I am excited that Jennifer Stein, the publisher of Destination I Do is guest blogging for us today. The Destination I Do magazine is the ultimate go-to resource for any couple planning a destination wedding, whether it is on a palm-lined tropical island surrounded by crystal blue waters or at a cozy ski lodge just a few hours North of your home town. You can order the magazine on their website, or you can pick it up in your local bookshop. Today, Jen shares some advice for couples planning to tie the knot in a location away from home . . . .

When I first began dreaming of my wedding, it didn’t include church bells, tuxedos or a tiara. But rather warm tropical breezes, a flowing chiffon gown and a large white Gardenia tucked in my hair. This desire crept into my head around the age of 12 and never really left. The dilemma was that the only time I ever heard about a destination wedding was when a celebrity rented a Caribbean island or a couple experiencing the standard Vegas drive-thru elopement with an Elvis impersonator as their minister. Not exactly what I had in mind.

So what’s a girl to do when she’s thinking of doing something a little differently – with little to no information about how to execute it?

She goes to college, gets a job in publishing to learn the biz, educates herself on everything wedding and/or travel oriented and starts her own darn magazine.

Since we started the magazine, we’ve seen destination weddings skyrocket. Not because of us, (we’re not THAT narcissistic) but because the generation walking down the aisle is like no other that’s passed through the wedding market in years prior. This generation (some call them Echo Boomers others call them Millennials) is taking the wedding industry by storm – redefining etiquette, stretching the limits, and doing exactly what they want. No longer are “cookie-cutter” weddings the norm with Mommy and Daddy footing the bill. But rather, the couple is waiting until they are older to get married and doing it their way. Some are choosing to have smaller guest lists and spending money on the details, making the event representative of their personalities and what they like. They’ve said “step aside” to the chicken dinner and a ballroom reception and “hello” to eco-friendly beachside crab bakes.

I couldn’t be more thrilled.

The couples of today many times have divorced parents. Families have spread out across the country making it necessary for them to travel to the wedding anyway. Why not travel to a place where you can dig your toes in the sand, fly fish with Uncle Jimmy or visit a Balinese inspired spa with a sister you haven’t connected with in 6 months? Destination weddings lend themselves to more intimate gatherings; eliminating the feeling of obligation to invite EVERYONE they know.

A friend of mine once aptly renamed destination weddings – she calls them “combo burritos”. A little bit of this, and a little bit of that. The family reunion, the romantic getaway, a vacation for the whole family - with the crescendo being the union of a special couple.

But, I’ll be honest, they aren’t for everyone. There are a few things to consider.

Why you should do a destination wedding:
• Your in-laws will get to know your family better before the wedding – it’s the ultimate ice breaker.
• You’ll spend more time with your guests because they will be around for several days rather than just a few hours.
• If a majority of your guest list has to travel, why not go somewhere special?
• You can be as original as you like – because you’re doing a destination wedding, guests will expect the unexpected allowing you to do away with traditions you might not really want to incorporate. Don’t like cake OR the cake cutting? Serve a dessert indicative of the location.
• You enjoy traveling and experiencing places with other people.
• You’ve always envisioned yourself skiing down your matrimonial aisle and the thought of doing so in a church doesn’t really please your minister.
• It’s neutral ground for the families – if you pick one person’s hometown over the other, it could create problems.

Why you shouldn’t do a destination wedding:
• You don’t enjoy traveling and it stresses you out.
• You don’t like delegating and the thought of relinquishing control makes your hands sweat.
• A large percentage of your guest list doesn’t have to travel and you feel that asking them to do so would be too cost and/or time prohibitive.
• The most important people in your lives wouldn’t or couldn’t attend for various reasons.

If you really want to have a destination wedding but feel torn because a hometown wedding would allow you to invite everyone you know – do them both. Show the video of your destination ceremony at your hometown reception, design a second wedding album and use it as your guest book, incorporate favors and décor representative of your chosen destination - and best of all - get to wear your dress TWICE. Everyone wins, you get to don your Vera Wang again, and your guests won’t feel left out.

I am, and always will be a huge proponent for traditional and hometown weddings. They are the bedrock of our industry. But I also love to see something a little different, something creative, and something that shows the couple’s personality. So if you’re having a destination wedding or one at home, put your stamp on it, do it your way and for goodness sake – HIRE A WEDDING PLANNER!

{photo by Apertura Photo}