The Destination Wedding Making Memories in Unexpected Places BY DEEPI MEHTA With options infinite, and given the opportunity to fulfill her dreams at a destination of her choice, what would a bride choose for her wedding? Perhaps a picture perfect setting on a white sandy beach against a backdrop of turquoise waters, palm trees swaying in the gentle breeze, and a sun glowing orange in an afternoon sky. There is something undeniably magical about gazing into the eyes of one’s beloved and speaking vows that bind ‘til eternity, surrounded by nature at its best! And what, ideally, would be high on the bride’s parents’ wish-list but a stress and hassle free wedding, well within their budget. Increasingly, the answer to all this is the destination wedding, where family and friends of the to-be-weds gather, and settle in for the time of their lives. The options are manifold. One can choose an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean or Mexico. The ticket price generally includes airfare, all meals, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, transfers, gratuities, water sports and regional entertainment. The all-inclusive packages are the most popular, as the cost per person holds no hidden surprises. For the more adventurous bride, the sky’s the limit… or rather, the length and breadth of the globe; there are exotic places like
20
Hawaii and Bora Bora, a chateau in France, a castle in Germany. The possibilities are endless. Often, particularly in the case of South Asian weddings, the challenge lies in where to draw the line when drawing up the invitation list. It’s a parent’s nightmare. They’ve got family and friends who would be offended if they’re not included. The bridal couple has their own list of friends. A destination wedding is the perfect way to limit the guest attending, as a destination wedding requires travel and a longer commitment of days needed to attend the wedding. So go ahead and invite everyone! Of course, only a limited number of very close family and friends will accept the invitation. This will make the events more manageable and streamlined. A destination wedding is also a vacation for the attendees. Aside from being present at the ceremonies, people tend make it a vacation for themselves, a nice way to do both. Guests pay their own way, occasionally partially subsidized by the family planning the wedding. The wedding party gets to spend quality time with guests rather than the few minutes that they can devote to a guest at a large local reception. In a large wedding the parents usually