Destination weddings: Luxury on a budget! (repost)

Thursday, February 11, 2010
Destination weddings: Luxury on a budget!
Here is a great excerpt By Nadia N Digilov on the benefits of a destination wedding.
Many couples dream of having a destination wedding. Whether it is a mountain top in New Zealand, a beach in Bermuda or a simple park at upstate New York, destination weddings do require a little more planning than "regular" weddings. In order to effectively plan and execute your dream destination wedding while staying within your budget and refusing to sacrifice quality, consider the following advice:
Destination Wedding Benefits
• The average wedding cost for most couples is approximately $50,000. Destination weddings held at a reasonable place (no private islands) typically cost between $15,000 and $20,000, depending on how many guests you invite! Having a destination wedding can help you have a luxury wedding on a budget.
• You get more "bang for your buck" since a destination wedding can serve as a fantasy getaway vacation for you and your guests! It makes the entire wedding experience that much more enjoyable.
Planning Your Destination Wedding
Is a Destination wedding right for you? Before launching your grand plan, consider if a destination wedding is right for you.
Choose the Perfect Destination
Imagine your wedding day; do you see you see it on a beach or a park? Is it warm or cold? Choosing the perfect destination can be a challenge, consider your budget as part of your decision making as well. Destination weddings are definitely within reach for those on a budget. The USD currency is strong against emerging market types in countries such as Mexico, Brazil and Chile, meaning the U.S. dollar is worth more in these countries. Consider having a destination wedding in one of these countries to take advantage of the exchange rate benefits. For example, $1 USD equals 13 pesos. Therefore, if flower arrangements cost 1000 pesos, you would only be spending about $77 USD.
Set the Date
Although most weddings take place in the summer months, destination weddings in tropical locations can be great during just about any month. Plus, booking a wedding "off season" may tremendously save on costs. Consider choosing a non-summer date that is also accessible for your friends and family. Once you set the date, make sure to give guests at least four to six months notice for the big day, so they can give proper notice to take off work or make other arrangements.
So with all of this great advice.....
Call your travel professional:
Having a destination wedding means that your travel agent is also your wedding planner. He or she will work directly with the specialists at your chosen location, work with your friends and family to arrange and confirm all of the travel needs and work with you to make your dream day exactly what you dream it can be.
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