How to Choose the Right Destination Wedding
Location
All Wedding Destinations
Have Pros & Cons
Before you zero in on any
particular wedding location, you'll want to determine what
it is that you want. Its probably a good idea to sit down
with your fiancé and write up a "Wish List" of things that
you want from your weddings destination. Here are some
suggestions:
1. A warm climate where you can swim.
 2.
A beautiful locale where your photography will be
outstanding.
3. A location (preferably on an island)
where you can enjoy a tropical wedding adventure. You
probably want a locale that will have lots of activities
that you two can enjoy.
4. A location that is not too expensive
to reach for both you and your guests (if you are having
any).
5. A safe environment in a country that
is friendly to your nationality.
6. A weddings destination where you can
easily get a legal marriage which will be honored in your
own country.
The Best Time of the Year
How important is the climate of
your venue? Beautiful pictures of a wedding venue don't
always tell the real story. Be sure to check out what the
climate is like year-round. Some areas get very cold at
night. Many locations have oppressive humidity at
certain times of the year. If you end up standing on a beach
when you are hot and sticky under a sweltering sun, you
might wish you chosen a beach with less humidity.
How important is it that you have good
weather? Will your wedding be indoors or
outdoors? If you are planning an outdoor wedding in
paradise (where most destination weddings are located)
you'll more than likely want to zero in on areas that are
known for good weather.
What time of year will you be
having your wedding? If you are going to have you wedding in
the summer, will the weather in your location be too hot? If
you are going to have it in the winter, will your proposed
location be too cold? If you live in the northern hemisphere
(like Europe or the United States) and are planning to
travel to the southern Hemisphere (like Australia), that
your winter is their summer and vice versa.
What are the chances of storms? Some very
beautiful locations encounter storms on a regular basis
during certain seasons. For example, if you are thinking of
traveling to the Caribbean (to Aruba for example) you will
want to consider if how close your date will be to their
storm season. As you may well know, there are typically five
or more killer storms each year that blow through the
Caribbean.
 Any
time you are scheduling an outside wedding venue, weather is
a major issue that must be taken into account. This is even
more true if you are planning a larger wedding with guests
coming a long way your destination wedding location. Keep in
mind that in many areas of the world, storms can build up
quickly. If you and your group have air reservations,
accommodations and lots of detailed planning for your
wedding — and a major storm is headed towards your island
paradise — you might just end up in a
destination
wedding nightmare. So choose your destination wedding
location knowing when will be the best probability of good
weather.
The Ease of Getting Married
If you are traveling to another country,
there will be even more things to consider. You and your
darling (and your wedding party) will probably all need
passports. How easy will it be to have your wedding
recognized in your home country? Some countries are simply
more difficult in this area, and it is wise to know this in
advance.
I should tell you that to counteract this
potential issue, many couples will have a legal private
wedding at home, and then have their photogenic wedding at
their destination wedding.
Choose A Location With Fun
Things to Do
 Your
wedding will be the highlight of your trip. But you should
also seriously consider how much fun your destination
wedding location will be for your honeymoon. Unless you are
planning to fly off to "another paradise" after the wedding
is over, you'll want to select a spot where there are lots
of fun things to do and see. Any guests you have will be
more than likely to show up if you choose a locale that they
would also like to visit.
Choose A Location Which Is Safe
There are many beautiful places in the
world that are not very safe. If you look only a photographs
of beautiful beaches, you may miss the fact that the
surrounding island is in a world of poverty and the crime
rate is high. Take a close look at online information on
websites that give tourist warnings.
If you are planning a trip to any third
world country it is essential that you check the area for
personal security warnings. Locations like Mexico, Caribbean
islands like Jamaica, islands in the Pacific Rim might all
have security warnings. Even if you are not an American is
is wise to check out the U.S. Department of State
Travel Alert. They issue travel warning, travel alerts
and give specific information for every country in the
world.
How Difficult Will An Emergency
Be?
Of course, you hope that
there will be no emergencies in your trip. But if there is,
how will you be able to cope with it? For example, if you
are injured in an auto accident or on an activity, how
comfortable are you with the idea of getting medical help in
this country? If you needed a
medical evacuation,
how easy would this be to
do in the country you are considering?
If you are robbed, how
expensive or difficult will it be to get your valuables
reimbursed? If you have to cancel your flight at the last
minute (before you even leave), can you purchase travel
insurance that will pay for the cost of that cancellation?
Of course, there are trip insurance policies, but they do
not work the same in different areas of the world. No matter
where you decide to have your destination wedding, you
definitely want to make sure that you are insured against
some unforeseen emergency.
How Expensive Will Your Wedding
Be?
There are many things to
consider when you count the cost of your destination
wedding. How much will airfare and accommodations set you
back. Make sure that you also know the cost of a rental car
and the price of the kind of activities you want to enjoy on
your honeymoon. Are their any package deals going to your
proposed location. Often you can get better prices if you
book your air, accommodations and rental vehicle altogether
(in a "tour package").
And of course, what will
it cost you to contract with an experienced
destination
wedding planner? Even if it will be just the two of you
at your ceremony, you will still want to consider what
options and prices you have available in their
different
destination
wedding packages.
If it is just the two of
you who are traveling to your destination wedding location,
your Certain countries are well-known for offering great
bargains. Mexico is a classic example of that. But if you
are traveling to a high volume area (such as Cancun) you
might find that the demand for the area causes your wedding
price to escalate beyond what you might normally pay in
another city in a third world country.
Destination
Wedding Planning
WeddingsDestination.Net
Maui, Hawaii
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