Tips for planning an 'attainable' destination wedding

(BPT) - Planning a wedding in a more "attainable" destination is becoming popular among couples who want to enjoy a warm or unconventional location while also offering their guests an affordable and fun getaway. These days, it's not overly difficult for a couple to plan a destination wedding, even when both members of the bridal couple live a long distance from the chosen city.

If you've recently become engaged, and are thinking you might be interested in planning a destination wedding, check out these tips to help you easily organize everything, even from afar.

* Location, location, location - When you look through your wedding album on your 20th anniversary, you're going to want to see beautiful images that continue to take your breath away. Beach photos are extremely popular, as are historic and garden settings. Myrtle Beach, S.C., has 60 miles of public beaches, gorgeous waterfront reception venues, breathtaking gardens and historic plantation settings that provide plenty of options for the perfect wedding location. Visit the Myrtle Beach Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at visitmyrtlebeach.com to discover more about this wedding destination.

* Make it a vacation your guests will remember - Choose a destination that offers a variety of attractions to fit every price point, age group and preference. If possible, visit the local CVB to snag visitor guides and destination brochures to add to any welcome bags.

* Send out "Save The Date" info early - Because your wedding could involve extensive travel or require guests to schedule vacation time, sending a "Save The Date" early in your engagement is important. Prioritize your invite list and destination immediately so your notices are timely and informative. Include options for nearby hotels, bed and breakfasts, or even rental home options with differing price points.

* Reach out to a local bridal association - Chances are there is a local bridal association available to help you plan everything. For example, the Grand Strand Bridal Association in Myrtle Beach exists to help brides and grooms choose their wedding professionals wisely. Because they're local and work close to the industry, these experts know how to match a couple with wedding planners, DJs, caterers, officiates and lodging based on the couple's budget and wedding preferences.

* Search for package deals - Consider finding a company or venue that can handle all the details in one complete package. When planning a wedding long distance, it can become more difficult, and more costly, to negotiate every single detail about the wedding.

* Research any legal requirements - Find out if the city and state (or country) where you're planning your wedding has any special time requirements for obtaining a wedding license. In Myrtle Beach, for example, a wedding license application must be filed a minimum of 24 hours before a license can be issued. Other locations may require a wait period of several weeks.

* Read the fine print - This tip is for every couple planning a wedding, not just destination weddings. For every contract signed, always read the fine print so there won't be any surprises if something out of the normal were to happen with a vendor.

Destination weddings are a lot of fun to plan and even more fun to enjoy with close family and friends. If you just became engaged, get started now to plan the perfect destination wedding for you and your spouse to be.