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A Destination Wedding.
They chose the destination wedding and it turned out to be the perfect choice - for them.
They got married on a perfectly manicured lawn ringed with volcanic rocks, palm trees, and orchids against a back drop of the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean. Their destination wedding was almost like a fantasy. But that's not the real reason it worked out for them: The real reason it worked out for them is that with a destination wedding couples tend to be more focused on the big picture as opposed to the details.
In a wedding in an exotic or far away locale you have to let a wedding hosting company or at least a wedding planner in that locale that takes care of the details. Indeed many exotic locations you may not have many options for the various wedding related disciplines because the location you choose may well only have two florists, a caterer, and five photographers. With a destination wedding you have to let go of these details and accept things as they are.
This allows couples to view their wedding celebration as a fun filled getaway - where they are getting away to some exotic location with only a few guests to help them celebrate this most beautiful time of their lives.
As a matter of fact, destination weddings often turn into a combination wedding, honeymoon and a family reunion vacation all wrapped up in one.
There are several downsides to destination weddings to consider before you make your decision:
Your guest list is severely limited since most of us don't have friends and family with the resources to pick up and travel to whenever or wherever they want. You have to be able to relinquish control over the details of your wedding and be happy with whatever the planner / hosting company provides you with with a destination wedding.
You have no opportunity to meet with your photographer in advance to see if his or her personality will set you at ease so your wedding photographs might not be a great value even if the photographer is incredible with the camera!
Cost. While a destination wedding sounds great, the reality is that the expense makes it impractical for most people. At the very least you will have to give your guests ample warning so they can budget and schedule the trip. But in many cases the bride and groom end up footing much or all of the cost for all of their guest's travel expenses. Ouch!
For these reasons, weddings in exotic locations tend to be more popular with older couples who can handle the financial burden and are less interested in the guest list and wedding details or wedding photography than they are with making memories with their loved ones.
In Amy and Michael's case, this option worked despite being a young couple because they are not detail oriented people and a destination wedding by the sea with their family and closest friends was the best memory for their wedding day that they could imagine.
You've decided that you want a destination wedding, preferably a beach wedding, but most importantly you want to go somewhere exotic where the sea breezes cool the warm afternoon and stir the palm trees. You've got it all pictured in your mind. You just don't know where to go for your destination wedding.
You've decided you want your destination wedding to be somewhere exotic like the Caribbean with its golden beaches and azure sea and sky, or Hawaii with its fabulous beaches and lush tropical flowers, or Florida with its cosmopolitan cities and world famous theme parks and its beautiful beaches. Let's take a closer look at these destination wedding locations.
Do All Roads Lead to Caribbean Destination Wedding Resorts?
We'll start our tour with the Islands of the Bahamas. There are 700 of them stretching for 500 miles to the east of Florida and Cuba. They have some of the clearest sea water in the world which makes for truly spectacular snorkeling and beach weddings. They also have a whole division of the Tourism Ministry devoted to Destination Weddings. So if you have a beach wedding idea, give them a ring during office hours and they will be happy to help you.
On the other side of the Caribbean in Mexico is Cancun, another spectacular Caribbean Beach Wedding setting. Its unique attractions are Mayan archaeological sites along with beautiful white beaches and some of the best diving sites in the Caribbean. Many hotels and resorts have destination wedding packages that include the beach wedding free. This bonus is available at many Caribbean resorts.
Back to the eastern side of the Caribbean you come across the Puerto Rico wedding destination. With so many connections with the USA, this is one of the most popular destination wedding resort islands. Another spectacular tropical wedding destination, Puerto Rico has more than its fair share of fabulous beaches and fantastic scenery. It also has waterfalls and other places of scenic beauty in its interior. A truly idyllic island for your outdoor wedding.
How About A Hawaii Destination Wedding?
Hawaii, the Friendly Islands, stunning island after island. Oahu, Maui, The Big Island, all different but all clad with their rich volcanic vegetation and surrounded by cliffs and fabulous beaches. The whole archipelago cries out love and romance. Home of the hula dancers and the lei of scented frangipani flowers. Where else in the USA could a more romantic Hawaii beach wedding be held? Then there are literally hundreds of other choices if you don't want the beach for your destination wedding. Just imagine an idyllic waterfall surrounded by exotic tropical flowers or a beautiful chapel for a more traditional wedding. Heaven awaits the bride and groom in the Hawaiian Isles.
Finally Florida For A Fabulous Destination Wedding
Miami is the most exotic city in the United States but also has some of the most beautiful beaches of any city anywhere. And there are lots of alternative outdoor wedding locations including yachts and launches. Another destination wedding location is Key West an idyllic tropical island at the end of a 100 mile chain of islands and keys off the southern Florida coast. And there are many other cities like Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and the Theme Parks of Orlando. A virtual cornucopia of Florida destination wedding locations.
The Unity Sand Ceremony For Your Destination Wedding
While we are talking about tropical wedding destinations and beach wedding ceremonies, it is an ideal time to mention the great outdoor alternative to the unity candle ceremony, the unity sand ceremony. At your beach wedding, you can even scoop up the sand at your feet to use in the ceremony and as a permanent souvenir of the glorious beach where you took your vows. The Unity Sand Ceremony is a ceremony a couple of minutes long during which the bride and groom each pour colorful sand into a unity vase. This symbolizes their two separate lives coming together, being joined and continuing on as one married couple. It is a simple and beautiful ceremony.
Other family members particularly children of the couple are also able to join in the ceremony with miniature versions of the unity vase. The Unity Sand Ceremony has also become increasingly popular with couples who are venturing into second marriages and are looking for a meaningful ceremony for blended families where the children of the bride and groom can also participate.
Both Jeanette Shinn & Sharon Vaz are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Jeanette Shinn has sinced written about articles on various topics from Wedding Bells, Modelling and Wedding Gowns. Jeanette Shinn is a wedding professional with over a dozen years experience making dreams come alive. Find tips and accessories from