4 tips to planning a successful desitination wedding

by Aimee Heckel · June 10, 2013

(Marriott weddings)

By Aimee Heckel

If you’re wanting to combine your nuptials with a vacation, you’re not alone. Destination weddings have become increasingly popular. In fact, Smartmoney.com reported several years ago destination weddings had surged more than 400 percent in the past decade. And that number keeps growing.

Weddingbusinesstoday.com reports 24 percent of weddings today are destination weddings. And the average cost of a wedding in 2012 was $26,984.

But, even though you will technically be on vacation, planning a destination wedding can be more challenging than planning one in your home town. Here are four tips to help you plan a stress-free and successful destination wedding:

1. Choose a destination that people would want as a vacation anyway.

Mexico is the most popular place for a destination wedding. The weather is nice. It’s international, but not too far. The prices can be cheaper. Beach. Beach. Beach.

2. Go with a wedding package. It can be a huge headache, if not impossible, to try to coordinate everything for a destination wedding, especially if it’s international. Instead, hire a pro to handle it for you.

The Marriott has great wedding packages in Mexico. They have the option to come with a certified wedding planner, chefs, photographers, florists — you can personalize your wedding through the Marriott crew, without having to lift a finger.

A credit card, on the other hand, will need some lifting. The Marriott’s wedding package pricing starts at $147 per person, based on 50 guests (plus 11 percent taxes and 14 percent service charges).

Save some cash and find great deals by booking your Marriott purchases through ShopAtHome.com.

3. Since you’ll be traveling anyway, sign up for a honeymoon registry instead of registering for another blender and silverware at the department store. With a honeymoon registry, guests can give you gift cards redeemable at destinations around the world.

Honeymoon Wishes is a full service honeymoon registry. Register online, add the items that you want and let the gift giving commence. Guests can choose from your list to make their wedding gift personalized. Receive an upgraded honeymoon suite at your hotel, a safari, river rafting trip, a bottle of wine, a spa day or a gift certificate to go shopping.

4. Make efforts to reduce your guests’ costs. Provide free transportation to the wedding or from the airport. Offer a variety of lodging options in different price ranges. Plan your wedding during off-season, like the fall, to reduce airfare.

For even more great travel and airline savings visit ShopAtHome.com

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