M.D.C. Travel
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M.D.C. Travel Beyond Dreams
Complete Wedding Package
Resorts and tourism organizations have seen the dollar signs behind the destination wedding trend and make it their business to keep destination weddings stress-free and simpler. As part of a package deal, many offer the complimentary services of their on-site wedding consultant who will help you coordinate all of the ceremony essentials like a marriage license, cake, and officiant. All you have to do is show up. The on-site wedding coordinator often serves as your concierge for the duration of your stay and can organize activities for your guests such as sightseeing, SCUBA or snorkeling excursions, sports, or shopping. If your resort has a spa on-side, you can arrange to give your guests spa services as "thank you" gifts.
Avoid Stressful Family Situations
With a smaller invitation list, you can avoid feeling forced to invite the cousin you cannot stand or the in-law that everyone fights with. You can just invite your very closest friends and family to the intimate ceremony and celebration or keep it romantic and do not invite anyone. You can always send them pictures.
Smaller Guest List Means Less Expensive Reception
In most cases, if you have only a handful of friends and family or you have 50—the likelihood is that if you were to have a traditional wedding near home, your reception could be about 200 people. Spending a luxurious wedding weekend in a dramatic location can often cost less than a seated dinner at a nice location in your hometown.
Although the reception may be less expensive, the costs of travel should be included in your budget. Destination wedding etiquette may call for the bride and groom to pay for the hotel rooms, food, and some guests' expenses—although etiquette varies greatly and changes over time. Some only pay for the wedding party, and some not at all. The bride and groom should negotiate for reduced-rate accommodations or a block of rooms for their guests if accommodations are not included. Guests are expected to pay for their own airfare. If money is an issue, look at domestic locations or countries with a favorable exchange rate, and consider keeping the guest list small.
Honeymoon at Your Dream Locale
If you had gotten married close to home, in most cases, the first night as man and wife is not far from the wedding reception. Instead of spending your honeymoon at a bed and breakfast, hotel, or your house, you can have the trip of a lifetime in a glamorous location. Best of all, you will have a good excuse to return there for a 5-, 10-, or 25-year anniversary.