Sailing Through The “I Do’s” (NAPSA)—More and more cou- ples are having destination wed- dings—tying the knot in a beautiful honeymoon spot so their friends and family can enjoy the : F asl, | location with them. In the last five years, destination weddings have gone from an offbeat option to a way manycouples begin their marriages, reports Carley Roney from TheKnot.com,a leading online weddingresource. It will also set your wedding apart from others, making it even more memorable. Cost is another factor in the burgeoning popularity of destination weddings. The trappings of a wedding reception are usually available to the couple as a package deal, and the honeymoon spot is right there. Guests also take advantage by turning the wedding retreat into one of their vacations for the year. Couples may want to consider holding their destination wedding duringa slightly off-peak season, at a time the locale may A cruise is a great way to get married and take a romantic honeymoon vacation in one complete, special package. live music, bouquets, cake, souvenir champagneglasses and for- mal portraits, as well as catering by the ship’s renownedchefs. Cou- ples can even have their ceremony captured by the ship’s exclusive “Wed Cam”so friends and family not onboard can virtually attend the nuptials by viewing them online from home. ings on roomsandairfare. For more information log on to www.princess.com or call 1-800- lots of entertainment options are tips. Send “save the dates” early— not be as crowded, for extra savPlaces that are easy to travel to, offer sunny beaches and have great choices for destination wed- dings, according to Roney. Popular choices include the Caribbean, Hawaii andcruises. One cruise line, Princess Cruises, offers all-inclusive wedding/romantic honeymoon packages aboard its Caribbean fleet. Many of the ships feature an onboard chapel where the ship’s captain can marry couples while the ship is at sea—Princess is the only cruise line that offers sea- going nuptials. The company offers packages that can include PRINCESS. Roney offers a few important even a year in advance—so guests can plan their vacation schedules and obtain good fares. Make sure there is an in-house weddingcoordinator who can help from start to finish, and who will let you know everything the destination will and won’t provide. Get a checklist from the coordinator so you know what documentation you'll need. Double check information through the destination’s official tourist bureau and consulate to be sure you'll have the proper documentation. Most important: Enjoy!
