As tradition would have it the church has always been one of the obvious choices when choosing a location to say "I do." As the times change so do the trends lots of couples today who are no longer opting for the more traditional local church or park wedding but instead choosing destination weddings.
Destination weddings have risen in popularity as couples celebrate in individual style by traveling to exotic and far away locations to take their wedding vows.
Kim Pyke, Events Co-ordinator for Holiday Weddings on the Gold Coast, has found more couples turning to them for help in planning their dream wedding overseas.
"Destination weddings continue to grow in popularity. More and more couples are choosing a destination wedding instead of a traditional wedding in order to make the occasion more memorable, but also it simplifies the whole planning process," said Ms Pyke.
Organising a wedding can be a very demanding and usually an overly expensive ordeal. Choosing a destination wedding can provide an unforgettable and exciting experience while allowing someone else to take care of the finer details. This allows couples a chance to relax rather then stress during such an important time in their lives.
"A destination wedding allows the couples to skip the fuss and expense of a traditional wedding; it often avoids the many family issues that arise with a wedding. It also enables the couple to combine their wedding with their honeymoon, and spending quality time with their close family and friends," Ms Pyke shared.
We find that many of our couples are very time poor with their careers and life in general. This style of wedding gives them the amazing wedding they have always dreamt of and somebody else to take care of all the details," she added.
Probably the most important decision a couple needs to make is which destination? According to Ms Pyke, beautiful beaches with warm, tropical climates like "the Gold Coast, the Whitsunday's and Fiji are all popular locations as they are viewed as exotic and romantic locations".
Choosing to take your wedding party to an interesting and far away destination can make a huge difference to the money spent. Weddings are typically renowned for being costly, but a destination wedding can save money while capitalizing on lasting unforgettable memories.
Ms Pyke believes destination weddings equal value for the dollar, "The majority of destination weddings are less expensive than a traditional wedding. The idea of a destination wedding appeals to couples who are on a budget because they are able to avoid the expense of an elaborate wedding and prices are set from the beginning.
"This offers piece of mind and the ability to budget effectively, with no nasty little surprises as the final plans get closer. Once the deposit is paid the price is final and will not change in any way before the wedding."
Couples seeking destination weddings can find several businesses that specialize at organising weddings overseas. Destination wedding specialists have many different packages to suit people's budgets so it doesn't have to break the bank. They also tailor their packages to suit the individual couple.
Another option is managing the destination wedding yourself. This will definitely put the stress back into the picture, but ensures you are in complete control of all the finer details such as finding a ceremony site, arranging a florist, wedding cake, marriage celebrant, music and the list goes on! It is a great idea to have a local contact in the area that you choose as this will certainly make planning much easier.
If you do plan your own wedding and choose a destination overseas, keep in mind marriage laws. Some places will require residency, piles of paperwork and include substantial tests. France is a country with lots of requirements, so if your dream is to get married in Paris — "the city of love" — these are important aspects to consider.
For a wedding with a special edge, a destination wedding seems to be an alternative that is here to stay. From Hawaii to Jamaica, couples around the world will be saying "I do" on idyllic resort style locations, with no reception hall crowded with family you haven't seen for decades.
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