Destination Wedding ??!!!

[GarysBride]

So latley Gary and I have been thinking of doing a destination wedding instead of the whole cha-bang! why? well because we all live so far apart and money issues just keep getting in the way and our families mainly his refuse to get along (just the moms really) although this does put A BIG strain on my big fun traditional wedding idea

but I can get over that. Were still planning on havening a BBQ or small reception with all the family if necessary.

So of those who are or who have had a destination wedding where are some good places to have one? and what has your experience been like thus far with planning it?

on the upside I get to sell my ball gown for something simpler hehe yay dress shopping again!

 

[firebirdgold]

We LOVED having a Destination Wedding! For us the key was picking the right resort with the right wedding package for us that came with a wedding coordinator. (don''t get foisted off to the catering department). It was practically like online shopping!

It made everything just so easy. We just had to make a couple of simple decisions like flower colors and the sort of officiant we wanted and the coordinator took care of everything. We went snorkeling the morning of the wedding and the whole thing was almost entirely stress-free. (If I''d been more confident about looking good it would have been totally stress-free). I would have been a nervous wreck if I had to deal with family drama or bridesmaids drama or reception decor drama... you get the idea.

 

[GarysBride]

ya thats what were looking for Stress free! lol where did you end up getting married?

 

[firebirdgold]

We got married at Kona Village resort on the Big Island of Hawaii. The wedding coordinator, Nani, was just simply amazing! Everything we wanted down to the special lemon cake, she took care of for us.

The ceremony package was quite reasonable, although the prices might have gone up. (I''m having issues with their website, they upgraded it) The resort itself is expensive but since it''s all inclusive it''s actually worth the price! (The food is to die for!)
Let''s say the package has gone up to around $4000 and you stay four nights at a standard hale... that''s only $6500 for both of you including photographer, romantic dinner on the beach, flowers, music, officiant, cake, etc.. and all meals and all basic water sports equipment like snorkel stuff and kayaks.

One of the (many) things that made the experience so easy was that they have a marriage license person onsite. We just stopped in at the front desk at our way from the beach to our room the evening before our wedding and filled out the papers. No having to go somewhere else and take a long time, no extra fee. Just our damp selves and 10 minutes.

I know I sound like a brochure... but we just had an amazing time!

 

[GarysBride]

wow thats a beautiful place and not too expensive thank you so much for the info. Do you have any pics of your wedding?

 

[firebirdgold]

Here''s the link to my post-wedding thread. Since I don''t think my DH would appreciate having his picture up, I''m a little limited in photo choices.

We got married smack during the rainy season, but it was still above 72F and it drizzled after the wedding for a grand total of 10 minutes.

Kona Village is just simply gorgeous, the photos do not do it justice! However not everyone would like that sort of place. It''s totally unplugged, with no phones or tv''s or internet. There''s a cork board for messages and you get a privacy coconut to put outside your hale. (we became rather fond of ours!

) The rooms are little thatched cottages spread out around the gardens. There are no ice machines to make noise, just coolers kept stock with ice placed around the grounds. We''re the sort of people who are surgically attached to our laptops so an unplugged wedding was perfect for us.

 

[kathyinjapan]

We''re having a DW on Kauai. Fiance and I are flying in from Japan, his family from the States and mine from Australia.

Because we''re only having a small wedding (6 guests!

) I''ve done all the planning myself (with help from FI) and haven''t hired a coordinator.

With less than 2 months to go, I''d say everything''s on track.. all my vendors are booked and reconfirmed. We just need to start working on our vows now