The Knot Guide to Destination Weddings »

The biggest trend to hit weddings in the past decade is the destination wedding. Whether on a Caribbean beach or in the Italian countryside, more and more couples throw their weddings far from home. The idea is an exciting one, but planning long distance can be complicated . . . .

In The Knot Guide to Destination Weddings, Carley Roney and JoAnn Gregoli break down the unique process of planning from afar—from deciding on your destination to whether or not you should fly in your officiant—and all the legal and practical considerations in between. Armed with a variety of experts on the subject, tips, and lessons from couples who have been through the experience, this book is jam-packed with checklists and practical, insightful advice from wedding people in-the-know.

With so many intricacies to take care of, couples “wedding away” need a clear game plan. The Knot Guide to Destination Weddings ensures no detail, big or small, will fall through the cracks. The authors tackle:
•picking out and booking the perfect location
•listings of the top wedding spots worldwide
•establishing the wedding budgets
•hiring planners and/or vendors from a distance
•the etiquette of destination weddings
•countless ways to make your wedding unique
•legal marriage requirements for foreign locales
•planning a full weekend of events, including the reception, rehearsal dinner, and guest activities
•using the Internet to coordinate the event

Bonnie Poquette - Library Journal

Roney spoke briefly of destination weddings in her popular offering The Knot Complete Guide to Weddings in the Real World. Here, she gives them her undivided attention, relating her authoritative information on planning, vendors, guest lists, ceremonies, and receptions while taking into consideration the special circumstances of a wedding adventure far from home. Insider tips and practical pointers address everything from orchestrating guest arrivals in a foreign land to anticipating a beauty crisis in another climate. Convenient time lines, checklists, and work sheets make planning easier. A directory describes more than 30 popular destinations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific Rim. The listings convey what draws people to a place, explain the most desirable travel time, tout a few of the hottest venues, and explain marriage requirements. Couples looking for a broader directory with coverage of Canada and more European locales might prefer Lisa Light's Destination Bride: A Complete Guide to Planning Your Wedding Anywhere in the World. Recommended for all public libraries.

Introduction     1
Prepare for Takeoff: Envisioning Your Event     5
Seaside or Slopeside? Determining Your Style     6
Intimate or Everyone? Deciding on Size     11
How Much? Setting Your Wedding Budget     13
You Are Here: Finding the Perfect Spot     23
Deciding on a Destination     25
The Best Places to Say "I Do"     27
Doing Your Homework     30
Shopping for Your Location     32
Scoping Out Destinations in Person     37
Visiting Your Location     39
Making Your Final Decision     41
The Contract: Signing on the Dotted Line     42
Assembling Your "A" Team: Hiring Vendors from Afar     49
The Art of Interviewing     50
Who's Playing Wedding Planner?     52
Calling All Caterers     57
Who Bakes the Cake?     63
Finding a Florist     66
Mastering the Musicians     68
Picking a Photographer and a Videographer     70
Hiring Hair and Makeup Artists     74
Be my Guests: Who to Invite and How     79
Your VIPs: The Wedding Party     80
Creating Your Guest List     86
Invitations and All: Spreading the Word     87
Playing Cruise Director: Organizing the Weekend Activities     101
Hello There: Orchestrating the Arrivals     102
Good Stuff: It's in the Welcome Bag     102
Quality Time: An Outing with Your Attendants     104
The Preview: A Rousing Rehearsal Dinner     105
Come Together Now: Where's the Welcome Party?     107
Keep It Going; After-Party Principles     108
Wake-up Call: Morning-After Munchies     109
The More the Merrier: Group Activities     110
Destination "I Do": Designing Your Ceremony     115
Making It Legal     116
Choosing a Ceremony Style     117
Finding Your Officiant     120
Working with Your Officiant     122
A World of Ceremony Ideas     123
Setting Your Service to Music     125
Put It in the Program     125
Party On: Planning Your Reception     131
The Defining Moments of a Reception     132
Create a Mood     134
Focus on the Food     138
Get Serious About Seating     142
Let's Dance: Mastering Your Music     144
Enjoy Every Minute     146
The Destination Directory     151
Destination Wedding Worksheets     189
Resources and Credits     210
Acknowledgments     213
Index     214