Travel Agent - August 27, 2007 - (Page DW10) Destination Weddings SPECIALIST 2.0 Popular Destinations The survey also cites Mexico, Las Vegas and the Dominican Republic as the most affordable honeymoon destinations; Italy, France and Greece provide the best cultural experience; and Costa Rica is the best place for adventure. Caribbean Weddings: W Serious Business As reported in the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s official 2007 Caribbean Week Planner, the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is nearly $27,000. In major metropolitan areas such as New York City, the cost can climb well past $40,000. These average prices are for the wedding alone – not including the honeymoon. With prices like these, it’s easy to see how appealing a Caribbean destination wedding can be. And from much of the U.S., the Caribbean is a short flight away. Not to mention that with its sultry nights, white-sand beaches and swaying palms, it’s truly one of the most romantic destinations in the world. Weddings have become such an important industry in the Caribbean that the Caribbean Wedding Association (www.caribbeanweddingassociation.com) was formed in 2004. This was the first organization dedicated to promoting the advancement of the Caribbean T Top: Cambridge Beaches, Bermuda; Bottom: Half Moon, Jamaica Like newlywed couples, weddings and honeymoons go hand-in-hand, and a great honeymoon locale naturally makes a great place for a destination wedding. The common denominator is romantic, exotic or exciting settings. Tropical destinations continue to populate the list of the 50 "World’s Best Honeymoons” base on travel agents' response to the survey con- ducted annually by Modern Bride magazine in conjunction with Virtuoso. True, Italy beat out Hawaii for the top spot this year — perhaps given a boost from a spate of celebrity couples romancing there, most notably last year's Tom Cruise-Katie Holmes nuptials — but the Caribbean, Mexico and South Pacific are all well represented. August 27, 2007 10 Destination Weddings Specialist 2.0 | Travel Agent | http://www.caribbeanweddingassociation.com http://www.caribbeanweddingassociation.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.