VIDEO: Watch this video on How to Plan a Destination Wedding

Here are 4 factors to consider in determining whether to opt for a destination wedding:

1. How big of a wedding do you envision? Generally, it seems that destination weddings/special events are more of an intimate gathering…unless of course money isn’t really the in your “top 3″ priorities. If you’re really expecting 150+ guests for your destination wedding, know that the price tag, stress and details all follow accordingly. Don’t get me wrong – I’m not saying it’s bad to have that many guests! Just keep in mind that you’ve really got to stay focused and keep your guests updated.

Advice: While hunting for a destination spot to say “I do,” find a place that is not only gorgeous and speaks to you both, but one with a wedding coordinator or maître d’ that you feel comfortable with. Are they giving you more than just 1 way of contacting them? Is your gut telling you something doesn’t seem right? Also, start an email list for your guests. Remind them to have their flights reserved by a certain date, passports are up to date, etc., and be sure to block out rooms at your venue (if applic) or nearby resorts/hotels.

2. Are most of your guests willing to travel? I know I don’t have to be the one to tell you that money is tight for most people right now. While yes, your wedding/event is extremely important and special, there are going to be people who will have to carefully evaluate that against cash.

Advice: Go through your guest list with 2 color pens. Make 1 color for those who will DEFINITELY be there (you know who they are) and make the other color for those who will POSSIBLY be there. Now evaluate. Are there more under the “Possibly” color than under the “Definitely” one? If yes and you still want to invite them to your wedding, be prepared for the chance that all do show up and adjust accordingly.

3. Can you deal with “long-distance” planning? One thing you need to keep in mind is that the service you are used to dealing with at home (especially the NY area) is not always the same in your destination wedding area. Many brides are surprised to learn that dealing with a wedding coordinator through the resort or hotel abroad requires a lot of patience and constant communication. Remember, they don’t necessarily operate in the “New York minute” you may be used to. In fact, they may take such a lackadaisical approach it can be nerve-racking for the brides who need that total sense of control.

Advice: Set up weekly reminders for yourself and always follow up with emails confirming everything. If you’re the type that needs to be there to see things through, this may be difficult for you. By keeping good lists and keeping it all in one spot (not some on your desk, some in a folder on your couch, etc) you can do it though! Check out what our friends at Martha Stewart suggest when planning a long-distance wedding.

4. Are you a procrastinator? If you are and you really, really want a destination wedding… make sure you have the support you’ll need to do it right. There are too many details and things to remember that you simply cannot procrastinate or push off until “things get closer.”

Advice: Have a sister, close friend who’s in your bridal party, or your maid of honor (or all of the above!) help keep you stay on track and organized. The MOH & BM should both be helping you and your significant other with these details. Delegate them some key responsibilities so that you’re not left with having to remember everything for everyone. It’s too overwhelming and can quickly take away the fun and relaxing experience a destination wedding should be! I’m sure many brides deliberate this, especially in the beginning of the engagement/planning process.

You barely know your own way around, and now you have dozens if not hundreds of people to account for.

But the perks of a destination wedding (and planning one) can far outweigh the downsides. You experience the romance and mystique of another location while having a wedding/honeymoon/getaway all at the same time.

Many couples choose certain locales because they cater specifically to destination weddings and hosting numerous guests; they are the places that everyone on your list wants to go to and may not have had a chance before, but now have an iron-clad reason to make the trek. Here are the most popular spots for destination weddings – as well as what you can do while you’re there! (Just remember to choose a locale that suits you both; if you love water, a beach wedding is best, but if you would rather have a more rustic affair, opt for the mountains!)

5 Great Places to Have a Destination Wedding

* Italy: There’s nothing more romantic than Italian destination weddings. Rome, Florence, Venice, and Milan – you name it; this is the ultimate getaway for many couples and their families. But going overseas also has a lot of challenges. As part of your destination wedding planning, you’ll have to ensure that all guests have or acquire a passport well in advance, and you’ll be responsible for finding suitable accommodations and transportation to and from the events. Your guests will want to do a little sightseeing while in town, so creating a list of places to visit and how to get there is a must. Fortunately, there are many destination wedding planning specialists who cater to foreign couples, so use their abilities fully. And the true perk of destination weddings: you can honeymoon right where you got married!

* Hawaii: This tropical island is a mecca for couples who want a relaxed beach wedding with little fuss. And hundreds of thousands of couples flock here to celebrate their nuptials Hawaiian-style. Many airports in the U.S. have direct flights to Honolulu, but if you decide to get married on another island, your guests can easily catch a flight the same or next day, giving them time to explore. And whether you choose to have an impromptu, informal affair or a giant, tropical bash, there are many knowledgeable destination wedding planning companies that can help you decide where to have your event, what to serve, where to spend your honeymoon, and much more.

* The Bahamas: One of the top destination wedding locations, the Bahamas truly evokes the Caribbean spirit in more ways than one. If all of your guests are U.S. citizens, then you’re in the clear (though, based on recent legislation, you are required to have a valid passport to enter). Citizens of other countries are advised to check entry requirements before booking tickets, and you can make it easier on your guests if they are flying from another country by verifying the requirements beforehand. Many couples choose to have their destination weddings take place among the centuries-old cathedrals or fortresses or at the famed city harbor in Nassau. And once the wedding is over, you and your guests can experience the best seafood, golfing, shopping, and casinos available!

* Napa Valley: For couples who love wine and/or the idea of getting married in a vineyard, Napa Valley is a great choice for destination weddings. Proximity to the big city – San Francisco and all of its unique sights – and the pastoral beauty of countless vineyards lure thousands of couples here each year to tie the knot with the help of a destination wedding planning specialist. From Spring to Winter, the change in seasons provides a new and different look to the Napa Valley countryside. Some wineries even host on site and have event planners at your disposal who specialize in destination weddings! And what would be more fun than touring the Wine Country on The Napa Valley Wine Train for your honeymoon?

* Lake Tahoe: For many years, the scenic charms of Lake Tahoe have routinely been voted one of the top spots for destination weddings. And it’s no wonder why this vibrant city appeals to so many different people. There’s biking, hiking, boating, camping, fishing, golfing, and skiing, all right there for you and your guests to enjoy. If you choose a wedding resort, which not only takes care of the accommodations for you and your guests, you’ll be provided with a dedicated destination wedding planning guide who will see to all of the details.

Many couples think destination wedding planning is an outrageous expenditure. While this belief is true in some instances, you’re actually saving yourself from many hassles. Wherever you choose to have your ceremony and reception, you’ll be matched with event planners skilled at making sure that the tiniest aspects of destination weddings flow smoothly. And, you’ll also have your honeymoon built in to the cost. The best part you ask?…experiencing a brand new place with your family, friends, and loved ones.

Who Pays for

This is the big question that everyone is asking. There is no rule of etiquette that requires the couple to pay for guests travel and accommodation expenses, however, it is certainly hospitable of you, and a real treat for your guests, if you can cover some of all of their costs. Some couples do this, others do not. If possible, you might consider covering a portion of your guests expenses, say, just their airfare or just their accommodations.

Obviously, if you are picking up some or all of the tab, you’ll increase the likelihood that guests will be able and willing to attend.

Paying for Bridesmaid and Groomsmen Expenses

The couple is, however, responsible for covering the accommodation expenses of their bridal attendants, in otherwords, the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and honor attendants. This rule of etiquette applies for all weddings, not just destination events, any time an attendant will have to travel to participate as a member of the wedding party. If your budget is tight, keep this in mind before selecting your attendants and perhaps limit yourself to just one honor attendant on each side.
Easy on the Expenses

Whether you have decided to foot the bill, or at least part of it, for your guests, or whether they’ll have to pay their own way, try to reduce the costs as much as possible by looking into group rates on airfare and hotel rooms. American Airlines has a program whereby they will provide a group discount if 10 or more people are flying to attend the same event. It doesn’t matter if the cities of origin are not the same, as long as everyone is headed for the same destiantion. Other airlines may be willing to discount tickets when a group is travelling as well, so try to negotiate the best rates possible for you and your guests. (It’s possible to do this yourself, but a good travel agent or wedding cooordinator will be skilled at getting the best rates for you).

Similarly, hotels or resorts will often discount room rates when you are booking multiple rooms at a time. Have the resort reserve a block of rooms for your party. When guests call in to make their reservation, they simply mention that they are part of your party, and they will qualify for the group rate. Make sure you tell the hotel or resort to keep all the rooms on the same floor – that way guests can be cozy and can interact with one another.

If you have chosen a particularly posh hotel or resort, you might also want to source out alternate accommodations that are close by but a little easier on the wallet so guests can have budget alternatives. Make guests aware of all of their accommodation options so that they can select that which best fits their budget.
Get Professional Help

If this is all sounding complex, overwhelming, and time consuming, truth be told, it can be. Some couples think that running away to get married will simplifyy their wedding plans, but depending on the destination you are running to, and the type of event you are planning, it may just introduce a different set of complexities.

To ensure that all goes smootly when planning your destination event, its best to work with a travel agent or a professional wedding coordinator.

If using a travel agent, try to find one that specializes in destination weddings if possible, as they’ll have experience in not simply arranging your air travel and accommodations, but also some of the other details and logistics. For instance, they’ll know which resorts specialize in catering to destination weddings and which ones offer free wedding packages and the like.

If you are going to use a wedding planner, you can either select one based in your own home town, or find one who is located in your destination. In either case, once again, its best to look for someone who specializes in destination weddings. This is particularly true if the consultant is your own area and will be coordinating this event from afar. To find a wedding consultant who can assist, you can request a referral to a SuperWeddings Certified Wedding Consultant through The International Institute of Weddings. This will ensure that you are dealing with a qualified, serious professional with solid credentials.

You’ll also be required to provide various forms of documentation in order to marry in another country, and you need to know what specific documentation is required for the country in question. In some cases, the law of the land requires that you also have the documents translated at your own expense, in advance, into the official language of the country in question. These are merely examples of the types of red tape and hoops you may be required to jump through, so careful investigation is paramount.

Another important part of doing your research has to do with determining whether there are any travel advisories or weather concerns for the area you’d like to be wed in. Use the same percautions you would when planning any other vacation. Check weather conditions for the time of year (avoid planning your wedding in the middle of hurricane season, for example), check with US Department of State to ensure that there are no travel advisories for the area in question due to polital upheaval, cival war, or terrorism.

You can invite as many or as few people as you want to your destination wedding. Just keep one thing in mind: There are likely to be people on your guest list who will be unable to attend due to the expense involved or the logistics of arranging a jaunt away from home. People have limited vacation time, they may need significant lead time to book their vacations, or they may not be able to arrange to be away from home on the dates you’ve selected for a wide variety of other reasons. Also keep in mind that your idea of the dream destination may not match theirs, so if you are expecting them to pay their own way, they many not be willing to invest their limited vacation budget into the vacation of your choice. And that’s perfectly valid and entirely understandable, so don’t hold it against them or take offence.

Before you get too far down the road in planning your destination wedding, ask yourself if you are still going to be happy if some of the people on your guest list are unable to attend. What is none of them decided to come – would you still be happy if it was just you and your sweetie celebrating your marriage alone together in that exotic locale? Be prepared for these possibilities before proceeding.

One of the most watched trends in weddings today is that of the “destination wedding”. Today, destination weddings account for an estimated 10% of all weddings occuring among American, Canadian and British couples. This is pretty significant because just 10 years ago, the term ‘destination wedding’ was virtually unheard of. And there’s no reason to expect a co

Perhaps you’ve heard some buzz about destination weddings recently, but you’re still not clear on the concept. Destination Wedding essentially means “eloping with a crowd”. It’s a modern version of eloping. When a couple eloped in the past, they ran off alone together. Now they may still run off to get married, but they take their closest family members and friends with them to share in the celebration.

Destination weddings are sometimes also referred to as “Honeymoon Weddings” because they combine a wedding and honeymoon all in one. “Familymoon” is another term we are starting to hear used interchangeably with the destination wedding because it is, in essence, a honeymoon that the whole family (and often close friends) goes along on.

Find Destination Wedding Accessories in the SuperWeddings Store

Why is it Hot?

It’s hot because it appeals both to those who want to run away and get married somewhere exotic, as well as to couples who want to share a really memorable wedding experience with the people closest to them. Couples are grabbing hold of this idea because, instead of having just one day to celebrate their nuptials with their favorite people, they have several days of quality time together. Compare this with the traditional wedding, where often times the day speeds by in a whirlwind and the couple has only fleeting moments to spend with individual guests and you start to see the appeal of the destination wedding.

Another reason for the destination wedding trend is that re-marriages now account for 50% of marriages in the US and Canada. While a conventional or traditional wedding is perfectly acceptable for a remarriage today if that’s what the couple wants, some couples just aren’t comfortable with a lot of hoopla when its not their first trip to the altar. Some prefer something a little more low key or quiet, with just the people closest to them in attendance. The destination wedding is perfect for this.

The internet is also a huge faciliator where destination weddings are concerned. The internet makes the world a much smaller place. Through online research you can explore geographic locations, tour resorts and hotels, read menus, look at cakes, and view examples of a photographer’s work or a hairstylist’s updos. Planning a wedding from afar is no longer the scary and risky proposition it once was. You can make contact with resorts and vendors, including wedding coordinators, in the destination of choice via email, and have information, price lists, and contracts sent back to you in a matter of moments. Its also much more affordable to enter into diagloue with service providers via email than it would be if you were racking up long distance bills along the way.

How Many Guests?

Curious about the number of guests typically attending these destination events? You may be surpised to hear that it is approaching 50. That’s significant, because just 4 or 5 years ago the typcial destination wedding had a guest list of just 10 – 20 people.

You can invite as many or as few people as you want to your destination wedding. Just keep one thing in mind: There are likely to be people on your guest list who will be unable to attend due to the expense involved or the logistics of arranging a jaunt away from home. People have limited vacation time, they may need significant lead time to book their vacations, or they may not be able to arrange to be away from home on the dates you’ve selected for a wide variety of other reasons. Also keep in mind that your idea of the dream destination may not match theirs, so if you are expecting them to pay their own way, they many not be willing to invest their limited vacation budget into the vacation of your choice. And that’s perfectly valid and entirely understandable, so don’t hold it against them or take offence.

Before you get too far down the road in planning your destination wedding, ask yourself if you are still going to be happy if some of the people on your guest list are unable to attend. What is none of them decided to come – would you still be happy if it was just you and your sweetie celebrating your marriage alone together in that exotic locale? Be prepared for these possibilities before proceeding.

Research Required

Before you get your heart set on any specific destination wedding plan, its super-important to do your research and determine whether what you have in mind is feasible. Not only do you need to investigate costs, but you will also need to carefully determine what the requirements and regulations are in regard to saying your “I dos” in the destination of your choice. Some countries only allow citizens to marry on their soil, others may have a residency requirement whereby you have to live in the country for 30 days, 6 months, or a year before you are eligible to marry there.

You’ll also be required to provide various forms of documentation in order to marry in another country, and you need to know what specific documentation is required for the country in question. In some cases, the law of the land requires that you also have the documents translated at your own expense, in advance, into the official language of the country in question. These are merely examples of the types of red tape and hoops you may be required to jump through, so careful investigation is paramount.

Another important part of doing your research has to do with determining whether there are any travel advisories or weather concerns for the area you’d like to be wed in. Use the same percautions you would when planning any other vacation. Check weather conditions for the time of year (avoid planning your wedding in the middle of hurricane season, for example), check with US Department of State to ensure that there are no travel advisories for the area in question due to polital upheaval, cival war, or terrorism.

Flexibility a MUST

Its also really important that you be fexible when planning a destination wedding. You may have ideas in your head about what you would like your wedding to look like that simply aren’t compatible with the destination you have chosen. For example, maybe you’ve been dreaming of a gown with layer upon layer of crunchy taffeta since you were a little girl, but if you wear that at an ocean side wedding in the tropics, you’ll pass out from the humidity and heat exhaustion before you make it half way down the aisle. You’ve heard the expression “When in Rome do as the Romans do”? No where is that more applocable than in the destination wedding scenario. Tailor the details of your wedding to the destination. Follow the recommendations and suggestions of the local pros – they know what’s doable and appropriate in their local area. No point in swimming against the tide.

Control Freaks Beware

Some brides (or couples) like to persoanlly oversee each and every little detail of their wedding plans, and have personal involvement at every juncture. If this is you, think carefully before proceeding with a destination wedding. Unless you plan to make one or more trips to the destination before the wedding for planning purposes, which can get quite costly, you are likely going to need to put a lot of the details in the hands of someone else – proabably a resort event coordinator, wedding planner, or travel agent who specialized in destination weddings (or a combination of the above). The logistics simply don’t allow for you to have close control. Make sure you are cool with that or you may be in for more stress than you bargained for.

Who Pays for Guests Accommodations and Travel?

This is the big question that everyone is asking. There is no rule of etiquette that requires the couple to pay for guests travel and accommodation expenses, however, it is certainly hospitable of you, and a real treat for your guests, if you can cover some of all of their costs. Some couples do this, others do not. If possible, you might consider covering a portion of your guests expenses, say, just their airfare or just their accomodations.

Obviously, if you are picking up some or all of the tab, you’ll increase the likelihood that guests will be able and willing to attend.

Paying for Bridesmaid and Groomsmen Expenses

The couple is, however, responsible for covering the accommodation expenses of their bridal attendants, in otherwords, the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and honor attendants. This rule of etiquette applies for all weddings, not just destination events, any time an attendant will have to travel to participate as a member of the wedding party. If your budget is tight, keep this in mind before selecting your attendants and perhaps limit yourself to just one honor attendant on each side.
Easy on the Expenses

Whether you have decided to foot the bill, or at least part of it, for your guests, or whether they’ll have to pay their own way, try to reduce the costs as much as possible by looking into group rates on airfare and hotel rooms. American Airlines has a program whereby they will provide a group discount if 10 or more people are flying to attend the same event. It doesn’t matter if the cities of origin are not the same, as long as everyone is headed for the same destiantion. Other airlines may be willing to discount tickets when a group is travelling as well, so try to negotiate the best rates possible for you and your guests. (It’s possible to do this yourself, but a good travel agent or wedding cooordinator will be skilled at getting the best rates for you).

Similarly, hotels or resorts will often discount room rates when you are booking multiple rooms at a time. Have the resort reserve a block of rooms for your party. When guests call in to make their reservation, they simply mention that they are part of your party, and they will qualify for the group rate. Make sure you tell the hotel or resort to keep all the rooms on the same floor – that way guests can be cozy and can interact with one another.

If you have chosen a particularly posh hotel or resort, you might also want to source out alternate accommodations that are close by but a little easier on the wallet so guests can have budget alternatives. Make guests aware of all of their accommodation options so that they can select that which best fits their budget.
Get Professional Help

If this is all sounding complex, overwhelming, and time consuming, truth be told, it can be. Some couples think that running away to get married will simplifyy their wedding plans, but depending on the destination you are running to, and the type of event you are planning, it may just introduce a different set of complexities.

To ensure that all goes smootly when planning your destination event, its best to work with a travel agent or a professional wedding coordinator.

If using a travel agent, try to find one that specializes in destination weddings if possible, as they’ll have experience in not simply arranging your air travel and accommodations, but also some of the other details and logistics. For instance, they’ll know which resorts specialize in catering to destination weddings and which ones offer free wedding packages and the like.

If you are going to use a wedding planner, you can either select one based in your own home town, or find one who is located in your destination. In either case, once again, its best to look for someone who specializes in destination weddings. This is particularly true if the consultant is your own area and will be coordinating this event from afar. To find a wedding consultant who can assist, you can request a referral to a SuperWeddings Certified Wedding Consultant through The International Institute of Weddings. This will ensure that you are dealing with a qualified, serious professional with solid credentials.

Start Early

The key to success in planning a destination wedding is to start as early as possible. As mentioned before, you’ll need time to do your research about what will be required to get married in the destination of your choice. You’ll also need time to talk with the people you intend to invite to get a rough idea of what dates would work for them.

Once a firm date has been set, you need to get busy making decisions early on in the process. All the details, from the biggest the smallest, need to be considered and decided upon. This way you won’t end up scrambling to make important decisions under the gun because time has run out — that is the best way to make the worst decision.

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A Whole New Industry

The popularity of destination weddings has grown so rapidly that its given rise to a whole new industry in an of itself. Today entrepreneurs and exisiting companies are spotting the enormous opportunity in this hot trend and are finding ways to cash in on it. More and more resorts are now specifically catering to the destination wedding crowd. Airlines and hotel chains are developing special programs specifically for the destination wedding market. Cruiselines are getting in on the action, as is one of the most successful companies in the world, the Walt Disney Company. With its destination wedding packages, Disney World has become the second most popular destination in the US for destination weddings (following Las Vegas). Even some entire cities, towns, and countries are discovering that they can profit substantially by making destination weddings their focus. The Carribbean islands, for instance, have in the last number of years further eased their requirements for non-residents to marry on their soil, in order to incourage the influx of destination wedding couples. Some cities and towns in the US and abroad are now putting effort and investment into marketing themselves as wedding destinations because they realize the powerful potential it will have on their ecomonies. The websites of more and more Chambers of Commerce or Visitors and Tourists Bureaus are heavily focusing on the destination wedding aspect of their cities as a means of attracting more tourism.

In addition, many business-minded individuals are recognizing the opportunity for them to do well in the wedding consulting and coordinating business by specializing in the destination wedding market. With so many couples trying to plan weddings at a distance, the demand for coordinators who can assist them in taking care of these details is quickly on the rise, and its spurring more interest in the wedding consulting field. Individuals who want to learn more about breaking into the business of wedding consulting can read about it here. As well, many existing and established consultants are taking note of the additional opportunity available to them by marketing their services at the destination wedding market. Established consultants who want to learn how to become destination wedding specialist and capitalize on this powerful indistry trend can request more information here.

Find Destination Wedding Accessories in the SuperWeddings Store