USA - live in it? From there? Please read this! :o)
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jbd · 03-22-2011, 07:57 PM

Boston. I got married on Rowes Wharf, right behind The Boston Harbor Hotel, on the water. There is a beautiful glass building there on the wharf that the hotel rents out for special events. The two main commuter/charter boat companies dock right there, and we had our reception on one of the boats.

My sister-in-law got married at The Old North Church. That's a beautiful place, too.

This sounds fun. Keep us up to date!

jbd · 03-22-2011, 07:58 PM

When my sister-in-law got married the second time, she got married at Cohasset Light. Cohasset is a coastal town south of Boston. That was beautiful, too.

**Dave Marx** · 03-22-2011, 08:30 PM

Weddings are such a huge business over here that just about anyplace capable of hosting a wedding party is in the business, and anyplace that hasn't thought to do it on an organized basis is apt to say yes if you ask if it's "possible." It will be a very daunting task for you, unless you set some firm criteria for selection of venues. One criterion I'd include are ease of airline travel from the UK for invited guests. There are some wonderful places that might require three separate flight legs coming in from the UK, followed by a car hire and a 150-mile drive on the wrong side of the road. Exotic, yes, but maybe not a plan that would endear the happy couple to some of the relations.

The beauty of most "destination wedding" destinations is that there's an entire industry of wedding planners and other specialists who make the job easy for the out-of-town couple. On the other hand, some of the more commonplace locations (to Americans) are not accustomed to serving the destination wedding business, and your readers may have far more arrangements to make on their own. If it were my book, I'd hesitate to recommend any location that lacked a decent selection of wedding planners experienced in serving out-of-town clients. While some of your readers may want to make all the arrangements on their own, other readers may be frustrated to read of a place that seems very romantic, but requires professional-level planning skills on the part of the bride and/or her parents.

Yes, each state has its own matrimony laws, including residency requirements. However, the state usually does not issue marriage licenses - those are issued at the county and/or municipal level. Sometime, the ceremony must take place in the municipality or county in which the license was obtained, in other cases, the license may be valid for ceremonies anywhere in the state. The license will not be valid if the ceremony is performed in a different state. You should aim to identify the most convenient/appropriate location(s) for obtaining the license for each and every venue you describe. Some places require blood tests, others don't. Many require a three-day waiting period between license application and the wedding. The rules as to who can officiate and validate the marriage certificate will also vary from state to state. Mayors, court clerks, judges, justices of the peace, clergymen, notaries public... all, many, or some of these may be allowed, depending on location.

As a purely business consideration, if you haven't already researched the many books published in the U.S. on Destination Weddings, you ought to look into it. As we know here at PassPorter, the needs of an overseas visitor will be different than those of a "local," but you'll still be competing with books published for the US market, so it's best to know what the competition offers.

**Dave Marx** · 03-22-2011, 08:30 PM

Weddings are such a huge business over here that just about anyplace capable of hosting a wedding party is in the business, and anyplace that hasn't thought to do it on an organized basis is apt to say yes if you ask if it's "possible." It will be a very daunting task for you, unless you set some firm criteria for selection of venues. One criterion I'd include are ease of airline travel from the UK for invited guests. There are some wonderful places that might require three separate flight legs coming in from the UK, followed by a car hire and a 150-mile drive on the wrong side of the road. Exotic, yes, but maybe not a plan that would endear the happy couple to some of the relations.

The beauty of most "destination wedding" destinations is that there's an entire industry of wedding planners and other specialists who make the job easy for the out-of-town couple. On the other hand, some of the more commonplace locations (to Americans) are not accustomed to serving the destination wedding business, and your readers may have far more arrangements to make on their own. If it were my book, I'd hesitate to recommend any location that lacked a decent selection of wedding planners experienced in serving out-of-town clients. While some of your readers may want to make all the arrangements on their own, other readers may be frustrated to read of a place that seems very romantic, but requires professional-level planning skills on the part of the bride and/or her parents.

Yes, each state has its own matrimony laws, including residency requirements. However, the state usually does not issue marriage licenses - those are issued at the county and/or municipal level. Sometime, the ceremony must take place in the municipality or county in which the license was obtained, in other cases, the license may be valid for ceremonies anywhere in the state. The license will not be valid if the ceremony is performed in a different state. You should aim to identify the most convenient/appropriate location(s) for obtaining the license for each and every venue you describe. Some places require blood tests, others don't. Many require a three-day waiting period between license application and the wedding. The rules as to who can officiate and validate the marriage certificate will also vary from state to state. Mayors, court clerks, judges, justices of the peace, clergymen, notaries public... all, many, or some of these may be allowed, depending on location.

As a purely business consideration, if you haven't already researched the many books published in the U.S. on Destination Weddings, you ought to look into it. As we know here at PassPorter, the needs of an overseas visitor will be different than those of a "local," but you'll still be competing with books published for the US market, so it's best to know what the competition offers.

**chezp** · 03-23-2011, 02:27 AM

Very wise words Dave.

I must admit I was starting to think that you were looking at creating an encyclopedia! I like the idea of some parameters and particularly around ease of visiting from the UK. I don't know if there are figures as well to show how many Brits visit various destinations in the US? There will certainly be some states that barely receive any, whereas others will have literally millions each year.

Tigger71 · 03-23-2011, 06:21 AM

Sounds like a book I'm going to have to buy...(I'm married already but...)

vwlizard · 03-23-2011, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lukeandbrookesmom

We were living in MA when we got married. We were married at St. Anne's Church in Orleans on Cape Cod and had our reception at Chatham Bars Inn in Chatham, MA -
Cape Cod Rentals | Massachusetts Weddings | Cape Cod Hotels

Cape Cod is a beautiful location for a wedding and honeymoon

I second Chatham Bars Inn for Cape Cod.

The mansions of Newport, RI

Anyplace in Vermont in the fall.

Tinkerboo · 03-23-2011, 09:36 AM

Thanks peeps - consider all that advice taken on board.

I was never intending to include every single town on the US map - awesome fun as it would be for me research-wise, and nice as it would be to showcase the places that are hidden gems (to anyone who doesn't live in them) - as you say, it would end up being encyclopedia-length! I'm more at the 'gather as much info as possible then filter things in/out' stage right now. If I didn't have a day job I would definitely love to just spend every day travelling the world from my chair via the laptop though!

I'm very aware of the fact that not everyone likes to plan stuff as much as I do (and even I had the help of a wedding planner who was worth her weight in gold) so looking up planners in the various places is another step I'll be taking once I'm a bit further on. I know that my planner has won awards in 'The Knot' magazine, so that would be a good source of info in that respect, but we can't get it here. Is the online version much the same, does anyone know? Would I be missing out on anything by not having a paper copy?

Thanks so much once again for your help - this is why I love PP more than any other Disney board!

jenifermg0 · 03-23-2011, 12:10 PM

I know a wedding planner here in Anchorage, Alaska. She is a co-worker of mine and a wonderful lady. As you start to compile your lists, let me know and I'll get you her contact info. I've already checked with her and she was totally good with it.

Tinkerboo · 03-23-2011, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jenifermg0

I know a wedding planner here in Anchorage, Alaska. She is a co-worker of mine and a wonderful lady. As you start to compile your lists, let me know and I'll get you her contact info. I've already checked with her and she was totally good with it.

What a

you are..!

**jennie622** · 03-23-2011, 01:37 PM

The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC!! Awesome town, America's largest home, winery, Inn, gardens, trails, etc. Something for every season too!

Biltmore Weddings

Another suggestion, South Carolina. From miles and miles of coastline & islands to historic Charleston. Very romantic!

South Carolina Vacations - South Carolina Tourism Official Site

**OhToodles!** · 03-23-2011, 04:49 PM

This is off topic, but wanted to say thanks for posting this. It made me go to Missouri's tourism site and inspired an overnight trip DH & I will be taking to Marceline, MO which is where Walt Disney lived as a boy. So thanks!

**jennie622** · 03-24-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OhToodles!

This is off topic, but wanted to say thanks for posting this. It made me go to Missouri's tourism site and inspired an overnight trip DH & I will be taking to Marceline, MO which is where Walt Disney lived as a boy. So thanks!

so cool!!

Me too, I'm heading up to Biltmore Estate for the Festival of Flowers next month! I'm an annual passholder. (wish I was only an hour away from WDW and a passholder like I used to be!!)

Ashli · 03-24-2011, 04:23 PM

I live in Savannah, which is quite a wedding destination in the US, but I don't know how familiar people are with it outside the US. It is a beautiful, historic Southern town. We have 21 gorgeous (and each different) squares. They are lovely gardens that each have a statue, monument, fountain, or something similar. They are particularly amazing in the spring (right NOW as a matter of fact) because of the flowering bushes and trees that cover them. They are public spaces, but you are allowed to reserve them for weddings/parties. There are also a number of wonderful bed & breakfast inns that have their own smaller private gardens that can be used for a more intimate wedding. And for those who need a LOT of room, there is a large Marriot right on the river, as well as a very pretty and large Westin hotel right across the river.

I personally got married in St. Pete Beach, FL, at the Don CeSar Hotel (also known as the pink palace). It has a beautiful garden/courtyard that lays right up against the beach.

Good luck with your book!

Tinkerboo · 03-25-2011, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jennie622

so cool!!

Me too, I'm heading up to Biltmore Estate for the Festival of Flowers next month! I'm an annual passholder. (wish I was only an hour away from WDW and a passholder like I used to be!!)

Ha ha - you're both very welcome!