AND THE VENUE IS...

As much as we love to travel, we ultimately decided to have our wedding here at home rather than at an island destination.  Though it might not be cost efficient; having a majority of our relatives present at the most significant day of our lives is priceless.  Once that was finalized, the tedious task of finding a venue began.

After weeks of research, price comparisons, phone calls and meetings, we decided to forgo the "outdoor" wedding theme since finding a venue large enough to fit our towering 250 guest list was a challenge.  In the end, we decided to go a little more traditional route with a church wedding.  The cost difference is exponential to accommodate such a massive wedding guests list. Over all, financially it just made sense. So our wedding ceremony will be held at my fiance's family temple and reception at it's neighboring ballroom.

I'd be lying if I said a part of me isn't yearning over a white sand beach wedding, but overall I am happy with our selection.  The temple's aesthetic is gorgeous not to mention large enough to seat our guests.  The Star of David ceiling light fixtures are remarkable.

We won't be having a Jewish wedding per se, however, we do intend to add a few Jewish traditions into it. Next task, to learn about said Jewish wedding customs-chuppah, horah, etc.

My future grandfather :)

My daughter lying where the chuppah will be located

'til next post...

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Destined for Destinations

Since we got engaged on an island, we feel it suitable to get married on one-at least that's our justification.  Now, the challenge is which palm tree, white sand, clear blue/green water location holds our fate.  In my research, I realized much goes into choosing one: location, inclusive or non-inclusive, average flight rate/flight time, international or domestic, and lastly budget.

Location:
You know you want a beach wedding, but where?  You can either pick a date and search from there or choose a location, then pick their available date.  If you're destined for the Caribbean, it is imperative to familiarize yourself with their seasons.  Stay away from hurricane season (obviously), and the hottest set of months (think of your elderly relatives sweltering under the sun).  Also, it is key to wed towards the afternoon and not near high noon when at it's hottest.  You both are already excited and anxious. Throw 95 degree weather into that mix and the aftermath may not be pretty-for you or your wedding party.

All Inclusive or Non-Inclusive:
Clearly choosing this option relies on your budget.  However, the positive reason of going with an all-inclusive resort is that you can choose a wedding package you can afford and what comes with it, all pre-paid.  The last thing we want to do, is dish out money the day of.  Besides, where would we keep our credit cards? Having your special day at an all-inclusive resort provides your guests with amazing amenities, comfortable accommodations, a range of activities, not to mention succulent cuisine (hopefully).  After all, it may be your wedding day, but for many of your guests, it's a weekend getaway at the beach. 

Flights
If your destination wedding is at another continent (Europe, Africa, South America), I suppose both of you are realistic that the wedding party and guests will coincidentally be the same group of people.  If it is important to you who makes it to your wedding, picking a location who's flights are let's say over $1500 will come with it's challenges. Don't get me wrong, I'm not implying to make your choice based on relatives' budgets, but be be prepared to possibly add mom and/or dad, your bestie and/or grandparents flights into your wedding budget. Relating to that, long flight hours can also place a wrench in your plans when dealing with anxious flyers.

International vs. Domestic
Who wouldn't want a romantic international wedding-whether in the islands or Europe? For those of you more inclined to keeping it in the good old  U.S of A, believe it or not there are a fair amount of domestic destinations.

Florida

-Quit possibly the most used state for destination weddings and elopements.  It's clear why, it's known for great weather (minus hurricane season), and there are a plethora of beaches to choose from.  My own best friend is marrying on the white sand beaches in Sarasota Florida this summer.

 

California

Southern Cali and San Diego seem to be the go-to areas for outdoor beach weddings, and rightfully so.  With thousands of miles of beach front locations and west coast temperatures, it's the suitable year-round domestic state.  Read here for a guide to California beach weddings.

Texas

The lone star state boasts many beach side islands like Port Aransas on the shores of the Gulf of Mexico, to Galveston Island near Houston. A little over 3 hours flight and no passport necessary. 

Puerto Rico

Besides amazing food and equally amazing weather, Puerto Rico is passport-free Caribbean island.  I can go on and on about their beach weddings but you can see for yourself here.

In all, I've come to the realization that planning our wedding comes with accommodating our guests more-so than ourselves.

to be continued...

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