Imagine getting married in a romantic, tropical paradise, say the Fern Grotto in Kauai, Hawaii, a spot formerly reserved for Hawaiian royalty. After a ceremony at sunset, you are serenaded with the Hawaiian wedding song, before taking a short cruise to your traditional Hawaiian luau/reception.
Sound good? That's exactly what Kimberlee and Mike Turner from Louisville, KY, thought. "My husband and I decided to get married in Hawaii partly because neither of us had ever been there and we thought we would enjoy exploring the islands together on our honeymoon," said Kimberlee. "Although it's been nine years, I still have a special memory of our wedding and wouldn't have changed a thing." Destination weddings, such as Kimberlee's, move the festivities from your local reception hall to exotic locations, often leaving the massive expense -- and headache -- behind. "We didn't have to spend additional money on rehearsal dinners, tuxedos, bridesmaid's gifts, etc. and instead had a wonderful time touring Kauai, Ohau, and Hawaii (the big island)," said Kimberlee.
Such a wedding isn't for everyone. If you've always envisioned your special day with all the usual fanfare while everyone in the neighborhood watches, flying to Tahiti with just your immediate family and friends might disappoint you. But for the adventurer, with flexible family and friends, destination weddings provide a wonderful option.
PLANNING YOUR DESTINATION WEDDING
Plan your nuptials as if they're a vacation. First, decide what locale to visit and do reasearch on it. Kimberlee, for instance, looked at several issues of Hawaii magazine for ideas and called for brochures before discovering Smith's Tropical Paradise (1-808-821-6895) -- a resort that scheduled four weddings a day in the Fern Grotto. The wedding package she chose included the license, a Hawaiian minister, two entertainers who also serve as witnesses, Hawaiian leis, and a photographer who gave them a 12-print album.
Lisa and Geoff Glasser from Melville, New York, had no location in mind when they decided to take their wedding show on the road. "We just knew that the grind of the trendy New York ceremony and reception wasn't appealing. So we rented travel videos from our library."
After deciding on Cabo San Lucas, the Glassers picked a hotel, the Melia San Lucas (52-114-344 44), and called to see what wedding packages they offered. "It turned out that the hotel manager's wife acted as their wedding coordinator," said Lisa. Several phone calls and faxes later, all arrangements -- flowers, a judge and translator, a reception dinner for 12 and photographer -- were done.
If, like the Glassers, you marry outside the country, make sure you file the proper paperwork to make your marriage legal. Lisa called the Mexican consulate located in New York, for instance, before booking anything. "We had to overnight blood test results two days before our wedding day," she said. Whereas the Turners arrived on Kauai the day before the wedding and simply called Smith's for an appointment to get their marriage license.
Keep in mind that just because you marry outside your hometown doesn't mean you can't share your happiness with others. Both the Glassers and the Turners hosted informal receptions after their return. "We put up tents in my parent's backyard, served Italian food and I passed around my albums. It was nice. I told everyone that the day of my wedding didn't feel like my wedding day -- it was just so relaxed. Two hours before the ceremony, we all were in the pool with big pineapple drinks."
LOOKING FOR DESTINATION SUGGESTIONS?
Allegro Resorts have hosted weddings since the company began in 1993. Resorts are located in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Aruba, St. Kitts, Turks & Caicos, Antigua, Tunisia and Morocco. Packages include a justice of the peace, photographer, floral bouquet and boutonniere, wedding cake and sparkling champagne. Call 1-(800)-858-2258 for more information.
Hankering for a wedding that tastes as good as it looks? Why not get hitched at a cooking school? Besides culinary delights, Villa Michaela, located in Tuscany, offers unspoiled views of olive groves, the Alpe Apuane and an 18th century chapel. Le Mas des Oliviers, a recently refurbished stone Provencal villa in the South of France, boasts breathtaking sea views. For more information, call 1-(800)-428-9803.
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