Many times during the planning of my own wedding – I considered eloping. I mean, who hasn’t, really? In the midst of trying to plan the perfect day for you and your fiance – - you find yourself in the position of keeping other people happy at the same time. And we all know it’s impossible t0 make everyone happy all the time!

During the course of my wedding stress-out – - I looked into Desitation Weddings. What a great concept — if only I hadn’t looked into it too late in the game!

What is a destination wedding? It’s a wedding that you have to travel to (a.k.a. eloping) — only some destination weddings also include guests. Common destination wedding sites are Walt Disney World, Europe, Las Vegas, Hawaii, New Orleans, Mexico, Canada, the Poconos, Colorado, and the Caribbean…just to name a few. Cruise weddings are also popular!

This site has some excellent resources on Destination Wedding locations – it’s just a search away! (note: I have no affiliation with this site)

How about a Wedding Cruise?
Carnival Cruise – Land Weddings
Nautical Nuptials aboard a Princess Cruise
Shipboard Weddings aboard Carnival Cruise

Planning for a Destination Wedding?

If you’re watching your wallet, the best way to stay within budget bounds is to keep your celebration small. (An informal bash thrown back home later will help soothe any ruffled feelings.) Give invitees as much advance notice as possible (ideally, a year) with save the date cards, so they can reserve airline tickets and block off vacation time. Follow up with a phone call to get an estimate of how many people will be attending. (A rough number will allow you to reserve a block of hotel rooms, usually at a discount.) As the big day approaches, create a newsletter or web site listing lodging options (with price ranges), activities, transportation details, baby-sitters, restaurant suggestions, and other information.

When you throw a destination wedding, flexibility is key: After all, there’s no reason to spend big bucks shipping roses to the Bahamas when armfuls of orchids and hibiscus are grown just around the corner. Same with music—on the beach, a local calypso trio might set the tone better than a swing orchestra. With every detail, avoid disappointment by making sure your consultant knows what you want, and that you know what you’re getting. Always request photos of floral arrangements, sample CDs from bands, and composites from photographers (usually available for viewing on-line).

Beach brides often go for a simple slipdress styles with local flowers in their hair, but if you’ve been obsessing about princess seams and cathedral veils, go for a full-on gown made of a wrinkle-resistant, lightweight fabric like chiffon, silk organza, georgette, silk tulle, or Chantilly lace. Be sure to transport your dress in a garment bag, just as you received it from the salon. Carry it on the plane and ask the flight attendant to hang it in a closet close to your seat, so you can keep an eye on it throughout your voyage.