Wedding Blog
I’m thinking that regular readers of Weddingbee, especially Mrs. Lovebird’s fans, will have no problem answering this question, but for those out there like me who were totally clueless (which, by the way, is one of the. best. movies. made. ev-ah) before diving into this whole wedding scene, let’s just take a moment to make sure we’re on the same page.
Destination Wedding* (děs’tə-nā’shən wěd’ĭng) n. Also known as “DW”.
1. A celebration of love that takes place in a location other than the bride and groom’s current place of residence.
2. An amazingly fun excuse to get your closest friends and family together for a week-long get-to-know-you gathering.
3. A slightly sneaky, but completely gratifying, way for someone who wants their wedding day to last FOREVER to stretch the festivities from the usual 12-48 hours to a deliciously extravagant 168 hours.
* Source: the unofficial dictionary of Sea Breeze-isms
When I first started looking into destination weddings, I wasn’t sure if it was just one of those things where you start thinking about something and suddenly it’s everywhere, or what.
So I started poking around for stats. (I know it’s dorky but I can’t resist a stat.) One of the most recent ones I found was from Antonia van der Meer of Modern Bride magazine who claims the percentage of weddings that are DWs is about 17% (American weddings, that is… which I’d safely extend to Canadian weddings as well).
Based on my own totally unscientific polling though, I’d say it’s even more. Is it just me? I mean, when I started talking about DWs, all these random people I knew came out of the woodwork with stories about DWs they’d been to or heard about or wanted to plan themselves.
Who knew that destination weddings were so (almost?) mainstream? Not I.
Of course, there are many kinds of DWs. Based on the (unofficial) definition above, Miss Lovebird’s Cancun wedding falls into this category, as does Miss Sweet Tea’s New Orleans occasion, Miss Pinot Noir’s Napa Valley nuptials and Mrs. Ant’s Jamaican jamboree (and probably others as well but I’m still getting caught up on the legacy Bee posts).
Since we’re still just getting to know each other, I thought I’d point out that since my own wedding is taking place in the Dominican Republic, it’s likely that whenever I refer to something as ‘DW’, it’s related to having a wedding at an all-inclusive resort in the Caribbean. That doesn’t mean that it wouldn’t necessarily apply to other DWs, but I’m sure some of the things I’ll be griping about will be more relevant to a bride planning a wedding in the Caribbean (like, judging from a belated email I finally received today, wedding coordinators who work on “island time”… argh).
So that’s what DW means. In the words of Cher Horowitz, “Try and use it in a sentence today!“
Is there anything you’d add to the ‘unofficial’ definition of a DW? Do you also feel that the actual percentage of couples having DWs is higher? (or lower?)
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Share this post: So What’s a DW Anyway?
You quoted Cher! I officially am a fan of yours 
Just because I am pretty sure that I am not the only one:
http://barefootstargazer.blogspot.com/2008/07/adventures-in-wedding-venues.html
I’ll be having a DW wedding… in my hometown. Yes I know that sounds contradictory, but less and 1/3 of our guest still live there so everyone will be flying in.. with that in mind, we are planning it as though it were a DW in the Caribbean or other place where you provide a get-a-way for guests.
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE READ THESE LINKS.
I went to punta cana on my honeymoon and spent too much time in the Tripadvisor Punta cana forum before I went (awesome forum by the way!)
There have been several issues concerning weddings in the DR.
I don’t have much time to write now, but here is the link to tripadvisor, and it contains a few links to DR1 which is a local DR forum. Please check it out, and make sure your marriage is actually a marriage. (I know many people take the actual vows in the DR. Just safer that way)
Good luck!
And if you have any questions about DR feel free to ask. I know the place pretty well by now!
I’ve been told that because our wedding is in Breckenridge, 2 hours outside of Denver, that it is considered a destination wedding. However, I think that is stretching the definition!
I too LOVE Clueless, I am not ashamed to say it is in my Top 10 (read Top 5, possibly 3) movies of ALL TIME! I think I quote it on a daily basis, if not out loud - I know I do in my head.
I’m from Richmond, VA and having a DW in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, which is a whopping 3 hours (MAX!) away from our hometown.
A. It’s really popular for people from my area to do weddings down there, as I know three close friends who are also doing it down there (we’re even sharing a planner!).
B. Both families are making the BIGGEST deal ever about it! It’s 3 hours and they’re acting like it’s Australia! Yet, I barely consider it a destination wedding…
@Ada & AliCherri1 - ‘Tcha! It’s way existential.
@Miss Cookie - Hee hee, I’d say so too. Unless the party lasts a week, then I’d definitely reconsider.
@Candi1024 - It’s ok, your link works. There were definitely some issues there earlier this year related, I believe, to some fake judges officiating at the weddings. But you’re right, there is more than one way to take care of the official certificate part of it. I’ll tell you about how we’re doing it in a future post. 
I’m not sure about you, Miss Sea Breeze, but I would personally add “slightly sneaky way to cut your guest list in half by default that not everyone can afford to go to your destination wedding.” at least, that was a benefit of ours to have a destination wedding. As much as I would ‘prolly enjoy 120 guests, half I wouldn’t know, celebrating our union. It’s nice to have a smaller (20 peeps) wedding with ones I really truely care about. Does that make me selfish?! ehh…who cares.
Destination weddings are great–I’ve been lucky to have attended two, and now I’m planning my own.
I highly recommend The Knot Destination Guide Book: http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=knot+destination+book&oe=utf-8&cid=6530619173375916291.
It helped my fiance and I decide on Turks & Caicos.
Someone also mentioned tripadvisor–it’s a great resource for references and recommendations–it’s how I found my wedding planner.
If you can spare time and money–it would be ideal to visit the site where you will be married, meet with the vendors, etc.
Good luck with your planning! One of the pluses I found on doing a DW is how stress-free it can be…
DW, I think, is not for the control freaks out there! I have always been an easy going type of girl so I am also having a destination wedding.
My fiance and I live in New York and consider ourselves Filipino-Americans, so we’re having our wedding in the Philippines, which is about 20 hours away! Originally, we thought of having our wedding in Kauai, Hawaii but it was so expensive! In addition, we both wanted to go to Australia for our honeymoon which is only 6 hours away from the Philippines.
Your definition is spot on. I think the percentage of destination weddings is actually underestimated. In our social circle, more than 80% of the weddings are destination weddings. I think the number of DWs is probably around 30% (more on east and west coasts and metropolitan areas), but lower in the midwest.
@nejireta - I’m pickin’ up what you’re puttin’ down! And I’m sure many will agree with you. I think I’m going against the grain on this one though since I obsessed for a long time over venues to make sure as many people could make it as possible. However, there is much to be said about the benefits of an intimate wedding!
@Claudia - I have that book on my shelf, too. (I may have to pass it on to someone who needs it more than me very soon).
@Laura B - I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks they’re on the rise.
I’m dying to know Miss Sea Breeze, which resort will you be getting married at?
I’m going to take a wild guess at Excellence, am I right?
And about the fake judge thing, yes in February there were some issues, but the way the chatting is going, there seems to be some new issues. But I am sure you have everything planned out!
Be sure to visit Steve’s Bar in punta cana. They have some awesome sausages and it is in the center of some local shopping areas. You will love it there! You must have a Presidente for me!
@Candi1024 - Nope, at the Majestic Colonial. Thanks for the tip, I’ll make a note of that bar.
@Faith: I am so jealous of you! The scuba diving in Batangas (Anilao, Nusugbu) is amazing!
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Mrs. Sea Breeze, Vancouver/Dominican Republic
Age in 2008 and Occupation: 30, Communications Manager
Fiance's Age in 2008 and Occupation: 29, Experiential Marketing Director
Engagement Date: October 6, 2007
Wedding Date: November, 2008
Blogging Since: July 17, 2008
Venue: Majestic Colonial Resort, Punta Cana
About Me: Planning a destination wedding by the sea should be (oh no she di-in't…) a breeze (…*sigh* yep, she did) but when you've never been to the Caribbean, your powers of imagination are really put to the test. Luckily, I'm 90% resourceful, creative optimist (and kooky, neurotic practicalist-if-that's-a-word for the other ten). Other than writing about our week-long celebration of family, friends, laughter and love, I adore books, shoes and… you guessed it… long walks on the beach.
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