Published article South Delta Leader, January 15, 2010

Most engaged couples don’t consider that their wedding is the first time they will be entertaining together as a married couple. Choosing the perfect setting for a wedding can reflect your personalities and create a truly memorable event. The everlasting trend in weddings is personalization and what better way to begin planning by finding inspiration at a unique site?

Destination weddings are a perfect example of a location being the jumping off point for your wedding. The blessing and curse of a destination wedding is that most of the design elements are built into a package. Having set the tone perhaps at the beach with romantic and picturesque scenery, this location establishes many elements of the design and offers the opportunity for you to reflect your personal touches into the nuptials and reception. By embracing the spirit of the location and learning customs and traditions that can be incorporated into your celebration you can deliver the personal touches for a one-of-a-kind affair.

There are couples for whom the religious aspect of the ceremony is paramount, and other couples that incorporate meaningful traditions from their ancestral roots. The location of the ceremony will be governed by this, but this also allows for some originality in symbolizing how you as bride and groom have arrived to this point of union. Transitioning your guests to another location for the reception can have a scattering effect, so plan on creating a creative and coherent welcoming at the new location that reflects some design elements of the ceremony and further builds a sense of anticipation for your guests.

Fresh-air weddings tend to be more casual affairs however depending on the location; it is the outdoors that inspires the broadest thematic inspiration from rustic to formal. All the natural elements serve to accentuate your design, entertainment, and photography. An outdoor wedding however needs a well-built backup plan, which is as critical as any other consideration as no one can control the weather conditions. Umbrellas for rain or shine, and a heated reception tent are a must. Consider flooring as no lady wants to aerate the grass with her satin heels and elderly guests will have difficulty maneuvering the unlevel areas.

To create and set the tone of your own beautiful wedding, take this opportunity to make the most of it by tapping into your own imaginative ideas on location selection. Remember, it is important to reflect your personalities but don’t go too over board that in years to come you ask yourselves, what were we thinking? Relax and enjoy your wedding day; this is the first of many festive occasions as husband and wife.