Destination Wedding?

Everyone loves summer wedding! This is especially true in Canada, when our summers our summers are fleeting and much appreciated after months of enduring cold weather and hiding our fancy dresses under coats and wraps. As a young girl, my favorite dream wedding always took place under a beautiful summer sun, and now that I am finally engaged, it’s time to make that dream a reality!

I began my quest for the perfect summer wedding venue with excitement, but my favorite dream slowly became a nightmare. Every single venue I called was booked throughout the summer months. Apparently, all the most wonderful places to hold a wedding were booked over a year in advance when you start talking summer weddings. I started contacting other venues that I was not necessarily as passionate about, but even these locations were pretty much booked up.
I had always heard that a bride’s biggest fear was not finding the right dress, however, the way my wedding planning was going- I wouldn’t have to worry about getting a dress if I couldn’t find a place to wear it. I could almost see the leaves on the trees changing before my eyes as weeks went by and I still hadn’t found a venue.
Then, as I was going through my old wedding scrapbook, the one I had created way before I was even close to engaged in the hopes that one day I would be able to piece together all the best parts of the weddings I had been to over the years. Oh come on, don’t pretend you don’t have one! In any case, as I was leafing through the pages filled with clippings of dresses, and pictures of handsome grooms, I noticed an invitation that I had placed inside because I loved the way it looked. As I looked closer at it, I realized it was an invitation for a destination wedding in the Dominican Republic that my sister had attended a few years ago. All of a sudden, it was like a light went off in my head- or rather, visions of sunlight did! I could keep the dream of a summer wedding alive by having a destination wedding!

Why try and infiltrate the elusive VIP summer wedding venue list, when I could take my VIP wedding party to that gorgeous summer climate instead? I could chose any month I wanted and not just get to spend one single day with my close family and friends, but an entire week! Plus, we would all get to indulge in the luxuries of a tropical resort, beaches and weather. The future was looking so bright that I would probably have to wear shades- t almost seemed too good to be true so I made a list of things to consider of both the pros and the cons.

Tips to consider when planning a destination wedding:
1) Budget: Consider your budget when planning a destination wedding, as well as your guests’ budget.
Pro: Planning a destination wedding may actually cost less considering resorts offer great packages deals for all you can eat and drink at significantly lower costs than you would pay at home.
Con: Some guests may not be able to attend if they cannot afford it. When planning a destination wedding, the reality is that even some of your closest friends may not be able to afford your wedding so be gracious and prepared when your guest list turns out to be a bit shorter than you had anticipated.

2) Honeymoon: You could plan your honeymoon simply by staying on the resort a few days after your guests leave to get some more romantic time with your new spouse.
Pro: You can save money by not having to book another flight and accommodation.
Con: You may prefer a change of scene after having spent some time on the resort already

3) Planning long distance: Planning a destination wedding would require communication and planning to be done over the Internet and phone.
Pro: You can rely on reviews of others who may have had a wedding there. The internet is full of message boards and forums where people post reviews and even pictures of destination venues.
Con: You wouldn’t be able to physically check out the space as you would if you were to book a venue locally.

4) Extended family: Having a destination wedding may not be feasible for everyone. Many extended family members may not be able to attend due to budget restraints amongst other reasons.
Pro: You may not have to accommodate every single person in your family trees; you can have a smaller group of people who are closer to you.
Con: This could a disappointment since weddings are a great time for people and families to get together and catch up.

5) The weather will be warm, which may affect your wedding attire.
Pro: Have fun with going with a beautiful light beach themed dress and have your wedding party dress up in casual but beautiful summer wear.
Con: You may have to let go of your dream of an elaborate, princess wedding dress with all the bells and whistles.

6) A priceless memory:
Pro: How many times in your life do you jump on a plane with your closest family and friends and take a trip together with perfect weather, food, drinks and occasion! This will be a wedding experience you and your guests will never forget!
Con: Remember, some guests who may have wanted to be there will not be able to attend due to finances. To mitigate this disappointment for them, you may have to consider having a small reception when you return home.