Not satisfied with a quaint little wedding at the local house of worship? Wouldn't dare get married in your parents' backyard? Then, you're probably the type of person who's itching for a destination wedding. Whether your celebration will be taking place in Hailea or Hawaii, there is much to consider before all of your groomsmen redeem their frequent flier miles.  Let's try and answer the simple, but loaded question: is it worth the trip?

Why the Hike to Get Hitched?

A destination wedding can be loosely defined as one in which the couple and a majority of their guests travel to the ceremony. (ed. GroomGroove.com thinks 500 miles makes for a destination wedding) But what are the benefits of taking the show on the road? First of all, it creates a greater air of excitement in the planning process. The event now becomes part vacation, part wedding. There's a distinct and unique separation from your "normal" life.

Plus, during the actual wedding weekend, you and your guests will be able to spend more quality time together since everyone's in the same place. It becomes less of a "wedding day" and more of a "wedding weekend". Of course there is still the chaos of planning the whole event, remembering your vows, preparing toasts, and actually getting to Aruba - but that's mitigated by the fact you're in a scenic and relaxing place...maybe even on the beach.

Choosing the Right Destination for You

Try to find a location that has personal meaning for you and your fiancée. If you're making your guests hike to the far reaches of the Earth, it better have some serious significance - or at least a swim-up bar. Some guests will wonder: why are they getting married here? Though you don't to answer to anyone but your own happiness, at least pretend to have some emotional connection to your destination. Kyle Stein of New York City, in an interview with GroomGroove.com, picked his destination based on a poll of their friends and family. "We set up an online poll with five different destinations. We had Hawaii, Iceland, Prague, Aruba and Jamaica as possible choices. It was actually kind of cool," Stein says. Where did they go? "Jamaica won out for our December wedding."

Who Can Make it, Who Can't, and How to Deal with the Consequences

Before making this leap, the groom needs to realize that the guest list will be chipped away as the invitations marked "regrets" pile up. However, those that really matter to you will make the trip if they can afford the expense. As Mark Somerville, 30 of Los Angeles, notes: "When you have a destination wedding, you need to accept the fact that some people won't make it, but the ones who are closest to you will show the effort. You might even be surprised by the number of guests who will jump at the chance to travel for a wedding."

The notable exceptions would be the elderly and anyone with modest means - and that probably means a lot of people. Depending on the travel requirements, a grandparent or great aunt may be unable to make the trip. Check with them before making the ultimate decision if their presence might influence you at all. Likewise, know your people. If a groomsman doesn't have the funds to fly to Tuscany for a long weekend, factor that into your decision making process.

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