Top Destination Wedding Locations

For some couples, choosing a location to tie the knot is a real no brainer. For the rest of us it can be a real difficult decision.

With so many wonderfully romantic locations around the world, what is the perfect one for you???

Popular Wedding Locations

and why!

No two people are the same.

What’s more, no Wedding Couples are the same, regardless of how in love they are.

But don’t let this insignificant romantic flaw spoil the excitement of deciding where to marry.

If you are reading this article, you are probably close to ruling out an over expensive and under indulgent wedding at home. An overseas wedding can save you lots of money, especially if you keep it simple, but it doesn’t have to be cheap. Oh No!

Spend what you would spend at home here in a Western Country, lets say in Asia somewhere for example and your wedding really can give those Hollywood Celebrity couples a run for their money.

Thailand is a popular location to tie the knot, with Phuket and Koh Samui being the hot spots. Thailand is attractive to many because of Bang-for-your-buck. Yes, yes, yes, the weather is amazing,but when it comes down to value for money, Thailand takes some beating. It is popular with Australian couples, but with flights to Europe getting increasingly competitive, more and more couples from the UK and Northern Europe are bypassing the Mediterranean and heading to Thailand.

Next up has to be Fiji.

Fiji is the Heavy Weight of Destination Wedding Locations and I doubt there are too many Destination Brides who haven’t at some point, daydreamed of a wedding in Fiji. And Fiji is totally geared up to accommodate couples from around the world. It is an effort to get to for most (excluding Australians), but more and more couples are bitting the bullet and doing it in this Pacific Paradise. The Price tag may be higher than the Asian alternatives, but hey, it’s Fiji!

Greece / Santorini.

If you haven’t seen wedding photos in Santorini I strongly suggest you ‘google’ some. Few would argue that the picturesque island of Santorini and it’s simple contrast of White and Blue, makes for the the best wedding photos money can buy. The back drop in Santorini is second to none and in summer months (May to September) the climate is nothing less than perfect. It’s nice and easy to get to for Europeans and not too hard for the rest of us. Prices vary, but Santorini makes for either a simple or classy wedding location.

Scotland

Now while most of you imagine saying I do to the sound of waves lapping at the white sand between your toes, for some the dream of an Ancient Castle and glass like lochs has an irresistible attraction. There are a number of outstanding Castle Wedding Venues and some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the world to add to your wedding photo album. Scotland is also very easy when it comes to the legals and to travel to.

Bali

One cannot even begin to count the number of Wedding Venues o the Indonesian Island of Bali. This place is almost built for Destination Weddings. Choose from mind blowing wedding villas to 5 star wedding resorts, the venues in Bali out class pretty much all other destination wedding locations. Again, Bali can be very cheap or it can be insanely expensive. Your budget is the only limit to what can be done in Bali. Hugely popular with Australian couples and growing in popularity with the Europeans.

Hawaii

I love Hawaii. Sorry but I had to get that in there.

Of Course Hawaii is centre of the world for Destination Brides from the USA, but Australian couples are no strangers to the Hawaiian Islands. The ‘Big Island’ is over-shadowed by it’s magnificent volcanos and when standing by the sea, the view inland is nothing less than awe inspiring. Kona is a popular spot on the Island of Hawaii. There are lots of other beautiful islands in Hawaii like Maui, but by far the most popular is Oahu. Waikiki simply has it all and as it is the USA, marriage legals are nice and simple.

I am very lucky and get to travel to lots of incredible wedding locations. Just when I think I have found the perfect destination for the most ideal wedding imaginable, I am whisked off somewhere else which causes me to hit the reset button all over again.

My latest destination wedding expedition took me to what I can only describe as the worlds best kept wedding secret. Even I had no idea until I visited a few weeks ago.

Vanuatu

Now I am already married, did it in Thailand and it was amazing.

But I want to do it Vanuatu!

I guess divorce is not an option so I will just have dream like the rest of you.

Vanuatu is located in the South Pacific between Queensland Australia and Fiji. It is tropical so it

sometimes rains, but who cares. Seriously, it rains and then the sun comes out again and if it rains on your wedding day, just relax and wait until the sun comes out again. There is no pressure in Vanuatu and you can have your ceremony when you are good and ready. The locals are the most incredibly hospitable people you could ever meet and are genuinely enthusiastic in welcoming you to their beautiful islands. Locations like The Blue Lagoon are stunning and a ‘Trash the Dress’ Photo shoot here would top all others. Another popular Photo location are the Cascade Waterfalls near Port Vila, where a 20 minute walk will reward the bridal party with yet another of the incredible back drops Vanuatu has to offer.

Vanuatu is packed with activities for you and your guests and only a hop and a skip from the Aussie Mainland. The food is great in Vanuatu due to it’s combination of French and Island Traditions and I could go on forever about Vanuatu but will stop here before I over do it.

All of the above locations and many many more can be investigated by visiting www.wedsaway.com

I hope these few ideas help, but please, don’t let me decide for you. Visit Wedsaway, contact some of the local wedding vendors and make your own mind up.

Oh and congratulations!

6 Tips For Planning A Destination Wedding

There's just something so romantic about the thought of saying “I do” in some far off destination with your family and closest friends by your side; but if you've already started to consider the possibility of an overseas wedding then you may have realised that it's not all about bare feet in the sand, bikinis and cocktails. In fact, just like any wedding there's a lot of preparation as well as (in many cases) a foreign language to contend with. Plus a huge list of legalities to comply with. So with this in mind, here are 6 useful tips to ensure your destination wedding is just perfect.

Start planning well ahead

Overseas wedding venues get booked up 18 months or more in advance so if you don't want to seriously limit your choices then book your venue as early as you can. In addition remember to send out 'Save the Date' cards equally as early since your guests may have to plan their annual leave around your wedding.

Give careful consideration to the location

Choosing your destination wedding location is one of the hardest decisions since it's only natural that you want your family and closest friends to share your special day. It's all very well choosing a destination on the other side of the world but if it isn't easily accessible for most people, then there's very little point in choosing it. Look carefully at the frequency of flights and check that there is a variety of accommodation to suit all pockets.

Enlist some help

Planning any sort of wedding is stressful and it's certainly no easier in a foreign country. Consider using the services of a local wedding planner to deal with the bulk of the work as they will have extensive knowledge of your destination, understand the legalities involved, have a fistful of contacts, and may even be able to pull the odd string or two. A fantastic resource where you'll find lots of local wedding planners listed is Wedsaway, which is the largest destination wedding planning directory in the world. However, if you're determined to do most of the planning yourself you'll also find hundreds of wedding vendors from around the globe all neatly organised into various destinations and categories.

Look after your guests

Your guests will have gone to a lot of expense and effort to be at your wedding so make sure that they too feel pretty special. Create a welcome pack for their arrival to give the personal touch from the bride and groom. Additionally you could book a restaurant for a welcome meal and organise a couple of events for their stay, after all it's also a mini holiday for them too.

Plan for the weather

Whether you're planning a Mexico wedding or Bali wedding, the weather can be very hot, so make

sure your venue offers plenty of shady areas so that you're not all flagging with the heat before the celebrations begin. You could include some flip flops and fans for your guests in their welcome pack and also arrange to have cold drinks handed around as guests are seated for the ceremony.

Pacing yourself

Unlike a wedding at home, you'll be surrounded by family and friends and it's all too easy to spend long days with them and late nights so that by the time your wedding day arrives, you're walking about like a zombie. Plan for yourself and your (soon to be) hubby to spend a little chill-out time on your own, perhaps at a spa, so you feel relaxed and stress free. If you're not planning a honeymoon then at least try and book a lovely hotel for a couple of days after your guests have all departed.

Weddings abroad are growing in popularity and can be a lot of fun. Wedsaway is an invaluable source to help you find reputable and experienced wedding planners, a plethora of vendors, and lots of useful hints and tips. Why not visit www.wedsaway.com for more information, you'll be glad that you did.