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	Destination: Marital Bliss
	story Debbie Bruce Weddings can run the gamut when it comes to style, from ultra formal black tie affairs to casual ceremonies on the beach. One increasingly popular approach is a complete change of environment or what is commonly referred to as the destination wedding. “The destination wedding, at land or at sea, is really becoming a significant portion of the overall market,” says Cheryl Walker from Mississauga East Expedia CruiseShipCenters. “Instead of having the pressure of being responsible for just one day with two or three hundred people who don’t all know each other personally, the Bride and Groom can enjoy an intimate and beautiful time with the people they are closest to and care about the most.” When a couple decides to have a destination wedding, a walk down the aisle often takes place in a tropical locale. “The Dominican Republic is a popular spot for weddings,” says Walker. “If the Bride and Groom have a larger budget, the more exotic and smaller islands are a great choice, such as St. Lucia or Barbados.” There are a host of factors that determine which destination wedding would work best for you, but one of the advantages is their affordability. “Young couples these days much savvier consumers, and they know that they should be saving their money for a new home,” advises Walker. “Destination weddings are often cheaper because you’re saving the costs of a local hall, limos, the whole nine yards. Traditional at home weddings can often cost upwards of fifty grand, but many all-inclusive weddings are much cheaper than that, and include many perks.” The perks can range anywhere from free champagne and chocolate covered strawberries in the hotel room to complimentary accommodations or free travel for the Bride and Groom. Couples should know planning a destination wedding will go much smoother by planning ahead. Enlisting the help of a wedding coordinator from the chosen destination is highly recommended to help smooth out details such as dealing with local vendors and procedures for getting married. “A common mistake when it comes to planning a destination wedding is just showing up and assuming the resort will handle all the details. You want to deal with resorts that have existing experience with these things,” says Walker. “The key is advance planning. Just like you would book a hall a good year and a half in advance, the same goes planning for a vacation wedding, so you can research and find exactly what you’re looking for.” If couples find a resort they love that doesn’t provide a wedding coordinator, look for a coordinator who’s readily available online. This will save money on costly international or long distance telephone calls. A successful destination wedding ensures the people closest to the Bride and Groom are in attendance, which means couples will need to provide significant advance notice to friends and families. Save-the-date cards should be sent out earlier than for a standard wedding (three to four months instead of the usual six to eight weeks) to give guests time to budget for the trip and align it with their work schedules. If late notice is given, attendance will likely fall short of a couple’s expectations. And should the planning ever get overwhelming, always keep the end result in mind: standing on warm white sand at sunset with the warm Caribbean breeze witnessing the start of your new life as husband and wife. GL