Sydney's Simple Guide to
Destination Weddings
Planning a destination wedding? You've got plenty of
company!
One in every 10 weddings is now a destination wedding
where the bride and the groom travel to say "I
Do" making it one of the hottest trends since the
white wedding gown.
Topping the list of favorite destinations for weddings:
Las Vegas, Hawaii, U.S. Virgin Island, Jamaica and
the Bahamas.
Your destination wedding can take place across town
in a gazebo at a public park or a short drive to a heart
shaped hot tub in the Pocono Mountains. Feeling adventurous?
Tie the knot on a baseball diamond, roller coaster,
hot air balloon ride or set sail on cruise ship catering
to couples getting married or renewing vows.
Looking for exotic locations? Try a sandy beach in Hawaii,
a mountain top on a Caribbean island or a castle in
Europe.
A destination wedding is perfect if you want to escape
the expense and stress of planning a traditional wedding
with a long guest list for the ceremony and large reception.
Tying the knot for a second or third time or renewing
your vows? Destination weddings work wonders because
the attention stays more on the marriage and less
on the endless details of a traditional wedding.
Sydney
Says
Plan Ahead:
Popular places for destinations weddings
book a year or more - even ones the ones close to home!
Check with local authorities in the U.S. and the consulate
and embassies abroad to find out if you need a simple
reservation or a formal permit for the location where
you will hold
your destination wedding.
Verify the marriage requirements of your destination.
They vary from state to state and country to country.
Your checklist should include:
- birth certificate
- passport
- proof neither bride nor groom is married
- blood test
- residency requirement - can be days or weeks
- documents translated to native language
- fees for document needed to get married
Las Vegas, the wedding capital of the world with over
110,000 marriages every year, you're lucky. There are
no blood tests and no waiting period required. Best
yet, the Marriage License Bureau is open from 8 am to
midnight Sunday through Thursday and 24 hours a day
Friday and Saturday!
Location, location, location:
The location you
select will ultimately determine if you have an itsy
bitsy simple ceremony for two or an elaborate wedding
with a long guest list.
Select a destination wedding closer to where you live
and work
and more guests will find the time and money to come.
The further you travel, the shorter the wedding guest
list is likely to get.
A luxury tropical resort in the South Pacific is paradise
but you
must consider if everyone you love can afford to get
there? Even if they afford the travel, can they physically
make the trip and once there can your family
and friends walk on a sandy beach or climb a staircase.
So stop to consider what is more important to you:
where you tie the knot or who is there to witness your
ceremony.
Looking for privacy? You won't be happy at unrestricted
destinations like a public beach - no matter how beautiful
it is - if you can't control who gets to be there when
you say, "I Do".
Tying the knot outdoors? You never know whether or
not Mother Nature will
cooperate. Don't count on the weather being perfect
- anywhere in the world.
Wise brides and grooms have a backup plan to move indoors
or arrange for a tent
or other suitable shelter.
Your Destination Wedding Dress:
Allow plenty of time to select the right wedding gown
or wedding dress for your unique destination. To avoid
stress, you want to be sure to take it with you before
you leave home rather than try to find a wedding dress
once you arrive!
Destination wedding dresses tend to be less formal
than traditional wedding gowns. Many brides opt for
more informal
wedding dresses that are shorter with sweep trains
or no trains. Many prefer soft colors, such as blue
and lilac, over the traditional
white wedding dress or ivory wedding dress.
A long cathedral train is beautiful coming down the
aisle
of a church, but you'll struggle trying to drag across
a sandy beach.
Plus it's impossible to pack and expensive to get pressed.
Softer fabrics that are easy to pack such as chiffon
and organza
work well for destination wedding dresses.
Consider whether the wind will blow a veil in your face.
You might prefer a tiara or wreath of flowers instead.
Plus is you have a bridal party, consider what style
dresses work for
bridesmaids
of all sizes plus which bridesmaids dresses
will be easy for them to pack.
Tip: select a wedding hair style that suits
your style dress
and a hair do you can do alone with a professional.
It's not always easy to get a hair dresses or stylist
for a destination wedding!
Sydney
Says:
Need more help? Contact Sydney,
the Fashion Wizard
Photos courtesy of
weddingsantorini.com and panamacitybeachweddings.net
