| You've dreamed of your special wedding day. But | | | | price tags for other aspects of your event, like your |
| what may make it special for you is getting married | | | | rehearsal dinner. Don't forget to reserve your luxury |
| in a small adobe church in Arizona, or on a balmy | | | | sedan for the ride to and from your hometown |
| beach in the Caribbean. Making your fantasy | | | | airport. |
| destination wedding a reality isn't as difficult -- or as | | | | The Guest List |
| expensive -- as you might think. If you're eloping to | | | | So at every wedding, there's usually someone who |
| your fantasy destination, it can be as easy as taking | | | | has traveled some distance to be a part of the |
| a limo or luxury sedan to the airport. | | | | festivities. At a destination wedding, nearly everyone |
| More and more couples are heading to exotic locales | | | | travels, including the bride and groom. If that's the |
| to say, "I do." What's the attraction? Well, here's the | | | | case, you need to accept the fact that your |
| 4-1-1 on why couples famous, infamous and | | | | wedding may not be large. Not everyone can afford |
| non-famous do destination weddings, and what to | | | | hotel and airfare. But that doesn't mean you should |
| need to know when planning your own. | | | | count on guests declining your invitation. Some |
| For the Intimacy. Today's couples are mobile. And | | | | wedding destinations can be too tempting to resist -- |
| they're likely to have friends and family scattered | | | | even if they are expensive. |
| across the country. But with the average wedding | | | | Alert Your Guests Ahead of Time |
| lasting only four hours, how can a bride and groom | | | | Give your guests as much advance notice about your |
| spend time with everyone? Having a destination | | | | wedding as possible. So send out save-the-date cards |
| wedding is like a mini-vacation with your closest | | | | a minimum of five months in advance so your guests |
| family and friends. Instead of one night, you have | | | | can make the necessary travel and vacation |
| several relaxed days to enjoy the company of your | | | | arrangements. Reserve a block of rooms at two |
| closest family and friends. | | | | hotels in different price ranges. Or set up a wedding |
| For the Convenience. Is the thought of spending the | | | | web site where you can post all your wedding details |
| day before the wedding relaxing on the beach | | | | and out-of-town guest Information. If your wedding |
| instead of running hundreds of errands give you a | | | | is in another country, reserve a block of seats with |
| reason for wanting to choose a destination wedding? | | | | an airline. Many carriers offer discounts to passengers |
| Brides and grooms perseverate about the hardships | | | | with groups over ten. |
| of planning a wedding from thousands of miles away, | | | | On Location |
| but destination weddings are often far less work | | | | For convenience, you should have someone physically |
| than traditional weddings. Most hotels and resorts | | | | at your wedding location to help you plan, scout for |
| offer wedding-planning packages and services, so the | | | | vendors, and handle meetings and details. This person |
| details get taken care of for you. You will have to | | | | can be a professional wedding planner, a friend or |
| price tickets and rooms for your guests and book a | | | | family member who lives nearby, or most likely a |
| luxury sedan or two for the ride to the airport and | | | | resort or hotel wedding coordinator. Whomever you |
| back, but you might miss out on the frenzy of | | | | choose, your contact must be reliable, familiar with |
| last-minute preparations. | | | | your wedding style, and aware of your wedding |
| For the Value | | | | budget. |
| When you add up the travel, the dress, the | | | | Details, Details |
| reception bill, and you may be surprised to find out | | | | If you are getting married in another state or |
| that destination weddings are often less expensive | | | | country, you will need a local marriage license, and |
| than traditional weddings. This is because they may | | | | possibly a passport. The passport is simple; just be |
| involve many fewer guests, and resorts and hotels | | | | sure to apply well in advance of your wedding date. |
| offer all-inclusive deals. For couples looking to create a | | | | When getting the marriage license, especially in a |
| really memorable occasion without breaking the bank, | | | | foreign country, contact the local city hall (if you |
| destination weddings may be the perfect way to go. | | | | don't speak their language, get an interpreter!) and |
| Don't Forget the Budget | | | | get permission to be married in the location. Some |
| When you're watching your dollars, you can opt for | | | | places require blood tests, immunization certificates, |
| less expensive destinations or destinations that offer | | | | or doctor's certificates in order for you to legally |
| a wide range of dining and lodging options. For | | | | marry. For more information about the specifics of |
| example, if you wed in at a top travel spot, you | | | | getting married in different countries, visit the U.S. |
| might want to consider choosing an off-season date, | | | | State Department web site. |
| and explore local neighborhoods with less touristy | | | | |