Destination wedding or not?

You have seen the ideal place for the wedding of your dreams. No, it’s not close to home, but who cares? You just have to get married there.

You have dreamed of getting married on the beach of a tropical destination, but you live in a city that is not near the beach.

The solution? A destination wedding. While many think this means a wedding where you and a selection of friends and family get on a plane to a tropical island, there are also destination weddings that occur closer to home, but not home.

Getting married somewhere else can mean that tropical beach, but it can also mean an apple orchard hours from home, a picturesque town nestled in the mountains, a historic place that you fell in love with. Whatever the “destination”, there are a few things to remember before booking.

If you plan to get married in the country you live in, that’s one less thing to worry about. However, if your ideal location is outside the country, you will need to obtain paperwork and licenses. Most of the well-known venues for their weddings will have a prepackaged offer that will be simple and stress-free – they’ve done it before and perfected what they need to do.

However, if your dream wedding is in a location not known for weddings, you will have to do much of the groundwork and planning on your own. (or with a professional planner, of course)

Leaving the city to get married is much simpler, you take whoever you want to be part of your big day and you save money on a great reception since you only have a selection of friends and family present. You can spend more time with your guests, as there won’t be that many, and you’ll find everything a little more relaxed than a big wedding with a great reception and everyone you’ve met in attendance.

However, if you have close friends and family who are unable to travel or you simply cannot leave out certain people regardless of the numbers, then choosing a destination closer to home may be your ideal way forward. No one says it has to be church and traditional, but having something an hour from home helps everyone get there without much hassle. Beach? Moutains? Historic place? Garden at home? Whatever you choose, it will be beautiful.