Destination Weddings

Getting married on the tropical beaches of Maui always seemed like a dream, but nothing more. Even before I had visited the island, I knew it was where I wanted to get married regardless of how unrealistic I thought it was. It wasn’t until my feet touched the warm salt water and the softest sand pressed between my toes that I realized it was actually happening − a dream come true!

Getting married in a tropical atmosphere has the ability to be far more personal and meaningful to the couple. These days, the wedding chaos can pull the couple away from the true significance of their marriage and it turns into a fiasco. Thousands of dollars are spent for a single day, and it can easily get overwhelming. Having the peace and serenity of a small beach wedding is everything a bride could ask for and more.

There are tropical places all over the world that have become famous for romantic beach weddings. Although there are people who travel to far off places, including New Zealand and Europe, there are tropical places that are becoming increasingly popular and not out of the way for traveling accommodations. Here are some of the most popular (and reasonable) destination wedding locations of 2015.

Hawaii - There are several islands to choose from, but three stand out the most: Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. With the weather only changing about 10 degrees all year long, there are options to have an outdoor wedding summer, fall, winter and spring. Another benefit of Hawaii is that you get the tropical feel without having to travel out of the country. If you intend on inviting guests to the destination wedding, you’ll likely have a larger list than traveling outside of the United States. Maui, the romantic island, is excellent for the close-knit and romantic feel wanted in weddings. Kauai, the garden island, offers its tropical greens to surround your ceremony with little city to distract. The Big Island offers some of the most unique lava rock beaches and has a great balance of city and island retreat vibe.

The Bahamas - The Bahamas is a collection of over 700 islands and offers a variety of options for destination weddings. With the huge collection of islands, the newlyweds can even rent their own private island for the perfect honeymoon. There are specific islands for every taste: Some are more lively filled with nightlife, and others more serene and peaceful.

Regardless of what you want, the Bahamas can offer it. If you are looking into the Bahamas, check out some of the specific options each island has to offer first before booking. Once you pick what kind of ceremony you want, then you can find the island of best fit. One of the best parts is that the plane ride from Florida is just over a half-hour. Skip the five- to six-hour plane ride to Hawaii and opt for a shorter overseas plane ride. For a less crowded time of year without the risk of a hurricane, visit during April or May.

The Florida Keys - If you are in search of the Caribbean feel at a more affordable price, the Florida Keys are the perfect chain of islands for you. There is an old-Florida feel about the islands with nature, white beaches and blue water all around you. Some of the popular options available in the Keys include getting married aboard a boat of your choosing, sharing your vows with some local dolphins, or even getting married underwater. Each Key has something different to offer in wedding options. The best time to travel and hold your wedding here is also April or May.

Los Cabos, Mexico - In a beautiful paradise filled with white sandy beaches, who wouldn’t want to get married here? Cabo San Lucas is part of this area and offers a bit of lively nature to the relaxing beach wedding. It makes for an awesome after-party or wedding celebration to continue into the night. There are private boat rides for the couple to visit where they can share their vows or they can enter the wedding on horses. If that is not enough, in the right season, the releasing of baby sea turtles into the ocean can be incorporated into your ceremony. Los Cabos offers some of the most unique options for weddings. If you are looking to do something new and innovative, check out the Los Cabos area. The best time to get married here is mid-December though the end of March.

Why have a destination wedding?

Destination weddings are becoming more popular and with them comes added convenience. Planning destination weddings have become simpler and easier than planning most standard weddings. Coming from a bride who is doing both a destination and a domestic wedding, I can tell you the destination wedding is a complete breeze. Another added bonus is not having to plan the extra expense for a honeymoon. Say goodbye to all your family and friends after the wedding, and relax at the same place for the next week in paradise. By sharing the start of your marriage on a tropical island, you are making a special place for you and your spouse. Having a special destination offers great opportunities for anniversaries to come. Celebrating your 10th, 25th or even 50th wedding anniversaries become personalized and special since you can revisit your wedding beach in paradise.

Planning tips

• Go with a wedding package. Yes, it is easy to do a do-it-yourself wedding when you have everything at your fingertips, but doing this from overseas is not going to be easy. There are packages for every budget− you just need to do your research. I was able to find packages on the island of Maui for under $200, and this was inclusive of the basics you would need: minister, beach permits, and photography and marriage certificates. If you are looking for packages for larger parties inclusive of cakes, seating, videography and hundreds of photos, they are easily available as well. Set a baseline of what you need at your ceremony, and call your planner to find out what is possible.

• Don’t be afraid to ask questions. These companies do this for a living and understand that you have never been through this before. The wedding planner I used was also my minister, and he was able to adapt the ceremony to my needs.

• Know that you cannot be overly in control. Yes, your wedding day will be magical and absolutely perfect, but you need to know your limitations. Since you are planning from afar, your planner will be able to tell you what is best, and what is not going to work. Trust your planner. He or she is an expert, and if you listen to their suggestions, you will be overjoyed with the convenience and flawlessness of your planner’s recommendations.

Keeping things affordable

Getting married in paradise is surprisingly affordable. When you are not worried about feeding and catering for hundreds of people, the stress dissipates. Know your budget ahead of time and stick to it. I was able to remove pieces off my package, and take care of them on my own after I arrived at the island. Yes, wedding packages are a must, but all of the additions are not necessary. Like I said, you can have paradise on a budget and still have the memories of a lifetime. My wedding in Maui was $550, and this included conch shell blowing, rose petal circle, sand ceremony, beach permits, designated marriage license assistance, all certifications and about 300 photos. Personalize it to your taste and communicate with your planner to ensure you are getting what you need and nothing more.

Recognizing guests who cannot attend

My husband and I decided to get married on the island of Maui for sentimental reasons, and we are not alone. Many couples have cherished memories at these tropical islands or even have met in that same beach spot. Regardless of why, it is important to cherish the couple’s wishes and signify this in a wedding ceremony. For us, we got married in Maui because of my dad. Three years ago, my dad and I made a promise that we were going to go to Hawaii for the first time. The entire family had never been, and it was about time for a family vacation. Weeks later, I lost my dad suddenly. Living up to my end of the promise, a few months later, we took his ashes to the island of Maui so he could rest in paradise forever. My husband and I decided to make our dreams a reality and get married on the island so that my father could still give me away on my wedding day. Weddings are important landmarks in the years to come with a promise of forever.

Not always is there a loss in family members, but sometimes the inconvenience of travel won’t allow for everyone to make it. If this is the case, don’t completely rule out a destination wedding. There are many options for overcoming this and ways to recognize family who can’t make it. Webcams can bring family together from all over the world. Bring your laptop, and you can easily set up streaming video from your ceremony to those at home so that they can share the day with you. Also, depending on the location, there are options to honor them being there in spirit. You can print canvas photos of missing members, and have a picture of them there at the ceremony. You can also take some island influence to recognize them. Since Hawaii is one of the most popular places, you can use leis and have them placed on the beach around the photos, or lay them out in place of where they would stand for the ceremony. Each different wedding destination will have a unique influence that can be incorporated into the ceremony. When planning your wedding, check with your planner or minister about ideas to fill in the gaps.

Destination weddings are not unrealistic! Don’t be afraid to do some research, and check out your options. A lot of couples I have spoken to assume that it isn’t possible and give up on the idea of getting married in paradise. Don’t let this be a factor in your decision. Especially with the increase in couples tackling wedding planning and funding on their own, it is important that you are paying for something you can be proud of. Take a chance, and you can have the wedding of your dreams as truly an island princess. With the affordability, convenience and luxury of a wedding in paradise, throw away the fear, and say “I do” to your dream destination wedding.

Did you know?

Nearly one in four weddings are destination weddings.

70 Percent of destination weddings take place within the United States.

The top five destination wedding locations are:

1. Las Vegas - 125,000 per year

2. Hawaii - 20,000 per year

3. U.S. Virgin Islands - 5,100 per year

4. Jamaica - 5,000 per year

5. Bahamas - 4,000 per year

Annually, $16 billion is spent on destination weddings.

60 Percent of couples doing destination weddings will pay for the wedding themselves.

On average, 48 guests will attend a destination wedding.

It will cost, on average, $673 to attend a destination wedding as a guest.

90 percent of couples choose to do a destination wedding because of weather.

Top five wedding months

1. June

2. August

3. May

4. July

5. September

The average age of a destination bride is 33, which is slightly higher than non-destination weddings.

The average cost of the honeymoon to follow a destination wedding is $8,200 — 33 percent higher than traditional wedding honeymoons.

The capability and use of smartphones have acted as a great resource to saving money. Many brides are able to do do-it-yourself projects to help with the wedding costs. Most brides have at least one do-it-yourself project done at her wedding.

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