| Destination Weddings & Honeymoon |
One of the most watched trends in weddings today is that of the "destination
wedding". Today, destination weddings account for a whopping 10% of all
weddings among the new generation. This is pretty significant because just 10
years ago, the term 'destination wedding' was virtually unheard of. And there's
no reason to expect a cooling down of this trend any time soon, in fact, it's just
gaining speed and growing tremendously......
What is Destination Weddings?
Destination Wedding essentially means "eloping with a crowd". It's a modern version of eloping. When a
couple eloped in the past, they ran off alone together. Now they may still run off to get married, but they take
their closest family members and friends with them to share in the celebration.
Destination weddings are sometimes also referred to as "Honeymoon Weddings" because they combine a
wedding and honeymoon all in one. "Familymoon" is another term we are starting to hear used
interchangeably with the destination wedding because it is, in essence, a honeymoon that the whole family
(and often close friends) goes along on.
Why is it so Popular?
It's popular because it appeals both to those who want to run away and get married somewhere exotic, as
well as to couples who want to share a really memorable wedding experience with the people closest to
them. Couples are grabbing hold of this idea because, instead of having just one day to celebrate their
nuptials with their favorite people, they have several days of quality time together. Compare this with the
traditional wedding, where often times the day speeds by in a whirlwind and the couple has only fleeting
moments to spend with individual guests and you start to see the appeal of the destination wedding.
Another reason for the destination wedding trend is that re-marriages now account for 50% of marriages
globally. While a conventional or traditional wedding is perfectly acceptable for a remarriage today if that's
what the couple wants, some couples just aren't comfortable with a lot of hoopla when its not their first trip to
the altar. Some prefer something a little more low key or quiet, with just the people closest to them in
attendance. The destination wedding is perfect for this.
The internet is also a huge faciliator where destination weddings are concerned. The internet makes the world
a much smaller place. Through online research you can explore geographic locations, tour resorts and
hotels, read menus, look at cakes, and view examples of a photographer's work or a hairstylist's updos.
Planning a wedding from afar is no longer the scary and risky proposition it once was. You can make contact
with resorts and vendors, including wedding coordinators, in the destination of choice via email, and have
information, price lists, and contracts sent back to you in a matter of moments. Its also much more affordable
to enter into dialogue with service providers via email than it would be if you were racking up long distance
bills along the way.
A Whole New Industry
The popularity of destination weddings has grown so rapidly that its given rise to a whole new industry in
an of itself. Today entrepreneurs and exisiting companies are spotting the enormous opportunity in this hot
trend and are finding ways to cash in on it. More and more resorts are now specifically catering to the
destination wedding crowd.
In Bali, an average mean of 1,000 weddings a day has taken place thus causing the mushrooming of resorts
and hotels around the whole entire island. The Airlines and hotel chains are developing special programs
specifically for the destination wedding market. Cruiseliners are getting in on the action, as is one of the most
successful companies in the world, the Walt Disney Company. With its destination wedding packages,
Disney World has become the second most popular destination in the US for destination weddings (following
Las Vegas).
Even some entire cities, towns, and countries are discovering that they can profit substantially by making
destination weddings their focus. The Carribbean islands, for instance, have in the last number of years further
eased their requirements for non-residents to marry on their soil, in order to encourage the influx of
destination wedding couples. Some cities and towns in the US and abroad are now putting effort and
investment into marketing themselves as wedding destinations because they realize the powerful potential it
will have on their economy. The websites of more and more Chambers of Commerce or Visitors and Tourists
Bureaus are heavily focusing on the destination wedding aspect of their cities as a means of attracting more
tourism.
In addition, many business-minded individuals are recognizing the opportunity for them to do well in the
wedding consulting and coordinating business by specializing in the destination wedding market. With so
many couples trying to plan weddings at a distance, the demand for coordinators who can assist them in
taking care of these details is quickly on the rise, and its spurring more interest in the wedding consulting
field. As well, many existing and established consultants are taking note of the additional opportunity
available to them by marketing their services at the destination wedding market.
wedding". Today, destination weddings account for a whopping 10% of all
weddings among the new generation. This is pretty significant because just 10
years ago, the term 'destination wedding' was virtually unheard of. And there's
no reason to expect a cooling down of this trend any time soon, in fact, it's just
gaining speed and growing tremendously......
What is Destination Weddings?
Destination Wedding essentially means "eloping with a crowd". It's a modern version of eloping. When a
couple eloped in the past, they ran off alone together. Now they may still run off to get married, but they take
their closest family members and friends with them to share in the celebration.
Destination weddings are sometimes also referred to as "Honeymoon Weddings" because they combine a
wedding and honeymoon all in one. "Familymoon" is another term we are starting to hear used
interchangeably with the destination wedding because it is, in essence, a honeymoon that the whole family
(and often close friends) goes along on.
Why is it so Popular?
It's popular because it appeals both to those who want to run away and get married somewhere exotic, as
well as to couples who want to share a really memorable wedding experience with the people closest to
them. Couples are grabbing hold of this idea because, instead of having just one day to celebrate their
nuptials with their favorite people, they have several days of quality time together. Compare this with the
traditional wedding, where often times the day speeds by in a whirlwind and the couple has only fleeting
moments to spend with individual guests and you start to see the appeal of the destination wedding.
Another reason for the destination wedding trend is that re-marriages now account for 50% of marriages
globally. While a conventional or traditional wedding is perfectly acceptable for a remarriage today if that's
what the couple wants, some couples just aren't comfortable with a lot of hoopla when its not their first trip to
the altar. Some prefer something a little more low key or quiet, with just the people closest to them in
attendance. The destination wedding is perfect for this.
The internet is also a huge faciliator where destination weddings are concerned. The internet makes the world
a much smaller place. Through online research you can explore geographic locations, tour resorts and
hotels, read menus, look at cakes, and view examples of a photographer's work or a hairstylist's updos.
Planning a wedding from afar is no longer the scary and risky proposition it once was. You can make contact
with resorts and vendors, including wedding coordinators, in the destination of choice via email, and have
information, price lists, and contracts sent back to you in a matter of moments. Its also much more affordable
to enter into dialogue with service providers via email than it would be if you were racking up long distance
bills along the way.
A Whole New Industry
The popularity of destination weddings has grown so rapidly that its given rise to a whole new industry in
an of itself. Today entrepreneurs and exisiting companies are spotting the enormous opportunity in this hot
trend and are finding ways to cash in on it. More and more resorts are now specifically catering to the
destination wedding crowd.
In Bali, an average mean of 1,000 weddings a day has taken place thus causing the mushrooming of resorts
and hotels around the whole entire island. The Airlines and hotel chains are developing special programs
specifically for the destination wedding market. Cruiseliners are getting in on the action, as is one of the most
successful companies in the world, the Walt Disney Company. With its destination wedding packages,
Disney World has become the second most popular destination in the US for destination weddings (following
Las Vegas).
Even some entire cities, towns, and countries are discovering that they can profit substantially by making
destination weddings their focus. The Carribbean islands, for instance, have in the last number of years further
eased their requirements for non-residents to marry on their soil, in order to encourage the influx of
destination wedding couples. Some cities and towns in the US and abroad are now putting effort and
investment into marketing themselves as wedding destinations because they realize the powerful potential it
will have on their economy. The websites of more and more Chambers of Commerce or Visitors and Tourists
Bureaus are heavily focusing on the destination wedding aspect of their cities as a means of attracting more
tourism.
In addition, many business-minded individuals are recognizing the opportunity for them to do well in the
wedding consulting and coordinating business by specializing in the destination wedding market. With so
many couples trying to plan weddings at a distance, the demand for coordinators who can assist them in
taking care of these details is quickly on the rise, and its spurring more interest in the wedding consulting
field. As well, many existing and established consultants are taking note of the additional opportunity
available to them by marketing their services at the destination wedding market.