Picking the Wedding Destination

The first step seems the most difficult: deciding where to go. You may already dream about the destination in mind, but there are several points to be considered before you get those invitations ready. First of all, you are eager to travel to an exotic land, but what your guests think about it? Destination weddings are ideal for a family of travelers, or for those guests, who are anyway coming from the entire world.  If your guests are not from above mentioned then you have to consider such points as: not everyone on your guest list can devote a week to your wedding, likes to fly, and keeps their passport up-to-date at all times.

Now if you realize that only a few faithful friends would be up for a trip to your exotic dream location, you should think about the happy medium. Just think over a little compromise. You can find  romantic and even exotic locations in the United States, and you won’t spend lots of money or need a passport. The most obvious choice is Hawaii, but it becomes a common option. Pay your thorough attention to the budget. After the wedding's, you will already be cruising, so you may not mind the cost of traveling to the wedding. And you should know that it does not mean that the further destination you choose the more expensive it will cost you. In winter cruising the sunny Florida can be more expensive than going to Europe, where tourists vanish after October.

Wedding  in a Foreign Country

The most frequently asked question is whether or not their marriage will be legally recognized in the United States. The answer for heterosexual couples is almost always yes. You should be sure about the fact whether or not the person conducting your ceremony is legally qualified to marry you. It happens that some people may try to fraud you.

Also check on residency requirements. Many countries want the couples to arrive early enough that their marriage announcement can be posted at city hall before the event. This old-fashioned custom inclines you to arrive a day or two earlier—a good idea in any case. In some countries such requirement is quite strict, however—France, for example, wants both parties to live in France at least 40 days before the wedding. Surprised? Then be sure to contact an embassy or consulate of your destination country in advance to be acquainted with the rules.

You need also to prove that you are eligible to marry in your home country. This means you should carry passports and birth certificates, which are proving that you and your promised are of legal age (if you have never been married before). If this is not your first marriage, you need to bring documentation proving that you have been either widowed or divorced (take either a death certificate or divorce decree, preferable the original copies).

In some countries you may also be asked to take a blood test. Check in advance whether or not this step is a requirement. Consult a foreign embassy or consulate should be able to tell you this.

Because of the requirements mentioned above many people are getting married in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands — they feel exotic and foreign, but getting married here is just like getting married in any U.S. state.

If you don’t have enough time and desire to solve all the problems with documentation you may leave those details to someone else. Consider getting married on a cruise ship. You may discover that cruises are cheaper than you thought, and a main advantage is that the cruise line takes care of providing a qualified minister and a location for the ceremony. All-inclusive resorts are also a fabulous place to get married, no matter in the US or abroad. Unbelievable but true, such all-inclusive vacation packages are that all food and beverage charges (and tips) are included in one flat rate paid up front. That is all special events can be celebrated without any extra costs. You have only to call beforehand and the resort will provide you a minister, photographer, cake, and witnesses if you won’t have any.

And at last if you are going to take the husband's name, wait a bit to change your own as this may cause headaches at the airport if your tickets show your married name but your passport was issued in your maiden name. The best way is to make all reservations in your maiden name and when home you may change it.

Renewing Your Vows >>