";
DD_SixReasons.sTitle = "Daily Diversion: Six reasons to skip town";
DD_SixReasons.appDeck = "Six reasons to skip townDestination weddings are a growing trend for couples who want a simpler -- even cheaper -- wedding ceremony. The Knot offers six reasons why more couples are heading out of town."; DD_SixReasons.appFooter = "Source: TheKnot.com"; DD_SixReasons.appNavStyle = 3; DD_SixReasons.nLinkCols = 1; DD_SixReasons.appLayout = 3; DD_SixReasons.copyHeight = 207; DD_SixReasons.copyWidth = 410; DD_SixReasons.copyMargin = 9; DD_SixReasons.sDeckStyle = "font-size:12px;font-weight:normal;"; DD_SixReasons[i++] = new Array("","1. They're virtually stress-free","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); DD_SixReasons[i-1].body = "Pop in the classic movie \"Father of the Bride\" and you'll soon understand why destination weddings are so popular: They are almost guaranteed to be simpler -- and faster -- to plan than a traditional wedding and reception for two main reasons:
The first: Honeymoon-happy resorts and cruise lines around the world have made it easier and more appealing to wed on-site. Many have full-time wedding coordinators on staff who are familiar with that country's marriage license requirements and who offer wedding packages that take care of all your ceremony essentials (photographer, cake, minister, etc.). You step off the plane and sign the papers; they take care of the rest.
The second: Tourist boards are jumping on the bandwagon, with brochures listing ceremony sites and local wedding vendors in that area. Even governments are working to ease restrictions and attract to-be-weds. \"Curacao, for example, is close to repealing the requirement that you must be a resident to marry on the island,\" says Metzger.
If you're not getting married at a resort, you can hire a stateside wedding planner who specializes in destination weddings, contact a wedding planner in the town you plan to wed or start early and do it yourself."; DD_SixReasons[i++] = new Array("","2. No drama","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); DD_SixReasons[i-1].body = "The second reason destination weddings rule? No scene-stealing family drama.
\"Although getting married is one of the more positive life experiences, it also ranks high as one of life's big stressors,\" says Jennifer Naidich, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist in private practice at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in New York. \"People have ideas about how they want to be married. But if you put the prospective bride and groom and at least two sets of parents together -- maybe more with today's divorce rate -- there's bound to be conflict.\"
For Jennifer and Marc Schwartz, the initial family strategy session began to foreshadow a very large get-together of extended family and business associates. Predictably, each set of parents had their own ideas. One set thought the wedding should be held in New York City because most guests were from the area. Another set had a problem with the expense of a big-city wedding. Jennifer says that she and Marc never stopped feeling that the event is first and foremost about the two people getting married. \"It's great if the two families are in rapport, but if not, who needs all that negative stuff?\""; DD_SixReasons[i++] = new Array("","3. They're cost-effective","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); DD_SixReasons[i-1].body = "The affordability of a destination wedding has many couples speeding off to the airport faster than you can say \"I do.\" For instance, a couple can fly to an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica, get married, and stay for a deluxe week-long honeymoon for as little as $3,000 to $4,000, including lodging, meals, drinks, and airfare.
Compare that with your average 150-guest wedding costing $20,000 -- which can easily skyrocket to more than $35,000 in big cities -- plus an average $3,200 for a honeymoon. To ease the financial burden, many couples opt to travel to a place where they can get married, have a honeymoon, and still have some money left over to start their new lives together."; DD_SixReasons[i++] = new Array("","4. You call the shots","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", ""); DD_SixReasons[i-1].body = "While formal weddings hold meaning for many couples, linking them to the traditions of their ancestors and culture, others want the experience to be unique, with a ceremony and location that reflect their true colors.
\"Destination weddings are popular among couples who can resist the temptation to do it someone else's way,\" says John Bigley, co-author of the book Caribbean for Lovers. For more information, read our The Knot's destination wedding-style roundup.
Best of all? You make the rules! Feel free to wear a sundress or shorts, go barefoot, carry fern fronds, hire a ukulele band and toast your love alone on your balcony at sunset. If you can dream it, you can do it.
";
DD_SixReasons[i++] = new Array("","5. Perfect for second-marriages","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
DD_SixReasons[i-1].body = "Been-there-done-that couples who are getting married for the second or third time choose destination weddings because they're simple and private.
Either the bride and/or groom have done the Hollywood-scale production before and want something quieter or less expensive this time around, or they want to be someplace anonymous, without the watchful eyes and whispers of the hometown crowd. (Get married at a kids-friendly all-inclusive resort or cruise to help your new family do some solid bonding.)
";
DD_SixReasons[i++] = new Array("","6. Reunion opportunity","","","","", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "", "");
DD_SixReasons[i-1].body = "At a typical wedding, you're on the run, meeting and greeting. Destination weddings are on vacation time. You're usually required to arrive a few days early to fill out the paperwork, so by the time your wedding rolls around, you've had two to three days of fun with your sweetie, family, and friends. How often do you have the opportunity to spend no-rush quality playtime with dear, far-flung friends? This is your chance.";
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