Christmas eve will mark the one year anniversary of my engagement to my fiance Peter-John and I woke up this morning wondering where the heck the time went. They say, “time flies when you are having fun!” Well, wedding planning isn’t exactly fun…it’s extremely stressful, so that old adage doesn’t apply. Based on feedback and comments from friends, So Sasha followers and fellow bloggers, I’ve decided to be candid about my journey to the alter.

Over the years, I’ve been exposed to various types of wedding; extravagant/over-the-top celebrations, DIY nuptials, intimate second marriage ceremonies, vow renewals, country weddings, city weddings, you name it, I’ve seen it. As a guest or being a part of a wedding party, it’s easy to be a critic of a brides’ choices on her special day, but when it comes to your own wedding, it becomes a whole different ball game. Fresh off the excitement stemming from our holiday engagement, my fiance and I aggressively began planning a chic, downtown wedding (in Toronto) and had agreed on the gorgeous Malaparte venue – a stunning rooftop space located on the 7th floor of the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival) Bell Lightbox building. We always wanted a small, intimate affair but after not being able to keep the guest list under 350, we shifted our sails and decided that a destination wedding was the best decision. The key deciding factor was when PJ pointed out that after shelling out what is an equivalent to a sizable down payment on a home for this shindig, it would only be for one evening and we wouldn’t get be able to spend quality time with all the invited guests. Whereas, if we chose to do a destination wedding, we would have an entire week to spend with family and friends. After scouring online for inspiration photos – I was sold. I am sure once you check out these images of heavenly ceremony and reception locations, you will be dreaming of destination “I Do’s” too

For those of you who are recently engaged and planning your big day…here are some benefits of having your wedding abroad. Just food for thought!

1. Flexibility – Traditional weddings are usually overloaded with times, places and requirements. With a destination wedding, you usually can make your own decisions based on what you want to do and when.
2. Cost Savings – If you choose to do a wedding at an all-inclusive resort (we have opted for a more secluded and private venue), you can save tons of money on flowers, decor and rentals.
3. Time – With this option, you usually have more quality time to spend with guests who are really close to you.
4. Activities – No matter which destination is chosen, there will be an abundance of fun activities for the group to partake in.
5. Honeymoon – Most likely couples who go this route are usually already at their honeymoon destination, saving on both money and travel time.
6. Most of your guests won’t come – Nope, this isn’t a typo…it is in fact a benefit. Arguing over your parents wanting you to invite your third cousin or dreading having a bunch of screaming kids running around usually gets eliminated. If you don’t want your dream day turning into a big affair of barely-remembered relatives and nodding acquaintances. This option is a tactful way to dissuade them from attending.

Stay tuned to read more about the good, the bad, the ugly and the fabulous details as I plan my dream wedding. Our chosen location will be revealed in my next bridal diary post.

XO,

S