Sandals, Beaches, and... Weddings?

With the average cost of a wedding topping
$20,000, couples - particularly those who areIncreasingly, resorts at beaches and other locales
making their second trip down the aisle - arehave wedding coordinators who can help the
looking for exciting alternatives to the typicalcouple plan all aspects of their ceremony - even
church and reception soiree. For that reason,when the couple lives thousands of miles away.
destination weddings are becoming increasinglyThese services range from coordinating flowers
popular. Today, the bride may wear a simpleand other decorations to the bachelor party and
princess gown and the groom decked out in linenthe reception. They can even help facilitate
pants and an open-necked shirt - and both mayobtaining a marriage license for the couple.
be wearing sandals.
The advantages to a destination wedding are
Ceremonies are taking place on Cancun beaches,numerous. First, because weddings held at
in forests, and on cruise ships. Couples are leavingbeaches and other locales are less formal, the
behind the carnival atmosphere and celebritypressure to host the "perfect" wedding is absent.
grandeur of the large wedding and are embracingLess stress on the bride and groom mean they
simpler, more intimate settings for theircan actually enjoy themselves. Second, because
ceremonies.destination weddings typically have smaller guest
lists, the couple can enjoy the company of the
With a destination wedding, the couple selectspeople to whom they are closest, and don't have
the locale where they'd like to both hold theirto worry about dozens of virtual strangers in
ceremony and their honeymoon. Cruise ships,attendance. Third, because the wedding and
Caribbean getaways, and Hawaiian resorts top thehoneymoon are in the same location, the couple
list of desirable destinations. Once they decide oncan enjoy their ceremony and reception, knowing
a location, the couple typically draws up a smallthat they can simply relax and enjoy themselves
guest list - sometimes including as few as a halfafterwards.
dozen family members and other times
incorporating fifty or more guests.With the help of a great travel agency and a
wedding coordinator at the destination, getting
Working with a travel agent, they bookmarried can be like a day at the beach - in your
reservations at the resort or on the cruise ofsandals!
their choosing. When they're able, the couple oftenChris Robertson is an author of Majon
picks up the tab for both guest transportation andInternational, one of the worlds MOST popular
lodging; other times, the guests are responsibleinternet marketing companies on the web.
for their own transportation, but are providedLearn more about Sandals, Beaches,
with lodging for at least three nights.and...Weddings? or Majon's Travel directory.