Wedding Tips - Planning a Destination Wedding

Tip: A Destination Wedding On The U.S. Virgin Islands

If you have your heart set on a tropical destination wedding, look no further than the U.S. Virgin Islands. Since they're U.S. territory, you don't have to worry about language barriers and other problems that could arise in a foreign country. There are three islands to choose from -- St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John. St . Croix is the largest of the three islands which means there are more resorts, restaurants and things for you and your guests to do. The island also has a tropical rainforest. St. Thomas has a world-famous shopping center with a bustling main street, while two-thirds of St. John is a U.S. National Park. St. John is the smallest of the the three islands. All three offer a variety of resorts, restaurants, sailing and beach options, so research each location to decide exactly what fits your needs. Because the islands are U.S. territory, American couples only need to fill out a short form, pay a $50 license fee and wait eight days. You can have the paperwork filed with an on-site wedding planner. This way you don't have to be on the island for eight days before your wedding is legal.

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Tip: A Wedding and Vacation in One

A big difference you will encounter when choosing a destination wedding is that everyone is in vacation mode. In a traditional wedding, at least one family is in their home territory. With a destination wedding, families come together to celebrate the wedding while also having a chance to spend time doing fun things.

Many couples choose to come alone to exchange their wedding vows. On the other hand, more couples nowadays, especially first-time brides, are bringing anywhere from 30 to 50 guests. Romantic wedding destinations are also a good way to get all your friends together in one place since nowadays so many people live around the country.

For the guest, it is a perfect excuse to fly to for example, the Bahamas for the weekend, or even take a vacation. Remember, destination weddings are meant to be profound, but not necessarily solemn occasions. The weddings are about the guests having a good time and the couple remembering their special day for many years to come.

One thing it is important to remember is to find out the rules and regulations in the country you will hold your ceremony. Some places require you to be there for days or even weeks before you can exchange vows, and other countries may need special paperwork.

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Tip: Choosing the Place for Your Destination Wedding

• Mountain weddings, which will certainly include an outdoor setting, are the perfect way for a couple who enjoys the outdoors to say “I do.” Try a lakeside ceremony or, for more seclusion, opt for a 17-mile dog sled trip to a remote area. Talk about destination wedding travel!
  
  
• Beach weddings are always popular, but make sure your island of choice allows weddings to be held on the beach. On islands such as Malta for example, beach weddings are not permitted. A destination wedding in Hawaii or Florida, however, will give the happy couple a convenient wedding industry at their service.
  
  
• Historical weddings could include exchanging vows at a remote castle in Scotland or an archeological site in Egypt. Incorporating the history into your costumes and music might also be a great added touch. This is also a good time to think about your roots and where your families come from.
  
  
• Many couples choose locations that are special to them or their families -- a family camp in Maine, an amusement park in Florida, or a riverboat on the Mississippi, for example.

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Tip: Destination Wedding Options for Everyone

There are destination wedding ideas for just about everyone, no matter what you and your spouse’s passion. From riding a camel across the desert, exchanging vows underwater in Mauritius or devising a ceremony that involves rafts, snowmobiles, llamas, dogsleds or even helicopters, anything is possible with a destination wedding. Another reason that so many couples are choosing destination weddings nowadays is because couples are just plain busy. Destination wedding planners and destination wedding photographers can do just about everything for you. For example, resorts like Half Moon Bay in Montego Bay , Jamaica , have wedding planners who bring the couple down months in advance to go over the wedding arrangements including colors, special needs, instructions and ceremony location. After the initial visit, the couple does not arrive until just days before the wedding, usually with the guests and attendants.

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Tip: Destination Weddings are Easy

Destination weddings are, for the most part, meant to be convenient and fun. If one or both are making a second or third marriage, this wedding is about making a statement that things are going to be different this time.

For the destination wedding, relaxation and family are much more important than pomp and circumstance.

Since destination weddings come complete with packages that include a wedding professional to take care of every detail, it’s really just up to you to decide on the big picture and the rest will be handled accordingly. Be sure to confirm with the wedding professional exactly what is included in your package.

Destination weddings can still be traditional even if not held in a church. Take for example, the cake. Most couples opt for a cake complete with the toast, cake cutting and wedding speeches. In most cases the wedding planner will take care of the marriage license too. You will have to send the necessary documents, for example, a birth certificate. Remember that each particular country or state will have different rules, so asking questions if you aren’t sure will save you time.

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Tip: Finding A Destination Wedding Photographer

A destination wedding is usually held in a beautiful location with great opportunities for breathtaking photos. Not only do you want to find someone who can capture the best moments of your wedding day, but you also want to find a destination wedding photographer who knows how to take photographs that showcase the location of your wedding.

Having a beach wedding in the South Pacific? Make sure you use a photographer who is familiar with taking photos at sunset with the ocean as a backdrop.

While you can certainly arrange to use a photographer that is already located at your resort, you can also plan to have a destination wedding photographer travel to your wedding location. A good place to look for traveling photographers is the Wedding Photojournalists Association. You can find a list of photographers who travel all over the world from Africa to South America and everywhere in between. You can find crucial information, such as the photographer's rate, what you must agree upon (travel and lodging costs) and what special skill sets they offer.

Be sure to check out the photographer's online portfolio to be sure his or her style is in line with your dreams for a romantic destination wedding.

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Tip: Getting Married in Italy

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes recently tied the knot in Italy at a castle -- and the truth is, you can too. Destination wedding planners and destination wedding photographers are just waiting to help you get hitched in Rome and Florence, but there are also other beautiful places in Italy such as the Amalfi Coast, south in Sicily (Taormina) or Tuscany’s Punta Ala.

Considered one of the most romantic drives in the world, the Amalfi coast road offers a breathtaking coastline high on the cliffs above the Mediterranean Ocean . There are many stops along the Amalfi coast road, but the real jewel is Ravello. The town sits 1,155 feet above the sea and offers amazing views of the entire Amalfi coastline. Taormina is considered Sicily ’s most beautiful town, with a backdrop of Mt. Etna rising regally in the distance. From just about anywhere in Taormina you can look up and see the smoking mountain waiting for the next eruption. For brave souls take a drive to Etna and climb to the top.

Tuscany is usually the first place on the list when couples think of visiting Italy . Punta Ala is a chic resort town with good beach line and excellent restaurants and shopping.

If you must get married in your own castle there are quite a few in Italy to choose from. A castle in the Vineyards in Collio, a sea view castle overlooking the Adriatic, a castle in the Chiani region or wonderful castles in the Florentine or Veneto areas. Castles do abound in Italy and with the romantic backdrop you can’t go wrong. Be sure to bring identification including birth certificates and certification of the termination of any previous marriage. Couples getting married in the Roman Catholic Church will need to bring their baptismal and confirmation certificates as well. You will also need a form called an Atto Notorio from your local Italian consulate, and a form called a Nulla Osta to be signed in front of a U.S. consular officer.

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Tip: Hiring A Destination Wedding Planner

If you plan a wedding close to home, it's easy to plan every last detail of your big day. However, when you opt for planning a destination wedding, you aren't usually able to visit the location several times before your wedding day. This is where a destination wedding planner comes in.

Hiring a destination wedding planner can help take the stress of you as you plan the big day. If you signed up for a wedding package at a resort (which is common), you might have a wedding planner included in the price. However, if not, you should set aside some of your budget to pay for wedding help.

The planner can help you secure local vendors (florist, caterer, etc.). These folks have experience in how to plan your destination wedding to suit your needs. The planner is also your go-to person when you and your family come to town. They are there to coordinate everyone's transfer from the airport to the resort. They can also help with questions about the location and even serve as an interpreter if you're in a country where English is not typically spoken.

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Tip: Inviting Guests To A Destination Wedding

Weddings are expensive -- but if you're planning on spending a certain dollar amount anyway, why not treat your family and friends to a little vacation as well?

Destination weddings are becoming popular ways to keep the big day more affordable and this allows many brides and grooms to extend the offer to pay for airfare and hotel for at least some of the wedding party. Destination wedding etiquette encourages the happy couple to pay for any close family member who can't otherwise afford to be there, and it's a kind gesture to pay for members of your wedding party as well, especially if they're already shelling out for clothes to wear on your big day.

Look for discount package deals and find out which resorts offer the best bang for the buck. If you do decide to pay for your guests' airfare and hotel, you'll need detailed information from them for when you book their flights and rooms. Find out their legal names and airport and travel date preferences.

If you are footing the bill, you'll need to make these reservations long before you send out invitations. Destination wedding invitations, because they often involve travel arrangements and time off from work for your guests, should be sent out earlier than normal, at least six to eight weeks before the big day.

Of course, you can have a destination wedding without any invitations at all! Eloping to get married all by yourselves in a faraway place is a time-honored tradition which can often save you money and bother.

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Tip: Pre-Wedding Inspection

You've decided to get married away from home, which also means you can't be there every weekend making sure every detail is perfect. It's important that you do a pre-wedding inspection to make sure everything is the way you want it.

The bride and groom should visit the destination wedding location before the big day. Pictures in brochures or online are intended to show a place in its best light. Go there in person with your destination wedding checklist in hand. Make sure the beach is beautiful, the hotel rooms are clean and the staff is friendly and accommodating. Check out any special plans -- if you're dreaming of being married barefoot in the sand, make sure the beach isn't rocky!

While some couples may feel that one trip is enough, others might want to make a quick second trip closer to the wedding to check on last-minute details.

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Tip: The Right Time To Have A Destination Wedding

Although you can't predict Mother Nature's mood on your wedding day, you can make an educated guess on how the weather will be at various destination wedding locations.

For example, no matter how low the prices are at the destination wedding resorts, you may still choose to avoid the Caribbean hurricane season. Your Australia or New Zealand nuptials will enjoy bright summer sunshine in December. When it's cold in the mainland U.S., head to Hawaii, South America, Greece or the South Pacific -- unless, of course, you're planning to get married on skis!

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Tip: Things To Know If You Get Married Outside The U.S.

If you've chosen a destination for your wedding that is outside the U.S., be sure you're aware of all the rules and regulations about obtaining your wedding license.

In some locations, you must spend a certain amount of time in the country before you're legally allowed to get married there. If you're unsure, work with a destination wedding planner at your resort or destination. This person can also help you apply for a marriage license. You just need to provide them with the appropriate paperwork. Blood tests are also commonly required in order to get married.

Every country is different, so check with the wedding planner at the resort or do some online research to confirm exactly what you need. A destination wedding in Ireland, for example, requires three months' notice to the registrar, and at least one of you must reside in the district of your wedding for 15 days before it takes place. A destination wedding in Mexico doesn't require any special residency, but you'll need to be there long enough to get blood tests and maybe even a chest X-ray.