An increasingly popular choice among couples is to travel to a quaint little town in the United States, or somewhere exotic abroad. Most 'destination weddings' are considered 'hot spots' for tourists. Say, a dream-vacation place. And what better place could you choose to exchange your wedding vows?

First and foremost, you have to decide whether you want a large wedding or a discreet elopement. Now ask yourself-is this destination wedding in your budget? Although it's a once in a lifetime opportunity, you have to ask if a destination wedding is right for you.

Who Chooses a Destination Wedding?

There are many couples who choose destination weddings for several different reasons. Perhaps they want to share this specific destination with their friends and families. Maybe it's a place that both people have always wanted to visit together. If the couple has been together for a long

time, a destination wedding might serve as a well-needed vacation and a perfect place to pop the question.

What are the Best Locations for a Destination Wedding?

When deciding where to go for your destination wedding, one word comes to mind: fun. You want to be sure that there are plenty of exciting things to do. Great restaurants, nature, and hobbies that you both enjoy, will keep you busy for days. You need to decide whether you want to explore an exotic location outside of the United States , or a fun tourist attraction within the United States.

Some exciting locations within the United States are:

 Las Vegas  New York  Disneyland  California wine country areas (Sonoma and Napa)  Hawaii

Should you decide to venture outside of the United States, the following are some of the hottest dream- vacation places for a destination wedding:

 Mexico  Caribbean  Italy

 Germany  France

If you've already 'shopped around' for a destination wedding and you were overwhelmed with the prices-start looking during the off-seasons, as you'll save a considerable amount. In addition, look for packages that are all inclusive: hotel accommodations, meals, sports, tours, etc. It's always a good idea to use your credit card which insures your purchases.

Most importantly, if you are getting married in a foreign country, educate yourself on their rules and customs before going abroad. What documents will you need? Is their a blood test required? What's the legal age of consent to marry? These are all important questions you should research before jumping on an airplane or cruise-ship with your spouse-to-be.

About the author:

Jen Carter is owner of My Wedding Blog, a free wedding planning guide all about weddings. The following article can be found in our destination weddings category.

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