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For what its worth:

None of my friends who have had destination weddings regret it.

Most of my friends who shelled out house downpayments to pay for traditional wedding and reception, no matter how wonderful it was, wish they'd taken the money and eloped/destinationed it.

It is YOUR wedding. You guys do what you want to do.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErinKathleenNJ (Post 1404016)

I can't believe that! I'm doing everything I can to make them pay the least amount as possible. I've talked to the bridesmaids already and they are all psyched. I will be making it very clear that I will not accept any gifts from the people that come.

I think having a destination wedding is fitting for us. Both have us have traveled A LOT. I'm actually a little wierded out because it'd be a resort instead of backpacking, but I'll get over it. :)

This is so stressful. I'm the biggest organization freak, and I just can't seem to make this work how I want. Maybe I should just do it at home. We're going to go to a travel agent to see what we can do.

OH!! I also just found out that hurricane season starts June 1...so that'll be another thing to worry about. Sorry about the venting. More happy things to come (hopefully).

So, you need to visit the area if it is in this country or find a "friend" who is from that town you will be in the destination. Some stuff cannot be done over the phone.

You need to think about using the local ecology. It's cheaper, like the flowers and the kinds. And since your doing somewhere that is humid, you better forget a chiffon dress--too hot. Then your hair can be done up in a way that handles humidity.

To cut your costs, have several venues of activity selection for your guests.

Then no matter what you do, your relatives will show up. All family A-C-K a fool... You can plan, you can decide, but families are psychotic with these things. Even if they threaten you... They just ack a fool.

The other thing is you get married outside the US is you have to be up for anything. They will lose your baggage, on purpose. They will have all kinna crazy delays. Lose paperwork, then find it, they make you see someone else that's on break...

So your best bet, if you are already are crazy and you are just starting, do a JP in the states, and have a nice ceremony at your destination/honeymoon...

A travel agent might help, but I would want one specializing in destination weddings. Or if you make "friends", you will have a more cultural wedding, but you will make some really good "friends" that will give you the shirts off their back... You will get memorable freebies and it will be incredible.

I read somewhere that you should get insurance, in case you actually do have inclement weather.

And folks giving gifts: That's why you do a monetary registry or a charity registry. Then folks are forced to adhere to your desires. Otherwise, if you both are young, you should register for big ticket items.

Then have a reception somewhere later, sometime later.

Lots of folks do that...

I just wanted to say thank you all for your advice about this. Especially AKA_Monet :) I really appreciate all your input. Sorry the gratitude is comming a bit late.

We set a date today! Woo hoo, finally!! The ceremony and reception will both be in state, and near the family. We're both really happy.

I've always wanted to do a destination wedding on a beach with just 50 or so guests. We shall see.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06 (Post 1413054)

I've always wanted to do a destination wedding on a beach with just 50 or so guests. We shall see.

If you're thinking about it...there is a new book by the Knot that focuses on Destination Weddings. Maybe it would be helpful to you! :)

One of my coworkers is going on a cruise in May. I believe his niece will be getting married on the cruise... so they are all really excited.

I've had a bunch of girlfriends have destination weddings in Vegas, and they turned out to be really beautiful weddings.

I think if I ever got married I wouldn't go the 'traditional' route because it just seems way to stressful and not worth all the $. I'd rather have a smaller, more intimiate gathering.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KSUViolet06 (Post 1413054)

I've always wanted to do a destination wedding on a beach with just 50 or so guests. We shall see.

If you want sand, Hawaii or Carribean.

If you want location with little chairs, Wedding Bowl in La Jolla, CA

Nice beach wedding in the morning hands down: Lincoln, Oregon or anywhere on the Oregon Coast. But you are limited on EXACT TIME & DATES.

I didn't do a destination wedding, but part of me wishes I had. There are a couple of advantages. Your honeymoon starts immediately because you're already at your honeymoon destination, and (hopefully) you won't have to put up with too many obnoxious relatives and friends of your MIL that she insists *must* be invited even though you've never even met them, because they won't make the trip.

(Can you tell I don't like my MIL? ;) )

I recently got married in/on/at Catalina Island. Not bad the glamorous but definitely the flossy flossy!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobbyTheDon (Post 1415679)

I recently got married in/on/at Catalina Island. Not bad the glamorous but definitely the flossy flossy!

Aww. I bet it was beautiful.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobbyTheDon (Post 1415679)

I recently got married in/on/at Catalina Island. Not bad the glamorous but definitely the flossy flossy!

Married????

I never thought I'd see the day. j/k Congrats!

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErinKathleenNJ (Post 1403188)

So today my fiancé and I have finally sat down to really figure out what we're going to do four our wedding. Anyway...we're Irish and Italian Catholics, which means that if we don't invite EVERYONE in the family, including our dead great-grandparents' siblings, etc. then we'll be voted off the family island. Our family also happens to live in a part of the country where wedding venues aren't at all moderately priced for amount of people we would need.

The short of the story is I don't think we could do the wedding for under the cost of the cost of my graduate eduction. So we're seriously thinking about a destination wedding either in Italy or in the islands to keep the wedding personal and economical.

So my question...
1. Have any of you guys done a destination wedding?
2. Where did you do it?
3. Do you regret not having a big family party?
4. For those of you who have shelled out your future inheritance and your downpayment on a house...was your wedding worth it?

Thanks for your help everyone!

1. Have any of you guys done a destination wedding? I DID. THE BEST DECISION I EVER MADE
2. Where did you do it? NEGRIL, JAMAICA FOR 5 DAYS
3. Do you regret not having a big family party? MY IN-LAWS DECIDED TO THROW US A BIG RECEPTION A MONTH LATER.
4. For those of you who have shelled out your future inheritance and your downpayment on a house...was your wedding worth it? THANK GOD I DIDN'T DO THAT!

Our wedding is coming up. And his family still acts like they dont' understand what's going on. What part of limit your guest list do you not understand? The best part is knowing that I'm doing exactly what I want to do and no matter where I take the wedding, he's coming with me! :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by firecracker08 (Post 1415865)

This is exactly why we fled the country, ran all the way to Jamaica. The family alone is 95 people that we would have had to feed. And at the end of the day, when everyone is nice and full with big bellies, my bank account would have been deflated. No thanks.

I swear there should be a category for people who you haven't seen/talked to in years. They shouldnt be invited.

This list should include:
the tax lady
the pastor of our church (he doesn't know my fiance's name and he's gone to that church his whole life)
extended relations from the country