By Jeannine Bottorff
Photo by Tom Warriner
Destination Weddings have been gaining popularity over the past few years. They are great for many reasons. They give you the ability to pare down your guest list, to help you make your wedding a unique event, and most of all, to create an unforgettable memory for you and your partner. This holds true whether you are gay or straight, and now, there are an increasing number of countries around the world that feel the same way and want to welcome you on the happiest days of your lives.
Some of the most stunning locations are waiting with their crystal blue seas, soaring mountains and soft sandy beaches. One such place is New Zealand where same sex unions have just been legalized. They are expected an influx of people from all over the world and especially from their neighbor, Australia, where such unions are not legal yet. If you want your wedding to have a Latin vibe, why not Rio? Same sex unions are not legal throughout Brazil, but they are in Rio de Janerio. And of course, if you want to stay stateside, you can choose Rehoboth Beach, Delaware with its quaint seaside charm or Seattle, Washington’s laid back Pacific vibe.
If you have money to burn, you might want to consider renting a private Island such as Little Palm Island, a unique luxury resort off the Florida Keys. It was recently featured on Million Dollar Listing New York when realtor Frederik Eklund wed Derek Kaplan. You can have as many or as few activities as you like for you and your guests. This includes fishing, snorkeling, kayaking and much more.
If you want easy and fun, try an all-inclusive resort in Rivera Maya such as El Dorado Seaside Suites or the El Dorado Maroma, where you can celebrate in style. If the warm weather doesn’t appeal to you, maybe a weekend in British Columbia gazing at blue waters and snow capped mountains would work. Hotels such as the Fairmont and Westin have a number of properties that are welcoming, elegant and beautiful.
One of my favorite venues for a wedding is a cruise! When I got married 13 years ago I had to talk my husband into it, and now just about every other vacation is a cruise. Cruises are wonderful because they can accommodate most budgets while allowing you to express yourself – have a wedding as simple or as upscale as you want. And, there is nothing more romantic than sitting on a ship’s deck watching the sunset over the ocean and dreaming of your next port.
In fall 2014, Norwegian Cruise Line invites you to their “Sea of Love” cruise on the Norwegian Getaway featuring a mass commitment ceremony. The newest in the Breakaway ship class, the Getaway 4,028-passenger ship will launch in spring of 2014 with a variety of innovations found on the Norwegian Breakaway that launched this past year. To learn how you can book this once in a lifetime cruise, click here.
Jeannine Bottorff is a travel advisor and the owner of Classic Family Journeys. Classic Family Journeys helps you create unforgettable memories through travel.
