjusted my expectations. I have neither the time nor energy to do everything, so I regard wedding trips as city introductions rather than the end-all-be-all of tours.

This mindset has minimized the pressure I place on my vacations and inspired future travels.

Even when weddings occur close to home, I embrace the art of the staycation.

Anna Staropoli

Last summer, I attended a wedding on Lake Canandaigua, just an hour from my Rochester, New York, apartment. While I could've commuted, the venue had been on my radar since moving upstate, so I booked a room.

That decision was well worth the hotel cost; I jumped in the lake countless times, caught up with college friends, and sipped riesling: the Finger Lakes' claim to fame.

That wedding also sparked my interest in the other Finger Lakes and refreshed my perspective on my surroundings.

I try not to jam-pack my schedule after the wedding festivities are over.

I'm planning on attending a wedding at the Chicago Botanic Garden soon. Although I'd initially planned for an extra day in the city, I realized my hotel was actually an hour away from the city center.

In order to conserve my energy, I've since adapted my trip to tour Chicago's North Shore and the chic, much closer suburb of Lake Forest, Illinois.

Beyond those activities, however, I'm leaving the rest of my day open. After a weekend of wedding events, I'll likely feel worn down and ready to recharge. Although weddings are structured to the hour, wedding trips can balance out the frenzy of a celebratory weekend.