I know a thing or two about destination weddings, as I myself got married on a beach in Sri Lanka back in 2001. Although only 8 years ago destination weddings was still in it’s infancy & the resources available to me when planning & preparing my big day where very limited. Nowadays, destination weddings are big business, with a growing number of exotic & romantic locations, themed invitations & favors & a wonderful range of designer wedding dresses, something not available to me in 2001!
If the idea of a destination wedding is your idea of wedding heaven then there are a few things you need to take into consideration.
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Where can we get married? Visit your local travel agent & ask them for brochures on destination weddings. You can also research locations online, but I would advise booking through a travel agency as you may get a better price & added extras, such as a room upgrade, flight upgrades & insurance. We booked our wedding through Kuoni & obtained a room upgrade, free excursions & free meals.
What can we expect? Typically destination weddings were beach front weddings in exotic locations such as the Caribbean. Today there is a wide range of locations available, across the globe, from safari in Kenya to romantic chapels in Italy. It is worth checking out an recent list of the most popular destinations though, because its popular does not necessarily mean it would be perfect for you. Be aware of the conveyor belt effect - popular destinations at certain times of year will be full with wedding bookings & you could find your day spoiled by a quick ceremony & a queue of anxious couples waiting behind you. However, a destination wedding is a wonderful way to get married. They are typically intimate affairs, with a select guest list of close family & friends.
Most locations offer wedding packages, what can we expect for our money? Destination weddings do offer the adavantage of providing everything for you - photographer, video, local official, flowers, make up, hair stylist, reception, wedding breakfast, room upgrades - the list can be endless. This means you can simply book your wedding & not have to worry about all the extras. When you arrive at your location you will probably have to choose the finer details such as flowers, ceremony location etc. Some locations will also offer you the opportunity to get married in traditional local dress, made especially for you! Typically a wedding package will offer great value for money whilst saving you a lot of time & stress too!
Who can we take with us? Anyone you want. You will need two witnesses, although if you got it alone you could ask two hotel guests or staff to stand in! The usual etiquette is for invited guests to pay for their flights whilst you pick up the tab for accommodation, food & beverages at the wedding. Ask about group booking discounts on airfares & hotel prices.
What about the honeymoon? Destination weddings usually combine the honeymoon aswell. We got married in Sri Lanka & then flew to the Maldives a couple of days afterwards. This was a package offered by Kuoni & represented a great saving on booking two seperate holidays. You may want to stay in your chosen location longer & honeymoon there, or perhaps move to another part of the country & another hotel. Again ask about combining your wedding & honeymoon as you may make significant savings.
Is a destination wedding legal? Yes, you will be told at the time of booking about the legal requirements before you can get married. Usually you will be required to stay in your chosen location for a set number of days before you are legally eligible to marry there. You may also be required to obtain certain legal documents before you travel - we had to obtain sworn & witnessed Affidavit’s from a master of oaths before we traveled.
What do we wear? Check the temperatures & weather conditions of your chosen location - for hot climates choose loose fitting, lightweight clothing. Remember, you have to pack these garments in a suitcase, so make sure they will travel okay & that you can arrange to get them pressed at the other end.
A destination wedding is a wonderful way to get married & offers you the opportunity to have as much or as little input as you want. They are also a good option if your budget is tight as the savings are significant when compared to a traditional wedding at home.
Author Resource:-
Georgina Clatworthy is a dedicated full time writer who composes informative articles related to wedding favors and wedding. She is connected with 1WeddingSource, today’s leading wedding social networking planning site.
