Destination Weddings | Just Weddings.org Blog

Top Five Unique Destination Weddings

Weddings abroad are increasing in popularity as couples constantly seek new and unique ways to make their day one of a kind and special. Caribbean weddings have always been popular and the scenery and culture does make for a spectacular and romantic backdrop. However for those couples who wish to break away from the mainstream traditions and really have a day to remember. Here are our top five unique weddings abroad.

Porini lion camp safari, Kenya: A four star luxury authentic safari wedding experience located in the 20,000 acre conservancy along the banks of the Ntiakatiak River. Take your vows under an Acacia tree in one of the most wildlife rich areas of the world. Relax in luxurious lodges and have your wedding blessed by Masai village elders before taking a safari to see the Big Five.

Tall ship wedding, New Zealand: If sailing the southern seas floats your boat then this type of wedding will be ideal for you. With full sails flying, a smartly dressed crew and full catering and drink options available this is the perfect combination of adventure and elegance.

Ice hotel, Sweden: The world famous Ice Hotel is situated on the edge of the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland. What could be more romantic than wrapping up warm and watching the fabulous northern lights? Stay in chalets or the more luxurious hotel rooms complete with ice sculptures and works of art. Try dog sledding or skiing in the day time and relax in the vodka bar at night.

Great Barrier Reef, Australia: With water proof paper and special hand signals the vows, exchanging of the rings and signing the paperwork can all happen underwater. The Great Barrier Reef is home to some 3000 individual reef systems and rare and colourful marine life and is a designated World Heritage Site. Although you won’t be able to invite a lot of family and friends you certainly won’t be stuck for company with numerous shoals of fishes.

Everest Base Camp, Nepal: Perhaps the most extreme option and certainly not one for the faint hearted. Have one of the most exhilarating days of your life with a traditional Sherpa wedding at Base Camp on Mt Everest or one of the small villages in the foothills of the world’s greatest mountain. Namche Bazaar is a central hub of the area and a popular area for acclimatisation before the trek onto Everest base Camp at 17,590 feet.

Image: Courtesy of Tropical Sky.

Author Bio: When Jennifer is not planning her own Barbados wedding she writes on behalf of a company that specialises in destination weddings abroad.

Find beautiful and unique destination wedding favors in our Beach Theme Wedding or Summer Wedding sections in our shop. Want to give your guests something special before you go? Send them personalized luggage tag wedding favors to put on their bags for the flight.

Destination Weddings: Five Reasons to Pack Up and Fly Away

Beach and destination weddings are becoming so popular that planning one is almost a no-brainer. You get a picture-book wedding setting and a vacation to boot – and your guests will love it!

If you are even vaguely considering a destination wedding, here are five good reasons that might just persuade you to pull out the maps.

1. You get to leave all your “cares” at home and leave the details to others.

Whether you choose an island wedding, European sojourn, safari in Africa or a dream cruise on a luxury ship, you’ll find staff ready and waiting to cater to your every whim and need.

What better way to begin your new life than on a relaxed note? Your work or anything that might cause stress will be out of sight and out of mind with a destination wedding.

2. A destination wedding will give you more for your money.

You might think that traveling to an exotic location to get married would break the budget you painstakingly created for your wedding. Contrary to that belief, a destination wedding can actually be less of a strain on your pocketbook.

Packages are readily available that come with everything included – air fare, transportation needs, discounts for larger parties, etc. Consider that in many locations, everything you need (such as flowers and music) is localized to make your destination wedding simple.

3. You’ll get to choose the background and activities that appeal to you, as a couple.

The picture-book setting of a Hawaiian beach is the perfect background for your destination wedding if you’re dreaming of getting married barefoot on the beach with orchids in your hair. The photos will be stunning.

But if the beach isn’t your bag, a European fairy tale wedding in a castle can fulfill daydreams of Romeo and Juliet or King Arthur and his love, Guineviere.

4. You get to choose the weather for your special day!

It’s true that most couples think of warm weather for saying their faraway vows with a destination wedding. But you might have other ideas – like snow and skiing. By doing a little research, you can make your dream weather come true.

5. Thinking of a theme? A destination wedding can be a change from the traditional wedding ritual.

Many couples are considering a theme wedding rather than the tired old rituals held in a church. An island destination wedding will go over much better in Jamaica or Hawaii than Portland, Maine.

Are you dreaming of a winter wonderland theme and you live in Florida? Switzerland or Norway can fill the bill in a way that will get you in the mood more than 90-degree weather could.

Already decided on a destination wedding? Check out some of the favors in our Beach Theme Wedding shop if you’re headed to somewhere sandy and warm. This Seashell Bookmark Favor is great for reading on the beach.

Or get your guests some fun luggage tags, like this Vegas Acrylic Luggage Tag, to put on their suitcases before you go. They come in all shapes and sizes!

Don’t Forget to Pack the Engagement Ring! Essential Destination Wedding Tips

A destination wedding is fun, romantic and memorable. Every moment of your wedding memories will be colored by the cheerful sunlight of a tropical island or the colorful flair of a distant city. To keep the wedding/vacation running as smoothly as possible, consider these important tips.

1. Using a wedding coordinator or a travel agent who specializes in destination weddings can be a great way to make sure everything goes smoothly and you get to enjoy the wedding yourself. A travel agent can reserve blocks of hotel rooms, help family and friends book tickets, and just in general keep track of all the little details so you can focus on yourself! This is a great way to keep the stress level low.

2. Planning a destination wedding is like planning a regular wedding plus a giant group vacation. The details are staggering. Keep yourself sane by making a huge master list of everything that needs to get done, and then check items off the list one by one. Make lists for everything, from who is RSVP’d to what you need to pack. Great-Aunt Bethanny, check! Diamond engagement ring, check!

3. Don’t overpack. There is nothing less romantic than digging through a giant suitcase at the airport, trying to get it under 50 pounds. If you are staying at a resort, many toiletries will be available to you for free, so you can skip that. Bring simple outfits that can be mixed and matched and worn everywhere from the beach to a restaurant. If you are staying on after the wedding, you can often get your clothes washed instead of bringing your whole wardrobe. Besides your dress and accessories for the wedding itself, skip dressy accessories like heels and diamonds—it’s vacation!

4. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Allow trusted friends or family members to take on certain jobs, like packing, shipping, running the rehearsal dinner or checking up with the guests. On the day of the wedding, appoint one trusted friend to be your personal assistant so you can relax and get ready to look your best.

5. Find out if your cell phone will work at your destination. If it might not, write down every phone number and contact information you might need, so you can use a local phone to contact everyone from the best man to the caterer. Make sure to give everyone a reliable phone number where you can be reached.

6. Take care of yourself. With all the bustle and excitement, it can be easy to forget about basic things like proper meals, exercise and sleep. But staying healthy and hydrated is the best way to deal with stress and help your body cope with any foreign bugs. Don’t forget about your vitamins, yoga mat or anything else your body needs to stay in tip-top shape for the big day.

7. Plan to arrive at your destination a few days before everyone else to make sure everything is running smoothly before the guests show up. That way, you’ll be adjusted to the time zone, comfortable with the hotel, and ready to be the perfect hostess when your guests arrive.

8. If you are from a culture where things run on time, it may take a little adjusting to get used to a place where events progress at a more leisurely pace. Be prepared for everything to run just a little late, and if you have a specific concern, like wanting to make sure the taxi picking up your grandmother is at the terminal when she arrives, share it with the hotel staff and they will help you make sure it happens.

9. Safety is crucial. If you are traveling with jewelry—engagement rings, wedding bands or any other valuable pieces—make sure to get a safe where you can keep them when you aren’t wearing them. Obviously, don’t bring loose diamonds or any other valuables that you don’t absolutely need to have. Remind your guests to be cautious with their belongings as well.

9. Don’t forget to relax! Playing a dual role as bride and hostess can be overwhelming, so make some time for just the two of you to take in a sunset, get a relaxing massage, or just enjoy a glass of wine on your hotel room balcony. Your guests will understand if you need some time alone.

Is your destination wedding going to be at a beach location? Check out our Beach Theme Wedding shop for destination wedding favor ideas that can be easily shipped and fit perfectly with a beach or summer theme. We even have a beautiful romantic Beach Couple Cake Top that has the bride and groom figurines in three different styles!

Creative Wedding Poses for the Bride and Groom

We have an incredible guest post this week from a photographer who specializes in destination weddings in Italy. As you will see, their photos are absolutely breathtaking and reflect all the romance of Italy. Aptly named Love in Italy, they are sharing with us today their wisdom and tips for capturing creative wedding poses of the bride and groom.

We usually tell couples to consider the wedding location and the venue when selecting how their images will represent their day, making sure that they keep in mind certain issues. It’s important to remember that great images are most likely be produced if the scenery conditions make this possible.

In other words, even a good photographer will not be able to recreate exotic locations or marble walls in a wedding album unless the location of the wedding is to be held at such a place.

For weddings in Italy the rule finds a totally different dimension.

Thanks to the richness of architectural and historical buildings, the generosity of a warm and bright weather, the incredible variety of landscapes and the famous luxurious Italian lifestyle, any wedding image is certainly to be a memorable one, no matter if you get married by the sea, in the countryside, in a hectic city or on the mountains. The scenery, the ambiance and all those precious details – i.e. olive groves, lake’s background, etc – can only allow the expert photographer to shoot creative and unique wedding poses for the bride and the groom.

Creativity is making bride and groom feel at ease while capturing natural, spontaneous images of the two whispering love words, joking in front of you, looking into each other’s eyes, gazing at the panorama in front of them, and sometimes even pretending to be someone local.

The secret is ignoring the camera and the photographer – if not, you’ll have lots of posed, cold and anonymous images of the two of you standing in front of the camera, while the atmosphere and the magic of unbelievably beautiful settings go by.

A good photographer should help you familiarize with the camera, showing you that he can take great shots without being too close and pressing. A good photographer usually gives you a few posing ideas and then, when you’re more comfortable with him/her, leaves the flow of your romanticism to take any route possible.

That’s how we do it at LOVE in ITALY weddings, through our included pre-wedding shoot and our brief directions on the day. The rest is all fun and enjoying those magical moments.

For more information on our stylish and elegant weddings in Italy, visit our website at www.loveinitalyweddings.co.uk or call us on 07817 693343.