Destination Weddings Introduction

What if you could have your wedding while you’re on your honeymoon? That’s just one of the reasons couples choose destination weddings. Here are some others:

• An even more memorable event. Yes, weddings are usually happy, memorable occasions for the bride and groom and their families no matter where they’re held. But when they bring people to a unique location—like Jamaica, Hawaii or Paris—then your special day will be one that all your guests will remember for the rest of their lives. It gives your attendees the opportunity to explore and enjoy a unique part of the country, or the world.
• An opportunity. Beginning a new life with the person you love is a time to indulge your dreams. If you’ve always imagined that your wedding would take place on the sand in Oahu or at a villa in Italy, why not let Groople.com help you make that fantasy a reality?
• Something different. Maybe this is your second marriage, or maybe it’s more important to you to have just a handful of your closest friends and family with you in a special setting than it is to invite every second cousin to a gala wedding. If an intimate affair in an exotic new location (or maybe a special place you’re returning to) is a priority, then Groople.com can help you arrange a headache-free destination wedding.

Great Wedding Destinations:

If money is truly no object, these places will not only be the backdrop for a spectacular wedding for you and your spouse, they will create an unforgettable trip for your guests.

1. Mexico
2. United States Virgin Islands
3. Jamaica
4. Bahamas
5. Hawaii

Romantic destinations. If you’re all about romance, these United States destinations cannot be beat.

1. San Francisco
2. New York City
3. Scottsdale, Arizona
4. Kauai, Hawaii
5. Mendocino, California

Beach. Some people have always dreamt of being barefoot in the sand at a beach wedding and will have it no other way. Try these destinations from coast to coast.

1. Outer Banks, North Carolina
2. Cape Ann, Massachusetts
3. Maui, Hawaii
4. Coronado, California
5. Boca Raton, Florida

Something different. If the thought of a hotel or resort wedding bores you, try one of these creative destinations.

1. A ranch
2. A vineyard
3. A cruise
4. The desert

Not too far away. If you want a destination wedding at a location not too far from where you live, here are some notable destinations by region.

New England

• Martha’s Vineyard or Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Northeast

• Niagara Falls, New York; Cape May, NJ

South

• Virginia Beach, Virginia; the Ozarks, Missouri and Arkansas; or Savannah, Georgia

Midwest

• Chicago; Mackinac Island, Michigan; Kohler, Wisconsin

West Coast

• The Redwoods in California; San Juan Islands, Washington; or Sunriver, Oregon

Plan Your Destination Wedding:

Planning a wedding of any size in any location is a challenge, and a destination wedding is, if anything, even more challenging. But with the help of Groople.com you’ll be able to have seamless communication between you and your guests, help people build an itinerary so they enjoy the unique location you’ve brought them to and, of course, share great photos once everyone has returned home. A few suggestions:

• Create a Groopvine page. There, you will be able to communicate with all of your invited guests; share information about your chosen location; and even share pictures from the trip once you’re back. The Groopvine page is also a convenient place to keep track of RSVPs, since having an accurate guest count is very important with a destination wedding.
• Decide what kind of destination wedding you want. Check out Groople’s Where to Go: Great Ideas for Destination Weddings for suggestions.
• Find a hotel or resort. Groople will help you find a hotel within your price range featuring all the amenities you’ll want for your destination wedding. Groople can find the best group rates for your guests, and will enable everyone in your group to pay separately.
• Help guests communicate about what sights they want to visit and activities they want to try. Let everyone know about Groopvine so they can make plans ahead of time for all the activities they’ll want to book before they go. One of the most appealing things about a destination wedding is that the actual ceremony can be the final, big event in an action-packed (or low-key) two- or three-day trip.

Tips for Planning your Destination Wedding Trip:

The biggest commitment that occurs at a wedding is, of course, the one between husband and wife. But when it comes to a destination wedding, where you’re asking people to travel to a place that is nobody’s home turf, the commitment your friends and family are making to attend is substantial. Because of that, you should expect that fewer people will actually attend—so if your dream is to have a huge wedding, this might not be for you. Also consider:

• Working with a resort which handles all the on-site planning. By definition, you’re not going to be able to be as hands-on when planning a destination wedding as you would be if you were having it at the local country club. Groople.com’s Group Desk, which can negotiate discount rates and reserve a block of rooms, can also put you in touch with a resort’s wedding planner to take care of all the planning details.
• Having some planned activities, but not too many. One of the points of a destination wedding is to introduce your friends and family to a special place. Don’t bombard them with so many planned events that they don’t have a chance to explore by themselves.
• Researching the laws. Particularly if your destination wedding is taking place outside the country, you’re going to want to do some legwork before you arrive. Some countries may require a minimum residency, birth certificates, or even blood tests for you to be legally married. It’s also wise to make sure that your marriage will be legally recognized when you return home.