Mar 6

One of the biggest trends in weddings today is the destination wedding. This means the bride and groom travel to some romantic getaway where vows are exchanged. Depending on the couple, and their wedding budget, a destination wedding may also include flying in close family members and friends, or keeping the wedding open if people want to pay their own way. As you will discover, destination weddings have a number of advantages.

For starters, combining the wedding and honeymoon into one location is a great way of saving money. In addition to the happy couple flying off to their desired destination, family and friends have the chance to enjoy a mini, or extended vacation. Keep in mind, the majority of destination weddings are intimate, including just a few people. In fact, some couples enjoying a destination wedding held on the beach may discover that a number of the guests are unknown, making the event even more memorable.

If you believe a destination wedding sounds like something of interest, the first decision would be whether becoming married in an warm climate or somewhere picturesque, like on a snow-covered mountain. One of the favorite destinations is the beautiful and exotic Caribbean Islands. There, a bride and groom could choose a quaint church wedding or don bathing suits to exchange the “I Do’s” underneath a palm tree swaying gently in the breeze.

For a colder climate, couples could still go with a small, traditional church wedding or dress in skiwear, hit the slopes, and exchange vows at the top of a run. Obviously, your choice of wedding destination depends largely on the time of year you plan to wed, as well as the type of honeymoon you want to experience. However, because you have literally thousands of destinations from which to choose, you could become husband and wife anytime of the year, and on any continent of choice.

Once you have settled on a general area, the fun part of planning begins. Now, since travel would be involved, we recommend you begin planning a minimum of six months in advance. This way, you would have the opportunity to book great flight, hotel, and car deals. One of the best ways to enjoy a destination wedding is by going somewhere off-season. For instance, if you wanted to head to the Ozarks of Missouri, a place that is typically enjoyed during the summer due to the vast lake, this part of the country is also gorgeous in the fall when the leaves are changing. Since the fall is considered off-peak, prices go down!

If you have decided to plan a Caribbean wedding, be sure you factor in travel costs, as well as exchange rates. In addition, trying to plan a wedding in another country could be challenging. Therefore, instead of trying to locate a minister, church, cake maker, photographer, musician, and so on, check the local resorts, which often provide great wedding packages. Typically, a local wedding planner works for the resort, doing the majority, if not all of the legwork for you. With this, you set the date, show up, and simply enjoy the festivities. Another huge advantage of using a wedding planner through a resort is that any language barrier is eliminated.

In summary, destination weddings can be a beautiful start to a lifetime of joy with your future spouse. If planned properly, they can even be stress-free, or close to it! With the many advantages that destination weddings offer, it’s little wonder they have become such a hot trend in weddings today!

L Hayes is a wedding professional and owner of Wedding Favors Emporium. They carry an extensive line of unique wedding favors as well as bridesmaids, groomsmen, and bridal shower gifts. For more information about wedding planning and wedding reception ideas, visit their website at: Wedding Favors Emporium.com

Author: L Hayes
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty

Feb 19

A bride who dreams of a romantic beach wedding has many decisions to make. But for a beach wedding, the right location is one of the most important decisions that will determine whether your beach wedding carries a lifetime of great memories.

There are hundreds of beaches to choose from. From Maine to Florida, around the Gulf to Texas and Mexico and all the way back up the west coast, beaches abound. And that’s not even considering the hundreds of beaches available in the Caribbean islands.

But when you select the beach wedding you almost always chose the location first. There is nothing wrong with that but this could leave you disappointed and set you up for more stress than you can handle, especially in planning your beach wedding.

So why set yourself for failure. There are two considerations you should take into account before you pick that picture perfect location. I call this my beach location budgeting technique.

One of the first considerations when you are choosing a destination for your beach wedding is your budget. None of us like to place limits on our wedding. This is the most important and special day of our lives.

But when i planned my beach wedding, before i selected my location i prepared a budget. This allowed me to find the right location. And when i chose a location beyond what i initially thought i could afford, i cut down in other areas to make up for it.

And in this financial environment, just by know your budget you can not negotiate a deal for your ideal beach location. With some strong negotiations, you can get almost any location you want for the price you want.

Here is what to consider when creating a location budget:
How much travel is involved? If you do not have a beach in your area, you will need to drive or fly to get there.

You will need at least two nights at a hotel, perhaps more. Also, will your attendants, friends, parents and other family be able to afford to join you? It’s very disappointing to have a small group able to attend when you’ve invited two hundred.

Now lets consider some great location spots for that special day. Before you do the weather factor plays a critical part in getting the timing right for that special location.

The Outer Banks of North Carolina is a lovely and romantic place for a wedding, but it would not be a good choice at the height of the hurricane season. Check with a local news service or library for average temperatures and rainfall during the week you choose for your beach wedding.

Summer in Florida, the Gulf Coast states, or the islands is extremely hot. Sweat is not romantic. If you are thinking summer, look into a beach in a more northern area, such as Cape May, New Jersey. The weather is still summery, but not as hot as southern locales.

Another thing to check into is how wide the beach is. Will there be enough room for your guests to be seated comfortably? Or will elderly relatives have to walk a long way in shifting sand to get to the beach wedding site at the edge of the water?

What about the those tide tables? You wouldn’t want to arrive and find your chosen site under water if it happens to be high tide. If you desire a beach wedding with the sun setting over the water, the smart thing to do is chose a beach on the western shore of whichever island or state you choose.

Picking the right location will help you make that special day that is relished and talked forever. Your friends may even envy you for that.

Author: Betsy Brown
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital Camera Times