beach wedding – photo by bazzat2003 on Flickr CC

A Guide To Destination Weddings

There’s no denying that wedding planning is a very stressful business, from choosing guests to making the timetable of the big day itself. For most couples the huge expense is very much a concern as well – the thought of planning a honeymoon for lots of couples is a big extra price tag and more hassle to plan.

But for couples who love to travel – or even for homebodies who want to get out and see the world – why not combine the two? A destination wedding combines ceremony and honeymoon – and can make your special day that little bit more magical.

Planning The Ceremony

A benefit of having your wedding abroad is the changes you can have to the ceremony, using different cultural customs and different decor. Lots of travel agents and hotels will have specialist wedding planners, so you can talk to a professional to get a fresh perspective and figure out what works for you as a couple for the ceremony and reception, using their years of experience.

The added benefit of a wedding planner is it takes some of the stress of doing wedding admin or language barriers out of the question, as they can liaise with their suppliers and local businesses with no miscommunication worries.

Santorian Greece wedding

Personal Touches

Most of the bridal party will have been sharing all the stress with you, so a destination wedding doubles as a ‘thank you’ vacation for them. Destination weddings, simply due to the added travelling costs, work best for smaller guest lists, meaning that you get to spend your big day with those nearest and dearest to you.

A smaller party also offers a greater degree of freedom for your ceremony – you can say ‘I do’ on a sunny beach, on a Caribbean island, in front of the Niagara Falls, in the Arizona desert, or in front of Ancient Greek ruins. There are so many magical backdrops to choose from, the world really is your oyster.

Affordable Destinations

If you’re looking to save money in combining your wedding and honeymoon, there are lots of affordable destinations all over the world to choose from. The Caribbean is a very popular choice for Brits and Americans, being relatively cheap to fly to and offering great value for money – not to mention, almost guaranteed sunshine.

Lots of countries in Europe make great wedding destinations too, with many holiday resorts happy to cater for weddings, easy to access from the UK (if guests can’t book much time off work), and you have the option of cruising or interrailing to different destinations for the honeymoon.

wedding resort – photo by Back.Pack on Flickr CC

Getting R&R

After all the stress of planning a wedding, sometimes a luxury getaway sooner rather than later is in order. Many couples opt for beach weddings for this very reason, so the bridal party are free to relax afterwards by sunbathing or taking a dip in the sea. Of course, most wedding resorts also have excellent spa facilities, so you have the option of turning your honeymoon into a wellness break by taking advantage of possible couples’ discounts on massages and relaxation treatments.

Sharing Adventures

Right from the get-go, your wedding day becomes an exciting adventure in itself by taking it away from home. Of course, for your honeymoon or even your reception, there’s plenty for adrenaline junkies to do to add a little extra. If you’re both lovers of the slopes, you might want to get married in front of the snowy Alps at a ski resort, where you can both enjoy some snow sports and après-ski comforts for an action-packed honeymoon.

Alternatively, for natural explorers there are destinations all over South America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific where it’s easy to hike through jungles, visit biodiversity sites, or go scuba diving to celebrate the start of married life.

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