Modern brides want to have a wedding that is beyond the ordinary and traditional. This probably explains why destination weddings have drastically increased in popularity over the recent years. Getting married in a beautiful far-flung destination can surely be a memorable event not only for the couple but for the guests as well.

Now, if you are thinking about the cost, it is important to note that destination weddings are not that expensive when compared to traditional weddings. In fact, if you are resourceful, inventive, and creative enough, you can have the beach wedding of the year with a shoestring budget. How? Here are a couple of strategies on how to do just that.

Pick an off-season wedding date

When planning for a destination wedding, one of the factors that would affect the budget is the date of the event. Remember, during peak season, airfare and hotel accommodations cost a lot more than during off-peak. Saving money will be easier if you do not get married during the weekend or a holiday. If you are going to hold the wedding in a winter destination, consider doing it during spring or summer.

Minimize the number of guests

Keeping the party small and intimate will not only result in an easier-to-manage wedding event but also less expenses. Limit the guest list to your family and closest friends so that you will have maximum savings not only on the airfare and hotel accommodations but also with wedding favors, catering, and invitations.

Save the gifts

To save on the costs of shipping gifts from the venue of the destination wedding to your home, be sure to inform your guests that you would be receiving gifts at a welcome party to be held in your home. A better and more practical alternative to this would be to ask guests that instead of buying you a wedding gift, you would appreciate it if they use the money for the airfare. This way, they can bequeath you with the gift of their presence.

Ask for discounts, group rates or wedding packages

With the growing popularity of destination weddings, many destination spots are now offering wedding packages, discounts, and group rates. For example, if you are bringing 50 people to a hotel in the Bahamas, you may be able to get as much as 15 to 20 percent discount on their accommodation.

Whether you are a big or small party, do not hesitate to negotiate with hotels and vendors. If they do not want to give out a discount, you may ask for upgrades or freebies for you and your guests. For instance, you may get a free night, a honeymoon treat, or an upgrade from a standard accommodation to a fabulous suite.

Cut Down on Other Wedding Expenses

Below are general means on how to minimize the wedding budget, which are applicable whether you are having a destination wedding or not.

Flowers

1. Use flowers in season.
2. Opt for balloons.
3. Buy from wholesalers.

Wedding Gown

1. Shop for your wedding gown online.
2. Wear your mother’s or grandmother’s wedding gown.
3. Rent your wedding dress.
4. Wear a cocktail or summer dress. (This is especially ideal for a beach destination wedding.)

Invitation and Favors

1. Do it yourself. Print your own invitations or create your own wedding favors.

Wedding Cake

1. Choose a smaller cake with less number of layers or tiers.
2. Go for a delectable and inexpensive tower of wedding cupcakes.

Wedding Rings

1. Choose white gold, yellow gold or silver instead of platinum or titanium.
2. Prefer others gemstones (rubies, sapphires, emeralds) over diamonds.

It is true that destination weddings are beautiful and special but of course, wherever you may choose to wed, at the end of the day, what truly matters is not the price tag of the event but the love and devotion that you and your spouse vowed to share for the rest of your lives.

ARUBA

Destination weddings have a romantic, magical allure that the entire wedding party is sure to enjoy. After all, what could be more romantic and fun than a destination wedding right next to a pink sandy beach? The party begins just seconds after the wedding.

There is something bewitching about getting married away from your home town. Sure, you can have a wedding in Canada, in February (brrrr…), or you can go to Jamaica! (hm… let me see now…) But before you start to research weekend wedding locations for a destination wedding or commit to a deposit, it’s a good idea to weigh all of the factors.

Travel agents tell us that destination weddings have grown in popularity at an amazing rate. The majority of weekend weddings are fairly small with a couple of people invited up to twenty. Larger destination weddings are currently on the rise due to families and friends traveling together.

Hawaii remains the number one spot for destinations, with Jamaica, Las Vegas, Mexico, Disneyworld and the Bahamas also being favorites. Resort weddings at these locations usually proves to be cost effective.

YACHTS AT THE ATLANTIS IN THE BAHAMAS

Most brides are known to think that you spend all that money and planning for one day with a traditional wedding and it’s over so fast you don’t get to talk to everyone.

A destination wedding is an opportunity for friends and family to spend quality time with each other. As soon as the guests arrive, a cocktail party is a good way for everyone to get to know each other before the wedding takes place.

Prices for destination weddings can vary greatly, from free to thousands of dollars. But most are in the $500 to $3,000 range.

There are a few things to remember when planning a destination wedding.

For instance, “different countries have different regulations for getting married”. In Mexico, for example, you have to be in the country for four days before you can get married. And have a backup plan in case it rains. Most hotels will move you into a meeting room or ballroom in case of bad weather.

Have a Hurricane free Destination Wedding

While a destination wedding seems like the smartest thing if you ‘re looking for alternative winter wedding ideas, the majority of destination weddings and honeymoons still take place during the summer months. The temptation to head to the Caribbean for a destination wedding is always high. Unfortunately, June through November is also the peak season for encountering a destination wedding destroying hurricane.

So what precautions can you take to ensure you can have a hurricane free destination wedding? There are always your basic Caribbean ABC’s which are Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao of the Dutch Antilles. These three islands are generally not considered to be located in the high risk hurricane zone.

And here is an additional hot tip: There are great deals to be found during the summer months (low season). You can find a week in Aruba from August 1 through October 30 for around $650 at some of the better hotels. This cost is per person and often includes air travel from some of the larger cities as an added perk.

Curacao offers European style architecture, beautiful beaches, good art and great food with packages for about the same price.

Also reasonably priced during the low season months, Bonaire offers an abundance of activities for all of the wedding destination guests such as a vibrant night life, world class restaurants and scuba diving. Biking and car rentals are available for spending time in the tranquil natural preservations areas for which Bonaire is known for.

The Island of Magarita which is located off the coast of Venezuela is also extremely low hurricane risk for those seeking a wedding destination spot.

Airlines May Help With Destination Weddings

Check with different airlines to see if they are currently offering discounts for destination weddings. If you are taking 10 or more relatives and friends on a destination wedding trip, ask for a discount. 10 or more seems to be the magic number for getting 10% to 50% off on airline tickets for wedding parties. Many airlines offer special extras for the bride and groom such as upgrade coupons, discounts for car rentals, and free movies. Of course the complimentary glass of champagne is usually included if you tell the flight attendant you are off to a destination wedding.

Many a happy couple dream of tying the knot in a far-away Caribbean destination; hence the reason for the term “Caribbean destination wedding” in the first place.  Just a decade or so ago, the practice of transporting an entire wedding to a location other than the local church was unheard of; but in today’s society of bigger and better, you can’t go wrong with such an exotic wedding day.

Planning any wedding can be a monumental task, let alone planning a wedding on a Caribbean island.  However, with a little research and a lot of organizing, the bride and groom can choose from a multitude of locations where the sand will be warm under their feet and the ocean breeze will caress their first kiss as husband and wife.

One of the first things to know about Caribbean destination weddings is that there are multiple locations to choose from.  The Caribbean consists of over a dozen islands surrounding the Caribbean Sea.  Choices for wedding locations abound with these numbers.  There is the island of Jamaica, which is a popular choice.  There is also the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and The Cayman Islands.

With so many choices, what might you want to consider when planning a Caribbean destination wedding?

• Work with professionals.  Especially because your destination is far from home, working with a professional coordinator is an essential part of your wedding going off without a hitch.  Many Caribbean destination weddings are planned through knowledgeable coordinators associated with major resorts.  It takes only a bit of homework to find one you trust.

• Send invites early.  Because of the travel involved, guests will need to take some time away from work, home and family responsibilities to attend your nuptials.  In order to ensure you’ve given enough time for your guests to plan, sending out a save the date card is recommended.  Typical invitations go out 4 to 6 weeks before the event; therefore, save the dates should go out well before then.

• Consider the climate.  If you are planning a Caribbean destination wedding, it is wise to know the climate during the time of year, and time of day, you plan to wed.  In some areas, the sun can beat down quite hot; you wouldn’t want to be stuck without some shade for you and your guests if you plan a daytime wedding.

• Decide what you will pay for.  Oftentimes, guests of a Caribbean destination wedding will cover their own travel fares.  However, it is a nice gesture on your part to make arrangements in terms of accommodations and flights to the extent of finding good packages.  Work with a hotel in your Caribbean location to set aside special rates for your guests, and include that information in your invitations.  Guests will appreciate it.

• Make sure you know the marriage laws of the island you will be married on.  This is very important, as you don’t want to go through all that planning just to find out our marriage isn’t legal.  Working through a coordinator, you will likely be guided through the process well, but knowing that all islands do not have the same marriage laws will prompt you to be aware and to ask questions on this topic.

A Caribbean destination wedding can be an affair you will remember forever.  Getting through red tape is a cinch when you are prepared with the right questions and carry the right tools.  Enjoy!

Source: Nina Lampe is a blogger for MyBeachFavors.com and she loves all things weddings, blogging, article writing, talking with brides and helping them prepare their wedding.

Welcome to our video series of the top 20 questions brides ask when planning their wedding.  One of the topics I regularly get is about Destination Weddings.  Brides and grooms often plan to have their wedding at a destination, and then have a reception for family once they come home.  But, there is often a feeling that many of their family will miss the magic of the actual ceremony.

If you prefer, you can follow along reading the full text below:

Well, times have changed.  What would you say if you could broadcast your wedding live over the internet to everyone who cannot attend your ceremony or reception!  Imagine the possibilities. Everyone back home could gather and watch your destination wedding ceremony live.  Or family who live in another part of the country could tune in and watch your wedding live—see you walking down the aisle, being able to see your gown, the flowers, and all the decorations.  Maybe you’ll set up the web cam at the reception, and guests can come along and say hi to family and friends miles away.  Imagine the possibilities.

There is a place called ustream.tv that lets you do a live broadcast and all you need is your laptop, a webcam, and an internet connection.  Just go to www.ustream.tv and sign up.  Once you complete the sign up, you can create a show.  The instructions are on the site, and it’s easy to do.  For the brides out there watching this, you might consider getting your fiancé to get this up and running.  Most guys like the techy stuff, and it will get him more involved in the wedding planning.

With ustream.tv you can automatically let your facebook group know you are live, or twitter comments to your friends.  There is even a chat room, for a full interactive experience!  How much fun would THAT be at your wedding?

Oh, and ustream.tv is free.  Yes free. Is that cool, or what?  Will you be the first amongst your friends to get married and have a high tech wedding?  The possibilities are endless.

Check it out.  www.ustream.tv Enjoy!

Good luck and congratulations on your upcoming wedding.