Home Entertaining Ideas - Need Help Planning Your Destination Wedding?

(ARA) - When the former Kelly Gleason and her boyfriend, Ben, decided to become Mr. and Mrs. last year, they knew the ceremony had to be held someplace exotic. "We're the type of couple that is always looking for an adventure so we decided right away a destination wedding would be perfect for us," says Kelly.

They considered Florida, Hawaii, Jamaica, Bahamas, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico before finally settling on Riviera Maya in Mexico. "We picked that location because it was one of the most convenient places for our guests to travel to, and the resort because it would be able to take care of everything for us -- finding a pastor, hiring a photographer, bringing in a band, setting up the dinner, bringing in the flowers, etc."

Offerings like these used to be a rarity. But nowadays they are becoming the norm. Over the past decade, the wedding industry has seen 150- to 200-percent growth in destination weddings, where the ceremony and honeymoon take place far from home.

Why choose a wedding location in some exotic far away place? Couples want their wedding to be memorable and in an idyllic setting. Whether that's on the beach in Jamaica, with Elvis in Las Vegas, or in charming Mexico, the setting creates a unique, exciting experience. In addition, since many couples have family and friends scattered around the country, and guests will have to travel anyway, a fabulous locale allows a wedding to double as a vacation or a family reunion.

The money savings can also be significant. All inclusive destination weddings are often less expensive than traditional weddings due to their smaller size; and since you're already in the destination where you plan to spend your honeymoon, many resorts offer special complimentary weddings or affordable wedding packages. Plus take advantage of the money-saving offers from WorldVacations for greater discount. If you are getting married in Mexico or the Caribbean and inviting guests to join you, they can save up to $200! Plus, you, the bride and groom, will receive a $50 credit for every reservation taking advantage of this offer, up to the total cost of your destination wedding package! The more who go, the more you'll save!

If you, too, would like to put on the perfect wedding in paradise, here are some things the experts at NWA WorldVacations recommends you consider:

1. What kind of things do you like to do?
Do you love the beach, but your fiance would prefer to stay in the U.S.? It's your special day; where do you want to spend it together?

2. What are the travel plans of you and your guests?
You may be spending a week or more, but many of your guests may be staying for a shorter length of time. Keep the travel distance and time in mind when choosing your destination.

3. What's your budget -- and the budget of your guests?
You don't need to have your budget finalized, but remember that a wedding in Las Vegas will cost less than one in Jamaica, simply because of travel costs.

Once you decide on a destination, the next step will be to select a location for the ceremony. If planning on taking advantage of the complimentary weddings that many resorts offer, know that some resorts may ask you to stay a certain number of nights or reserve a certain number of rooms. Also, check to see if there are any additional fees.

When you're ready to book your destination wedding you may want to consider one of the offerings from NWA WorldVacation's LIFESTYLE Collection featuring Romance. Book your destination wedding here with an agent who can help you reserve airfare and find the perfect resort. Once everything is reserved, they'll put you in touch with the resort's onsite wedding planner, who can arrange every aspect of your special day, leaving you nothing to do but relax.

"Our wedding day was just perfect," says Kelly. "We got exactly what we wanted, and it was so nice not having to worry about anything. We were able to just focus on enjoying the atmosphere and time with friends and family."

Copyright © 2008, ARAnet, Inc.