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Considering a Destination Wedding? Advice to Help a Couple
Decide
(BNN) The number of American couples choosing destination
weddings has tripled in the last 10 years and the trend
continues to grow. The notion of a wedding ceremony that
combines the allure of travel, a wonderful, maybe exotic
location, and an extended celebration with family and friends .
. . well . . . what’s not to love?
While destination weddings have definitely captured the
imagination of American couples, what exactly does the term
mean? Put simply, a "destination wedding" takes place away from
home, it involves travel, and it usually extends beyond one day.
At the same time, because of the travel element, a destination
wedding can be more complicated to plan than a hometown marriage
ceremony.
Lisa Light, founder and CEO of Destination Bride (destinationbride.com),
a New York wedding and international events planning company
that specializes in destination weddings, is perhaps the
foremost authority on destination weddings. She has just
published the first comprehensive book on the subject,
Destination Bride: A Complete
Guide to Planning Your Wedding Anywhere in the World
(North Light Books, January 2006). This invaluable resource
offers a step-by-step description of the planning process, with
suggestions, tips, and advice along the way, as well as
practical, area-specific information about wedding resources and
venues in over fifty regions worldwide.
But, are destination weddings for everyone? Lisa Light has
outlined some of the common considerations concerning
destination weddings and suggests doing the following exercise
as a couple:
• With destination weddings, the possibilities are endless.
Does this give you a giddy “the world is our oyster!”
feeling--or a daunting, overwhelmed feeling?
• A destination wedding promises a memorable experience. Either
you don’t mind facing the unexpected, and “unforgettable” is
just what you’re looking for . . . or you’d rather control every
aspect of the experience rather than risk the “wrong kind” of
"memorable"!
• A destination wedding is often a longer celebration than at
home, lasting a few days. You and your chosen one love the
notion of spending some time away together! On the other hand,
you may feel that one day is plenty for the “group” portion of
the festivities.
• A destination wedding typically involves fewer guests. You
are either okay with the idea of having only your closest family
and friends, or you won’t feel as though it’s really a wedding
without your fourth-grade school bus driver or second cousin
there to share the fun.
• Because of the travel factor, a destination wedding typically
is more challenging to plan. You see the difficulties of
planning as a fair price to pay for a once-in-a-lifetime
adventure. Or, your focus is already beyond the wedding; you’d
prefer a simple ceremony and less hassle.
Lisa further suggests that after a couple has thought through
some of the foregoing questions, they should ask the
“must-haves” on their prospective guest list whether they would
be agreeable to the idea of a destination wedding.
With the pros and cons considered, and the guests on board, the
answer to the question—Is a destination wedding really right for
you?—may well be yes!
In any case, according to Light, a destination wedding can be a
wonderful adventure. “When you combine the allure of travel, a
remarkable occasion, and an extraordinary cause for
celebration,” she says, “the mix is rich with meaning, memories,
and opportunities for bonding.”
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