American couples continue to choose destination weddings in record numbers.

One of the many joys of a destination wedding is creating an event which allows the far-flung loved ones in your life to get to know each other over the course of several days. Guests get to know a new area, as well as each other. Who knows...a romance or great friendship may spark from your wedding!

Wedding Style Magazine

by Bob Curley

Lisa Light has organized destination weddings in the shadows of the Great Pyramids and under the shade of olive trees in Greece, in a manor house beside Lake Como in Italy and within the adobe walls of a colonial Mexican chapel. For a ceremony atop Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, an expert climbing guide led a couple to the summit, where the groom donned a top hat and the bride unfurled a veil as they exchanged vows. Later, the newlyweds went on safari to Ngorongoro Crater, a refuge for the rare black rhino.

I recently joined the throngs of international travelers making their way to Quebec Canada, to experience one of the "coolest" hotels in the world. The Ice Hotel (Hotel de Glace) is located 30 minutes west of Quebec City in a literal snow belt. It is situated on the Duchesnay Station Touristique, which is a cross country ski lodge that overlooks the pristine Lac Saint-Joseph.

In mid-coastal Maine, nestled on the Bristol Peninsula, is a 54-acre farm estate with a breathtaking, panoramic view of rolling meadows, and apple orchards. Clark’s Cove Farm & Inn is a wonderful retreat — from the city, or whatever allergy to modern life you may be experiencing — with gardens, trails, wooded hills, 700 feet of waterfront, and views far and wide.

Brides and grooms are redefining "traditional" weddings — and in 2003 more couples will be finding different ways to include a personal aspect into their weddings, explains Lisa Light, owner of Destination Bride in Chatham, NY.