Destination weddings can be glamorous and fantastic, but they are not for everyone. Thinking about celebrating your nuptials away from home? Here are some reasons that the wind might blow in your favor:

INCREASED ROMANCE…..
There's no question that a wedding destination halfway around the world will have fewer guests than the one just down the street from your house. Some guests will not be able to afford it, others will not be able to take the time and a majority of those 'must-invite' relatives and co-workers will graciously excuse themselves from the invitation.

Additionally, friends and family are more understanding of intimate weddings that are located away from home, and you're less likely to get pressure to invite that second cousin that you haven't spoken to eight years.

With fewer people, this means you can spend more time with the ones that do make the trek. Because guests often view destination weddings as vacation opportunities, they will often extend their trip into a full week, allowing the busy bride and groom to see their loved ones more than just the day of the ceremony.

Remember - this day is about you and your partner and the start of your life together. A smaller ceremony and guest list can help you focus on this, and not the chaos surrounding a large reception.

COST EFFECTIVNESS (for the couple!)
Even though you have to pay for transportation, shipping must-have items ahead of time and resort accommodation, chances are your destination wedding will still cost less than the $30,000 an average American couple spends on their nuptials.

With a smaller guest list and favorable exchange rates in may overseas locations, couples are able to spend less on food and reception locations, while receiving equal or better quality. Often, the couple is able to splurge on things they would not be able to afford 'back home', such as an open bar, unique and personalized favors or even extra opportunities, like a private tour of the area for all of the guests, or a morning-after brunch.

VACATION OPPORTUNITY
With such high costs for a wedding - not including the honeymoon - couples can see the advantage of combing a wedding with a honeymoon destination. This often allows the newlyweds to spend more time at the locale of their choice. Instead of taking a week off of work prior to the wedding to organize and then rushing through a shortened honeymoon at an exotic location soon thereafter, couples can spend two weeks at their place of choice.

This doesn't mean you have to honeymoon at the location where you were married. Although many people choose to do this, others will fly off to another resort in the same area, or, in the case of the Caribbean or the South Pacific, visit another country before heading back to their home base.

Additionally, a destination wedding provides an excellent opportunity for a family reunion. Because there is so much to do and see outside of the wedding itself, there are plentiful options for family-bonding activities!

Must have attraction
Have you always pictured a barefoot wedding with ocean waves crashing up against the beach…but you live in Hodunk? Wished for an opportunity to be married in a castle with lush green hills…but you're holed up in Wisconsin?

Must-have attractions that are not available in your home area are other reasons for a destination wedding. You won't find beautiful crystal clear turquoise waters of the Caribbean, or the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands here in the midwest. So grab your sweetie and start packing!