My boyfriend and I recently got engaged, and would like to have a beach destination wedding. This will be my second wedding, so we will invite anyone who would like to go with us to do so (particularly our parents, siblings, etc.), but will have a big reception/party for all other friends and family when we return.
Does anyone have any suggestions for locations? I have looked into Sanibel Island, Florida, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as we would prefer not to make everyone get passports to make the trip. Cost will be a big factor because we will be paying for the majority of the wedding ourselves (being my second wedding, I don't expect my parents to pay for much).
I would love any advice from someone who has actually had a successful destination wedding. Locations, wedding planners, cheapest times of year... whatever you can offer! Thanks!
2007-09-05 07:11:47 · 15 answers · asked by Sarah 3 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
We are planning a destingation wedding for February 08. We chose St Thomas, because it is in the Caribbean, but because it is a part of the US Virgin Islands, no passports are required...we found a wedding planning company called www.islandweddingservices.com who have been just wonderful to deal with. Their prices are very reasonable compared to others, and they will marry you just about anywhere. We selected winter due to my fiance's business being less busy at that time, but we were there last month, and it was beautiful then, also. Many hotels there also had their own wedding planners, but we found many of them to be more elaborate that what we are going for.
Good luck, hope this helps.
2007-09-05 07:39:54 · answer #1 · answered by melouofs 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Destination Weddings are great for those having a small wedding and don't mind if many show up. You have to give your guests enough time (AT LEAST 6 months) notice to have a destination wedding. If you are inviting 50 people expect about 25% to not be able to attend (probably higher because it is a destination wedding). Also do NOT do a place like Hawaii if you want a low cost destination wedding. Hawaii does not offer all-inclusive pricing which means your guests will have to pay for flight, hotel, and food. My suggestion is to only look into all-inclusive places. That way you can get an estimate from a vacation provider and offer to pay a percentage of the sum. They will then summarize the remaining cost per person for your guests. Also remember you don't have to go far to get a destination feel. Canada offers a lot of quaint location that are quite beautiful and would be perfect for a small wedding. I am from Toronto and there is a great bed and breakfast in the area where you are able to rent a full house (fits about 30 guests) or two and have your ceremony and reception there. They provide food and your guests will have what feels like a mini vacation not far from home. The cost for this is actually quite reasonable ($10000 range everything included for two houses) and there is no need for extra costs like decor because it is quite beautiful already. Maybe that is something you can check out in your area. Either way it is up to you. You know the people you will include as guests on a personal level so it will be much easier for you to decide whether or not they will find a destination wedding too inconvenient. Weddings away from home can be joyous and exciting for all included so don't let anyone discourage you.
2016-05-17 10:13:44 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I got married in St. Tomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, although I lived there at the time. I had my wedding at a vacation villa...this works well because if you get a big enough one you can have up to five or so couples stay there too, this really cuts down on cost. McLaughlin-Anderson(sp?) was the company I used and they had a really great website with virtual tours of all the properties. Then you can have the wedding and the party right there. Get it catered if you want and theres not much else to worry about. The only problem: not much privacy for the wedding night. There are a lot of hotels though that can take care of everything for you, location, food, rooms, the whole package, and since you'll be planning from afar that can be really helpful. The Marriott on St. Thomas is beautiful and they do a lot of weddings. It is very popular to have weddings in St. Thomas because of the reasons you stated so you have a lot to choose from there. The summer months are much cheaper if you can stand the heat. Its probably only a few degrees warmer than in the winter though but keep the heat in mind esp. if you want to get married outside. But my wedding was in June and it was fine. Another thing: Summer is also hurricane season and although they're rare that can be an issue. Congrats and good luck! Let me know if I can help any more
2007-09-05 08:24:09 · answer #3 · answered by Sara n 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We had a VERY successful destination wedding at a beach in Georgia, near Savannah. It was gorgeous! We were married right on the beach (which was free & is free so long as you do not block off any area, set up tents or anything like that). We were married in February, and the weather was PERFECT. I am all about a destination wedding! It's so much easier and you can make it more personal, more you. I was my own wedding planner (with the help of family and friends), which also saved money, and I got to be in charge of everything.
And the scenery...... you can't find any scenery as pretty as the ocean, the sky, the sun, the sand.... the best "church" around!!
and of course, you get to do a beachy theme. I wore flip flops under my dress (I did have a real wedding dress, though, not a destination dress).
congratulations!!!!
2007-09-05 08:22:54 · answer #4 · answered by wifey2david 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look into going to Biloxi if you would like a beach wedding. It is beautiful with great weather almost all year long. Some of the casinos like The Beau Rivage have beautiful grounds with private beaches and I'm sure offer a wedding package.
Also, though it isn't as 'fun in the sun' as Biloxi there are some beautiful spots on the Cheasapeake Bay. Here you have the option to charter a boat and be married by the captain.
New Orleans is also a beautiful place for a destination wedding. I've listed a few links for you to check out. The very bottom one specializes in destination weddings. Congrats and good luck.
2007-09-05 07:25:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
try uniquedestinationweddings.com to start. Florida weddings are not as costly as going to an island like Hawaii or the Bahamas. Don't do the summer months as they are beastly hot...I would go with March, April, May, and then Sept or Oct. November. in the southern part of Florida. Try to avoid school and college break weeks..find out before booking anything as anyplace is terribly crowded with college kids and school kids. Sanibel Island is gorgeous, also there are so many areas of Florida on the Eastcoast that are beautiful. Also look into Key West, Florida and Isleamorada destination weddings. Key West is just beautiful and not as commercial as the southern part of Florida. It is a peninsular off the coast of Miami and you can drive there. They cater to destination weddings. try aweddingforyou.com and keywest.com. Good Luck
2007-09-05 10:13:34 · answer #6 · answered by cardgirl2 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I had a destination wedding this past June. We were intending on having children come with us (under 14), so we booked a family resort. We went to the Starfish Trelawny in Jamaica. For being a "family" resort, it was absolutely gorgeous & the other kids didn't bother me. There was a total of 16 of us that went (my immediate family, best friend, and part of his immediate family). We are planning on having a reception later this year. The cheapest times of year will be during non-holiday season (like Jan-March/April or the Fall). See if you can get flights out during the week, because those tend to be cheaper.
2007-09-05 07:45:20 · answer #7 · answered by Cheezie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
FYI....the U.S. virgin islands are still requiring passports with the exception of St. Thomas.
The cheapest time of the year would be hurricane season..late summer.
I would go to Hawaii. It's in the US. It is expensive but I have been to many places and would go back in a heartbeat.
If you live on the west coast, you're much closer. Southwest has great deals to Hawaii.
2007-09-05 07:18:15 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sanibel is nice and it's affordable getting air to Ft. Myers. Try avoiding school holidays: x-mas, mid february, easter, and november. Book ahead. I think there's a small chapel on Sanibel Island.
2007-09-05 13:07:32 · answer #9 · answered by Sondra 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DESTIN FLORIDA!!
The beaches are absolutely breath taking and you don't need a passport!
Call the Hilton. The have wedding packages that are really inexpensive. You can even get married right on the beach. It's incredible!!
2007-09-05 07:16:15 · answer #10 · answered by 1GR8GRL 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋