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Congratulations! You have
decided to get married! Over the next year or so, you will
be making what seems like a million decisions about your wedding
and even your honeymoon. Hopefully this will be a process
you will enjoy. If the thought of all the planning,
arguments with family and friends over all the little details,
etc has you stressed out before you even begin the planning, you
may want to consider a destination wedding.
A destination wedding, or
"weddingmoon" combines your wedding, honeymoon, and even your
reception together in one location. Couples often invite
only their nearest and dearest friends and family members to
celebrate their union. The destination wedding is held at a
desirable site, sometimes tropical, other times exotic, allowing
the guests to enjoy a relaxing, activity-filled vacation while
spending quality time with the wedding couple.
If you can't imagine what a
destination wedding would be like, close your eyes and imagine
you and your fiancé are standing on a beach, sounds of music and
the ocean waves peacefully blending together in the background.
You are relaxed knowing every single detail from the setting of
the service, to the flowers has been effortlessly arranged to
suit your tastes.
A destination wedding has its
pros and cons. Here are few for you to consider:
Stress Free - Your travel
agent will help make your destination wedding stress-free. They
will talk with you and determine what your destination wedding
desire are, and what your budget is. They will alert you
of the special requirements that your destination has for
getting married there. Some destinations require
that you be in their country/island for a certain number of days
before you can get married, blood tests, and special
documentation. This is when it is essential to work with
your travel agent. You don't want to do this on your own,
and arrive at your destination only to find out you can't get
married because you didn't know what the pre-qualifications
were!
Awkward Invites - Because
destination weddings are generally intimate affairs, you can
avoid being forced into inviting the cousins you met once 10
years ago, or your fathers boss that you really don't like
anyway. You get to choose the level of intimacy you want
for your ceremony and invite accordingly, or you can invite no
one and just have an intimate ceremony for just the two of you.
I
Cost Saving - So you have
invited 250 people to your reception, including co-workers,
business acquaintances and all your long lost relatives and
friends, at a cost of $75 a head. You do the math!
For the average cost of a traditional wedding, you could have a
luxurious wedding weekend at a fabulous destination.
Proper etiquette of a destination wedding calls for invited
guests to pay their own airfare, while you pick up the tab for
the lodging, food and beverages (this is where an all-inclusive
resort is a great idea!). You can add a few perks for your
guests if you are feeling generous, as a spa treatment, or tour
for everyone to enjoy together.
No Extra Traveling -
Destination weddings are perfect for couples with families and
friends that are scattered across the country or even the world.
If a good majority of your guests have to travel to your
hometown anyway, then why not get married in a fabulous
destination that will make you, and your guests happy!
Wedding Planners - Most
resorts have a wedding planner that will assist you with your
destination wedding plans. If you marry off property you
will need to acquire a wedding coordinator that is familiar with
that destination. Your travel agent can normally recommend
someone that we have dealt with in the past, or that they know
comes highly recommended.
Granny Won't Travel -
While an exotic locations is a great way to keep undesirables
from attending your special event, it may also keep away some
your loved ones who may not be able to travel, or that are
unwilling to travel due to the expense, work issues, or physical
limitations. Think about all the guests who are truly
essential before deciding on the location. If many
of your family members or friends bulk at the idea of you having
a destination wedding because they can't be there, don't let
this stop you from having the dream wedding you have always
desired. You can have have your destination wedding
videotaped, and when you return home you can throw a small
reception and the can watch your video, and share with you the
joy that you felt that special day.
Act Quickly! - With a
destination wedding, advance warning and save-the-date cards are
crucial. Send them off as early as possible, preferably at
least eight months in advance, as your guests will need to
budget their money, and ask for time off from work.
Some of your guests may want to talk to your travel agent about
booking an extended family vacation.
Afraid of a crowded honeymoon?
- With your family and friends all around, you may be worried if
you will be able to enjoy a romantic honeymoon. Many
guests will often arrive several days before the wedding to
enjoy some quality time with you, and then discreetly depart the
day after the wedding. If you want to ensure some quality
alone time, you can easily get it! After the wedding, you
can take off for your honeymoon at another resort, perhaps one
that is more romantic and catering to romance, or you can even
hop over to another island.
Want to elope? - Have you
had it with everyone telling you what you should do, and what
they want? Stop the madness and elope! Our travel
agents will be glad to find you a destination where you can get
away from it all and have a quiet and romantic wedding for just
the two of you, or you and your best friends.
If you think a destination
wedding is right for you, then say "I do" to one of our travel
agents. Our agents excel at making plans for multiple
people from multiple locations, often times at special or
discounted rates. Planning for the most important day of
your life will be a wonderfully crazy time for you so finding
someone you trust to aid in the decision making process will be
a welcome relief to you!
Our travel agents can save you
money as well as time - two enormous factors for couples
planning a life together. Through our love of travel and
our reliable relationships with suppliers from around the globe,
we can provide personalized suggestions to suit both your dreams
and your budget.
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Wedding Window. All rights reserved. |
