Going Away Wedding

What would be some of the advantages and disadvantages of going away to get married? I am interested in taking parents and a couple of close friends along.

One advantage is that you can then spend some time after the wedding at your destination and have a honeymoon with the same trip. And a small, intimate wedding lets you spend lots of time with a select group of people, instead of a large crowd where you may not get to spend time with each guest. One downside may be that you can't include everyone you would like. But, you can always have another reception back home, after the fact, to include other guests who did not travel with you.

Be sure you check local requirements (for example France has a forty-day residency requirement prior to the wedding.) If it is outside the US, you may need as long as 3 months prior to comply with rules and compile documents needed, once you find out what you need. You can also check with the applicable US Embassy if it's a foreign site. Arrive a few days early to finalize any paperwork and details like meeting with the officiant, caterer, florist, etc.

Look into group rates or suggest hotels for all budgets before booking a site. You may want to consider hiring an on-site consultant - find out what they include, as some can accommodate the entire wedding planning including paper work needed. And some hotels offer wedding packages.

You and your guests may need to declare any prescription medications or other pharmaceuticals - be sure to keep them in the original bottles.

Consider the climate and local of the site you choose and dress appropriately. Especially for a wedding on a beach, you wouldn't want a long-sleeve heavy dress. Consider what will pack well (linen and silk will require ironing, while chiffon and organza may be better choices). Take the dress in a garment bag or dress box with you on the plane - don't check it. Let the flight attendant know what you are carrying, so they can carefully stow or hang it. You may want to also bring along the grooms clothing and attendants, as what is available at the site may not be what you want, depending on location. Or, you could dress informally and skip the big dress number.

Give your guests something native to the wedding local as a take-home gift and remembrance. Be sure to include a photographer, as you will want good pictures of your event.