Destination Weddings

Is the wedding of your dreams not in a church but on a beach somewhere with your toes in the sand right next to the ocean? Is it anywhere but here? A destination wedding may be just what you have always wanted! These weddings are growing in popularity, partly because of the exotic locales, but also as prices for weddings have gone up significantly over the years.

Destination weddings outside (and inside!) of the USA can be a challenge and help from an expert on destination weddings at is just what you need! I have been planning destination weddings for years and can help you plan the wedding/honeymoon in the location of your dreams.

Please note that some international destinations are easier to get married in than others. Here's a short list of the easier ones:

• Jamaica
• St. Lucia
• Antigua
• Bahamas
• Turks & Caicos
• Cruise Ships

Mexico and the Dominican Republic are getting easier, but keep in mind -- destination weddings in countries that are not primarily English speaking can be more difficult. For example, the Dominican Republic requires all documentation to be translated into Spanish. This can add extra $$ to your overall wedding package.

For an international destination wedding, you will need to provide proper documentation for the wedding. These requirements differ from what you need to enter/exit a country. Common requirements are:

• Notarized Certified Birth Certificate (issued by the Country, State or County you were born in)
• Notarized Divorce Decree or Final Judgement (this is a 1-2 page document, not the document that says who gets what)
• Notarized Death certificate and related marriage certificate (if your former spouse is deceased)
• Notarized Legal Adoption Papers or Legal Name Change

Some countries require more, some less. As your wedding expert, I will give you all of the requirements for your wedding specific to your destination chosen.

Please keep in mind that destination weddings while they sound wonderful to the bride and groom, it may limit how many can attend. Sometimes price gets in the way or some of the guests may not want to leave the country. This can often cause the bride and groom to change their plans to fit what their families want rather than what they want.

To get around this potential problem, many couples will go away to get married and then throw a party for everyone once they get back. For example, one of my clients got married in Jamaica on October 1st and they had no guests attend the wedding. When they got back, they threw a Halloween party (costumes and all) for everyone. At the party, they showed their wedding video and served for the dessert Jamaican wedding cake. Everyone had a blast!

Destination weddings can be anywhere and anything that you want them to be. Finding the best can be a journey in and of itself, but the end result can make dreams reality and provide many loving and lasting memories.

I can help you in this journey -- contact me with any questions at divalisatravel@gmail.com!