Destination Weddings

A destination wedding lets you have your (wedding) cake and eat it too!

Destination weddings combine the ceremony and the honeymoon in one romantic place.

More couples are choosing destination weddings for several reasons:

• Destination weddings can save thousands of dollars because fewer guests attend, reducing food and beverage costs. Wedding packages offered at destinations often include just the basic ceremony amenities, again cutting in half or more a traditional wedding budget.

• The event brings together family and friends and one memorable vacation.

• It's becoming easier to finance with the help of gift registries now offering for example, airline mileage over pots and pans. Guests may want to purchase resort spa treatments, snorkeling excursions or other amenities for the bride and

• The planning is easy. Most destinations have in-house wedding coordinators who will work with you to hammer out a budget, help prepare legal documents for out of country weddings, fine tune reception details and transportation.

All of this is made easier by the internet. Pick any spot in the world and there is sure to be a corresponding web page complete with pictures and information on what is included in the destination wedding package. Surf those Caribbean islands, mountain hideaways or adventure spots without leaving your home.

HoneyMOON PALACE Treats Brides & Grooms Like Royalty

In the Mexican Riviera you'll find Cancun. This is one of the most romantic destination wedding/honeymoon spots on the planet. Cool, off-shore breezes wind around shady palm trees. The view is spectacular for wedding pictures and videography. There are dozens of resorts to choose from along the 14 mile hotel strip or in remote boutique properties surrounding Cancun.

The Moon Palace is part of the Palace Resorts groups. And here you will be treated like royalty! The attentive staff, easy check-in and check-out procedures and the amenities of this all-inclusive resort make it a favorite of "just married" couples.

Brides will love the day spa and salon on the property. Both are there to help prepare you for your wedding day of beauty.

Entertaining your guests is easy. It's giant pool winds the length of the property. There's an on site gym, jogging path, and opening soon, an 18-hole golf course designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus.

But don't forget about the obvious. The white sandy beaches, jet skiing, parasailing and suntanning are exaclty what you'll need to relax during your stay. Each room has a balcony with a hammock for an extra touch of romance.

The price tag for a four day all-inclusive stay for 20 people, including air fare, could run about $20,000.

Something Borrowed....Something Green?

Across the Atlantic, you'll find a very romantic island to celebrate your destination wedding. Ireland's green scenery is an ideal spot for saying "I do." Whether it's in one of the ancient churches of Dublin or Belfast or in the charming, remote castles in between, weddings here take on a magical quality and elegance.

The Ashford Castle in Cong, Co. Mayo is one of the most spectacular backdrops for a destination wedding. The main dining room can be rented out for your ceremony and reception. Guests can take advantage of the golf course, horseback riding, falconry school, spa, tour of the lake or sitting by the cozy fireplaces throughout the castle. Each guest room is private and dripping in character and nostalgia. 007 star, Pierce Brosnan, recently celebrated his nuptials here.

Wyndham Hotels & Resorts Unveils Destination Planning Site

Wyndham Resorts offer upscale accommodations as wedding destinations in the United States, Caribbean and Mexico. It is now easier to design the wedding of your dreams on their new "Destination Weddings By Wyndham" web site.

The site is organized into 14 categories, including planning, ceremony, honeymoon, wedding album and special offers. Brides and grooms can choose their location, view the property in a virtual tour, and read what other couples are saying about their experience on this easy to navigate site.

Now, more than ever, destination weddings can be what you want them to be. They offer you the freedom to create the dream you've always wanted for your wedding day. And family and close friends can be right there with you, celebrating this super day.