Destination Wedding

[aclov]

Can anyone provide any suggestions for a destination wedding location? Or perhaps a website with hints.

This is my 2nd marriage so really just wanted it to be the two of us. I would love a beach wedding.

Thank you!

 

[amy-momofthree]

When my sister got married last year, she used theknot.com for a lot of the planning. I haven't searched on it but she found lots of great info there.

You may want to check it out. Good luck! A beach wedding sounds nice!!

 

[sissy_ib]

Can anyone provide any suggestions for a destination wedding location? Or perhaps a website with hints.

This is my 2nd marriage so really just wanted it to be the two of us. I would love a beach wedding.

Thank you!

I'm getting married in St Thomas.
http://www.viweddings.com/
We are stopping there on a cruise so I don't know anything about getting to or staying on the island but it is a US territory.
The woman who owns the company has been very helpful. Our wedding is February 1.

 

[aclov]

Thank you Amy! I will check out the site.

Congrats Sissy, I have always wanted to go there! I'm sure it will be beautiful and romantic!

 

[NeverlandClub23]

I'm getting married at Discovery Cove. That's sort of a beach wedding (I mean, technically it's a beach, but it is a man-made beach). The ceremony takes place in front of the Dolphin area so you have them jumping and playing in the background. There will be about 20 of us. I had to pay for their admission (but I got a great deal at $69 per person with the non-dolphin swim for having a Sea World annual pass [which we purchased specifically for the discounted admissions) and they have a 10 person and under wedding package for about $800 and a 10-30 person wedding package for $1,300. I figure the money is more than what I would get somewhere else. This way I get to spend all day having fun with my guests and all their meals and alcohol is included.

Are you looking for something out of the country or in it? I've been to St. Croix and the resort we stayed at was gorgeous (the rest of the island, not so much...). But Turks & Caicos is amazing (from what I've seen in pictures ) and lots of people go to Fiji to get married (if you've got that kind of budget!).

 

[aclov]

Kimberly - sounds interesting and lots of fun! I never knew they did wedding there. I actually thought about Fiji but because of work will probably only have a week of vacation.

My fiance's niece got married in Turks/Caicos and her pictures are amazing!

 

[prncess674]

Getting legally married outside of the US can be a logistics nightmare of foreign legal buildings and planning nightmare. Have you thought about just getting married by a local JOP and then taking a week long beach honeymoon and maybe doing a private personal ceremony on the beach withut having to jump thru legal hoops.

 

[disprincessatheart]

You can do a Disney beach wedding (in front of the Poly) for a couple thousand dollars - includes the location, a wedding planner, flowers, photography, a limo, cake and champagne! They can also help with recommendations on other vendors you might need (hair, makeup, officiant). We really enjoyed our disney wedding and we had very little disney in the wedding itself. When I show people my wedding pictures they normally dont know it was a disney wedding until I tell them it was.

My sister did a beach wedding at a resort in Hawaii. I'm sure most of the beach front resorts there have some sort of package.

 

[madthemouse]

I had a Sunset Wedding on the beach in Grand Cayman a little over twenty years ago. I did a lot of research on what I believe to be the perfect location for us, and chose the Cayman Islands. We love to dive, snorkle and relax. Nothing is more relaxing then spending a night or two on Cayman Brac.

It is easy to get married their. We wrote to the Govenor to get approval. We needed to set up residency for 10 days prior to the ceremony and pay for a stamp from the Govenors office. Found a JP prior to our arrival and had a beautiful wedding at sunset. I loathe the traditional type weddings.

Hey...you only hope to do this once. So with a little planning, you might as well do what you want.

Have Fun!

 

[mikehn]

We got married at the Atlantis in the Bahamas, but that was over a decade ago. At the time, the Atlantis had wedding consultants that take care of all the planning and legal aspects. Im sure they still offer this service.

 

[luvdzny]

DD got married at Secrets Wild Orchid in Montego Bay, Jamaica in May. The wedding planners on staff were easy to work with. The basic wedding package is included in the price of your stay if you stay a minimum # of nights. (I cant remember how many.) DD's wedding was BEAUTIFUL!!! We loved the resort the staff was great. The minister that performed the ceremony was great as well. Let me know if you have questions, I had a blast planning DD's wedding.

 

[Pakey]

Our oldest son and daughter in law got married on the beach at the Olowalu Plantation House on Maui before going to Fiji on their honeymoon. There was 50 of us total at the wedding/reception on the beach. It was a wonderful day/evening (they can accommodate up to 200 guests).

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Our daughter got married in Mexico at an all inclusive south of Playa Del Carmen (The Barcelo). It was absolutely AMAZING and not expensive compared to getting married anywhere on a beach in the USA. We had 35 people go and make a vacation of it and it was the most fun we have ever had. No one person was unhappy with anything! And talk about BEAUTIFUL! With the issues in Mexico I would not go unless I was going to an all-inclusive for sure (just IMO).

 

[aclov]

Thank you everyone for the great feedback! I had a big wedding the first time, 250 guests and it was expensive and stressful, so thought a destination wedding would be more relaxing and enjoyable. I'll definately be looking into every idea posted

 

[gower525]

DH and I decided we just wanted a small ceremony with the 2 of us on the beach as well. I know how you feel. We got married 2 1/2 years ago on St. John. We stayed in St. Thomas, but took a ferry to St. John (much prettier and more isolated) for our wedding. There was a lady there (barefoot preacher??) that conducted the ceremony. It was very easy. We did have to go pick up our marriage certificate in downtown st. thomas the day before. Good luck!

BTW, we picked up a small flower bouquet in st. thomas the day before for me to carry and got a cake at the grocery store for the two of us. All we could find was an orange crush pound cake! It wasn't exactly traditional, but special for us!

 

[teCh0010]

The waldorf astoria grand wailea on Maui makes does a good job with destination weddings.

 

[CaFeeney]

We were married in 2003 at Little Palm Island in the Florida Keys.
http://www.littlepalmisland.com/

The island is about 3 miles off of Little Torch Key (about 40 minutes north of Key West) and it was amazing.

This is a secluded, adults only, very exclusive resort. We actually met Sen. John Kerry and his wife vacationing there as we were planning the wedding. That said, this island is completely laid back and relaxed.

They have a boat that takes you to the island and then it is total pampering. No phones, no tvs, just amazing relaxation and luxury. There are about 15 or so suites that are actually your own mini villa. They also have a spa and fine dining restaurant. Boating, snorkeling, fishing, etc are all included.

Now, this was not inexpensive but it was nowhere near the cost of a 100+ reception at home (outside Boston). We had about 25 guests (who did not stay on the island, just came over for the ceremony and dinner) and we still hear about how incredible the reception was. We were married on the beach at sunset..totally romantic and I wouldn't have changed anything!

Congratulations and best of luck in your planning!

 

[KarlaG4Kids]

Thank you everyone for the great feedback! I had a big wedding the first time, 250 guests and it was expensive and stressful, so thought a destination wedding would be more relaxing and enjoyable. I'll definately be looking into every idea posted

I totally agree. If I were doing it over it would be on a beach for sure! Well, either that or WDW but that is expensive also! Have a great wedding wherever you decide to go.

 

[lpizzuro123]

As you are posting this on the disboards I imagine you like Disney. I am going to go along with all those that said have your destination wedding at Disney. My DH and I were married there 3 years ago and it was wonderful. We had 50 people but the great thing about Disney is you can have just the two of you or as many as you want.

Check out the wedding board on the disboard. You will get lots of great information from everyone there.

http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55

Happy wedding planning.

Linda

 

[crisi]

For a different suggestion. Friends of mine had theirs in Scotland