Not only is a beach a beautiful place for a wedding, it's also an opportunity to have a wedding that people will remember without the expense that is associated with booking a reception venue and the other expenses that go hand in hand with more formal weddings. However, there are some things you do need to pay attention to:

You will need to choose a location where you will be able to have your wedding ceremony without the intrusion of outsiders. Is the beach accessible to all members of your wedding party, such as some elderly guests who may find it a little bit difficult to walk on the sand? Since the weather can't be relied upon to be totally perfect, you may also need to have an alternative venue available in case the weather makes for a bad beach experience. You will also need to consider the tide times and whether or not there will be sufficient room on the beach for the wedding party to perform the ceremony suitably.

There are, of course always solutions to these. Like any other venue, good planning and preparation will make all the difference on the day.  Even though a beach wedding is a very casual affair there is still certain planning that needs to go into ensuring that there won't be any problems with that particular setup.

Need more tips on beach weddings?  Head on over to our pages on Beach Wedding Ideas and Beach Elopements

        

Is there a different set of etiquette rules for out-of-town weddings than there are for those you hold in your hometown?  Well, many of the same rules of etiquette apply, though out-of-town weddings do have a few other things you may want to be mindful of:

1. You should tell your guest in advance, at least six months, where and when your destination will occur. This is very important as your guests will need ample time to save up for any flights or hotel expenses, as well as to clear work schedules if necessary.
2. Provide your guests with information about the destination where the wedding will be held. You should also scout for the cheapest hotels in the area where they could stay.  You can create a Destination Wedding Information packet that contains the basic information about area and any scenic places your guests can explore before and after the wedding.  The packet should contain a map of the area.
3. Look for a hotel where all the guests, family and entourage can stay. Choose those near the wedding location, with good amenities and affordable group rates. You should also provide the names of several low-priced hotels nearby as alternatives.

A Destination Wedding Etiquette Reminder for Guests

Yes, you can turn the destination wedding of your friend or family member into a mini-vacation for yourself and your family. But, remember that you are there, first and foremost, at the couple’s request. Share in their love and celebration and do everything to help make the wedding day special for them. After that, have a fabulous vacation!

        

The Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida has a wedding package and venue for all tastes and budgets.  Well, okay, maybe not all budgets.  Their "Two by the Gulf" intimate wedding package for the couple is pricier than most elopement packages you can get at a fine Bed and Breakfast.  But, at $2,700 you can get a Florida beach wedding at an elegant hotel on a beach with a million dollar view.

Their other wedding packages are for 20 and fewer guests:

• Gold Wedding Package, which includes a couple's massage, for $4,500
• Platinum Wedding Package, which includes a $200 hotel gift certificate and in-room dining breakfast for two once during stay for $7,500
• Diamond Wedding Package, which includes a personal pool cabana for one day, including the services of a poolside butler, as well as a romantic three-course dinner for two at Artisans or The Grill for $12,500

The Ritz-Carlton in Naples has numerous venues to choose from as well, including:

• The Beach
• The Tea Garden
• The Beach House
• Several ballrooms

Naples is located along Florida's southwest coast, in an area often referred to as "Florida's Last Paradise," due to the large amount of land that is preserved.  While on your honeymoon you can take in the beauty of the area on a boat tour, or, if you want a land tour experience, you can take a Segway tour of Old Naples. The area is also the spring training home to the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins.

Other Attractions Near Naples

• Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
• Ten Thousand Islands National Wildlife Refuge
• Naples Botanical Gardens
• Big Cypress National Preserve
• Hibiscus Golf Club

For more information on having your wedding at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida, you can check out their website at http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/Naples/Default.htm

And, if you want more Florida wedding venues, do be sure to go to your website page, http://www.locationweddings.net/Florida_Weddings.html

        

If you're searching for that perfect Bed and Breakfast to host your wedding, you might want to consider the Taylor House Inn in the Watauga River Valley area of North Carolina, chosen from over 6000 inns and bed and breakfasts by BedandBreakfast.com as “The Best for Weddings” for 2008-2009.

Built in 1911, the Taylor House Inn received extensive renovations in 1987, and is now one of the finest B&Bs around in one of the most picturesque parts of America - the Blue Ridge Mountains. For your wedding, you can choose one of several different sites, including the main house, gazebo or front lawn.

Contact Information:

Taylor House Inn
4584 Hwy 194 South
Valle Crucis, NC
(800) 963-5581
website:  taylorhouseinn.com
email:  info@taylorhouseinn.com

Here's a YouTube video about weddings at Taylor House Inn.  It's a lovely place.  Enjoy.

        

Psst, wanna win a wedding at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis?  Then, get on the stick and post a 3 to 5 minute video on YouTube.com explaining why you and your fiancée would like to be married at the Guthrie.  Then, submit your YouTube link to the Guthrie via the entry form on their site and hope you win.

One Grand-Prize winning couple will receive a wedding package worth $60,000, which includes:

• Wedding ceremony on Sunday, August 16, 2009 at 6 p.m. on the Guthrie’s legendary Wurtele Thrust Stage officiated by Guthrie veteran and star of the movie "Father of the Bride," Peter Michael Goetz
• Reception following the ceremony in the Dowling Studio including food and beverage for 150 guests
• Wedding night hotel room at aloft hotel just kitty corner from the Guthrie
• 7 Night / 8 Day honeymoon at the Radisson St. Martin Resort, Marina & Spa (includes 2 roundtrip airfare tickets)
• Wedding gown from l'atelier couture bridal boutique and tuxedo rental from Savvi Formalwear
• Wedding bands by local artist Karin Jacobson Designs
• Ceremony and reception photography and videography
• Custom-designed invitations
• Floral arrangements
• Wedding "gift" from the Guthrie Store: a medium Monica Rudquist bowl from her custom line of Guthrie pottery

• Submit a 3–5 minute video explaining why you and your fiancée would like to be married at the Guthrie.  This video must be posted on youtube.com and link must be submitted to the Guthrie via the entry form at http://www.guthrietheater.org/DreamWedding  Remember, the video must not exceed five minutes.
• One entry per couple
• All entries must be submitted by June 30, 2009
• The top 5 videos as chosen by the Guthrie will be posted on mspmag.com and metromix.com for public voting July 6–12, 2009
• Winner will be notified on Monday, July 13, 2009

• Allow Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine, KARE 11 and the Guthrie to take still and/or video footage of all activities surrounding the wedding, including the ceremony and reception
• Agree to press opportunities as they become available (this applies to runners up as well)
• Provide your original video as a .mov file for voting campaigns on KARE11.com, metromix.com and mspmag.com (this applies to the top 5 couples)

The contest is open to legal residents of the United States, excluding New York, Florida and Puerto Rico, who are at least 18 years of age.   No vow renewals.

        

What's one of the best places in London to tie the knot?  How about high above London on the London Eye?  For those of you not familiar with the London Eye (as some in the U.S. may not be), it is an awesome, 135 meters-high (443 ft) super Ferris-wheel like structure.  From you capsule on the wheel you can see the sites of London, up to 40KM (25 miles)  from the top. For weddings and Civil Partnerships, the London Eye has a package for the couple and up to 20 guests, where you can say "I do" at the top, and enjoy Laurent-Perrier Champagne on the descent. Traveling at a speed of 0.9km (0.6 miles) per hour, each ride on the wheel lasts 30 minutes; time enough gazing, I-do-ing, and toasting. There are two packages to choose from, the Classic Gold Package or the Platinum package.

The Gold Package, for £2,700.00 Monday through Friday and £3,000.00 Saturday and Sunday, includes the following:

Decorative flowers inside your wedding capsule
Laurent Perrier Champagne served to you and your guests in your wedding capsule
London Eye wedding coordinator to assist with your wedding plans

The Platinum package includes everything in the Gold Package, as well as several decadent extras, including a night's stay with breakfast at the five-star Marriott County Hall hotel, a spa treatment each during your stay, and a Cupid's Capsule to celebrate your first anniversary.  A Cupid's Capsule is a private, romantic capsule which comes complete with a bottle of Laurent-Perrier Champagne and a luxury box of Charbonnel et Walker pink champagne truffles.   Platinum prices begin at £3,500.00.

Contact Information:

London Eye
Riverside Building
County Hall
Westminster Bridge Road
London SE1
0870 222 2223
londoneye.com
+44 (0)870 220 2223 or email civilpartnership@londoneye.com or weddings@londoneye.com

        

Yes, this is a blog about wedding destinations. But, if you're wanting to save money, sometimes the best place is in your own backyard - literally. Today, I'm going to give a few tips about having the wedding in your own home garden. If you have a beautiful backyard garden (or, if you have a friend who has a beautiful backyard garden and wouldn't mind letting you and your guests use it), then you are ahead of the game.  But, if you don't, you can create that garden-like feel with some newly-potted flowers, as well as an arch of fresh flowers under which you are married.

Size of the Wedding Party - take a good look at the area of your garden and be realistic about the number of people you can accommodate.  If you're going to add trellises or arches of flowers, in addition to other potted plants, take those into consideration when assessing the space for guests. 

Weather - It's not always possible to predict the weather, but try to at least schedule your outdoor garden wedding during the dryer season.  Remember though, that the weather may not always cooperate.  Be prepared to move the weddings indoors if it becomes rainy or too windy.  You may wish to have a canopy or tent handy, or clear space inside if you have to move the wedding indoors. 

Flowers - You're in your garden, so take advantage of it!  Use flowers or blossoms from the wedding garden to create your bouquet. This provides many bright and beautiful options while allowing the wedding party to blend in with the natural surroundings. It also helps budget conscious brides save a little extra money when it comes to the cost of the wedding.

Clothing - You should also consider the clothing for a garden wedding. If you're having a summer wedding, you may want to go less formal. 

        

Do you want a fabulous place to get married with the fabulous cost attached? Save your money and the hassle and elope at the Star of Texas Bed & Breakfast in the Texas Hill Country just 4 miles outside Brownwood, Texas:

Star of Texas Bed & Breakfast
650 Morelock Lane
Brownwood, TX
Phone: 1-325-646-4128
Toll-free: 1-800-850-2003
email: relaxing@star-of-texas.com

Their special "Elopement for 2" package is only $189, plus the cost of your room, which ranges between $129 and $169 per night. When you figure your average wedding costs about $20,000, not to mention the stress level that goes with it, then you're getting a real bargain!

The "Elopement for 2" package includes:

• Vow ceremony by Chaplain in the location of your choice on the property
• Hand tied mix flower bouquet for the Bride
• Photos burned to a CD for you to use as you like
• Cake and Punch for 2

This package is for the couple only.  If you have guests you want to attend, you should check out their other wedding packages.

They also have another package, which is called the "Ultimate Texas Elopement Honeymoon Getaway," for only $725 and includes:

• 2 nights in room of choice
• Hand tied mixed flower bouquet for Bride and boutonniere for Groom
• Cake & Punch for 2
• Photo CD for you to use as you wish
• CD music for ceremony
• Massage for couple in your private room
• $50 Dinner at the Turtle Restuarant or Wine Bar
• Full breakfast delivered to your room each morning

Wedding sites on the property include the garden, their own Texas Star Garden Chapel, or any secluded spot on their 20-acre property.  For your honeymoon stay, there are also several interesting lodging choices, including the Dancing Buffalo Lodge, a 22' tepee with a native rock floor, queen size airbed, wooden camp chairs & Native American decor; and the Tuscany Suite, with Jacuzzi bath for two and a balcony that overlooks the lily pond.

        

This has to be one of the most unique wedding destinations I can think of.  Underwater in Key Largo, Florida. 

The Jules’ Undersea Lodge in Key Largo, Florida is truly underwater, with guests having to scuba dive 21 feet beneath the surface of the sea and enter through an opening in the bottom of the lodge. The wedding ceremony itself is held inside the lodge, which consists of a wet room entrance area, two bedrooms and a common room, which is a combination kitchen, dining and living room area. The Undersea Lodge also serves as a memorable honeymoon location, with fish passing by your window.
Contact Info:

Jules' Undersea Lodge
Key Largo Undersea Park
Key Largo, Florida
phone:  305-451-2353
website:  jul.com
info@jul.com

I have several more unique wedding ideas on my website page at Unique Wedding Destinations.

        

Well, okay, it's almost free.  You get the complimentary wedding package with any seven-nights stay at the St. Kitts Marriott.  This complimentary wedding package includes:

• Professional wedding consultant
• Several picturesque ceremony locations to choose: beach, lawn, gazebo, or garden
• Religious or non-denominational ceremony
• Wedding license, including document preparation
• One bottle of celebratory champagne
• Accommodation upgrade

The Complimentary Wedding Package is available through December 19, 2009 and is valid with a minimum of seven-night stays. Accommodation upgrades are based on availability and applicable for the bride and groom only. Other wedding xtras, such as flowers, floral wedding arch, musicians and photographer are available at an additional cost.

St. Kitts Marriott has many amenities you want in a Caribbean resort, including:

• Onsite championship golf course
• Full service, luxury spa
• Casino on-site
• AAA 4-Diamonds

Contact Info for St. Kitts Marriott:

858 Frigate Bay Road
Frigate Bay, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Phone:  1 869 466 1200

While honeymooning on St. Kitts, do be sure to check out the St. Kitts Scenic Railway, which takes you on a 3-hour tour of the beautiful Eastern Caribbean island of St. Kitts.  18 miles of the tour is on narrow gauge train and 12 miles is on sightseeing buses. It's really a fun and lovely way to get a look at your tropical honeymoon destination.