Destination Weddings are becoming more and more popular than ever. Every bride dreams of a romantic and beautiful wedding. The problem for most brides today is the economy. The economy has caused some brides so scale back on the dreams. The ability to spend $25,000 on a wedding is just not feasible for a couple who may be out of work or low on savings. That's why destination weddings are becoming more and more popular. That's because you can still have a dream wedding at half the cost of a local wedding. The costs associated with a local wedding can be staggering. With a destination wedding you are able to cut out a lot of the expenses that a traditional wedding would cost. In most cases you won't have to pay for guests that you probably didn't want to invite in the first place, but felt obligated. Your venue can still be stunning, but at half the cost of what you dreamed of. Invited guests have the option of paying their own way or sending a gift in their place. The cost savings can be enormous.
This is why the top two destination wedding spots in the country have flourished in a down economy. Those locations are Las Vegas Nevada and Charleston South Carolina. Las Vegas is the top destination wedding location in the country because of the quick and easy weddings that are offered. Las Vegas casinos haven't had the booming success during the down economy that the wedding chapels have. Charleston, South Carolina on the other had offers a unique blend of historic elegance and modern flair to the modern bride.
Charleston has many unique and inexpensive wedding venues to choose from. This by far is going to one of the hardest decisions to make. Having centuries old plantations and century old English gardens to choose between. You begin to see how choosing a venue can be a tough one. That's what makes Charleston so unique. The fact that no matter what venue you choose you'll end up with a beautiful location no matter what. The downtown Charleston area is setup almost as it was in the 1700's. The Victorian homes and mansions that mark the downtown landscape. Some of these homes are inhabited year round, but are opened up for weddings. There are other locations in the downtown area that are only open for weddings. The Palmer House and Wickliffe House are two examples. Their furnishing are period related and offer up an old world experience that can't be found anywhere else in the country.
Charleston also has many beaches and private beach resorts that you can have a small intimate wedding. Folly Beach and Isle of Palms are two public beaches that have beach frontal rental homes for rent. These offer the ability to host a small number of guests or family and step off your porch and onto the beach for the ceremony. Kiawah Island and Seabrook Island are two private locations that offer privacy as well as pristine beaches. Even though there are many beautiful locations to choose from. Most of these locations book well in advance of two years. Plus, in prime wedding season can book up to three years ahead. So, make sure if you are choosing one of these venues to book early.
Your wedding photographer is the next step in putting your destination wedding together. Charleston is home to many acclaimed and award winning photographers. It's also home to several hundred photographers with many different price levels and skill sets. So, this is also a very tough decision you'll have to make. More important than any other because these are the memories you'll have from your special day. You can take the venue home with you, but you can take your photos to save and cherish. This decision is made even more difficult since it's harder to know which one to choose from another state or country. Do your homework and pick the photographer that fits your style. Check their references and talk to your photographer on the phone and get a feel if they are right for you. Just like your venue. The top photographers can book up to two years in advance during peak wedding dates. So, book ahead if you find the photographer you want. If you don't lock your date in with the photography you want. Your date may not be open when you decide to sign a contract.
Charleston is home to some of the top bakers in the country. So, picking out a wedding cake should be a very delicious task for sure. Having an idea of what flavors and design you are looking for will help minimize the time spent picking our your wedding cake. It is however one of the most enjoyable parts of planning a wedding.
Many of the local flower shops obtain their flowers from the local gardens. So, make sure the flowers you want are in season. Ask your florist to only use local flowers. This helps the local economy as well as guaranteeing your flowers will be fresh.
Schedule a time to come into town and visit with other vendors you may be looking at. This may be your wedding planner if needed. Most of the local venues offer catering services. If you do decide to go with an outside caterer for your wedding. Make sure the venue allows your caterer to work the venue. You might also use your time in Charleston to pick out your wedding dress. There are many small boutiques that offer reasonable pricing on wedding gowns. It may also be a time to sit face to face with your photographer and tour the venues. It's also probably going to be the last time you are able to make arrangements in person. So, getting all of your deposits made and contracts signed is important before you leave town.
One thing is for sure is that there is no doubt why Charleston is considered one of the top wedding destinations in the country. Have fun planning your destination wedding and take advantage of the many resources the Charleston area has to offer. It's your wedding and for most it's the one day you get to play out all of the visions you've had of your wedding day.
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