Before last year if you had asked me what the first thing I thought of when it came to Destination Weddings was I would tell you, exotic, warm, palm trees, sand and tropical drinks. But thanks to my wonderful couples this past year, my idea of Destination Weddings had definitely expanded, or rather come home. Did you know that couples who are planning a destination wedding actually consider New England as a possible destination?! For someone who grew up here I am always looking for ways to travel to other parts of the world. I've forgotten that people actually travel HERE to experience New England and all that it has to offer. The old charm, the beach, the ocean, the rocky coast, the mountains, the woods, the farm lands. No wonder couples want to marry here! From couples who live out of the region to couples who call New England home, all are finding the draw to plan a wedding right here in New England!
That' exactly what Jared and Kristen did for their Block Island weekend wedding. While they only live one state over, they chose Block Island for their summery beach wedding. They wanted to give their guests the opportunity to spend the weekend at the beach and enjoy the sun and festivities without feeling like they had to rush back home. It helped to create a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere! And the best part is that while they felt like they were far away from normal everyday life, they were only an hour ferry ride back to reality!
For Brian and Lisa, they planned a weekend in Maine for their wedding guests and only live a few hours away in Boston. Lisa has spent many summers away in Maine so being able to bring that piece of her life into her wedding day was very important. Brian and Lisa also wanted to give their guests a wedding experience with a weekend full of events. They wanted to share with their guests what they loved about Maine. They were able to plan a wedding just two states away, in their own backyard, while still giving their guests a feel of a Destination Wedding.
Patty and Justin on the other hand live outside of New England and planned their very own Destination Wedding in Maine all the way from Washington, D.C.! Justin grew up in Maine and so it was fitting for them to plan their wedding there. They wanted to give their guests the opportunity to experience all that coastal Maine has to offer and again planned a weekend full of activities to give their guests a complete experience. This is a great example of choosing to marry in New England because of what New England has to offer. There really is nothing like being on the coast in the summer!
Ben and Kristen love the outdoors so Vermont was a natural choice for them for their Fall wedding. They chose a location three hours from their home. So while they had to travel to their wedding, they were close enough to come home and relax before leaving for their honeymoon. They had the feel of a Destination Wedding without the cost of airfare. Again, like the other couples above, they planned a weekend of events for their guests, giving them the opportunity to experience the best of what their location had to offer!
I hope that this post has caused you to rethink how you view Destination Weddings. Of course there really is nothing like sand, palm trees, warm breezes and an exotic location (are you planning that wedding, contact me;)) But that doesn't mean you should discount your own backyard, especially if you live in New England. With so many options and four distinct seasons to choose from, you can plan your own wedding weekend away right here while still being able to get away, without the expensive travel costs! I love traveling throughout New England so if you're planning a wedding here, let's chat! I want to hear all about your wedding, destination or not!