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By Kirsten Hawkins
For a long time the destination wedding, a wedding combined
with a vacation for the couple, wedding party, and guests, was
an exotic treat attainable only by the extremely wealthy. This
is no longer the case as destination weddings have, in recent
years, become an attainable and attractive alternative for
more
and more couples seeking to put an enjoyable romantic spin on
their nuptial occasion. Destination wedding planners like to
advertise that the destination wedding can cost thousands less
than a traditional wedding. While this may or may not be true,
depending on what a particular couple plans to spend on their
traditional wedding as opposed to what they’ll have to spend
for a destination wedding, it is certainly a fact that a
destination wedding is no longer completely out of the
question
for the average couple. If you’re interested in celebrating
your
own marriage ceremony with a destination wedding, here are
some
helpful pointers that can have you enjoying your wedding in a
vacation locale without completely emptying the coffers.
Your Destination Doesn’t Have to be Distant:
One of the truly beautiful things about living in the United
States is that we have vacation spots nearly everywhere. By
planning your destination wedding in a place that is
relatively
close to home, you can save considerably on airfare or other
travel arrangements. Do you live on the East Coast? Make
Orlando, Florida your destination and enjoy your honeymoon
with
Mickey Mouse. Already in Florida and been to Disneyworld far
too
many times? Set your sights on the Big Apple and enjoy a
destination wedding in the City that Never Sleeps. Maybe
you’re
in the Midwest? If so a destination wedding in Chicago may
have
just the right romantic touch for you. You could also consider
heading south to Texas to visit the Alamo. Live in the
Southwest or Northwest? Then Las Vegas and Los Angeles are
mere
hours away by plane. The point is that your destination
wedding
doesn’t have to be held in London, Paris, or Munich to be an
event you will remember fondly and cherish forever.
Plan Ahead and Get Group Rates:
Everyone knows that air passage costs less when booked and
purchased well in advance. Be sure to make the reservations
for
your destination wedding far ahead of time to get the best
value
for you and your guests. Also, utilize the services of a
talented travel agent who can negotiate your airfare and hotel
accommodations all together. Doing so can save you an amazing
percentage of the overall cost of your destination wedding.
If There’s an ‘Off Season,’ Take Advantage of It:
Many of the vacation spots around the country have an off
season where the rates for hotels, airfare, and attractions
are
quite lower than they are during their busier times. By
planning
your destination wedding during these non-peak times you can
save money and enjoy your destination when there are fewer
tourists getting in the way of your enjoyment.
About The Author: Kirsten Hawkins is an event planner from
Nashville, TN. Visit www.wedding411.net/ for more event
planning tips, strategies, and resources.
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