Over the last several years, destination weddings have become more popular with couples hoping to stage their ceremonies in unique locations. Due to its proximity to the United States and the overall affordability of travel packages, the Caribbean has been one of the top choices for prospective couples. Additionally, more couples are also realizing the benefits of staging resort weddings ? especially in destinations such as St. Thomas that still don't require a passport for travel. Working with a resort to plan a wedding can not only eliminate a lot of work, it can even save money when compared with traditional American weddings. As you consider planning a wedding in St. Thomas or anywhere else in the Caribbean, compare the advantages of working with a resort to the footwork required of self-planned ceremonies. You will see that a resort wedding is the right choice ? for more reasons than you probably realize.

One of the best reasons to stage your wedding at a resort is that they are always equipped. Hotels and resorts will have everything from chairs to decorations on site. Therefore, you won't need to arrange for rental materials or make lots of phone calls to get what you need. Your resort and personal wedding planner will have you covered.

Staging a wedding at a resort also eliminates the need to find local vendors. Good resorts will always have working relationships with the best chefs, caterers, florists and decorators ? regardless of where you plan to hold your wedding. Even if you were to research all the vendors of your destination and make your own arrangements, you could easily overlook some of the best products and services. By utilizing local vendors, resorts can add an exotic flair to your ceremony that could never be achieved at home.

As the process of obtaining a wedding license can be complicated in some Caribbean locations, resorts can also come in handy with the messy paperwork. Wedding planners at resorts will have thorough knowledge of the rules and regulations regarding wedding licenses. Before you arrive at the resort, your planner will inform you how long you need to stay on the island (most Caribbean nations only require a three-day stay to apply for a marriage license), what types of documents you will need to provide and any other guidelines.

If you have scouted locations to hold a destination wedding, you probably noticed that resorts represent many of the most picturesque locations throughout the Caribbean. Luxury Caribbean resorts are usually situated on beachfront property near all the popular attractions, shops and restaurants. By staging your wedding at a resort, you will be guaranteed the best views and most attractive surroundings.

With all of your guests staying at the resort, you will also find it much easier to plan events and activities. Rehearsals and dinners can be arranged easily without having to worry about transportation for any of your party. Additional activities throughout St. Thomas can be staged directly at the resort with the assistance of a concierge or your event planner.

One of the major concerns about all-inclusive weddings ? especially in foreign destinations ? is the perceived impersonal nature of the ceremony and all its details. There are plenty of stories about disappointed couples who purchased wedding packages without being allowed any input. The results are, more often than not, boring ceremonies and lackluster details that don't incorporate any of the couple's unique desires. However, resort weddings aren't about selling you something you don't want. Resorts employ fulltime planners that cater to each of your requests and do everything they can to construct the ideal wedding for your tastes.

After you've done the math, you will probably realize that a resort wedding will not only save plenty of time, but potentially plenty of money. Best of all, a resort wedding will allow you put all of your own ideas into action. Celebrate the beginning of your marriage ? your way ? with a resort wedding in beautiful St. Thomas.