| With the average cost of a wedding topping | | | | for their own transportation, but are provided |
| $20,000, couples - particularly those who are | | | | with lodging for at least three nights. |
| making their second trip down the aisle - are | | | | Increasingly, resorts at beaches and other locales |
| looking for exciting alternatives to the typical | | | | have wedding coordinators who can help the |
| church and reception soiree. For that reason, | | | | couple plan all aspects of their ceremony - even |
| destination weddings are becoming increasingly | | | | when the couple lives thousands of miles away. |
| popular. Today, the bride may wear a simple | | | | These services range from coordinating flowers |
| princess gown and the groom decked out in linen | | | | and other decorations to the bachelor party and |
| pants and an open-necked shirt - and both may | | | | the reception. They can even help facilitate |
| be wearing sandals. | | | | obtaining a marriage license for the couple. |
| Ceremonies are taking place on Cancun beaches, | | | | The advantages to a destination wedding are |
| in forests, and on cruise ships. Couples are leaving | | | | numerous. First, because weddings held at |
| behind the carnival atmosphere and celebrity | | | | beaches and other locales are less formal, the |
| grandeur of the large wedding and are embracing | | | | pressure to host the "perfect" wedding is absent. |
| simpler, more intimate settings for their | | | | Less stress on the bride and groom mean they |
| ceremonies. | | | | can actually enjoy themselves. Second, because |
| With a destination wedding, the couple selects the | | | | destination weddings typically have smaller guest |
| locale where they'd like to both hold their | | | | lists, the couple can enjoy the company of the |
| ceremony and their honeymoon. Cruise ships, | | | | people to whom they are closest, and don't have |
| Caribbean getaways, and Hawaiian resorts top the | | | | to worry about dozens of virtual strangers in |
| list of desirable destinations. Once they decide on | | | | attendance. Third, because the wedding and |
| a location, the couple typically draws up a small | | | | honeymoon are in the same location, the couple |
| guest list - sometimes including as few as a half | | | | can enjoy their ceremony and reception, knowing |
| dozen family members and other times | | | | that they can simply relax and enjoy themselves |
| incorporating fifty or more guests. | | | | afterwards. |
| Working with a travel agent, they book | | | | With the help of a great travel agency and a |
| reservations at the resort or on the cruise of | | | | wedding coordinator at the destination, getting |
| their choosing. When they're able, the couple often | | | | married can be like a day at the beach - in your |
| picks up the tab for both guest transportation and | | | | sandals! |
| lodging; other times, the guests are responsible | | | | |