Hey BPT Blog Readers! Today I want to feature a guest article that one of our readers submitted about exotic/getaway weddings. Emily Jacobson (our guest author) offers great advice if you’re thinking about an alternative to the traditional wedding. Thanks Emily!
Exotic Getaway Weddings: The Antidote for Bridal Stress
Romantic getaway weddings are coming of age! All you need is the Internet (or a phone) to arrange any kind of celebration in any imaginable locale, including everything from dancing elephants and fireworks to trousseau, rings, and license. If what you want isn’t already offered, wedding planners will work with you to create the wedding of your dreams. Many couples are attracted to the idea of a worry-free wedding. Why not, when planning a fantasy summer destination wedding is as easy as ordering pizza?
At Exotic Indian Weddings, for example, you can choose a romantic beach wedding, a jungle wedding, a river-rafting wedding, or a Himalayas wedding in a package to suit your budget. For something more stately, you might choose an India palace wedding on a small island.
The Wedding Experience displays a map of the world and gives you the option to choose from locales as diverse as Amsterdam, Tahiti, and San Francisco. They also offer cruise ship weddings and will see to all your travel arrangements. If your family is dismayed by the prospect of being left out, wedding planners will provide for their travel arrangements and accommodations as well.
Formerly known as eloping, the exotic destination wedding has many advantages over conventional weddings, not the least of which is cost. In “Beyond Vegas: 25 Exotic Wedding and Elopement Destinations Around the World” by Lisa Tabb and Sam Silverstein, the couple provides a compendium of exotic destinations like Borneo where complete wedding packages cost an average of $5,000. That’s $14,000 less than the $19,000 listed in Modern Bride as the average cost of weddings today.
The $5,000 price tag gives you lodging at the best hotels, sumptuous local food, personal pampering, and an exotic vacation — in addition to a wedding! With the money you’ll save by eloping, you can host a lavish reception for family and friends upon your happy return, treat yourself to a pair of diamond earrings to match your new ring, or even buy a 2nd vehicle. Saving time can be as important as saving money. Ms. Tabb testifies that her weddings were planned in anywhere from a few weeks to a few days.
Tabb and Silverstein eloped ten times and were legally married in far-flung locales like Kenya, the Galapagos, and Jerusalem. Their Fiji ceremony came with transport for the bride by raft, after which she was carried to shore by islanders. The happy and satisfied couple claims that each wedding was classy, well done, and definitely worth the money.
Perhaps the best part of an exotic getaway wedding is the adventure. Even without getting married on skis in the Alps, your celebration is sure to be delightfully unique. You’ll get an insider’s perspective of the local culture and, while every detail may not be perfect, Tabb and Silverstein believe this only adds to the charm and appeal of the experience.