Getting married on the beach with the surf at your back and sand in your toes is a dream come. Picking the ideal location, however, can be a little trickier than most couples realize.

If you’ve been dreaming of getting married with a beautiful sunset as your biggest decoration and an exotic location to dazzle your guests, there are some spectacular locations to choose at home and abroad. Here are a few recommendations of coastal areas that are known for providing brides and grooms with the perfect backdrops for their ceremonies:

• Key West, Florida – The only thing better than taking in the sunset on Key West is getting married while doing so. Although located in the United States, this destination is one of the most popular in the world. Its beautiful beaches, distinct history and stunning, natural views make it a great choice for a destination wedding. Plus, the nightlife is second to none!
• St. Tropez, France – If a destination with a European flair is desired, it’s hard to top this particular location. St. Tropez is famed the world over as one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet. While this destination might be prohibitive for a large affair, it provides the perfect backdrop for a more intimate wedding with a few close friends and family.
• Riviera Maya, Mexico – This is an ideal destination for a beach wedding. Although out of the country and “exotic,” Mexico is close enough to home to make the trip realistic for a slightly larger crowd. This particular destination is ideal because it boasts spectacular views, stunning beaches and resorts that know how to treat wedding parties right.
• Horseshoe Bay, Bermuda – With its legendary pink-sand beaches and world-class resorts, Bermuda is an unforgettable place for a wedding. The attractions here will easily appeal to wedding guests of all ages and the beach will most certainly take your breath away.
• Las Vegas, Nevada – OK, this isn’t a beach in the strictest sense of the word. Still, Las Vegas is an ideal location for a wedding. Not only is the entire town set up to accommodate nuptials, but the city is very friendly for visitors of all ages. There is more to this desert location than just gambling and club acts.

A destination wedding can be one of the most intimate, breathtaking affairs. If your heart is set on this type of wedding, you’ll find locations throughout the world that can easily serve the occasion.

Elopement: A Very Attractive Option

Ah, weddings.  Most of us have dreamed about them at least once or twice in our lives and some of us spend most of our adolescent years planning in our minds about that perfect day.  Yes, boys do it too!  Not all of us get terribly excited about planning big weddings, though.  As magical and memorable as they may be, many people actually think they are stressful and expensive.

Eloping with your sweetheart can be a very attractive option.  Some couples do this so that they can spend their money on an amazing honeymoon.  Some do it because of personal troubles with their families or because the moment is right…right now!  Eloping is just as romantic and special as a huge wedding.  After all, the wedding isn’t about friends or family (as much as sharing the joy with them is wonderful).  It’s about you and your prince or princess.  And for some, the perfect wedding is a private, quiet affair.

Just because you and your soon to be spouse prefer a quiet, private wedding doesn’t mean it can’t be amazing. Eloping isn’t just about “running off”.  It’s an adventure all its own.  A major advantage to eloping is the opportunity to combine it with a honeymoon and do things for your wedding you wouldn’t necessarily want to do in front of 200 people.  Some of the amazing things you can do for weddings tend to get extremely expensive when you start talking about family and friends joining in.  Some of the most creative weddings have involved things like, scuba gear and an underwater priest, secluded beach weddings at sunset, or even taking a tour around Europe and stopping in Spain to have a ceremony for two in an elaborate, picturesque cathedral.  Eloping opens up opportunities for you and you and your fiancé to get creative.

One thing that is important to bear in mind when planning to elope is how your family feels about it.  For many people, the tradition of witnessing the vows between the couple is a vital part of the wedding and is what makes it valid to them.  Discussing your plans to elope beforehand can go a long way to soothing hurt feelings and keep stress low.  Try to impress upon your loved ones that your decision to elope isn’t because of them but because it’s what the two of you really want.  Planning a celebratory ceremony afterwards might be worth considering.  Skip the wedding and throw a party!

Whatever you choose to do, remember that your wedding is a very special occasion and no matter what, don’t settle for anything less than what you want, how you want it. At Bliss Honeymoons we can help you put together the perfect elopement package today!

by Chris Owen (RSS feed) on Feb 26th 2011 at 7:00AM

Having a good travel agent in your pocket can gain you real advantages from booking to sailing on a cruise vacation. If you are lucky enough to have found and established a relationship with a Cruise Expert, an agent who specializes in cruises only, all the better. It’s an ongoing process to be sure, one that aims at building a long-term business relationship that will benefit you for years to come.

A good agent, with your best interests in mind, can gain you lower pricing and greater value down the line. Your click-to-book agency or even the cruise lines themselves will not even come close to talking about something like that. Complementary upgrades, bonus onboard amenities and quick access to good information are just some of the benefits you can gain.Finding one of those great agents is one thing. Keeping them interested in you like they might be interested in the travel plans of a close family member is another. Here are some great ways to make your travel agent hate you. Avoid these

1. Ask “I want to go on a cruise. Whatcha got?” Do a little homework. At any given time there are zillions of possiblities for sailings all over the world. Try to narrow it down to a hemisphere.
2. Start a conversation with “I heard on CruiseCritic that…” CruiseCritic.com is the premiere website for all things cruising. Message boards there have a lot of useful information. God does not write what you read on the message boards though so don’t place wagers based on information you get from member IKnowEverythingAboutCruises
3. Start a conversation with “Here are the prices my online cruise broker gave me, can you beat these?” You might as well holler “If somebody else comes along that’s $20 cheaper I will drop you like a hot potato so don’t invest a lot of time in me”

A good cruise expert is an invaluable resource but one that takes a little time to get the most out of. It’s an ongoing process built on trust, loyalty and courtesy. If you feed your travel agent dirt odds are you won’t get diamonds in return.

You want this person to love you.

You want them to think of you as their brother, sister, mom or dad and have a personal commitment to you right along those lines. That does not mean you should accept anything less than flawless arangements and excellent value. All things considered, your travel agent should afford you easy to see advantages over booking any other way. There should be no doubt about it. If there is, you have either unrealistic expectations or the wrong “expert” in your pocket.

Comparison between agents & online booking

It’s hard to believe that the New Year is here already. And for many people, that means the beginning of a new you! If you’re looking for a way to kick off your New Year’s resolution, or a great place to get into shape before the big day, we’ve got a couple of places that just may do the trick.

El Dorado Royale: In 2010 El Dorado introduced a new wellness package, available in a 3 or 6 night package. Both the three day and 6 day package include everything you need to get started down the path to better health, included unlimited access during your stay to specialized wellness classes, a wellness concierge coordinates all aspects of your plan, including several one-on-one personalized training sessions with a certified personal trainer, a nutrition consultation, your choice of spa treatments and more. And to keep you moving in the right direction once you get home, you’ll have online access to your program as well as an entire wellness community.

Rancho La Puerta: This award winning resort has been helping people improve their bodies and minds for years. With a fantastic combination of fitness, spa, and cuisine, Rancho La Puerta covers every aspect of health and well being. La Cocina Que Canta gives you the cooking skills and recipes you need to continue the ranch experience at home. They’re now offering an I-phone app. so you can take the ranch with you wherever you go. Rancho La Puerta would make a great anniversary trip for a couple who wants to get fit together, or a girlfriend get-away.

Ceiba del Mar Beach & Spa Resort*: Do your New Year’s resolutions include promises to exercise more, eat right, reduce stress and, in general, lead a healthier lifestyle? Motivate yourself to keep those healthy living resolutions with a getaway to the holistic and aromatherapy spa at Ceiba del Mar Beach and Spa Resort, a luxury retreat nestled on the white, powder-sand beaches in Puerto Morelos, Mexico. With the new Wellness Spa Getaway package, you’ll be able to focus on finding and walking the path to a new, healthy you all the while basking in the warm, tropical sun, relaxing ambience, and upscale accommodations at this award-winning resort.

As part of the Wellness Spa Getaway package, you can relish unlimited spa treatments at the Ceiba Spa, choosing from more than 30 heavenly treatments that are available on the newly re-designed and updated Indulgence and Spa Menu.

*content from SpaFinder

Exotic locations like Caribbean Islands, Hawaii, and the Caps of New England may sound expensive but when pitted against a hometown wedding with a bloated guest list you’ll find they can save you a bundle.

Aside from saving you time and hassle, here are the 4 ways a destination wedding can save you big bucks:

Destination weddings have smaller guest lists and smaller invoices

This is simple math. How many friends of friends of friends will be willing to travel to attend your wedding? While a hometown wedding naturally lends itself to a more inflated guest list, a destination wedding is a great way to keep your guest list intimate and focused on close friends and family. If you host a hometown wedding and reception you have to find room in your budget for dozens of acquaintances that you may not include in a destination wedding guest list. This saves money on everything from the venue to the food and drink to the chair and linen rentals and guest favors.

Destination weddings give you get the best of both worlds

You get an exotic honeymoon in an amazing location bundled with the memories of a traditional ceremony-but you don’t pay for both. For not much more than you would spend on an exotic honeymoon trip you can include your wedding at the destination. More than just dollars saved, this aspect of a destination wedding saves you the hassle of planning a wedding and a honeymoon as well as saving time by combining the two.

Destination wedding packages save big bucks

Most resorts offer special all-inclusive destination wedding packages that not only include your stay and amenities but also cover the cost of the wedding ceremony, cake, and photographs. Unlike a hometown wedding where you pay for each vendor separately as well as the venue, a destination-wedding package saves you money by bundling all your wedding day and honeymoon services into one competitive price.

Destination wedding planners take the strain off your finances

A dedicated destination wedding travel planner is the best way to squeeze the most out of your budget. Often, because of all their professional connections, tools and tricks they can save couples the cost of their fee and then some. Destination and honeymoon specialists have close relationships with the resorts, visit them in person frequently throughout the year, and have access to special pricing not available to the public. Destination wedding planners have tools and tricks to whisk you to your far away locale with insider knowledge of flight itineraries and unpublished airfare deals.

Using a destination wedding planner ensures you will spend your far away wedding day enjoying the details-not managing them.

What’s your idea of a dream destination wedding? Leave us your comments!

If there is one challenge that almost all engaged couples share, it’s where to come up with the funds to pay for their honeymoon. And while nine out of ten couples would love to ask for money for their honeymoon, finding a tactful way to ask for cash is hard! Fortunately this problem can now be a thing of the past, thanks to a honeymoon registry.

Let’s face it… weddings can drain your bank account faster than you can say “I do”. Many couples have considered postponing their honeymoon because they just can’t see how they can afford it. Your honeymoon registry offers tactful way for you to ask for money from your wedding guests, and its fun for the guests too!

Once you’ve nailed down the details of your dream honeymoon, your honeymoon planner can set up an account for the two of you. Your registry can be customized to your honeymoon destination with items like spa treatments, golf, zip lining, an upgraded room, etc. You’ll be provided with a link to your share with your family and friends, so they can easily jump online and make a contribution to your honeymoon registry.

Your guests will love it because they can purchase a wonderful gift with just a few clicks of the mouse with no boxes to ship and nothing to gift wrap. They can even leave you a message telling you what they’ve purchased and offering their best wishes for your fun in the sun.

The gifts in your registry are not physically purchased or set up. You’ll receive the gifts in the form of a check from the registry company. It’s secure, easy for you and your guests, and a sure-fire way to get you and your honey where you want to go.

Let’s face it-we’ve all given gifts that we suspected to end up being re-gifted. Great honeymoon memories are always a welcome gift. Your guests will be honored to be a part of the memories that you’ll have for a lifetime.

There are several ways to ensure your guest feel like a part of it all. Once you return post pictures of your trip and of the two of you enjoying some of the activities on you registry. Or, send postcard Thank You notes from your location. Unlike a gravy boat, a honeymoon gift creates memories you can share.

Now that you know how you’re going to manage you honeymoon budget, check out our top 5 sexiest honeymoon locations.

You’re supposed to enjoy your honeymoon-not stress over it. So why do you feel so overwhelmed? What you need is a good plan, a few expert tips, and perhaps the guidance of a professional honeymoon planner.

Here are 7 tips from the pros here at Bliss Honeymoons to de-stress your honeymoon planning.

Choose a destination that suites your “couples personality”

You love to hike and be outdoors and he would rather nap under a beach cabana, but you both love food. Focus on what you both love-look for all inclusive honeymoon packages with five star dining-chances are you can find amazing food at a resort with a tropical location for him and lots of outdoor excursions for you. When you find your common ground you can define your “couples personality” and knowing that will make all the difference when deciding on your destination.

Decide what your budget is and stick to it

You may have already decided your honeymoon budget during your wedding planning. But if not, now is the time to have this discussion. Look at your frequent flyer miles, or ask family to donate theirs as a wedding gift. You can even utilize our honeymoon registry to get help with the cost.  Whatever you decide, when you land on a number make sure you’re committed to it. The last thing you want is to be thinking about credit card debt while you’re on your honeymoon.

Finding a good honeymoon planner can help keep your cost down and they can even end up paying for their fees in the savings they can get you from unpublished airfares and long-standing relationships with resorts and hotels.

Figure out how long you can stay and when you want to go

Maybe you know you want to take a tropical cruise but your wedding date is smack in the middle of hurricane season. Or, maybe you want a five-day honeymoon package but you can’t find one online for the resort you want. Decide when your want to take your honeymoon and how long you want to be away, then talk to a honeymoon planner to see what the seasonal deals are and if you can book a custom designed package for the exact days you want to travel. Flight itineraries and seasonal deals can be tricky to coordinate, but a professional will know what flights to take and what locations are offering the best deals during every season.

Get your travel documents in order

If you’re planning an exotic honeymoon you need to know exactly what travel documents, visas and passports are needed and how long it will take to acquire all necessary paperwork before you book your trip.

Find your professional honeymoon planner

You may be a do-it-yourself guru, but some things are best handled by a professional. A professional honeymoon planner knows the resorts, because they stay there. Planners know how to create the most efficient flight itineraries and have access to unpublished flight deals you can’t find on the Internet. Maybe most importantly, honeymoon planners can guarantee a stress-free honeymoon-they deal with problems before, during and after your trip so you don’t have to.

Make sure to stay healthy before your trip…and during your stay

First, check with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) before your tip. It’s important to check the traveler’s vaccination requirements for travel to certain locations. The CDC Web site also has water-quality lists for all destinations that pose a water quality threat. Your professional honeymoon planner will provide all this information for you as well as information on your specific resort or hotels water filtration system.

Follow your packing checklist

Layout both his and hers clothing and bathroom items before your trip and take an inventory. This inventory will act as your packing checklist. Don’t forget basic medical needs; such as Band Aids, sun screen and sun burn relief gel, anti-bacterial gel, and anti-diarrhea pills. Make sure all prescriptions are filled before leaving for your trip.

Know that you have the pros tips for a stress-free honeymoon learn how to register for your honeymoon.

Still not sure where you want to go? Check out our Top 5 Sexiest Honeymoon Locations.