Destination weddings are are one of the hottest trends. They can be simpler to plan and thus cost less than a traditional wedding. These are most suitable for smaller, more intimate weddings for close circle of family and friends. However, it can also be as large and elaborate as you would like it to be.

Getting married at some far-away destination, which is usually a romantic vacation spot, could be a lot of fun. You and your guests can enjoy a few memorable days at a beautiful beach of Hawaii, Mexico or the Caribbean. This could also be  on a ski slope in Aspen, a grand castle in England or Scotland,  the south of France or a charming villa in Italy. And of course, last but not least, Las Vegas, which has established itself as the most popular destination for weddings, particularly eloping.

Las Vegas. In Las Vegas, there is wide variety of wedding sites, from drive-through wedding chapels, where a couple can get married within a few minutes, to posh, luxury hotels. Even though many people think of a wedding in Las Vegas as an elopement in a chapel, the city also offers a great opportunity to those who would like to have a full blown wedding celebration with a lot of entertainment. Most of the large hotels (e.g. Caesar Palace and Wynn) offer wedding packages and have a very tight schedule of weddings throughout the week. April through October are the ideal months for wedding in Las Vegas (July and August are typically very hot). Las Vegas may be a great destination if you anticipate the guests coming to your wedding from different parts of the country.

If you prefer to have a wedding in a hotel, Wynn is becoming one of the trendiest. The hotel offers several different packages - The Elegant Affair Wedding Ceremony (includes two tickets to Le Reve and Good Luck Ritual Massage) for $19,350 (tax included), a more economical The Wynn Wedding Ceremony for $5,000 (tax included) and The Wynn Petite Ceremony. As a wedding accompaniment also offered is the Jewish Celebration for $750 (tax included) with optional upgrades for $1,350 and $2,100.

The most intimate setting, Wynn's Lilac Salon, accompanies 65 guests comfortably and is perfect for smaller weddings. Larger, but designed to preserve intimacy and romance is the Lavender Salon, which seats 120 guests. The Primrose Court is a private courtyard with fountains available for you to host a day or evening wedding celebration seating up to 40 guests. You can also use it for pre- or post-event cake, cocktail and Champaign party for up to 70 guests. On its website, the hotel displays the layout of the facility.

Caesar Palace is also one of the most popular. Their amazing gardens and chapels will make for the wedding of your dreams. The Palace Chapel is located away from casino and is both intimate and elegant and would accommodate up to 70 guests.

Other popular venues are Luxor and the Venetian. Luxor has two chapels that seat 60 and 100 guests, while their Egyptian Ballroom will seat up to 1000 guests for the reception. The Venetian has been recognized by Travel + Leisure magazine as one of the Top 100 hotels in the world. It has three elegant chapels each seating 40 to 50 guests. The reception may be held at their beautifully decorated Hospitality Parlors, which seat 40.

All of these hotels are full service.    

If you are inspired by the roulette table, high-roller, slot-machine side of Las Vegas and would like to get married in a chapel, you may want to consider A Special Memorial Wedding Chapel. The place is known for its ability to do both 'drive-through' weddings as well as more traditional, 100 guest parties.

Hawaii. Hawaii, on the other hand, is a wonderful vacation spot. Scheduling your wedding around holidays would give you and your guests a great opportunity to make the event a little vacation, while for you to enjoy other magical islands on your honeymoon.

Wedding Idea: Pick a hotel that specializes in weddings. Many hotels offer wedding and reception packages that would lead to a stress-free event. These hotels will handle all the details so won't have to (and it's a big deal particularly if it’s a destination wedding). One of the great examples is The Kahala Hotel & Resort in Hawaii, located on the island of Oahu. They offer impeccable services and great deals. The hotel prides itself in great efficiency and taking care of the newlyweds as it claims it performs around 800 weddings each year. According to Travel + Leisure Magazine it was named one of the world's top 25 most romantic getaways. 

Wedding Idea: Besides Hawaii, consider other locations - Bermuda, the Caribbean, Mexico, Puerto Rico. Remember, however, that getting married outside of the United States may require special documentation. Check with the country you are interested in.

Wedding Idea: Consider other alternatives:

• A train trip (e.g. Orient Express)
• A cruise ship or river boat
• Ski wedding - use numerous resorts both in the U.S. and abroad
• Make a cultural experience with a trip to Italy, Greece, or Japan

Related Sites:

• See Le Reve at the Wynn Las Vegas! - the latest achievement of Franco Dragone, the internationally acclaimed creator and director, whose credits include O, Mystère and Celine Dion A New Day, and the creative force behind many of the Cirque du Soleil productions.

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