Half a million couples will celebrate a destination wedding this year while 55 percent of couples have considered eloping because wedding plans have gotten out of hand! A four-day wedding weekend can cost less than a meal and reception for 150-200 people at a luxury hotel in New York.

Some of the leading destinations for weddings are:
~ Las Vegas, 100,000 weddings performed annually
~ Hawaii, 20,000 weddings performed annually
~ U.S. Virgin Islands, 5,100 weddings performed annually
~ Jamaica, 5,000 weddings performed annually
~ Bahamas, 4,000 weddings performed annually

The etiquette of a destination wedding generally calls for invited guests to pay their own airfare, while the bride and groom pick up the tab for the lodging, food, and beverages at an all-inclusive resort - but couples can now find alternatives to offer their guests discounts on hotels and flights.

General travel tips for couples preparing
for a honeymoon or destination wedding:
~Busy brides can check-in up to 30 hours before a flight on American Airlines' Web site. Couples can check in the night before a flight, print boarding passes and go directly to security in the morning.
~Use flight status notification via voice or text messaging so loved ones have an easier time picking you up from the airport.
~Make sure you know the legalities if you are planning a destination, especially if it out of the country.
~If you plan on having a destination wedding, try to visit the destination once to finalize any details and to help you anticipate any potential problems.