Destination

What It Is: A getaway — usually somewhere exotic, like a resort — with activities that span a weekend.

Good For: Duos who have a connection to a location or want just close loved ones (up to 75 people) to attend. Many resorts offer all-inclusive packages for everything from a guest welcome to a farewell brunch, making the planning process a cinch.

What to Know: Marriage-license rules vary from city to city and country to country. Some cities, like Venice, require that you file for a license a minimum of four days prewedding, while other locations demand blood tests and X-rays (for example, Guadalajara, Mexico). Also, know that destination weddings aren’t always more expensive than those at other locales; the cost depends on where you go and how elaborate the celebration is. However, they may be more expensive for your guests, who usually have to fork over more to attend. As a courtesy, try to restrict the travel time to about two hours by air or six hours by car.

Resources: A listing of marriage-license requirements by state is available at www.usmarriagelaws.com. For the Caribbean islands, log on to www.caribbeantravel.com/weddings, and for Europe, go to www.marryabroad.co.uk. You can also visit any city’s tourism-board website; the requirements should be posted there.

Money-Saving Tip: If you’re planning a destination wedding, stretch your budget by booking on the last week of the off-season. Weatherwise, it’s a bit of a risk, but it’s a lot cheaper and just a tad more of a gamble than if you book the first week of the busy (read: expensive) season.