Tie the Knot in Paradise with a Destination Wedding

If you’ve ever dreamed of getting married on a tropical island, a destination wedding is just what you need. As the name implies, destination weddings take place in a particular destination, as opposed to a wedding in the town where the bride and groom reside. Destination weddings are typically held in popular vacation locations or at inclusive resorts. The majority of the guests invited to a destination wedding must travel and make accommodations to stay for a few days.

Destination Weddings: Pros

Destination weddings give guests the opportunity to take a vacation and visit with friends and family they may not see very often, and they’re often less-expensive than traditional weddings. Even with the added cost of travel, total expenses are typically lower because most hotels and resorts offer wedding-planning services that take care of everything from flowers and decorations to the ceremony itself. Hotels and resorts have on-site reception areas and provide their own catering service, so the bride and groom and all of their guests can take it easy right up until the last minute!

Destination Weddings: Cons

It’s common destination wedding etiquette for guests to pay their own airfare, but the bride and groom are typically expected to pay for at least part of their guests’ lodging. Resorts which pride themselves as destination wedding locations often offer multiple-room discounts because such a large crowd will be staying due to the wedding. Group airfare rates may also be available, providing a discounted rate to those that are travelling with the group. Some couples fear that the travel involved in a destination wedding is too big of a burden to place on their friends and family, but the truth is nearly all weddings involve travel for some people.

Popular Locations for Destination Weddings

Tropical island destination weddings held in the Bahamas and Jamaica are popular with many couples, as are weddings on other Caribbean islands. Some people decide to get married in Mexico and others opt for Europe or Australia – the choices are nearly limitless!

In the United States, Hawaii and Las Vegas are both common wedding spots due to the fact that both are popular tourist destinations. Some couples choose to hold a fairy tale wedding at Disney World in Florida or Disneyland in California, and others opt for weddings held in areas where particular relatives live so that their wedding is also a family reunion.

Couples can go on vacation and get married without notifying family and friends, but destination weddings should not be confused with elopements. Destination weddings provide guests with the opportunity to “get away from it all” for a few days and witness a special couple declare their love for one another.The memories will be priceless!

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Popular Wedding Locations for Your Special Day

Even though you’ve probably been to several different wedding locations while watching friends and relatives get married, choosing the perfect location for your own wedding might seem like a daunting task. Some couples knew exactly where they wanted to tie the knot as soon as the groom popped the question and the bride said yes, but other people need a bit of assistance when thinking of potential wedding locations.

Five Common Wedding Locations
Although the idea of running off to Las Vegas for a quickie wedding ceremony may have crossed your mind a time or two, the majority of engaged couples choose to get married close to home. No two weddings are alike, but below you will find a list of common wedding locations and a bit of information about each.

Places of worship.
Couples that wish to be married in a religious wedding ceremony often choose wedding locations such as churches, synagogues, temples or other houses of worship. These venues work out well because their natural beauty means little decorating will need to be done for the wedding. Some places of worship will only marry people that are members of the congregation, so be sure to check with the wedding locations you are considering for full details.

Hotels.
Hotel weddings can be appealing due to the lack of work involved! Hotel wedding planners are great at their job and typically take care of most of the details for you. Luxurious hotels make great wedding locations for quite a few different reasons – couples can hold their wedding ceremony and reception all in the same location and out-of-town wedding guests will have a convenient place to stay!

Beaches.
If you live near the water, you might want to consider a beach wedding. Getting married barefoot in the sand at sunset is a romantic idea that numerous couples decide to act upon. Your wedding photos will be stunning thanks to the natural beauty of the great outdoors, and you will have fond memories of choosing the beach as your wedding location from each day forward.

Gardens or Parks.
Outdoor weddings held in gardens or parks are fashionable ideas for spring and summer weddings thanks to the warm weather and attractiveness of blooming plants and flowers. You can be married under a gazebo or trellis or out in the open. Bridesmaids can carry bouquets consisting of the same flowers found in the garden, and fountains and park benches often found in such settings can act as decoration.

Home.
There’s nothing wrong with considering wedding locations based on cost, and plenty of budget-conscious couples decide to get married right at their own home. Whether the wedding is held outdoors or inside, the familiarity of the location will be comforting. Getting married at home is a perfect idea if you are planning an intimate wedding with few guests.

Wedding Directory – Helping you plan your Special Day