The Knot Guide to Destination Weddings

The biggest trend to hit weddings in the past decade is the destination wedding. Whether on a Caribbean beach or in the Italian countryside, more and more couples throw their weddings far from home. The idea is an exciting one, but planning long distance can be complicated . . . .

In The Knot Guide to Destination Weddings, Carley Roney and JoAnn Gregoli break down the unique process of planning from afarfrom deciding on your destination to whether or not you should fly in your officiantand all the legal and practical considerations in between. Armed with a variety of experts on the subject, tips, and lessons from couples who have been through the experience, this book is jam-packed with checklists and practical, insightful advice from wedding people in-the-know.

With so many intricacies to take care of, couples “wedding away” need a clear game plan. The Knot Guide to Destination Weddings ensures no detail, big or small, will fall through the cracks. The authors tackle:

•picking out and booking the perfect location

•listings of the top wedding spots worldwide

•establishing the wedding budgets

•hiring planners and/or vendors from a distance

•the etiquette of destination weddings

•countless ways to make your wedding unique

•legal marriage requirements for foreign locales

•planning a full weekend of events, including the reception, rehearsal dinner, and guest activities

•using the Internet to coordinate the event

From the beaches of the Bahamas to the castles of Scotland, the biggest trend in matrimony in the past decade is the destination wedding. Now Carley Roney, founder of the world's favorite wedding website, TheKnot.com, breaks down the unique process of planning a ceremony from afar. Offering tips from experts and lessons from couples who have experienced it, the authors guide you through every aspect, including selecting and booking the ideal location, choosing and hiring vendors from a distance, inviting guests, and the unique etiquette involved in hosting this kind of event. This book is all you'll need to plan the perfect destination wedding. Don't take up the whole day. Your guests will be happiest with activities that last no longer than three hours. They'll want enough down time to relax and do their own thing. Do assign guests to teams. A little friendly competition will help guests bond, whether it's via a scavenger hunt or softball game. Craft the teams carefully by breaking up cliques and mixing guests from different parts of your lives so they'll have a chance to meet. Do track rsvp's. To plan properly you'll need to know well in advance who is going to participate in each activity, so ask guests to rsvp on postcards you include in the pre-wedding info packet.