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I Do's and Don'ts - Destination Weddings
Destination WEDDINGS
Thinking of a Destination Wedding? Here are some helpful I Do’s and Don’ts.
Article by Liza Kubik
DO - enlist a local wedding planner
DO - consider having a weekday wedding
DO - use a professional for photography
DO - find local favors and gifts for your guests
DO - hire an experienced florist
DON’T - choose a Vacation Rental or the beach as a reception venue
DON’T - use out of town vendors
DON’T - forget your marriage license
DON’T - trust social media for permit advice
DON’T - sweat the small stuff
the Couple / Isabel & Henry
Isabel always wanted a lavish wedding, but after two rounds of elaborate planning and a guest list that went from 50 to 200, her husband-to-be had an idea: Anna Maria Island. With 40 of their best friends and closest family members, Isabel and Henry took their vows Gulf-front; then, everyone headed for an intimate party set to the sounds of acoustic guitars, with décor made from local seashells, rustic natural wood and the shimmering waters of Anna Maria Sound. “It was really the way to go for a stress-free wedding with little planning,” Isabel says. “You just bring the dress and the rings, and relax.”
A skyrocketing trend, Destination Weddings have become a veritable force in the industry in the past ten years. These days, one out of every four weddings is considered a Destination Wedding. “Couples want their weddings to be different and downright memorable,” says award winning event coordinator Brandy Hudson. “Above and beyond anything, couples also want their guests to have fun. With friends and family already scattered around the country, why not have them travel to a fabulous locale, where they can make a vacation of your wedding?”
For Isabel, Henry and their guests, the wedding on Florida’s Suncoast became the culmination of a weeklong vacation filled with kayaking, sunsetwatching and unrushed evenings together. “We really got to spend quality time with our good friends,” says Jennifer, who stayed on Anna Maria another week to enjoy her honeymoon.
