HOW TO FIND WEDDING VENUES CLOSER TO HOME

Don't want to get married in your own country but need a venue closer to home? Find below ideas on how to find perfect wedding venue.

Find a local Planner

Destination weddings are now big business. Many of the large holiday companies will help you tie the knot abroad. If you've set your heart on a small romantic town that has slipped under the travel agents' radar, ask the local hotels if they can recommend the name of the wedding planner or the local florist shops might be able to give you a contact.

Think of your guests

You might have your heart set on marrying in Aspen in June, but if you want your elderly granny to join you for your big day you might have to think again. This isn't saying that your choice of resort needs to be dull. In fact, it'll need to keep your guests occupied for at least a couple of days. But you will have all ages to consider when making your plans. Don't feel that you have organise numerous activities to keep them occupied - it's their holiday too and they might like their own space. Give your guests as much time as possible to plan because they also have to book flights, organise hotels and arrange to have time out of the office.

Preparation is the key

If you want your wedding day to go as smoothly as possible don't wait till you get there to buy your flowers, dress or bridemaids' gifts: do this all at home. Your guy can take on some of the workload too, though. So make a list and check it twice - first you, then him.

Have fun

This isn't a traditional wedding so you don't need to be that conventional. If you want to walk barefoot acroos the sand or boogie down the aisle to a Haka band it's up to you. Being a destination wedding you could theme it according to your venue. So treat your guests to Hawaiian leis, order a bagpiper or charter a boat for floating reception if you've booked a resort close to the sea.

Seating

Not all guests want to scramble for the best seat. So solve that with a seating plan. You can give people a table or more specifically a seat. But this is trickier to put together if you have last-minute cancellations. Put them next to at least one person that they know. You want your guests to mingle but you also want them to feel at ease. They elderly guests need to be at the front so they can hear the speeches, while the children can be placed on tables at the back. Not only can they hear better but they won't be interested in the speeches.

With a little bit of thought you can have the day that you've always dreamed of.