Destination Weddings

My cousin got married the right way. She kept her destination wedding under wraps and invited her closest friends, parents, and sibling to a hilltop ceremony in Italy. The pictures are GORGEOUS and I am so envious that she thought of it.
I have a feeling a destination wedding will be the route Mori and I take in the end. We'd love to have our extended family and good friends at a huge expensive ceremony and reception nearby, but reasonably can we afford it on our own? Nope! Do most medical students have elaborate ceremonies or do they elope? I'd much rather drop three grand for my siblings to stay a weekend on an island than a ceremony site we are using for ONE day.
Another reason I want a destination wedding is less stress and family drama. Lord knows I've written enough about it on my blog and I'm tired to the bone dealing with those situations. I want a cookie-cutter wedding package at my fingers and then I'd love to spend the rest of the trip snorkeling with my new family members. No wondering how I should keep my dad away from two of his exes, or if he's going to make a big dramatic gesture at the wedding for not walking me down the aisle. No worries about seating plans or party favors. No snide comments about my caterer or stale wedding cake. Just me, Mori, and the closest people in our lives who have always been there for us.
Plus, we have started to notice that as we (I have four brothers and two sisters) have started graduating and moving away, it is rare when we are all together in one city. My brother's wedding was two years ago and that was the last time I've been around more than four of my siblings at once.
Oh, and all of this is simply on my mind because two of my coworkers are planning destination weddings and have talked up the stress-free planning process of just hiring a travel agent and showing up.
Now all I have to do is get the ring ;)