Dream weddings do not necessarily equate to traditional church weddings anymore, where the bride walks along the aisle with a length-train wedding dress and flowers on the side.
Women now dreams of a beach wedding in a tropical Caribbean paradise and the sand are between their toes while the sun shines brightly at the back-undoubtedly a spectacle of sunset.
Beach wedding is one kind of what we know as destination weddings. It is also called the location or eloping wedding. Another type of destination weddings is a garden one.
Fabulous as it maybe but destination weddings require a few considerations before it can be attained. A couple planning to wed may think first of the location, legal requirements, date, budget, and the travel and transportation first.
Because destination wedding is now a fad, couple need not to worry about where to wed. Several resorts now offer wedding packages. According to a survey online, the top beach wedding destination is Cancun, Mexico. It is followed by Mount Desert Island in Maine, Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, Vancouver Island in British Columbia, and St Thomas in United States Virgin Islands.
For couples who may plan to marry abroad, applying for marriage certificates vary from one place to another. It is best to consult the local embassy of the foreign country regarding marriage requirements.
When the legal requirements have already been arranged and the place is set, choosing the best date is the next step. Considerations like season and weather are vital in choosing the date especially a successful beach weddings depend on a sunny day. Checking the season of the country at which a couple plan to wed is important. The local festivities is also a consideration since it affects the availability of many of the venues, suppliers, and transportation.
Another essential matter is the guest list. Invitations are also sent at least six months before the wedding to make sure the availability of the guests to travel.
A place offering outdoor activities is a plus. Activities like hiking, surfing, diving, snorkelling, cycling, and whale watching might add to a series of events organized for the wedding festivity.
Destination weddings require expensive logistics and transportation costs. In most cases, couples pay for accommodation and travel expenses of their guests. Otherwise, guests have to be informed.
Since travel and accommodations expenses get a large share of the budget in this kind of wedding, it is advisable to cut expenses in areas like bridal materials, invitations, flowers, and photography and videography. Trimming down the guest lists to family, relatives, and closest friends will also reduce a cost.
Sometimes, couple opts for destination weddings and honeymoons all at once. An online survey listed Paris, Rome, Venice, Florence, Sydney, London, Tahiti, French Riviera, and Fiji as the top 10 most visited honeymoon places in world.
Destination weddings can be a small ceremony with a few friends or a large festivity with extended family and several friends. The former might be cheaper, but either way, it is a couple’s prerogative.
