Planning a Destination Wedding

A destination wedding is one where you get marriednotice you can give people, the more likely it is they
at a location different than where you or yourwill be able to come.3. Have an itinerary or suggested
families live. They are particularly popular for secondlist of activities for the days before and after your
marriages or with those couples that are a little olderwedding. At a traditional local ceremony, the bridal
and don't want a lavish affair. The most commonparty expects a rehearsal dinner the night before,
destinations are beach locations, like Cancun, Hawaii,and the wedding ceremony and reception, and that's
or the Caribbean. If you are considering gettingit. For a destination wedding, your guests will likely be
married at an exotic location, here are some things tothere for several days, and you will want them to
contemplate.1. Consider what time of year to haveenjoy themselves while you attend to any last
your wedding. Hurricane season lasts from Juneminute wedding details. Although they are there
through November, with the most active period fromprimarily to support you and witness your marriage,
mid-August through October. The chances of amost will also want to squeeze in some vacation time
hurricane actually hitting during wedding aren't thatafter traveling a long distance. Coordinate with the
great, but if a major hurricane hits the location withinlocal wedding planner for golf outings, snorkeling, trips
a few months of your wedding, there could beto local sites, etc. Your guests will appreciate your
significant damage, which could affect your ability toefforts to make their time enjoyable.4. Carefully
have your ceremony (not to mention the hardshipcheck the legal rules. If you are getting married in
for the people that actually live there). If theanother country, or even another state, make sure
possibility that your wedding could be disruptedyou double-check the laws regarding making your
makes you nervous, consider an area less prone tomarriage legal. Most wedding planners or event
hurricanes, like the Pacific side of Mexico or Hawaii.locations will be familiar with the laws in their area,
You should also carefully check the typical weatherbut it pays to double-check, just to make sure. You
conditions (including the temperature and averagedon't want to return from your honeymoon, only to
rainfall) at the locations you are evaluating. In general,find out you aren't legally married.5. If you decide
the northern Caribbean (e.g., Bahamas) can be a littleyou'd rather have your ceremony locally after all, you
cool in the winter, while other areas such as Cancuncan still have a "beach" themed wedding any time of
might be too hot in the middle of summer.2. Evaluatethe year. Incorporate the theme into your reception
your guest list. If you want to make sure some ofhall decorations by using sand, sea shells, island-style
your older relatives (grandparents, great Aunt, etc.)decor and bright colors like blue and green. Dress up
can be there, make sure they are able to travelthe reception tables with some beach themed
conveniently to the location where you wish to havewedding favors such as floating flip flop candles or
your wedding. If you live on the East Coast, you cansea shell bottle openers and your guests will be
get to the Caribbean fairly easily, but Cabo San Lucastransported directly to the sun and sand. Use exotic
or Maui would encompass a whole day's travel. Keepflowers like Birds of Paradise, and give your reception
in mind that many of your friends and quite a fewmenu a tropical flair by offering selections like grilled
relatives will not be able to make it, even thoughchicken with pineapple salsa. You can always jet
they would no doubt love to go. Finding the time toaway to the warm sun and blue ocean on your
get off of work and paying for the trip will be ahoneymoon!
major expense for your guests. The more advanced