Personalize your special day.

Destination weddings are on average more affordable than full-blown traditional ceremonies, and good wedding resorts provide upgrades and optional add-ons to suit different tastes and budgets. Upgrade and personalize for a truly one-of-a-kind experience.


Think beyond the wedding ceremony.

One of the greatest appeals of a destination wedding is the built-in honeymoon - no extra spending on travel, no travel fatigue - in short, no muss, no fuss.


Combining Wedding and Honeymoon.

A benefit to having a destination wedding is not having to travel far for your honeymoon. Depending on where you choose to have your destination wedding, you can have the marriage ceremony and continue vacationing as your honeymoon, or you can have your ceremony in one place and continue on to another destination for your honeymoon. This works great in places like the Caribbean, where there are many small islands close together. In a typical wedding, the honeymoon accounts for 14 percent of your wedding costs, so by combining the two in a destination wedding, you can actually save money while creating a very memorable event!


Choosing a Destination for a Wedding and Honeymoon.

Choosing where to have your combination wedding and honeymoon can be made easy if you choose to book through DestinationWeddings.com. The MG specialists can help you decide on a place if you want to get married and honeymoon in the same location, such as on an island in the Caribbean, or a beautiful Mexican resort. Destination Wedding planners can also help plan another popular option - getting married and honeymooning on a cruise. By choosing the same destination for both your wedding and honeymoon, you have much less in the way of travel and planning to do. And by utilizing the help of specialists and wedding planners, you can make your wedding day and the time following into a relaxing unforgettable trip.


Fair Warning.

With a destination wedding, save-the-date cards are crucial. Send them off as early as possible, preferably at least eight months in advance. "Remember, this is a destination wedding, and your guests may be planning their family vacation around it." Giving them a heads-up allows them to shop for the best airfares and work the trip into the family budget


A Small Consideration.

You are not responsible for paying for your guests' travel and accommodations, but it is common etiquette to pay for your bridesmaids' and groomsmen's accommodations -- something to keep in mind when you're deciding if you should have two or eight bridesmaids. And while you aren't expected to pay for your guests' airfare and accommodations, be aware that while you're saving money by having a destination wedding, your guests have to pay a considerable sum to come to your wedding in paradise. Therefore, it's a very thoughtful touch if you welcome them accordingly -- try a gift basket filled with local snacks, sunscreen, and a disposable camera, or plan a fun outing or lunch for all of your guests before the wedding.


Guest Activities: Destination Wedding-Honeymoon Combo.

What do your guests do when the destination wedding ceremony is over? If you choose to get married and honeymoon on a cruise, a variety of options are available on the ship. But, keep in mind that it might not be too private or reclusive for the newlyweds. At most other destinations, before and after the wedding you can plan activities and other amusements for guests. Most of the time, however, guests at a destination wedding will be able to plan for themselves and will want to explore the beautiful environment and take in the local attractions.


How to Plan for a Destination Wedding and Honeymoon

Planning a wedding and honeymoon combo is often easier than planning the two events separately. There is only one location to scout and reserve, and there are coordinators through your travel agent or at the resort itself. When planning on where to have your wedding and honeymoon, often you'll want to look at the honeymoon destination first; many all-inclusive resorts and other honeymoon areas offer a wedding ceremony as a basic add-on to your honeymoon package.


Family Matters at Weddings.

Weddings are a time of great joy. But getting there can be challenging because blending families is not always easy. Today it is not just your future mother-in-law you have to consider. There are more second and third marriages that often involve children on one or both sides, not to mention step-parents and divorced parents, so making sure everything goes smoothly requires careful thought and planning. Even though much has changed over the 19 years I've been helping brides plan their perfect day, some basic rules still apply.


Who do you tell first?

Traditionally, the bride's parents are the first to be told that you are getting married, followed by the groom's parents. However, if either of you have children, they need to know immediately. The parent should to be the one to tell them, alone. Sometimes children will need a lot of reassurance; sometimes they already know and are comfortable with the idea of a new dad or mom. In either case, it is a good idea to include them in the process as much as possible. If there is one or more ex-spouse, they should be told next by the partner who is remarrying. Don't let them find out by accident. Then you can tell your other relatives and friends.

Including the groom's family.


In many weddings, the groom's family contributes to the wedding. How involved they are financially should determine how much input they have in decisions in those areas. It is very important that the groom be the one to approach his parents about sharing the expenses. However, it is up to the bride's parents, if they are planning to pay for the wedding, to decide if they want the groom's parents to help host it.

Sometimes mother-in-laws want to be very involved in planning the wedding because they don't have any daughters. Having good communication directly with your future mother-in-law can make your wedding a lot more fun. It's okay to say no as long as you do it nicely. Even if you don't get along well with your mother-in-law, keep in mind she did one thing right: she raised your future husband!


Handling divorced parents.

It is a good idea to involve all parents, whether divorced or not. You don't want to seem to show any favoritism. If the divorced parents are remarried and/or are on good terms, things are a lot easier. If two parents do not get along with one another, you will need to sit down with both separately to ask them to put aside their differences for this one special day. Usually that works.

At the reception, do not include divorced parents at the bride's table. Instead, give each their own table with members of their respective family and friends.


Second marriages when children are involved.

Including children in the wedding plans from the beginning will make them feel better about this dramatic change in their lives. Inviting them to help in the planning, shopping and some decision-making can smooth the transition. You will need to decide if you want the children to be included in the actual ceremony as part of the wedding party-- flower girl, ring bearer, bridesmaid, best man. But if you invite them to participate and they don't want to, honor their decision.


Another way to include children is to have a special ceremony within the wedding ceremony where their parent, the officiant, and the new step-parent all hold hands to form a circle representing a new family.

Communicating and planning are the two secrets to having a wonderful wedding.


Traveling to Your Destination Wedding and Honeymoon.

Are you doing a destination wedding and honeymoon package? If you're having a cruise wedding and honeymoon, some of the travel costs are included in the trip. If you're flying to an exotic locale, be sure to contact your wedding planner or specialist to find out the cheapest way to get plane tickets for all involved. Better yet, if you do a destination wedding and honeymoon, all of the travel related aspects – flights, airport transfers, resort fees, activities, entertainment and more – are offered through your Destination Wedding Specialist. Let your MG Specialist plan your perfect destination wedding-honeymoon without worry, while you focus on the more important things, like getting married! Your MG planner will work one-on-one with you to learn about your likes and dislikes, and your wants and expectations so that they can work to provide you with a fabulous destination wedding and honeymoon trip.


Preparing for the Weather.

Your dream destination wedding or honeymoon can quickly turn into a nightmare if you're not prepared for the weather. Before you depart for your personal paradise, learn what the weather is typically like for the time of year you plan to visit.


Have in mind.

Destination weddings take considerable planning and research, and the best properties & accommodations often book far in advance of the wedding date. The earlier you begin planning your wedding, the greater the likelihood you will be able to book the perfect property for you and your guests.


Don't forget emergency items.

Such as mini sewing kit, first aid kit, travel laundry detergent, stain remover, extra batteries, etc.


Mark your luggage with a distinguishing ribbon or tag.

90% of all bags are now black. Tie on a colored ribbon or wrap a special colored luggage wrap around your bags to set you apart. Pack plenty of film and check your camera's battery. Yes, you can buy more if you run out, but if you're traveling, chances are you'll be in touristy areas and film, batteries and other necessities can be more expensive.


Pack along romantic extras.

If your room has a CD player, bring along your favorite CD's; bring massage oils, favorite lotions, travel candles (yes they even make these now) special lingerie and a little surprise for your spouse to leave on his/her pillow on your first night. Be creative and have fun!


Keep the Rings en Route.

Last, but not least - never check your rings with your luggage. Always keep them on your person. The best wedding planners can work with unexpected and unplanned surprises - but lost rings can make a catastrophe of your special day.