| (BNN) Whether it’s a gentle tropical
breeze and the swaying of palm trees that provide the allure or just
jetting away to somewhere exotic, destination weddings have become the
marriage celebration of choice for many couples. Today, almost two in
10 weddings are destination events—with Caribbean islands leading the
list.
And it’s no surprise why. Tropical destinations have increasingly
attracted celebrity couples—golf icon Tiger Woods and his bride Elin
Nordegren and Hollywood’s Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have made
Caribbean islands their wedding destinations. But island nuptials are
no longer just the domain of the rich and famous.
In fact, thanks to package deals and seasoned wedding planners,
destination weddings are not only becoming more attainable for many,
they’re easier than ever to achieve.
To ensure a perfect outcome with the desired personal touch, it is
important to find an experienced wedding guru who can, with an
excellent support staff, watch every detail and relieve the pressure,
so that the bride and groom can totally enjoy their dream wedding
ceremony.
Beverly King, of Jolly Beach Resort on the Caribbean island of
Antigua (An-TEE-ga), has been planning island weddings for
almost 20 years. She offers these suggestions: “Do your homework; it’s
important to remember that marriage requirements vary among
destinations. And if you have your heart set on a particular date,
make arrangements well in advance if possible, as certain times of the
year tend to book quickly. For instance, we find that the peak months
for weddings are February, April, May, June, and November.”
“Couples who decide on a destination wedding might also want to
break free from traditional wedding attire,” adds King. “I tell my
brides and grooms to consider the climate and look for pieces that not
only look great but travel well, like a cocktail dress in a light
fabric and color. And while an island breeze helps set the tropical
mood, it makes a veil difficult to control. As an alternative, I
suggest wearing a small tiara or using fresh flowers as accents.
Grooms should also dress with comfort in mind, say a light linen suit,
or dress pants paired with a shirt and vest or a classic guayabera for
a true island feel.”
Brides and grooms desiring a sun-kissed destination wedding
shouldn’t have trouble finding a wedding package to fit any budget.
For instance, Jolly Beach Resort’s Dream Wedding Package (www.jollybeachresort.com)
offers amenities and choices ranging from cake and champagne to photos
and bouquets, to fulfilling the legal requirements. Moreover, engaged
couples can choose to have their ceremony at any location on the
40-acre property; which includes two wedding gazebos—one located on
the resort’s dazzling half-mile-long beach.
With the aid of an experienced wedding planning team, an
altar-bound couple can rest assured that their wedding day will be
hassle-free. Ms. King, for example, not only handles the details of
the wedding ceremony and reception, but she even personally schedules
the appointment to apply for the marriage license and she, or a member
of her team, escorts the couple to ensure that everything goes
smoothly. “There is no residency requirement to be married in Antigua,
but we need couples to be here one working day prior to the ceremony
to process the necessary documents.”
With all of the preparations completed and the license obtained,
couples can simply relax and be absolutely certain that they have
chosen a stunning backdrop for their celebration, guaranteeing a
wedding album full of joyous memories.
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