Destination Weddings: Not Just for Celebrities Any More!
Looking through the pages of magazines at the grocery store checkout counter, we are often regaled with stories of the lavish weddings of our favorite celebrities. And while we can’t all plan million dollar weddings, having a destination wedding like a celebrity is far more accessible than you think. Not just for celebrities and athletes, destination weddings are becoming more and more popular. There are countless websites devoted to planning them, and a bridal magazine focused solely on destination weddings.
What is a Destination Wedding?
A destination wedding is when your wedding takes place out of town (often somewhere tropical or romantic), and your guests travel there with you. Popular destination wedding spots include Hawaii, the Caribbean, Disney World and beaches worldwide. Rather than just having a ceremony and reception, a destination wedding usually includes activities for the length of the guests’ stay; dinners, excursions, sightseeing, and other parties. Because destination weddings are often much smaller than a traditional wedding, many couples have a reception when they return from their honeymoon to celebrate with their wider circle of friends and families.
Why Choose a Destination Wedding?
For some, choosing a destination wedding is a simple as wanting to get married in a special place. For example, a couple who dreams of getting married on the beach, one who wants to get married at the camp where they met in high school, or one who wants to say their vows at a special vacation spot. For others, a destination wedding is a way to both reduce the stress and cost of planning a wedding. Planning is made easy - most resorts that have wedding facilities have a wedding coordinator on-site to meet all of the bride and groom’s needs. Because you are planning a wedding out of town, the planner takes care of all the details; you just tell them your preferences. Most brides who have had a destination wedding rave about the planning - they have one meeting with the planner (often over the phone) where they pick out everything. It is so much easier (and so much less stressful) than the countless hours that go into planning the traditional wedding. For many couples, the cost of a destination wedding is also significantly cheaper. Getting married at a resort in Hawaii instead of a hotel in your hometown costs almost the same. But because most couples only invite their closest family and friends (20-40 guests is the norm) destination weddings cut cost by cutting guests. And many all-inclusive resorts have packages that are actually significantly cheaper than those in major US cities.
