Daily Archives: November 4, 2010

Still haven’t found the perfect spot to say “I do”? Whether you are looking to have a destination wedding or to celebrate close to home, consider the increasingly popular trend of using a vacation rental as the venue for your dream wedding. Not only does it provide greater flexibility and a more intimate setting for your marriage ceremony, but using a vacation home is also very affordable. Here are some tips on what to look for in a home that you are considering for your special day:

Pre-Wedding: In the days leading up to the wedding, family members who would otherwise be spread out across multiple states, countries, or even continents, are finally all together for the first time, anxiously awaiting the big day. Take advantage of this rare opportunity and allow both families to spend some quality time together in one vacation rental or split among several in the same area. Rock away on the front porch, gather around the living room fireplace, or cook up a storm in the kitchen all while sharing old memories and creating new ones.

“Most of our wedding party stayed in the house with us, and it was the central location of all festivities. Everyone else stayed within the Sunset Properties community and it was great. Everyone was within walking distance and the team at Sunset [was] amazing.”-Amy H from Atlanta, GA reviewing East Meets West

The Ceremony: Even if you don’t know the exact address of your wedding venue yet, you probably have a pretty clear picture of what this place should look like. Make your fantasies a reality –take the time to shop around until you finally find your magical mountaintop destination, your picturesque sculpture garden, or your fairytale castle. Make sure to ask home owners for more information about the size of their property, as this will help you gauge whether there is sufficient space for all of your guests to be a part of the momentous celebration.

“Once we arrived at the estate it was nothing but enchantment. With breath taking views, serene landscape and the tranquil sounds from the pool and ponds, it was nothing but relaxing from the minute we took out first breath. There is nowhere else in the world I would have rather had our wedding, than where we did” -Happily Mauied from Orange county, CA reviewing Luxury Ocean Front Estate Haiku Maui

The Reception: If you are considering having both the ceremony and the reception in the same place, do some research on wedding service providers in the surrounding area. At the very least you will need a florist, a caterer, and a DJ or band. Ensure that the house itself can handle all these services working and running their equipment at the same time –big kitchens to support the caterer and large patios or expansive landscapes on which to dance the night away are ideal!

“The backyard was big enough to comfortably accommodate for 100+ people with a tent, tables, chairs, dance floor, and buffet style eating. This house and it’s property helped make my wedding PERFECT!” – MrsJames2 from Myrtle Beach, SC reviewing Pharr House

The After Party: See what the local nightlife has to offer for guests looking to party late into the night. For those ready to hit the hay, a vacation home with many bedrooms, especially those with multiple and larger sized beds, is perfect for accommodating your closest family and friends. There will undoubtedly be some overflow so find out whether there are enough hotels and inns in the area to lodge any remaining guests hoping to spend the night. Most importantly, don’t forget to reserve a romantic couples suite for the newly weds –homes offering a private guest cottage are perfect for you and your partner to spend the special night together!

“We were married here in July 2009 and had about 30 relatives and friends to stay for the week, as well as 70 others staying elsewhere nearby, it was the most warm and friendly experience we could ever have wished for, with great flexibility and a feeling that the chateau was ‘yours’ for the week.” -Sophmatt from London reviewing Chateau LaGorce

Begin exploring the endless possibilities –from waterfront to cliff side, vacation rentals can be found in locations all around the world and are available year-round! Get started by checking out the villas, beach houses, chalets, and mansions in these popular destination wedding locations:

• Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
• Puntarenas, Costa Rica
• Chianti, Italy
• Cape Cod, Massachusetts
• Hilton Head, South Carolina
• North Tahoe, California