Hot Destination Wedding Venues for Spring/Summer 2012/2013

If you are getting married and planning for a wedding in an exotic location then there are so many worthy wedding places that you can jet-set off to!! You may want to invest in a wedding planner at your destination as they will know what is available to you and be able to create a wedding ceremony that is perfect for you.
Perhaps you will opt for a wedding on the beach, a garden wedding or maybe you are flying internationally for a wedding in Sydney - hopefully this article will help to give you a few ideas for planning your wedding accessories, wedding décor, your ceremony location and your reception venue for the perfect destination wedding and honeymoon all in one!
Here are some choice destinations, honeymoon suggestions and wedding package ideas to help with your wedding planning.
Wedding at Uluru

If you are looking for intimate, enchanting and spiritual location for a wedding, then look no further than your own true back yard! For the ultimate destination-outback luxury wedding Uluru is the perfect choice. With Voyages Indigenous Tourism Australia you will experience all that the red-centre has to offer, they will plan everything for you from travel arrangements to the ceremony and getting married itself along with the wedding catering and entire wedding package details - for a unique wedding in the heart of Australia.
Wedding in the Cook Islands

Getting married in the Cook Islands is romantic, easy and uncomplicated. An ideal location for a tropical island wedding. The Cook Islands boasts some of the most beautiful and diverse scenery in the South Pacific! There are many amazing resorts on the islands that can cater for your special day such as the Raratongan Beach Resort, Muri Beach Club and the Pacific Resort Raratonga to name but a few – whichever you choose you are sure to have a an idyllic outdoor wedding in this wonderful location.
Wedding in Bali
From the green rice paddies and beautiful beaches to traditional ceremonies and old temples, Bali is an island which will leave you with wonderful memories of its natural beauty and enchanting culture.

A very popular resort for eloping is the Conrad Bali, they offer several wedding options from garden and beachfront weddings to the famous Infinity chapel - A purpose built wedding venue floating in water with outstanding ocean views - It’s simple triangle shape is said to represent a romantic angle towards the heavens, while its physical attributes of marble, glass and steel are each metaphors for the male and female bodies and their interaction with each other as a couple … Plus it makes a stunning backdrop for your wedding pictures!
Wedding in New Zealand

A country with notably outstanding and picturesque scenery, there are so many different places that New Zealand can offer for your destination wedding. An alternative to the norm yet ideallic setting would be a lakeside wedding situated in the heart of the South Island at Lake Tekapo – in the summer months the golden glow of colour mixed with the bright turquoise coloured water is breathtaking.
The famous Church of the Good Shepherd is also found at Lake Tekapo and has captured the hearts of visitors from all over the world - the views in the distance from this spectacular location are something you will be sure to remember forever!
Wedding in Hawaii

O‘ahu, Hawaii is a fantastic destination for your wedding. This beautiful island offers the romantic setting of a tropical beach, with an exciting city atmosphere, and the charm of the Hawaiian culture.
It is likely that you will be having a beach ceremony and is a must to include the traditional Hawaiian flower, the Lei, which is said to signify love and respect. This will also provide you with the ammunition for some funny pun references like “I got Lei’d at Bride & Grooms wedding 2013”…!

Wedding in Fiji
Fiji is made up of hundreds of islands and you can choose from a modern international resort or a smaller more intimate island for your destination wedding. Temperatures rarely drop below 26 degrees all year round, perfect for a beach wedding and the natural white beaches and crystal clear coral waters make for the perfect backdrop!

Some favourites include LikuLiku Lagoon resort, Musket Cove and Mana Island Resorts to name a few … each are very special in their own way and can offer a range of ceremonies, you might choose the beach at sunset or amongst the tropical gardens for your special day.
Wedding in Samoa

Samoa is a charming group of islands located in the South Pacific. Each of the 10 islands is very different and offers its own unique surrounding for your destination wedding – from a cascading waterfall in the lush greenery to the white sands and sparkling blue sea!
If you choose to get married in a church, beside a waterfall, on a beach or in a tropical rainforest then Samoa is the place for you all of these options are available to you and more on these spectacular islands.
Get Married in Vanuatu

If you are asking how to plan a wedding in a honeymoon destination and have put together a wedding checklist of destinations to decide from then I am sure that volcanic Vanuatu will be high up your list! After taking a look at several wedding reviews you can clearly see that Vanuatu is a well kept secret and is also closer to Australia, less expensive than most other Pacific destinations and it is easy to tailor weddings to suit couples needs and wedding budgets.
Choose from many resort locations such as the Havannah, perfect for a sunset wedding or the Entrap Beach resort with a casual and romantic atmosphere – perfect for a small beach wedding.
Marriage in Phuket, Thailand

Phuket is the perfect place for your destination wedding. Get married in the traditional western style with a non-denominational ceremony, or opt for a Thai style Buddhist blessing - your wedding gown can be of any material and style that you choose however Thai custom does not allow black attire at weddings, as it is considered to be bad luck!
Choose from a variety of venues – villas, tropical gardens or on the beach for your perfect wedding day. Try the Outrigger Laguna Resort or the TwinPalms Phuket Resort both with fantastic wedding packages available for the perfect honeymoon and wedding combined.
...Whichever destination you choose for your wedding venue you can rest assured that we will be able to create a wedding stubby holder to suit your wedding theme and ideas! Make sure that you check out a previous article “Go That Extra Mile at your Destination Wedding” and “Ideas for your Beach Wedding” for some fantastic ways to include Coolaz stubby holders at your special day.
Happy Planning!

Wedding plans getting on top of you? … Have you ever said "We should just elope!"… ?

Given the high cost of a wedding and the pressure to follow the latest wedding trends and traditions this might be an option worth considering.
There are heaps of pros and cons to eloping for your wedding, make sure that you consider all of these before making your decision.
Reasons to Elope

Save Money - The cost of organising a wedding can be astronomical if you are not careful with your planning where as the price of ‘running away’ will more than likely save you thousands of dollars!
Stress Free - Some brides will thrive under the pressures and excitement of planning a wedding, however, there are those that would prefer to avoid the months of preparations and organising the fine details.
Estranged Family – It can be difficult arranging a guest list or planning your seating arrangements if the bride or groom’s parents are divorced or separated or even if you have family members that are unable to be around each other. If you are looking to avoid family arguments and awkward moments the eloping might be the best option.
For The Fun – There is certainly something spontaneous and thrilling about running away to get married, whether it be to the local town hall or as far as Las Vegas, you can’t get any more romantic than just the two of you!
The After Party – Some may choose to elope and have a secluded wedding, but on their return can have a casual party or BBQ to celebrate with their family and friends, that way they get the best of both worlds.
Reasons Not to Elope

Family & Friends – one of the biggest reasons not to elope would be for your closest family and friends, it would be a shame to miss out on the wedding celebration and some will be sad that they didn’t get to share this occasion with you!
Parents – there is something very special about a father giving his daughter away and walking her down the aisle. Plus a mother’s joy of seeing her son or daughter marry can be priceless! It may also be considered poor show to elope if the parents are disapproving of the marriage, at least with them present they can begin to be accepting.
Wedding Dreams – It may be the dream of the bride or groom to have a traditional wedding and perhaps one would sacrifice this for the other. Ideally not the best way to begin a marriage, may a compromise of a small wedding should be considered.
Reunion – Weddings are the perfect excuse for families to reunite and come together, if you elope then you may be missing a golden opportunity to bring people to the same place to reconnect.
Picture Perfect Memories – When you look back on your wedding day and through your photograph album you may think it a shame if you do not have any family and friends around you?!
Decision Made
If you do decide to go for it and elope, be sure to not act too hastily – even though this way will be much simpler it may take a little bit of planning too. Think about where and when you will get married, if you are going abroad consider local marriage laws and restrictions before just hopping on a plane.
Who will you invite?
Unless you want to be completely alone, you might like to think about inviting a few guests - perhaps just the Best Man and Maid of Honor, or only your parents. Some destination wedding packages may have restrictions on the number of guests you are allowed to bring with you. Of course you don't have to invite anyone; and most venues or town halls will provide a witness for your marriage.

Destination Weddings are becoming increasingly popular, whether you plan to go overseas or interstate it can still take a lot of organisation, not only for the couple and the wedding day itself but in making it fabulous for the guests that have gone that extra mile to share in your special day!
Once the location and details have been finalised, there may be some finishing touches that you will need to take with you. Depending on the formality of your big day, you may have seating arrangements to think about, with place name cards, wedding favors and bonbonniere gifts to consider – after all, your guests have gone a long way to celebrate with you.
Choose items for your thank you gifts that are small and easy to transport, that way you don’t have to sacrifice the extra kilos and room in your suitcase. Some lightweight ideas to consider would be magnets, coasters, stubby holders and koozies, all items that you can personalise and double up as place name cards.

Top ten destination suggestions for your wedding getaway, within Australia:

1. Hayman Islands
2. Whitsundays
3. Uluru
4. Broome, Cable Beach.
5. Thredbo [Winter Wedding]
6. Mornington Peninsula
7. Margaret River
8. Port Douglas
9. Hunter Valley
10. Byron bay

Top ten international suggestions for your destination wedding:

1. Las Vegas
2. Hawaii
3. Vanuatu
4. Thailand
5. New York
6. Fiji
7. Bali
8. New Zealand
9. Maldives
10. Paris

Happy Wedding Planning :-)

Wedding Stubby Holders