Apr 1

When it comes to destination weddings, it seems that Las Vegas destination weddings have gotten a head start on all the up and coming wedding destinations.

Perhaps no city in America is better known for its weddings, from the most glamorous to the tackiest. The fact is that Las Vegas has long been known as a wedding town, so it should come as no surprise that Las Vegas destination weddings have been on the rise.

Las Vegas Wedding Options

Of course the type of wedding can make all the difference in the world. Those brides and grooms who take the time to plan a destination wedding in Las Vegas are not those who are likely to get married by an Elvis impersonator at four in the morning.

Rather, those couples are more informed about their options.

For those unfamiliar with Las Vegas destination weddings it is important to know that the casino chapel has come a long way, and many of the wedding chapels in Las Vegas rival the best found anywhere in the world.

While it is still possible to get married at one of those, drive through wedding chapels, today’s brides and grooms have far more choices when it comes to planning the perfect wedding.

Planning Your Wedding In Las Vegas

If you are interested in planning a destination wedding in Las Vegas, a good place to start is contacting the hotel where you plan to stay.

Many of the better hotels on the strip have excellent wedding planning facilities, and they have become quite adept at planning Las Vegas destination weddings, whether you plan to marry in the hotel’s chapel or the finest church in town.

In addition, the employees of those fine hotels are likely to have the best information on where to get the best flowers, the best food and the best drinks for the wedding. This type of local connection can be a big plus when it comes to planning a successful destination wedding.

So if you thought Las Vegas destination weddings were all about Elvis and quickie weddings think again, and consider all the great things a wedding and a honeymoon in the city of Las Vegas has to offer.

Shaunta Pleasant is a professional writer and editor on wedding topics. Visit my site to learn more about planning the perfect wedding at http://www.best-wedding-plan.com/las_vegas_destination_weddings.html

Author: Shaunta Pleasant
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Mar 26

Destination weddings have become a staple over the last decade or so. As popular as they are, they do have some special unique considerations that all couples should keep in mind. This is the newest etiquette for destination weddings.

When you imagine your destination wedding, the first thing that likely springs to mind is the romance of walking down a sandy aisle, all decked out in a tropical style bridal gown and beach wedding jewelry. You and your beloved will exchange your vows while the surf gently crashes in the background, and dance the night away to the sound of steel drums as the sun sets over the ocean. Then you will get to cap off your beach wedding by having a romantic honeymoon, sipping drinks from coconuts each evening, wearing a sundress and pretty jewelry, as you and your new husband linger over long dinners while the sun sets over the ocean.

That is a beautiful vision, isn’t it? It is one shared by most couples who opt for a destination wedding, which certainly helps to explain their popularity. Okay, now let me share with you what most guests think when they are invited to a destination wedding: “Oh my gosh, this is going to cost me a bloody fortune!”. Followed by, “I am going to have to use up most of my vacation time on this wedding!”. If you are lucky, the third thought will be “That sounds very romantic, how nice for Bob and Sally”. This is why one must tread very carefully in the etiquette department when planning a destination wedding. What is the wedding of your dreams is also likely a major hassle for many of your guests.

The main thing to keep in mind when planning a destination wedding is how what you do and say will affect others. For instance, how many times have you heard a bride delightedly remark upon how much money she is saving by having a small destination wedding rather than a big blow-out at home? That is all well and good, except that while she may be saving money, her guests are likely to spend thousands of their own dollars flying to a remote destination and staying at a resort. You would do well to tell your guests that you chose a far-flung location for your wedding because it is so meaningful to you, not because it is cheaper, because it isn’t for them.

A very sticky subject with destination weddings is the guest list. Couples frequently decide to have a tropical wedding because they see it as a way to keep the guest list small. That can be great, but be sure not to mention that in front of anyone who might have expected to be invited if you had a hometown wedding. It can come across as very insulting. There is also the question of inviting family or friends whom you would love to have at your wedding but that you know cannot afford the trip. On the one hand, you may hurt their feelings if you do not invite them, but on the other hand, many people feel that a wedding invitation is an important social obligation, and they will move Heaven and Earth to attend, even if they truly cannot afford the trip.

One possible solution is to invite a very small core of family to join you for the destination wedding and then follow it with a larger reception at home. That way, no one feels left out, nor will they feel obligated to spend more than they can afford on your wedding. This can be a great solution: you get the small romantic beach wedding of your dreams, and those that care about you will still feel like they are a part of the celebration.

Guy writes on many subjects including travel,customs and society. SilverlandJewelry.com. Beach wedding jewelry is perfect for a destination wedding.

Author: Guy Antonelli
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Mar 16

Good creative destination wedding planning can make the difference between an ordinary wedding and one that will remain in the memory of you and your new husband for ever.

If you have decided on a destination wedding, rather than being conventional and getting married in your home town or city, there is a lot that can go wrong and spoil the day. Not only that, but unless you are blessed with unlimited funds, it will be a wedding that is attended by relatively few guests and so a little creativity can go a long way towards making it a memorable occasion for them also.

Not everybody you would like to be there will be there, and creative planning is also necessary to handle that situation. Who do you invite, and not invite. If you invite everybody to that Paris wedding you have always promised yourself, you could be thought of as making invitations in order to receive gifts from as many as possible. If you fail to do so, then those not invited might feel slighted. This situation can be overcome diplomatically, but it takes creativity and good planning.

There are several steps involved in planning a destination wedding starting with that invitation list that is your first hurdle. You should inform everybody that you are planning a wedding outside your home town, whether it is in another county or state, depending on where you live, or even in another country. Popular destinations are the Paris previously mentioned, the Caribbean, several destinations in the USA, UK and Europe and cruise liners are becoming increasingly popular.

Some couples take the approach of asking friends and relatives if they would be able to attend such a wedding were it to be held, as a preliminary to drawing up a guest list. Others simply ask their parents, plus best friends as matron of honor or chief bridesmaid, and best man, and offer to pay their expenses if they are able to. You should never invite your friends to your wedding in an official capacity unless you know that money is not a problem to them, or you are able to offer to pay their costs. Many couples can pick up part of the tab, and provide their guests with a great few days, but for many more that is not possible.

Many couples have their dream wedding in the exotic location of their choice by themselves, and then have a blessing in their home church or chapel, followed by a full reception for their family and friends. That is creative destination wedding planning at its best for the ordinary couple that can afford their dream wedding and honeymoon, but are unable to pay the traveling and accommodation expenses of their guests. You should not deny yourself your dream just to keep others happy. A little imagination can formulate a way for you to have what you want and also provide your family and friends with what they want.

That is how your creativity can resolve one of the most difficult aspects of any destination wedding: how to keep everybody happy, including yourselves. The next planning stage is to get the actual venues booked. It is one thing deciding that you want married in a specific location, but another in organizing that. Creative planning will likely conclude that you need to hire somebody in the actual destination to handle the organizing at that end, although it is possible for you to handle it yourself.

For that you will need good communication with the local authorities of the town or city in which you intend to be married, so that you are aware of any legal restrictions such as whether or not you need a local marriage license, any local readings of Marriage Banns that vary throughout the Western world, any residential qualifications, blood tests and doctor’s certificates that might be required.

You will also need effective communication with the venues of your ceremony and reception, and also the accommodation of any guests. If you are planning to me married by yourselves, without guests until your reception back home, you will have to arrange a minister or judge for the ceremony, and probably the requisite number of witnesses. Many resorts or other destinations offer a complete package, including witnesses, a cake, photographer and champagne for the couple, including accommodation and even honeymoon facilities if needed.

That is why many opt to hire a wedding planner to look after all of this for them, so that you need only tend to your end of things. After all, there is little to plan once the invitations or home reception, destination venues and ceremony legalities, travel details and the honeymoon have been looked after.

Creative destination wedding planning can be used to give you the fabulous unforgettable wedding that you want, and also to keep all of your family and friends happy whether they can be with you or not. Forward planning is the crux, and whether or not you use the services of professionals to help with it is immaterial. It is the end result of your planning that counts. It is your wedding, and if you and your new husband are happy with your planning, then that is all that matters.

If you want to learn more about Destination Weddings, check out Dola’s website here: destination wedding planning where he offers a free special Report on Unplanned Wedding Expenses that could lead to debt, and also offers advice on how to plan an unforgettable romantic wedding abroad. http://www.romanticweddingtips.com/2007/10/creative-destination-wedding-planning.html

Author: Dola Raheem
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Bumper guardian

Mar 15

I am planning a destination wedding in July and am trying to figure out what time is best to photograph in if I want my ceremony at sunset? The ceremony shouldn’t take longer than 20 minutes so if the ceremony is at 7 will I still have good light or should I push the ceremony to 6-6:30? Help!

Mar 10

More and more couples are saying “I Do” in exotic and unusual places. This trend is called Destination Weddings. Definitely not your traditional wedding, but many couples are opting for jetting off to an overseas dream wedding and honeymoon combination at a much cheaper price. Is it for you?

Let’s objectively look at the pros and cons of having a Destination Wedding. But of course, if you’re both set on flying to Bora Bora and getting hitched on the glistening, white pearl sand in front of a crystal blue lagoon, then hey, don’t let me stop you! But I’m still going to share with you the cons of making that decision.

The Cons

1. Destination weddings may be less expensive for the betrothed couple, but very costly for everyone else. Paying for airline tickets, accommodations, food and then a wedding gift to boot, will prohibit many people from attending the wedding. Therefore, probably most of your close friends and family are not going to come.

2. Planning a wedding long distance can end up being a nightmare. Weddings in themselves wreak havoc with the couple as well as their families and their friends. Organizing a wedding over the phone and via emails can prove to be more than anyone bargained for. Unless you have someone that you know who lives nearby your destination that can check things for you, you may be biting off more than you can chew.

3. Many countries perform marriage ceremonies that are not recognized as being legal and binding in the United States or in other countries. This is a very important consideration when planning a Destination Wedding.

Okay, now that I’ve probably annihilated the thought of you having a Destination Wedding, let me share the other side of this coin. And there really is another side.

The Pros

1. A Destination Wedding combination honeymoon will save you money. Many exotic beach destinations are downright cheap with a good amount of European countries a close second. Then there are the multi-cultural countries of Asia. Two of the more popular destinations there are Thailand and Bali.

2. Your honeymoon is at your back door! Perhaps the most amazing positive about Destination Weddings is that fact that you are tying the knot at your honeymoon location. And many hotels and resorts around the world offer wedding/honeymoon packages which can save you thousands of dollars compared to a wedding in the states.

3. Want to spare yourself the agony of seeing people that you never wanted to invite to the wedding in the first place? If that sounds about right, then this is the perfect wedding for you.

4. A Destination Wedding has a unique, magical quality to it.

Hopefully this will help you decide if a Destination Wedding is the right one for you. If you are non-traditionalists, you probably will find great joy and satisfaction in finding that one, unique destination that is perfect for the two of you. If you have always dreamed of the fairytale wedding in your home town surrounded by close friends and family, then it doesn’t matter how much you save, it just isn’t right for you. Either way, memories are being made.

Delora O’Brien is an expert in the area of wedding designs and products. She is the resident consultant at Designs to Remember. Designs to Remember is a unique online store that carries designer wedding favors, bridal gifts and accessories. Delora also oversees the extensive line of unique wedding favors, bridesmaid gifts, groomsmen gifts and wedding invitations. Many of the wedding gifts she has purchased for Designs to Remember, have been featured in well known bridal magazines.

Author: Delora O’Brien
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Feb 24

Whether you are Italian or not, it is hard to beat the appeal of Italy destination weddings. Italy has many charms for both natives and visitors alike, and a wedding in Italy is like no other.

Whether you get married on a gondola while lazily floating down a canal in Venice, or choose the grandeur and history of the Roman Coliseum as your backdrop, it is certainly easy to see why Italy has become such a popular destination for weddings of all sizes.

Reasons To Choose Italy For Your Wedding

There are many reasons why couples choose Italy destination weddings, but one of the most common is family history.

Those whose families immigrated to the United States a few short generations ago often still have family members in the old country, and a destination wedding in that beautiful country is a great way to reconnect with long lost family members while allowing them to share in a great celebration.

Using Italy As A Honeymoon And A wedding Location

Even for those without family ties to the area, Italy is simply a gorgeous and wonderful place to hold a wedding. Italy is a land full of beauty, from the stunning artworks of Florence to the stunning natural beauty of Venice.

From the wine country of Tuscany to the hustle and bustle of Rome, there are many reasons to consider Italy as both a vacation destination and a great place for a wedding.

Planning Your Italy Wedding With Success

Of course planning one of these exotic Italy destination weddings can be quite a bit more complicated than planning a wedding in your home town.

All the normal wedding planning things must be taken care of, of course, including finding the perfect dress and landing the best deal on the wedding bands. You still have to send out the wedding invitations as well, although when planning a destination wedding you will of course need to get them out early.

In addition, however, there are many other things needed to make Italy destination weddings a success. Some of these items include reserving a block of hotel rooms for the wedding party and the guests, providing information on how to get from the airport to the hotel, and the like.

Using A Wedding Planner

The complexity that Italy destination weddings can bring is one reason that many people who would not otherwise consider a wedding planner decide to hire such a professional to pull off a destination wedding.

In fact there are now wedding planners who specialize only in planning destination weddings, and they can provide invaluable services to those planning Italy destination weddings.

Shaunta Pleasant is a professional writer and editor on wedding topics. Visit my site to learn more about planning the perfect wedding at http://www.best-wedding-plan.com/italy_destination_weddings.html

Author: Shaunta Pleasant
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Feb 21

Getting married in on the beach in a lush tropical resort is a dream come true for many brides, and one reason why tropical destination weddings are enjoying such a surge of popularity.

From the beaches of Florida and California to exotic locales like Belize and Costa Rica, it seems that destination weddings to tropical resort locations have never been more popular than they are today.

Coming Up With Great Destination Ideas

In fact, interest in all sorts of tropical destination weddings, from the most everyday type to the most exotic, has been on the rise for quite some time.

Even a quick perusal of the bridal magazines and wedding planning guides at the local newsstand is likely to reveal many articles detailing the virtues of these great destination weddings, and explaining how to make your own special tropical wedding come off without a hitch.

Planning Early To Ensure Everything Is Taken Care Of

It is always important to plan early when it comes to planning the perfect wedding, but if you plan to have a destination wedding it is even more essential.

If you plan to hold a destination wedding in your own country, you will need to allow at least a couple of extra months of planning time in order to make sure all the hotel arrangements, flight arrangements and other details are taken care of.

If the tropical destination location will take place outside the country, you may have to add as much as six months to your normal wedding planning timeline, so it pays to start planning early.

Using A Wedding Planner Or Not

Exactly how much time you will need to plan tropical destination weddings will of course vary depending on whether you are making all the arrangements yourself or using the services of a qualified wedding planner.

When it comes to planning a destination wedding, no matter what the location, a wedding planner can provide a great deal of expertise and peace of mind, and many couples who would not ordinarily use such a planner find that the expertise they bring to tropical destination weddings more than justifies the cost.

No matter which approach you choose, however, it is important to plan ahead and to make sure all those little details are taken care of. Proper planning will help those tropical destination weddings come off without a hitch.

Shaunta Pleasant is a professional writer and editor on wedding topics. Visit my site to learn more about planning the perfect wedding at http://www.best-wedding-plan.com/tropical_destination_weddings.html

Author: Shaunta Pleasant
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Pressure cooker

Feb 20

Although you may have heard of a save the date card, or even received one, you may not know exactly know what they are or when to use them. Save the date cards are a new idea within the world of wedding planning, so there are few set rules regarding the practice. In recent years, save the date cards have become increasingly popular and helpful in the wedding planning process.

Busy Lives

Today, people’s lives are getting busier and busier. It is likely that every time you speak to your friends and family they are telling you just how busy they are with work, school, the kids, and life in general. This is exactly why save the date cards should be sent to your wedding guests. The purpose of sending such cards is to make sure that the people you want at your wedding know the date and location of the event. Save the date cards can help them clear their busy schedule and attend your wedding.

Types of Weddings Requiring Save the Dates

Save the date cards are not a required part of the wedding process, but they are very popular. Save the date cards are ideal for any wedding in which guests are invited. However, there are some types of weddings where save the date cards are especially useful. If the wedding is scheduled to take place on or around a holiday, you should consider sending save the date cards. Other times that save the date cards are greatly appreciated are when the wedding takes place at a faraway location or when most of the guests must travel to attend.

When to Send Save the Date Cards

It is a good idea to send save the date cards about four to six months before the wedding. This provides most guests with ample time to request time off from work, get a babysitter, and make any other arrangements needed to attend the wedding. If you are planning a destination wedding, be sure to send the save the date cards out as early as possible. In fact, a year or more is ideal especially when your friends and family may need to schedule vacation time or pay for expensive travel arrangements.

Types of Save the Date Cards

There are so many options when it comes to save the date card styles and designs. Couples can take the reigns and have a lot of fun with them. Some popular styles of save the date cards include magnets, calendars, and simple announcement cards. Some creative couples are moving into more memorable and fun styles and designs such as scratch-off cards (yes, just like those lottery tickets you can pick up at your local convenience store) and posters. Your save the date cards can be as simple, fun, or elaborate as you would like. This variety of save the date cards provides you with the freedom to be as creative as you would like or you can choose a style that is already designed and ready to send. One thing to keep in mind when choosing these cards is to find something that matches the theme and design of your wedding invitations.

What to Say

The basic idea of the save the date card is very simple – it is intended to inform your guests when and where the wedding is taking place. Therefore, there is very little information to include, especially since you know that invitations are being sent out shortly thereafter. Just be sure to include your names, the date of the wedding, and the city and state in which it is going to take place. Be sure to include the text “Invitation to follow” at the very bottom, so that guests know that this is not the invitation itself.

One major rule of etiquette when dealing with save the date cards is to only send these announcements to those people who are going to be invited to the wedding. You do not want to send a save the date card to somebody that is not going to be invited only to have them show up thinking that the save the date was actually the invitation.

Save the date cards, though unheard of only a few decades ago, are fast becoming an essential part of the wedding planning process. Because we are all so busy these days and so much goes into making a wedding happen, save the date cards can relieve some of that pressure. Guests know when to expect the wedding and that allows them to plan for travel, gift buying, and any other important events. The save the date cards also help the bride and groom relax a little knowing that they have informed everyone of the main details of the wedding.

Lisa Parker is a freelance writer who writes about family, correspondence and family events such as weddings, often focusing on one specific aspect of a wedding, such as save the date cards.

Author: Lisa Parke
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger

Feb 17

With all of the wedding planning you have to do before the big day, knowing when to send out save the date cards, wedding invitations, thank you cards, etc can be a huge hassle. Here’s a handy guide to fill you in on when, what and how to handle all of your stationery needs.

Save the date
Sent up to six months in advance of the wedding, these cards can be a fun way to kick off your engagement and wedding plans. If you’re planning a destination wedding, these cards are essential heads-up notices to guests who’ll need some lead time for making travel plans. The look of these cards can hint about the style and formality of the coming wedding or not-it’s up to you.

Wedding invitation
A wedding invitation is often not just a card in an envelope but a small suite of cards, enclosures and envelopes. The idea behind this more-is-more strategy is two-fold. First, the more information your guests receive to help make their wedding day experience wonderful, the better their chance of having a great time. Second, those little extras (the inner envelope, the matching enclosures) help create that this-is-something-very-special feeling.

A classic wedding invitation includes

  • The invitation
  • A lined inner envelope for the invitation
  • Enclosure cards – These might include the invitation to your wedding reception, a valet parking notice, a pew card (for certain guests for whom you’ve reserved special seating), etc. If you’re having a destination wedding, use these cards to invite guests to other pre-and-post-wedding get-togethers, too.
  • The response card – This is the ‘RSVP’ for your guests to fill out and return to you. This card should be enclosed along with an envelope pre-printed with your address and stamped. Note: don’t stamp those response card envelopes going to guests living outside the US.
  • Map card – These helpful cards can be printed on the same paper as your invitation with the same ink to match the invitation.
  • The outer envelope – This should be printed with your return address. Then you write out, by hand, the addresses of your guests or hire a calligrapher to do it for you.

Informal notes
Many stationers offer informal notes-essentially extra cards the same style and size as your wedding invitation’s response card with matching envelopes. These handy blank cards can be used for thank you notes, gift enclosures, and, importantly, for special hand-written personal notes for special guests. You may want to enclose one of these cards in the invitations you send to your parents, your future in-laws and everyone in the wedding party, for instance.

At home cards
These cards bear the address of your new home and when you’ll be moving in. They can be enclosed with your wedding invitations.

Wedding programs for the ceremony
Shaped like a large card, a brochure or a booklet, these programs are given out to guests at the wedding ceremony. A wedding program usually contains a schedule of the ceremony but can also include special notes about the members of the wedding party and other information that might help make your guests’ ceremony experience all the better. If your ceremony will be conducted in a language not all your guests are familiar with, consider adding a translation of the important parts. The wedding program doesn’t have to match the look of your wedding invitation but it should reflect the same formality and theme.

Place cards and menu cards for the reception
These cards give you the opportunity to add a stylish flourish to every place setting at the reception. Again, these cards don’t have to match your wedding invitations but they should reflect the tone of your overall wedding theme.

Thank you notes
You’ll be using these practically from the moment you announce your engagement. Consider getting two styles of notes. Order a set that matches your wedding invitations for sending thanks for wedding gifts from guests. Order a second, uniquely designed set for shower gifts and sending to all those wonderful people who made a special effort to make your day unforgettable.

Author: Christopher Horton
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable pressure cooker

Jan 19

Over the past several years, destination weddings have become increasingly popular for various reasons. Not only can you celebrate your wedding with family and close friends, but you can party for a few days with them, and spend your honeymoon in the same romantic place. Destination weddings also cut down on the traditional wedding costs in some instances, because you will still be able to invite those 250+ guests, but only a small percentage of those invited will actually be able to attend. Destination weddings also allow the bride and groom to choose the perfect setting for their event, whether it be a romantic seaside getaway, a cruise destination, or a fun filled Las Vegas trip, destination weddings are exciting for all who attend!

I have some personal experience in planning a destination wedding, as my wedding day was celebrated on a cruise ship headed for Mexico in 2003. We invited quite a large number of guests, more than we would have been able to if we had a traditional wedding, but only 40 guests were able to attend – which allowed us for a more intimate gathering. Having a destination wedding also allowed us to spend more time with each guest – something we could not have done if we had a wedding close to home. Everyone left with a long lasting memory of our event, and to this day our guests still talk about our wedding cruise!

When I was planning our wedding cruise in 2003, the wedding favor market had much to be desired. There was nothing that fit our day! Although this made it a bit difficult to plan, with a little imagination, I put together a wedding favor bag of goodies for our guests to take home. Thankfully, because of such an increase in destination weddings, wedding favor specialists have increased their lines of wedding favors, and there is now a large selection of destination themed favors available to suit every bride’s taste and theme.

When planning a destination wedding, here are some”don’ts” when selecting your destination wedding favors:

  • Candles, chocolates, and candy can melt. It does not matter if you are not traveling to a warm climate, if you plan on taking your favors on a plane, the cargo holding areas can be quite hot. You should eliminate these favor ideas from your list.
  • Glass can break and anything you feel has the potential to be break – cross that off your list as well.
  • Item weight. Let’s face it – you will be traveling not only with all your normal vacation items, but also with all your bridal items as well. Carrying another 30 plus pounds is not something you, your groom, or your attendants want to do.
  • Don’t plan on having your favors shipped internationally. Not only is international shipping expensive, your favors could potentially get lost in customs, broken during handling, or heavily taxed by the government.

Here are some “do’s” to think about when planning your destination wedding favors:

  • Think lightweight. If you plan on traveling with your favors, try to select something lightweight and small. Remember your guests have to pack these to take home too!
  • If you can’t think of anything that will go with your destination theme, select something useful or practical – which has a special meaning to both of you.
  • If you rather not take favors with you, you can send your favors direct to your guests homes with their thank you notes. A bit more expensive, but your guests will be quite surprised when they find a little thank you token with your note.

Now for some wonderful destination wedding favor ideas!

  • Luggage tags: They’re perfect for destination weddings, as most destination weddings require the guests to travel to a certain location. They more than likely will be used again – as many people simply use disposable tags or the tags that come pre-attached to luggage. With heart shape designs, to planes and cruise ships, luggage tags are perfect!
  • Bookmarks: one of the most popular pastimes for vacationers is reading a good book. Give them something they can use both home and away – a bookmark! With numerous shapes on the market you’re sure to find a bookmark that will match your event. Bookmarks are also lightweight, and travel well.
  • For a more formal destination reception, place card holders also make a good choice. Usually lightweight and small, place card holders can double to hold seating assignments and then later on to hold photos, notes and recipe cards. Stay away from place card frames though, unless the front is made of pvc plastic. You do not want glass frames to break in transit.
  • Wine charms or bottle stoppers. With an average weight of 1/4 pound or less and available in many styles – these make a lightweight, good choice if your having a small affair.
  • Cocktail Mix Favors: when you think of laying on a warm sandy beach, many people also think of a nice tropical drink in hand. Give your guests a taste of the tropics with a cocktail mix favor in which they can relax and enjoy at home. Totally customizable these are lightweight, unbreakable and inexpensive!
  • Travel related items: such as mini alarm clocks, manicure kits, mini travel soaps, or sewing kits.
  • Think outside the box: shop party stores as well, for unique party favor items. For a beach theme wedding you can give a tropical luau bag filled with leis, sunglasses,beach hats, inflatable beach balls, etc… Think back to when you were a child and received goodie bags at birthday parties. Perhaps a bit silly, but I guarantee everyone will be sporting those beach hats and carrying those bags around your destination resort.
  • Wedding Tees: A screen-printing shop can create a custom tee shirt design just for you! Reasonably priced when you are having a smaller affair, everyone will use your tee shirts, time and time again, even if it is “just around the house”. People love shirts!
  • Gift bags / Gift Baskets: when your guests arrive to their destination, a lovely (but sometimes expensive) option is having a small gift basket in their hotel room. Soaps, sewing kit, manicure kit, mini clock, bookmarks, a small bottle of champagne or wine, non-perishable food items (cookies, crackers, snacks, mints), etc…will be a generous gesture.

For our own wedding, we used a combination of the ideas above. I purchased from a discount party company tropical beach theme bags and stuffed them with a personalized tee shirt, cocktail mixes, wine stoppers, candy, a personalized cd I made with all the wedding songs we had at our reception, and some fun goodies such as leis, glow sticks, Hawaiian shirt key chains. Everyone carried around the tote bags with them during our cruise when they walked to the beach or pool, and everyone loved their little goodie bags! With so many options out there, there is something to please everyone and fit every budget. Keep our handy tips in mind when you are browsing for your destination wedding favors.

Author: Erica Tevis
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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