Where Do You Want Your Wedding?
Adapted from an article submitted by Jeanette Hawkinson
Here are suggestions of some other wonderful locations that brides have chosen for their unique and personalized weddings. These suggestions apply to Myrtle Beach, SC, or anywhere your having your ceremony and reception.
The bed-and-breakfast offers a charming backdrop to a wedding, often with a Victorian touch, one or several large fireplaces, decor straight from the pages of a magazine layout, a wraparound porch, and perhaps a yard with a lovely landscape. The bridal couple can book the best room in the house and enjoy a splendid breakfast brought to their bedside the next morning. To find a bed-and-breakfast in your area, check the local tourism board or ask your travel agent for the highest rated B & B nearby. Several bed-and-breakfast guidebooks and Web sites exist, but a more localized search will turn up the best results for you.
Mansions and historical estates are among the most beautiful and unique choices for wedding sites. Very often, the house is ornate, with gilded accents, Victorian dcor, elegant lighting, and sweeping staircases. The home may have a lovely sunroom or porch and beautifully landscaped grounds with gardens or fountains. As it is such a major departure from the usual wedding site, the commonly decorated church, and the standard reception hall, guests are enthralled with the environment, often wandering around to explore rooms and marvel at the scenery. These houses have long histories and personalities of their own, and the bridal couple will become a part of it. To find a historical home or estate that is open to the public rental or use, contact your local historical society.
From the enormous enclosed party yachts to a smaller, privately owned yacht that holds 12, weddings afloat can be a wonderful choice, a qualified officiant will marry you on deck as the sun sets over the horizon and the lights of the city form your backdrop. So many couples love the idea of sailing off into the sunset, choosing this romantic and private option, that a great deal of wedding cruise options have arisen in the industry. Check with your local travel agent for the best wedding cruises in your area, or thoroughly research privately owned yachts for rent with a crew.
Weekend-long getaways are also popular now. Couples are choosing to have not only the 15-minute ceremony and the four-hour reception, but also a full weekend of activities and time shared. Couples who have chosen this option say that a weekend outing to the beach or the mountains brings the family together. Planned tours, fun family competitions, cookouts, fancy dinners at four-star gourmet restaurants, and horseback riding on the beach are just some of the ideas these brides have had for their weekend weddings. The time spent together leads to bonding of the entire extended family, and this vacation-type atmosphere is far more relaxing than one emotionally intense day. So think about which kind of weekend getaway you want: a beach weekend, a ski weekend, or a grand touristy romp though the nearest major city, and book your plans for three days of activityplus your wedding.
A beach wedding is also a lovely idea, one shared by many celebrities and couples who have an affinity for all things seaside. Beachside weddings are usually very informal, with the bride in a slipdress and perhaps bare feet, and the guests dressed up in informal clothing. Booking a site for a beach wedding depends upon the rules of your region. Most private and public beaches do require you to get a permit for a public gathering, cooking, or alcohol consumption, so find out from your town hall about the realities of this option for you.
An arboretum is a popular choice among brides right now. With its natural beauty and flawless design, the smell of the blooms, the arrangements of greenery, the fountains, and the butterflies, it is a piece of Eden. No wonder so many brides book their weddings in arboretums or botanical gardens. There they can be surrounded by English or tropical gardens without paying a penny to the florist.
Other site choices include scenic parks, lighthouses, museums, art galleries, country clubs, restaurant decks overlooking a calm lake, a clearing in the forest, or a specially booked site at an amusement park, casino, or hotel.
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