Destination Weddings

Couples across the globe are skipping the traditional church wedding in their home towns in return for a romantic rendezvous in a far away destination. Weddings at a fun, romantic destination are called destination weddings. Destination weddings are becoming so popular that many wedding travel plans involve passports and translators. Wedding party vendors are popping up in far off places like Bali and the Bahamas.

Before booking your overseas wedding, you should consider a few things. First, will everyone you care about be able to make the long trip? Is the cost involved going to be a difficulty for your wedding party or guests? What location would be ideal for your upcoming ceremony? How do you book a reservation for an overseas wedding? These considerations must be made before you decide on a destination wedding.

One of the more popular destinations for an overseas wedding is a romantic island getaway. Perhaps many couples choose an island wedding because of the romance and ambiance natural to the setting. Maybe the bride has dreamed of being wed on the beach, with the sound of the waves behind her. Whatever the reason, island resorts in the Bahamas, Hawaii, and other vacation destinations, almost all have bridal chapels, wedding party vendors, and wedding planning services. Planning a destination wedding is becoming one of the easiest ways to plan the perfect ceremony!

Choosing a location is the first step involved in planning a destination wedding. If the bride has her heart set on a Hawaiian wedding, this is not a hard decision. Sometimes, however, the decision is more difficult, because there are so many excellent places to be wed. There are oriental islands, such as Guam and Bali, which make excellent destinations for a wedding. Bahamas weddings are also popular with many couples, perhaps due to the ease of traveling to a wedding via a cruise ship. Some couples prefer the history and ambiance of a wedding in an ancient European country.

The first consideration is whether you want your destination to be overseas, or in your own country. Destination weddings sometimes are within the couple’s home country, just not in their particular hometown. In the United States, many couples enjoy a destination wedding in Las Vegas or Orlando, where there are plenty of activities for the friends and family who wish to attend the wedding.

Once you have decided on whether to have the wedding in your own country or abroad, it is time to choose your actual location. Choose a destination that has wedding services already provided. While being wed on your own private island is extremely romantic, the cost involved may be prohibitive. Using a site with existing wedding services will save the expense of having to fly a clergyman to the destination in order to perform the ceremony. Many resorts at popular wedding destinations have wedding planners on staff that will help you with these details.

One aspect of destination weddings that many couples forget about is their guest list. When you are married overseas, the cost may keep some friends and family members from attending. Even if this is the case, you can still invite these friends and family members! They will enjoy knowing about your upcoming ceremony.

However, keep in mind that the invitation list to your destination wedding will be significantly smaller than a traditional wedding, due to the fact that travel arrangements and hotel accommodations are limited. This helps many couples avoid a stressful situation with relatives they would rather avoid inviting to their wedding. Making sure your family members are not pressured to attend your wedding is also important. Let them know that you would welcome their presence, if they are able.

You will need to know how many people to expect at your destination. Be sure to include RSVP cards with your invitations. This is particularly important with destination weddings, because you will need to tell the person who is making the out-of-town arrangements how many people to expect. When you get married overseas, remember to keep your guest list manageable. You may feel responsible for entertaining these people who travel to your wedding.

Before sending out any invitations, check with the hotel or resort where you are having your wedding, to see how many people the chapel or hall can accommodate. Try to anticipate how many people will respond with the intention of attending your wedding. You should attempt to stay within the boundaries of the location for your wedding.

Many of those on your guest list will choose to take their vacation time to visit you on your wedding. They will want to take advantage of the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have a good excuse to visit a tropical paradise! Make sure you give them plenty of time to plan and save their money for your wedding. One way to do this is to send out an information packet three to four months before your wedding. This packet will give them the time they need to prepare if they are planning on coming to your wedding. This works well for a Hawaii or Bahamas wedding, where a passport is not required. If you are going to be wed in Europe or an Asian country, make sure to give your guests enough time to prepare their passports.

In the informational packet, include information about your destination, and what there is to do there. Get pamphlets from your hotel and send them along. Tell your guests what you love about your destination, and why you chose it for your wedding. Also, include the date and time of the ceremony.

For those who will be unable to attend, consider setting up a web cam or having the wedding professionally videotaped. You can then have a reception when you return from your honeymoon. At this reception, your loved ones will enjoy being with you while you relive your special day. You can serve food that was served at your wedding, and decorate like the destination you chose!

One thing many couples enjoy about destination weddings is the ability to choose a wedding that is a complete package. The wedding includes the hotel stay for the couple, the ceremony, reception, decorations, and often even the tuxedo rental. With these items included in the price of the destination wedding, many couples find this type of arrangement to be an affordable way to be wed.

On top of that, many resorts have wedding coordinators on staff who are available to the new couple for little to no cost when they book their entire event with the resort. Wedding coordinators are expensive otherwise, and this is a luxury the couple may have had to do without if they were wed at home. These coordinators will help the couple make all the plans, and help them think of all the details, even when they are miles away from their wedding chapel. She will organize decorations, order the cake, and prepare the legal paperwork necessary for the marriage license. She may even be able to organize and provide activities for the guests of the bride and groom, so they are not in the way of the new couple.

One concern among couples considering destination weddings is the security involved with their event. How can they ensure that they are working with a legitimate wedding planner, and avoid having their money stolen while planning their big day? The best way to keep the wedding plans secure is to work with hotels and resorts when making plans. These types of establishments have their reputations on the line if they should allow a security slip up! They are motivated to keep their couples’ information and money safe to protect their reputations.

Whenever you are agreeing to something for your wedding, particularly when money will be changing hands, make sure to get an agreement in writing. This protects you from fraudulent people who wish to take your money. Also, make sure that the written agreement includes information on the cancellation policies, as well as whether or not there is a refund option.

Use your credit card when making purchases and deposits for your wedding. Remember, your credit card company has regulations in place that protect you from fraud. If someone fails to provide the service they offer, having the charge record on your credit card will help you get the money back.

Rest assured that it is rare for you to have problems planning a destination wedding, particularly when working with well known resorts and hotels. If you keep these security measures in mind, you can plan a wedding without a hang up. If you use a wedding planner, you will have an even smoother time planning your destination wedding!

Many brides choose an island wedding as a destination wedding location. This makes a great combination of wedding ceremony and honeymoon at the same location. In fact, when you combine wedding travel with honeymoon plans, you can even save money!

One of the draws of an island wedding for destination weddings is the lush tropical background an island atmosphere provides for the ceremony and reception. Fresh flowers, sand, and sea are some of the most beautiful wedding decorations you can find!

For the island wedding, less is more! The bride’s dress and groom’s tux do not have to be excessively formal, particularly for the couple being wed on the beach. This creates a fun atmosphere for the couple and guests alike. The same goes for the bridal party clothing.

Food for the island wedding often includes fresh fruit, which grows well in tropical island environments. Fish is an excellent island main course, as it will be both affordable and tasty. Fresh flowers are abundant on tropical islands, and make the best decorations for the tables and ceremony halls.

The Bahamas are a popular destination for an island wedding. There are many wedding planning companies on the islands of the Bahamas, which provide you with the entertainment, ceremony details, and planning tips that you need. These companies are usually associated with a hotel or resort, which means that hotel plans are easily made.

If history and culture are more in your taste as a couple, you may want to consider a European wedding ceremony. From the cathedrals of Italy to the castles of France, there are many beautiful and historical destinations in Europe for a dream wedding! Destination weddings in Europe are becoming more and more common!

Some of the red tape surrounding a wedding in Europe can be confusing. It is important for the new couple to use a wedding planner that is on site to help them ensure that they have all the legalities in place to receive their marriage license and be legally married. Check to see if there are any medical tests required in order to be wed in your country of choice. Many countries require blood tests and immunization records before they will marry a couple.

Since Europe is a temperate wedding destination, you may want to plan your wedding for the summer or spring season. This ensures that you do not have travel difficulties due to weather. Plan your details in advance so that you can ensure to have the date you want, as many couples enjoy getting married in old world style!

Resorts are far more abundant on islands than in mainland Europe. Be sure to work with your wedding coordinator to book enough rooms for you and all your guests. Remember to book rooms that will fit in your guests’ differing budget needs.

Hawaii is by far the most popular US wedding destination. Combining the look of the tropical wedding paradise with the ability to be married in the United States, American couples flock to the Hawaiian Islands for their marriage ceremonies year after year. The language of the Hawaiian Islands is English, making planning the wedding long distance easy for the American couple.

Other couples enjoy a Disney wedding. Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, offers couples dream-come-true fairy tale weddings. The bride is treated like a princess, and driven to the wedding chapel in a horse drawn carriage. The Disney wedding staff has several wedding packages, with a package for just about every budget. The fun of being married with Cinderella’s castle in the background is hard to match!

Finally, many people from across the globe flock to Las Vegas, Nevada, each year for their weddings. Nevada law makes it easy to be approved for a marriage license, and they have an abundance of wedding chapels across the city of Las Vegas. From simple to extreme, the weddings in Las Vegas are easy to plan. Every Las Vegas hotel has a wedding planning service, so your wedding can be as simple or as elegant as you want it to be, depending on the hotel or chapel you choose!