If you grew up thinking about your wedding as a traditional wedding, you probably pictured yourself throwing a grand party with all of your friends, family, loved ones, and people your parents know, that you don’t even remember, from your childhood. You may see a beautiful chapel, or garden, lined with white chairs or pews, flowers and tulle everywhere, and all of the traditional things that we have grown up seeing.
You may have a mental picture of your reception as being held in a brilliantly decorated hall, with a dance floor and lively music, large round tables with linens to match your chosen color theme of your wedding. There may be a head table where you and your wedding party will sit and try to enjoy your dinner. You may even have an idea of what the toast from the best man will sound like.
Many of us grew up with this implanted in our minds as the wedding we should all desire. But many couples now are realizing that spending thousands and thousands of hard-earned dollars to spend just a short few hours with their guests, feeling so overwhelmed with the idea that they are supposed to greet and spend time with each and every guest, and no time to enjoy the dinner that they so carefully picked out, is just not the way that they want to spend their special wedding day.
It is now said that nearly 25% of U.S. couples are choosing to marry in other countries with much smaller numbers of guests than the traditional U.S. wedding. These couples have chosen to throw away old traditions and embrace the idea of only having those that they truly love as guests at their wedding ceremony. The average guest count for an out of the country destination wedding is approximately 25. That is a far cry from the hundred or more guests that would attend if they only had to drive down the street to enjoy the festivities!
Here are the top five reasons to choose a destination wedding in a foreign country:
- You can say I do anywhere! A destination wedding is defined as marrying at least 100 miles from where the bride currently lives. But heading to Mexico, Jamaica or the Dominican Republic are the most popular destinations at this time, due to the great pricing on all-inclusive travel. Getting married on a beautiful beach always sounds romantic too!
- You’ll stand out from the crowd. You won’t have to choose from the same old hometown spots all your friends have married in. Imagine the gorgeous pictures you will come home with! Some locations offer Skype services for your ceremony as well. A great way for those who cannot travel to still take part in your special day.
- It’s so much easier! Many wedding-worthy resorts offer free planning help to couples, whether the event is for two or 200, and an abundance of ceremony packages keeps things simple while still giving options to customize. Better yet, use a specialized agent that can point you towards the resorts that offer many perks and discounts to their wedding couples.
- You can save on decor. With a destination wedding in a stunning setting, your location of choice will supply the theme. And when you choose a gorgeous backdrop, it doesn’t take much to dress it up. Opt for a pristine beach, a green garden, or an ocean-side gazebo, and you’ll be more than covered with a few simple floral arrangements and other modest accents.
- Enjoy quality time and create new memories with loved ones. The standard wedding lasts for four hours, and the bride and groom spend most of that time running from table to table, trying to say hello to everyone. Not to mention that five years later, they will probably not be able to tell you everyone that was in attendance. A destination wedding experience spans a minimum of three days — which means, now that you have finally gotten your nearest and dearest together, you can actually spend quality time with them! This doesn’t mean you will be spending your honeymoon with your guests. It is common for the bride and groom to move down the road to a new resort to enjoy the days after their wedding alone.
So, if you have decided that a Destination Wedding is for you, please reach out to us by completing our contact page information, and we’ll have a Destination Wedding Travel Expert contact you to discuss your options. Your Expert will recommend the best resorts that will offer you the best experience and fit into your budget, your guest’s budget, and fulfill your vision of the perfect wedding.