Destination Weddings Tip: Good Destinations for Weddings in Mexico

Mexico offers a number of advantages for a destination wedding. It's affordable, it's easily accessible from the United States and Canada, and the vast country offers a number of resort, historic, and urban wedding sites. Among the most popular destinations for weddings in Mexico are:

Cancun. This popular resort city on Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula features dozens of luxury, beachfront hotels as well as designer shopping, a plethora of restaurants, and a vibrant nightclub scene. Couples can choose a traditional beachfront wedding or something a little different, like getting married near the historic Mayan ruins that dot this area.

Mexico City. Mexico's capital city is a sprawling metropolis, the second largest in the world. It also offers all of the benefits of a large, cosmopolitan city, including fine restaurants, shopping galore, and a wide variety of wedding sites. Plus: Mexico City is generally more affordable than comparable cities in the United States or Europe.

Cabo San Lucas. Located at the southern tip of the Baja Peninsula, in western Mexico, Cabo is a favorite of beachlovers, divers and snorkelers, and fishing enthusiasts. It's a relaxed fishing village, turned world-class resort, and still retains much of its quiet, unhurried charm. The rugged coastline, especially "El Arco" (the Arch) at the entrance of Cabo's harbor, makes a dramatic backdrop to any wedding ceremony.

Destination Weddings Tip: All-Inclusive Caribbean Weddings

All-inclusive wedding packages -- those packages that include the ceremony as well as accommodations, meals, transportation to and from the airport, water sports and other activities, and taxes and service charges -- are popular choices for Caribbean weddings. Below are just some of the Caribbean resorts and destinations that offer such packages:

Jamaica: Seven Sandals resorts, Four Couples Resorts, Four Super Club Resorts, Franklyn D. Resort, Sunset Waters, Riu ClubHotel Ocho Rios.

Dominican Republic: Allegro Playa Dorada, Barcelo Punta Cana, Breezes Puerto Plata, Club Med Punta Cana, Dreams Punta Cana.

Antigua: Sandals Resort, Verandah Resort & Spa.

St. Lucia: Three Sandals Resorts, Jalousie Plantation, Almond Morgan Bay, Coconut Bay, Rendezvous Resort.

Aruba: Divi Aruba, Riu Palace, Tamarjin Aruba.

Barbados: Almond Casuarina, Crystal Cove, Mango Bay, and Turtle Beach.

Turks & Caicos: Club Med Turkoise, Beaches Resort.

Curacao: Breezes Resort, Sunset Water.

Bahamas: Club Med Columbus Isle, Sandals Resort, Breezes Resort, Sheraton Grand Bahamas Island Resort.

Cayman Islands: Beach Club Colony, The Reef Resort, Cayman Diving Lodge.

Martinique: Club Med Buccaneer's Creek, Club Trois Islets.

Guadeloupe: Club Med La Caravelle, Canella Beach Hotel.

Puerto Rico: Sol Melia Paradisus.

British Virgin Islands: Peter Island Resort, Biras Creek Resort.

Destination Weddings Tip: Favors for an Island Wedding

An island wedding is, by definition, more casual and carefree than a traditional church wedding. The favors you choose for your guests should ideally reflect this leisurely ambiance. Favors can be left at plate settings at the reception, put into guest rooms, or given in a small gift bag at the wedding ceremony or reception. Below are just a few island-themed ideas.

• Beach-themed disposable cameras
• Leather "flip-flop" key rings
• Sand and shell-filled candles
• Starfish and shell-shaped soaps
• Sand bucket candles
• Silver shell-shaped salt and pepper shakers
• Silver shell-shaped wine stoppers
• Fanciful shell, starfish, and fish-shaped place card holders
• Beach-themed coasters
• Island-themed picture frames with pictures of the wedding couple
• Pineapple-shaped silver place card holders (ideal for an Hawaiian Island wedding)

Many destination wedding companies, such as Destination Weddings.com, offer a full line of island-themed favors as well as travel planning services. It's one stop shopping.

Destination Weddings Tip: Planning a Beach Wedding

A beach wedding is the romantic fantasy of many a wedding couple, but it doesn't have to be a fantasy. Dozens of resorts throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, and the rest of the world offer wedding planners that can help to make planning a beach wedding stress-free and affordable.

All-inclusive resorts allow you to pay one price for your entire stay--accommodations, meals, drinks, activities, and transportation to and from the airport. In addition, many resort companies, such as Sandals Resorts (in Jamaica, St.Lucia, Antigua, and the Bahamas) and Super Clubs (in Jamaica) offer all-inclusive wedding packages. These packages include the beach wedding site and ceremony, all of the necessary paperwork, flowers, a Caribbean wedding cake, and a keepsake photo.

To make planning a beach wedding even easier, many resorts in the Caribbean and Mexico employ dedicated wedding planners to coordinate all of your wedding details, add special extras of your choosing, and to insure that the ceremony goes flawlessly. Another option is to work with a destination wedding specialist, such as those at Destination Weddings.com. They can help you choose the perfect spot for your wedding and handle most of the details.