Tag Archives: planning a destination wedding

Destination Weddings – More Popular Than Ever!!

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It only takes a few days with single digit temperatures for couples to open up to the idea of a destination wedding.

For many years,  destination weddings have been on the rise.  Usually held at tropical locations, they combine the honeymoon with the wedding itself. Guests travel to the location and can spend up to a week celebrating with the couple.

 There are several reasons that couples opt for a destination wedding… one of which is  to save money! Believe it or not, couples who  have destination weddings typically spend less overall.

According to Travel & Leisure magazine, the top wedding destinations are as follows:

1) Mexico. No surprise here. Mexico is close and  entices couples with its warm, sunny weather, colorful culture, extensive coastline, spicy cuisine, and wide choice of accommodations. You will not be disappointed.

2) Jamaica. A lush island, Jamaica has beaches, waterfalls, mountains to explore. With more all-inclusives than anywhere else in the Caribbean and a reggae beat, and it’s no wonder it’s so popular!

3) Dominican Republic. With fine boutique hotels and price-competitive all-inclusives, this is a wonderful place to begin your lives together.

4) Bahamas. Just off the coast of Florida you can find everything you want whether you opt for developed Nassau, Freeport, Paradise, and Grand Bahama Island or one of the low-key Out Islands.

5) Hawaii. You don’t have to bring a passport to enjoy a tropical paradise, just ask anyone who has ever been to Hawaii.

Honorable Mention goes to any of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Whether you choose St. Thomas, St. Croix or St. John, you will not have any problems except deciding which of these islands is best for you. They are all magnificent and they are all U.S. territories so there are no legal hassles.

No matter which destination you choose   it is important to use a reputable Destination Wedding Specialist. They will know all of the in’s,  out’s and pitfalls of the particular resort you have chosen. They will also more than likely be able to get you a better deal and more extras.  You can do it all by yourself but, it can be quite a bit of stress.

Better to sit back, relax and stick a little umbrella in your drink!

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

Where Should You Have Your Wedding?

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You have lived in Chicago your whole life. You were raised on ‘the perfect’ hot dog, da Bulls, deep dish pizza and winters that normally last through a normal spring. You moved to Phoenix for business 5 years ago, met the man of your dreams and never looked back… or did you? When it comes time to tie the knot many brides and grooms decide to have a “Hometown Destination” wedding and there are many reasons why. Additionally, there is nothing that says the groom’s hometown is off limits any more, either.

Traditionally, couples got married in the bride’s hometown, her parents paid for the whole thing, the couple honeymooned and then went back to their lives as usual… wherever they lived. Well, it is 2012 not 1950, many couples plan and pay for their entire wedding and a large majority already live together before tying the knot. What does that mean? It means there are no rules that say where you MUST have your wedding.

Having your wedding in your hometown can be a lot of fun, spending the weekend re-visiting some of your favorite places, seeing family and friends you haven’t had a chance to connect with in years. It can also be very stressful with all that family around so, having a ‘hometown’ wedding is a very important decision.

Points to consider before making the decision:

Is there a lot of family that couldn’t travel in either direction?

Is it considerably less expensive to host the wedding in a hometown location?

Are there people who won’t attend if it is not local?

Is there a historic or special place you always dreamed of getting married near where you grew up?

Is it feasible for you to plan a wedding in another city/state without being there constantly to monitor things?

Are there local vendors that you trust to handle things without constant supervision?

Answering  any one of those questions honestly could be the deciding factor. The important thing is that you both agree that the place where your wedding is hosted is special and meaningful to both of you. If either of you has doubts, do some more research. As with any part of the wedding planning, you should always come to a middle ground where both parties are in 100% agreement to avoid arguing or blame later if something doesn’t go as planned.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

Destination Weddings – More Popular Than Ever!

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Global warming has it’s benefits, like the fact that the weather in Chicago has been rather balmy this winter…. so far. I am, of course, skeptical enough to think that as soon as it starts snowing we might be buried up to our necks in the white stuff. There are others who think (hope) that old man winter just decided to give us a break after last winter’s “Snowpocalypse”. Planning a wedding during the winter months can be risky, one of the main reasons why brides and grooms in the colder states opt for a destination getaway this time of year.

The benefits of a destination wedding are many:

You can combine wedding with honeymoon, family reunion and vacation all in one.

You are able to invite less people without anyone being offended. Only inviting your nearest and dearest will make a more intimate and fun-filled getaway with MUCH less stress.

Most reception sites are booked a year in advance, not so with a destination event. You can literally plan your wedding in a few short months and still give your guests time to book their travel and RSVP.

Time to bond. Since you will have a smaller group of guests, it will allow you a few days to really get to know some of the people you are less familiar with and re-kindle old friendships that have cooled off.

Less arguing. If you were raised in different cities there is no ‘home turf advantage’, it is now a level playing field and couples will find themselves with less family disputes.

Weekend travel is a rare treat and since some of your guests will have to travel anyway, why not let them travel to a warm, exotic destination rather than a cold, wintry spot?

Many travel agencies offer packages that are quite affordable so, if you are planning a destination wedding, now’s the time to do it! If you are one of the many couples considering a destination wedding, call  847-428-3320 to get tickets to a Bridal Expo in your area so you can meet face to face with one of our many travel consultants and get started on your dream wedding right away! You can also get tickets by visiting our website www.bridalshowexpo.com . Make sure to ‘like’  us on Facebook for more updates, giveaways and specials.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top Five Destinations For A Wedding Getaway!

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For many years,  destination weddings have been on the rise.  A destination wedding is usually held at a tropical location and combines the honeymoon with the wedding itself. Guests travel to the location and spend up to a week celebrating with the couple.

 There are several reasons that couples opt for a destination wedding;  when a large portion of the family has to travel to get to the wedding, anyway, when they are from different areas of the country and do not want to decide against one hometown for another and  to save money… believe it or not, couples who  have destination weddings typically spend less.

According to Travel & Leisure magazine, the top wedding destinations are as follows:

1) Mexico.No surprise here. Mexico is close and  entices couples with its warm, sunny weather, colorful culture, extensive coastline, spicy cuisine, and wide choice of accommodations. You will not be disappointed.

2) Jamaica.A lush island, Jamaica has beaches, waterfalls, mountains to explore. With more all-inclusives than anywhere else in the Caribbean and a reggae beat, and it’s no wonder it’s so popular!

3) Dominican Republic. With fine boutique hotels and price-competitive all-inclusives, this is a wonderful place to begin your lives together.

4) Bahamas. Just off the coast of Florida you can find everything you want whether you opt for developed Nassau, Freeport, Paradise, and Grand Bahama Island or one of the low-key Out Islands.

5) Hawaii. You don’t have to bring a passport to enjoy tropic paradise, jsut ask anyone who has ever been to Hawaii.

Honorable Mention goes to any of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Whether you choose St. Thomas, St. Croix or St. John, you will not have any problems except deciding which of these islands is best for you. They are all magnificent and they are all U.S. territories so there are no legal hassles.

Whichever one of these places is best for you  it is important to use a reputable Destination Wedding Specialist. They  will know all of the in’s,  out’s and pitfalls of the particular resort you have chosen. They will also more than likely be able to get you a better deal and more extras.  You can do it all by yourself but, it can be quite a bit of stress. Better to sit back, relax and don’t sweat the small stuff.

-Penny Frulla for Bridal Expo Chicago