I had a hard enough time narrowing down a place to get hitched in Chicago. My veil's off to anyone ambitious enough to plan a destination wedding.
Fodor's "Destination Weddings" has some suggestions when it comes to extraordinary places to tie the knot. Among them:
The dramatic Ashford Castle in County Mayo, Ireland. It's a fairytale setting, but Fodor's notes that laws for marrying in the Republic of Ireland are complex, so contact the Irish consulate before you order those Belleek favors.
All the cool kids will want to exchange vows in Sweden's Ice Hotel. A new funky, freezing palace gets built from ice and snow every year in Jukkasjarvi, Sweden. The hotel has a wedding coordinator who can help you with everything from the catering to the mandatory visit to the tax office in Kiruna for the marriage certificate.
Thinking of something a little, well, warmer? How about a beach surrounded by flaming torches at Crown Beach Resort in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. The happy couple can arrive courtesy of native warriors who will carry you aloft in a chair, or you can come by canoe while drums beat in the background. Very Survivor-ish.
These are just a few of the many suggested spots detailed in the Fodor's book, which I'm happy to give to the first bride or groom willing to let me write a story about their destination wedding once it's over. (Don't worry, I won't crash the party. I just want to talk to you about it after the honeymoon's over.)
Let me know if you're game, and good luck!
Lori Rackl writes a weekly Travel section that runs Wednesdays in the
Destination weddings are extremely selfish and for the egotistical bride and groom.
Sorry to be so mean, but its' true.