Destination Weddings
 

1. We had a religious ceremony for our family after we eloped. You can search my username to find the details.

2. Sedona, Arizona

3. I really wanted my grandmother to attend, but I decided not to because it was July in Arizona and it would be too hot for her. Moreover, she would have to fly into Phoenix from Orlando, FL, then drive up 2 hours to Sedona... Only my husband's immediate family attended. I had just met his mother the day before our ceremony. And she's such a Southern Belle.

Do I regret it? No. Because it's about your husband and yourself, anyways...

4. Worth every lost penny...

The biggest thing if you know your family will be pissed off, then you all need to align your finances together for upto 2-3 years. By that time some of your family will get over it.

I highly suggest reviewing some of the "Marriage Enrichment" information either secular versions or religious versions. I think there is a very good Catholic Couples Counseling called Retrounaville [sp?]. Google it.

You all will have to work on your "soul togetherness" or you will start to fight when family pries into your relationship. But you will need your folks. It is hard to let your "baby" go when one doesn't know what will happen.

1. Have any of you guys done a destination wedding?
YUP
2. Where did you do it?
Las Vegas Baby!
3. Do you regret not having a big family party?
HELL NO

4. For those of you who have shelled out your future inheritance and your downpayment on a house...was your wedding worth it?

I don't regret a minute of it! We got married at the Excalibur and our portraits were done at the Bellagio

If you are looking at doing a destination wedding, check out this travel agent.
http://roadslesstaken.com/
The CEO is Beau and he has done some great trips for us.

1. Yes
2. Ireland
3. No, about 21 people including us were there...so basically all the people we wanted to be there were there. There were disappointed family members, but hopefully they've gotten over it. His family alone would have been about 80 guests...so it would have been way ridiculous.

Ultimately, you need to do what you feel comfortable doing. Family might be upset, but it's about you and your future husband doing what makes you feel good. Yeah, you should consider your family, but unless they plan on footing the bill(and even that can be a pain in the butt) do what makes you two happy. I would do it all over again the same...I loved every minute of it.

Didn't have one but know quite a few people who have. They all say they are so glad they did and do not regret it at all.

If you want to keep it small, I'd head for Italy or France or something. If you do the Caribbean, lots more people will find it "easy" to get there.

I've thought about doing a destination type wedding if/when I get married. But I would want to still have a party/reception type thing at home for people who couldn't make it to the wedding. My thing is I'm just not into the big white dress, everyone staring at me part of a wedding so I'd want to keep to close friends and family at the destination portion of the wedding and then have a casual reception later. Thoughts?

The destination wedding/casual reception can seem like "We didn't want (to pay for) you at the wedding, but come bring us presents anyway". You have to be careful how you word/present everything.

Yeah, that would be my concern. Good thing I'm not getting married any time soon! haha

My issue with destination weddings is this: If I'm going to shell out the money to go on vacation and see you get married, please don't expect me to also give you a wedding present (money in my area of the country) and the most expensive thing off your registry if you have a shower. I had a falling out with a someone over that, because it was expected that not only would I put down the money to go on vacation to see the couple get married (cheapest option at $1500 for 5 days), but also pick something off the registry where the cheapest thing was $150, and then give the couple an additional $200 as a wedding present.

I think that's a really good point too. I'm in a wedding this year where we all have to buy out bridesmaid dress and shoes (obviously). Plus we all have to pay to fly to the destination (not far but it's still about $250/plane ticket) plus stay in a hotel for 3 nights. All that and the bride-to-be wants to go on an elaborate week long trip for her bachelorette party! I just can't afford to do all that! Plus we have to buy gifts for the bridal shower and wedding. We calculated that without the bachelorette party it'll probably total about $1500/person in the bridal party for everything. That's a little out of control!

I must be missing the bride gene, I have no desire to do ANY of this if i get married.

:eek: :eek: Two words: GO.JUMP.

Oy!
 

France is too prohibitive for destination weddings, as are French territories and islands. I looked into it as my first option(since I'm a French teacher), and there is a 40 day residency requirement. As romantic as France may sound, it's a pain in the butt to do. You'd be better off going elsewhere in Europe first.
Italy is much easier...looked in to that as well. =)

Well we eloped, then had religious ceremony...

So for the religious thing, we never asked for presents, but folks brought us stuff they thought we'd like.

Then, my mom is psychotic, and we visited her ~4 months after the religious ceremony... She called herself having a "welcome home party" and said no presents on the invite... Folks still brought presents... They asked us what we wanted. Since I had no FHA Bridal Registry, I just told them Home Depot or Lowe's or Costco gift cards... I'd even do Walmart and Target cards...

That's how we got those ceiling fans in our house.

Ironically, my best friend and maid of honor was unable to attend my mom's party due to family issues. But she called me to ask what time was the reception--and I said like an idiot, "it's not a reception". She said, "yeah right"...

I think you have a nicely dressed event (if you do it that way) at one of the local gaming casinoes, buffet style and a room. No matter what you all do, folks will bring some kind of gift. Tell them you can't carry things and you'll get gift cards...

But you should register for those assholes that have to follow ettiquite... If you do, do what you both like... Or do donations to your favorite charity. A lot of older couples or 2nd+ marriages are doing that.