I am curious to those of you that are having several guests, are you fronting the bill for those people?  What is the "appropriate" way to go with a DW?  Or what is expected of the Bride and Groom to pay?

The bride and groom do not pay for their guests travel or flight. They pay the same costs they would at home: rehearsal dinner, reception, cocktail hour and if they choose, a farewell celebration. No worries, almost everyone knows they have to pay their own way to attend a DW.

Thank you for the information.  The more I look into things, the more I think a DW is the way for me.  I know this sounds horrible, but it almost like it helps "cut" the guest list of the people you feel obligated to invite. 

No need to feel bad. That's why most people do it, to cut the list!! Lol

I still have 75 guests though which is huge for a destination wedding but that's because 30 of my guests already live in jamaica (I'm jamaican) and I have friends who like to travel.

But if we had it in NY, the list could have easily been 250 to 300 especially since fiance is a pastors kid between both our families and that would freak me out because I never wanted a large affair. I was never big on the idea of having random people at my wedding just get a gift.

Even my bridal showers are small. The one in NY is at a lingerie store (I can't wait) and it will be 10 ladies and my mommy. And the one in atlanta is at my house and will be 9 ladies and my aunty. Lol.

If you like intimate affairs, Destination is the way to go.

For our guests, we did not cover travel or lodging.

We did cover most of the wedding though.

We paid for activities on Saturday (snowboarding, inner tubing, ice skating), the Welcome Dinner which was a 4 course meal that all guests went to, the normal wedding festivities, and then brunch the next day.

We had 40 guests, at the Sun Valley ski resort.

We did help out our bridal party though...it depended on what they needed help with.  1 needed his hotel covered, others a tux, one girl needed shoes...that sort of thing. 

I agree you, ryeb! It helps SO much with cutting the guest list! Ours is 63 for our DW.

We are paying for:
*The reception *obvi*
*Bridal Brunch the day after
*Rehersal dinner...which is REALLY informal. We are doing a Key West scavenger hunt that day and ending with a luau dinner
*we are playing half the cost of a boat rental. My dad is covering the other half and about 20 of the guys are going on a fishing day. We have to find something fun for the ladies now!

No I do NOT pay for any of the guests or wedding party travel, that was their responsibility.  I rented a house for 2 weeks and 2 of the wedding party plus a family stayed and do you think they even give 2 cents????

We are paying for our immediate family's air tickets, they are going to pay for their own accommodation. 

We didn't pay for any travel or accomodation either, our guests just decided to make it into their holiday.

We are paying for:

venue and reception, buffet BBQ, free bar, travel to and from the venue on the day, bellydancer as a surprise!