| Angelique Cabral* had never been to Portugal or the | | | | exotic like the island of Malta? Are you limited by your |
| Azores where her father had immigrated from to the | | | | budget? Then the more popular destination wedding |
| United States more than 25 years ago. She had | | | | locations like Hawaii or Jamaica might be for you. All |
| always been curious to go visit the country and her | | | | these options are available to you in today's destination |
| extended family members who still lived there, but | | | | wedding industry. Spend a good amount of time with |
| something else always seemed to come up - study, | | | | your finance to figure out what your priorities are in |
| work, and now, a new love. For her wedding, she | | | | choosing a location and find a good destination |
| wanted to do something a little different, and wished to | | | | wedding travel agent/specialist. |
| finally get to Portugal for her honeymoon - when it | | | | A great way to cut down on costs but keep the |
| finally hit her: a destination wedding! | | | | elegance you want in mind, is to take advantage of |
| The ease and simplicity of destination weddings are | | | | wedding and honeymoon packages at all-inclusive |
| gaining more and more popularity as a special way to | | | | resorts. Everything from the flowers, the catering, the |
| celebrate, but also to cut down on wedding and | | | | marriage license, the wedding officiator, and even the |
| honeymoon costs. The idea appeals to couples around | | | | photographers are often taken care of for you. All you |
| the world for a number of reasons: in this global age, to | | | | need to do is select your dress or suit and show up |
| bring family and friends together from around the | | | | ready to have a good time! |
| world, to enjoy the simplicity of a small wedding party, | | | | 3. Who will you invite? |
| or, like Angelique, to visit and explore a place they | | | | Destination weddings, by the nature of economics, are |
| have always wanted to go. | | | | small weddings. As the saying goes, from the number |
| The secret to planning a simple but smashing | | | | of people you invite, only 60% of those invited are |
| destination wedding and honeymoon is in choosing an | | | | expected to attend the traditional wedding. With flight, |
| expert hotelier or a destination travel specialist who will | | | | distance and accommodations a factor, the destination |
| take care of all your needs after consulting with you | | | | wedding expects 20 % of those invited to come. This |
| and your loved one on what those needs are. Prices | | | | leaves room for a more intimate and creative |
| can vary, depending on your wedding party and | | | | reception. |
| number of guests, but all in all, costs will inevitably be | | | | The bride or groom's families are expected as the |
| more affordable as you will not have to commission | | | | hosts of the party to pay for the reception and a |
| each of the wedding vendors yourself - the hotel or | | | | formal meal or two. Include this number, as well as |
| agent takes care of all that for you! In addition, travel | | | | creative extras such as gifts for your guests (towels, |
| costs are cut in half for your and your loved one, as | | | | sunglasses, Frisbees, soaps, or local food specialties) in |
| your honeymoon destination is already outside your | | | | your budget. |
| hotel door! | | | | Another creative consideration is in the design of your |
| The following are 5 important considerations for the | | | | wedding invitation. Your invitation may want to reflect |
| perfect destination wedding and honeymoon. | | | | the characteristics of the destination, or like Angelique, |
| 1. What is your budget? | | | | reflect the reason for the destination - her wedding |
| Sit down with your husband or bride-to-be and your | | | | invitations arrived to each of her guests on a card |
| family and set your budget first. Be sure to include | | | | printed with a copy of her father's old family photo! |
| your wedding costs as well as your honeymoon | | | | Include the design of the invitation, the extra information |
| budget. Generally, the bride and groom are not | | | | for guests (maps, entertainment information, flight |
| responsible for paying for guests' travel and | | | | information), and the postage in your budgeting. |
| accommodation expenses - but will you want to pay | | | | 4. Enjoy your Family and Friends. |
| for family members? And also keep in mind, that at | | | | You'll have saved a lot of time and money in choosing |
| traditional weddings, couples can often recoup their | | | | the destination wedding. You can take the free time |
| costs through gifts - but wedding gifts are not | | | | you have to arrange fun activities with your friends |
| common and cannot always be expected for | | | | and family - a night on the town (how about a |
| destination nuptials. Your guests' gift to you will be | | | | destination stag or stagette?), a cruise ride, or a family |
| traveling from far and near to share in your special | | | | and friend museum tour. You'll be able to take |
| day with you. | | | | advantage of your location and make your wedding |
| 2. Location, Location, Location. | | | | memorable for everyone. |
| Where do you want to go? Consider where you see | | | | 5. Enjoy each other. |
| yourself saying your vows, as well as where you see | | | | The wedding is done and you won't have to travel |
| you and your new spouse relaxing after the wedding. | | | | very far to reach your honeymoon - in fact, it'll be right |
| Your honeymoon will be a natural extension of your | | | | outside your hotel door. Let the honeymoon of |
| wedding - do you want some good beach time in the | | | | exploration, adventure or relaxation - whatever you're |
| Caribbean? Or would you rather go somewhere | | | | here for - begin! |