What are the best places to get married?

“Destination weddings” seem to be the buzzword right now when it comes to wedding planning. It seems that everyone wants to leave their familiar environment and launch into some great destination to get married.

There are, of course, advantages to leaving your own backyard and getting married elsewhere. For one thing, you can visit a new location and start your honeymoon shortly after the ceremony. And, if the ceremony is made up of just the two of you, or perhaps a very small group of family or friends, that can take the pressure off of planning a big wedding at home, not to mention cut costs.

But, you still have to decide where to go. And, for some, that is pressure in and of itself. They feel that they have to choose the best place to get married. After all, there are no backsies. Unless you plan on having a vow renewal in the future, there is only one wedding.

Deciding on the best place to get married depends on many factors, including your budget, time constraints, and the timing of your wedding. For example, the best place to get married in the fall might not be the best place to get married in the summer. Phoenix, Arizona is a good example. Unless you’re someone like me who just loves warm weather, you may want to skip Phoenix as a summer wedding destination. But, for all other seasons, Phoenix is ​​a great destination to get married.

The seasons are really a very important factor in choosing the best location. Not only do you have to deal with winter, spring, summer, and fall, but you also have to consider hurricanes, fires, and tornadoes, which definitely have seasons. The western US is currently experiencing one of the worst wildfire seasons in recent memory. It is definitely not good if you are planning to hold your destination wedding in resorts or towns in forest land. Make sure you know about hurricane, fire and tornado seasons and how they can affect your wedding plans.

If you’re planning a fall wedding, one of the best options would be the New England states, where you can get married amidst a backdrop of spectacular fall colors. It also has the added benefit of historic inns where you and your sweetheart can have a ceremony and begin your honeymoon.

If you’re planning a summer wedding, you can’t go wrong with a beach wedding. The great thing about beach weddings is that you can have the perfect beach wedding for any budget. If you have the money, you can stay at the most luxurious beach resort in Hawaii and have a spectacular wedding fit for a queen. But, if you’re on a tight budget, you can get a permit, hire an officiant, and have a little adventure on any number of Southern California beaches. The good news is that for next to nothing you’ll get a million dollar view. Once warning about Southern California beach weddings. Southern California has what is called the “June Blues,” and it is as the name implies. Usually in late May and early June, the sea layer sticks together and blocks the sun from shining. You would never know it was summer. So if you’re planning a wedding in Southern California, it’s best to have it in late June or later to avoid the June blues effect.

Some people want to dazzle with their weddings. They want to get married amid sights and sounds hitting them from all directions. Sounds like Vegas, right? If you want to get married then go crazy, Las Vegas is probably one of the best places to get married. It has gambling, Vegas shows and great restaurants. A Las Vegas wedding is also a great place to go if you want to bring some friends and family. The endless supply of entertainment will give your guests something to do once the ceremony is over.

If the idea of ​​a wedding in Las Vegas horrifies you and you prefer to get married in a more peaceful and spiritual environment, then Sedona, Arizona or Mount Shasta in California would be the best places for you. Certainly you can find a shaman or two in any of those areas that would damage your bond by being near your favorite vortex.

Maybe you’re the type who would still cringe at a Vegas wedding, think vortexes are silly, but would still like to get married outdoors, next to some of the most spectacular forests America has to offer. Your best bet might be the Great Smoky Mountains, outside of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. In fact, Gatlinburg has been called the “wedding capital of the South.”

The truth is that the “best” wedding destination is the best for you. And sometimes when you’re looking for the best location, you may also find that it’s right in your own backyard.