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In
Cancun
and
US Virgin Islands, for instance, there is more sun year around than in
New
York, and in dry season chances are it is not going to rain. The problem is you do not live in Cancun. Well, you can still get married
there.
Destination weddings are a good alternative for many couples for various reasons. They are not for everybody, though, especially not for those who want to have all their friends and family present at the wedding. However, they are great for the following reasons:
You will not have to invite a lot of people only because you feel obligated to do it. Since it is a wedding far away only the people that really matter to you get invited and only those that really are
committed to your friendship and can attend will do so. So your wedding attendee list will be much smaller.
You can have a wedding in a special place for both of you. Perhaps in the land of your ancestors:
St. Barths,
Barbados,
Panama,
Central America, Ireland,
France, Spain,
Tuscany, and Mexico. Or a place you love, a
beach in the Caribbean or a historic city in Europe.
 Since it is a small
wedding and everything will be taken care of by the resort, you basically plan ahead and just show up on the wedding day. All the stress that a big party brings to you is not there; you can relax and plan for your life with your loved one instead.
Even though some people think it can be a very expensive wedding, because of the reduced list of attendees and the cheaper prices in some locations, destination weddings can turn out to be quite economical.
Tips on selecting a destination
-
Think what will be the perfect wedding for you
and always make a
budget for wedding and honeymoon. Make a list of all the aspects that make it the perfect place for you. Perhaps a beach, a boat, a castle, warm weather, sunny days, etc. You may not find a place exactly as you want it, but you can look for places that have some of the aspects that are more important to you. For example: If you live in Boston and always dream of a
New England style wedding you can look for alternatives in nearby states such as Vermont or New England style resorts in other places.
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Research for the perfect location. You can compare the services offered and look for independent reviews of this place. Usually it is better to select a place that has experience in weddings and has been in business for a while. The last thing you want is to be disappointed during your wedding.
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Make a short list of options. Once you select a few locations get all the information you can and compare them. Compare apples to apples, how much it will cost for the total package including accommodations and flights.
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Once you select your place, get more information, and talk to the person-in-charge of the weddings. If you have selected an overseas location and calls appear to be too expensive, buy
calling cards designed for the country selected to get the best calling rates (you can buy them directly on the Internet and the price is much lower). It is important to ask all the questions you may have. Get things in writing once you agree to something.
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Pay attention to detail. Most resorts will try to accommodate most couple’s desires, so ask for what you want and sometimes for a small price you can totally customize your wedding. You do not need to take a standard package if that is something that you don’t like.
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Allow enough time. There are many reasons for this: You have to
plan the trip and all your attendees will have to plan theirs as well. It is possible to get good ticket prices if you plan ahead. Some people might even be able to use their frequent flier miles if they know far ahead. So try to plan ahead and keep everybody in the loop once they have confirmed. Make a list of accommodation options and side trips that they may want to take. Remember it is your wedding but it is also their vacation.
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Make it legal. Destination wedding can be anywhere in the world but the validity in the USA is something you have to research. The resort will have all the information. Make sure you really get married. If in doubt, make sure that you have a civil wedding either before or after the actual wedding to complete the paperwork valid in the United States.
The most common destination weddings places are:
Hawaii, Cancun, the Caribbean, and Florida. Some very exotic countries such as Sri Lanka and
India also offer destination weddings. When choosing the location you want to make sure you are aware of the normal weather conditions at the time of year you will have your wedding. One of the most romantic places for a wedding is Venice, Italy, but of course if that is too far, there is always
Las Vegas.
If you are on a budget avoid high season in the selected place. Usually the Caribbean and Mexico are busier in the winter months when cold weather sets in the US. The same applies to Florida. Hawaii is busy almost year around, but summer tends to be busier. Europe is more expensive in summer as well. (Related:
Wedding planning)
At last pack everything you need including appropriate outfits for your resort and honeymoon.
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