If you are in the beginning stages of planning your wedding, or even
in the midst of it, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed,
over-stimulated, and pressured to overspend. Weddings are becoming
pricier than ever as evidenced by the annually increasing numbers of the
average American wedding cost, and inspiration abounds from sources
like Pinterest, wedding blogs and the like. So what if you want to have a
stress-free planning process along with a wedding day that looks like
it was impeccably planned down to the very finest details? One really
great option to consider is to have a destination wedding!
Destination weddings are increasing in popularity and there's many reasons why. From allowing the couple to have an extended honeymoon
experience, to narrowing down the guest list without hurting feelings,
or even cutting costs, there are several benefits to getting the heck
out of dodge and having your nuptials in a neutral location.
The benefits of a destination wedding:
- Options to fit any budget
One thing that makes destination weddings so popular are that they can be priced to fit any budget. Depending on the level of time and money you have to invest in the plans, you could choose from all-inclusive resorts with full weddings staff or opt for a more casual DIY approach at a vacation rental property. - Celebrate an extended honeymoon
Booking a destination means you can spend more time at your chosen location, thereby extending your honeymoon a few extra days. Who doesn't want more time in paradise? Even better, you'll have a spot you can revisit on future anniversaries to celebrate your marriage in a romantic and special way. - A neutral way to cut the guest list
Don't want to have to nix people from your wedding guest list? Let the distance do it for you. Only the people who matter most and truly want to be there will make a long trip, and you won't have to feel guilty about leaving anyone out. It could also result in a more intimate wedding and therefore save you money! - All-inclusive promos and perks
At all-inclusive resorts like Sandals, there are experts on staff who will walk you through all the available options for their wedding packages and execute everything to your tastes. See About.com's recommendations for the best all-inclusive resorts for honeymoons. - Extra time with your loved ones
Typically when family and friends travel to an exotic location for a destination wedding, they will choose to extend their stay and make a vacation out of it. This will allow for more quality time with your guests, meaning more lasting memories to last a lifetime! - A relaxed and laid back experience
There's just something about a destination wedding that tends to be less stressful, more laid back and more fun! Maybe it's because it feels like a vacation, or the fact that you're far away from the stress and worries of home, but destination weddings just seem to bring out a certain type of zen on the day of. - Incredible scenery for photos
Choose your destination based on the incredible backdrop the location will provide for your wedding photos. If you're a beach lover, you'll love having a stunning ocean sunset in the background of your first dance photos. If you're more into the mountains, imagine some snow topped peaks in the distance as you exchange your "I do's." No matter your location preference, a destination wedding can truly offer unique and stunning opportunities for the photos you'll cherish for your entire life.
By Jessica Bishop
Weddings Expert
