Are you thinking of taking your wedding outside of your hometown? Interested in getting hitched in a tropical destination like Hawaii, the Bahamas, or the Cayman Islands? Maybe you prefer big cities like Las Vegas, New York, or Los Angeles? If the answer is yes, you’re not alone. Every year thousands of couples tie the knot in destinations in the US and worldwide. Here are a few reasons why they do it: 

It’s Memorable

The hope is that you only get married once, therefore, it might as well be something you’ll remember. While getting married anywhere can be special, there’s something amazing about being able to share your love for one another in front of friends and family in a dream destination. Years from now when you think about your wedding day, the venue, the surroundings, the people, the culture, all of it will be tied into your memories. 

It’s Intimate

The great thing about planning a destination wedding is that it can be more intimate. Since guests will be required to pay for their own cost of travel and will have to make arrangements during the time they’re away, chances are not as many people will be able to attend your destination wedding. This means that you can invite just a few close family members and friends to your wedding to make for a more intimate event.

It’s Affordable

Lots of people shy away from destination wedding for fear that it will cost too much. The truth is, however, having a smaller guest list certainly helps to drive down the costs. There’s also the added advantage of being able to pay for your wedding, reception, and honeymoon altogether. There are plenty of popular wedding destinations around the world that offer couples exclusive packages and services at an affordable rate. This is especially true if you plan on getting married at an all-inclusive resort where you can get everything from meals, drinks, and activities in the same location all at an affordable package rate. 

It Can Be More Laid Back

The other great thing about planning a destination wedding is that you can really just toss tradition and caution in the wind. You don’t need the fancy wedding gown, the high heels, the fully-loaded tuxedos, or the thousands of flora arrangements. Your destination is your backdrop and often doesn’t need much decor. Not to mention, when you’re getting married on a beach or in a tropical destination, oversized gowns, high heels, and tuxedos really don’t mix. So you can have more fun choosing free-flowing sundresses, nice sandals or flip flops for brides, and trendy short suit sets for grooms.  

It Can Be Easy to Plan

Another reason couples decide on a destination wedding is because it can be a lot easier to plan. Many popular resorts and wedding venues offer affordable or inclusive wedding planning services. As they know you’re far away and won’t be as hands-on, they hire the best in the industry to do the legwork so that you don’t have to stress about the details of your big day. From selecting a venue and working with vendors finding the perfect wedding bands and ideal attire for your dream wedding, a planner will be with you every step of the way. Having the services of a wedding planner makes it a lot easier to bring your dream wedding to life without the headache. 

It’s Quality Time with Family

There’s nothing like a vacation and time away from the daily hustle and grind to put you in good spirits, especially when you’re in the company of people you love and care for. You can turn your wedding into a family vacation of a lifetime. Whether you host it in South Wales, Dubai, Brazil, or some other destination, you can go off and explore, do some shopping, take in nature, learn about the culture, participate in fun activities, or just spend time in your hotel room talking about old times. Whatever you do with your loved ones while you’re out of town it will certainly bring you guys closer together at a time when family matters most. 

Your wedding day is only supposed to happen once. So as you begin to plan your special day, don’t compromise on things you really want. If you want to get married outside of your hometown, then start planning the destination wedding of your dreams. It’s convenient, intimate, affordable, simpler to plan, and a surefire way to spend some quality time with those you love. So why not plan a wedding that you won’t soon forget. 

If your life isn’t turning out how you had hoped and everything is heading in the wrong direction, you can do something about it.  You have a choice. You can stop, reorient yourself, and find a new path.

You don’t have to keep doing all the things that haven’t worked out for you for the past six months or the past six years. If the circumstances showing up in your life aren’t delivering the benefits you expected, you can, with a little effort, turn things around for the better. 

So, to keep things simple, start with just three changes: set personal development goals, clean up your bad habits, and focus on becoming an expert in something that will radically improve the quality of your life.

Set Personal Development Goals

Philosophers have been asking about the ingredients of the good life for centuries. This probably started long before Plato confabulated his stories about Socrates. He was just contributing to a theme, not originating it.

Today, we’ve relabeled this philosophical quest for a higher quality of life under the more marketable rubric “personal development.” Although the motivational words of Tony Robbins, Jack Canfield, and Oprah have replaced the lucubrations of Plato and Aristotle, the plot has thickened, not changed.

So, a good place to rediscover the good life for yourself is to study self-development literature and to work on character development with the rigor of Benjamin Franklin. If you do this long enough, people will notice your increased level of empathy and active listening skills, your burgeoning confidence and fearlessness, and your unusual knack for speaking your truth while getting along with everybody. It’s a slow process, but you will transform into the person that you’ve always wanted to be.  

You can speed up your personal growth by adopting a fitness lifestyle. If you stick to it long enough, you’ll be able to do things that other people would find impossible, like enjoying the holidays with no weight gain.

Expunge Bad Habits

Although we all like to think of ourselves as rational beings who only do things that make sense, this is a common delusion. All of us have bad habits. While some may be relatively harmless, others can really get in the way of your aspirations for self-improvement.

By definition, a bad habit is something that has destructive consequences. If, for instance, you party a little too hard and wake up in the mornings with hangover chills, you will not make much progress with any of your personal development goals no matter how many inspiring self-help books you read or motivational YouTube videos you binge out on.

So, make a list of your bad habits, then pick the one on the top of your list to work on. Don’t work on more than one at a time because it will require a tremendous amount of will-power to correct each destructive habit. 

Cultivate an Exceptional Skill

What would you like to do that would make all the difference in the world for you?

This is not as open-ended a question as it may seem because you should only choose something that will significantly improve the quality of your life. 

Do you want to succeed in business? Do you want to flourish in an intellectual pursuit? Do you want to master some art form? Do you want to excel in a competitive sport? Do you want to deepen your spiritual quest?

Once you’ve chosen your one big thing to specialize in, then study as much of it as possible, apply it whenever you get the chance, and teach it to others to enhance your own understanding.

We live in a golden age of the computer and the Internet. Invaluable information and resources are at your fingertips. If you dedicate your will and energy to focusing on one thing you can become exceptionally good at it, it will lift your life to a new level. If you invest your time into improving your life, you will notice changes that will astonish and delight you.

You’re moving and the job you accepted is a thousand miles away. With so much to do you may end up feeling stressed. Any move can cause you to reach deep into your pockets to cover all the fees, large and small. However, with a carefully crafted plan of action and a willingness to do some of the leg work on your own, you can save hundreds and maybe even thousands on your move. 

Plan Ahead 

You’ve completed your online architecture masters programs and it’s paying dividends. After several interviews, you’ve accepted employment with a large firm. Instead of procrastinating your move, plan ahead. This will allow you to get the moving date of your choice for the best price. 

Rent a Truck or Hire Professional Movers 

The first thing you need to decide on is whether you want to drive the truck on your own or hire movers. There are pros and cons to each. First, driving a truck on your own will cost much less, but you will have to pack, load, and unload the vehicle. While you may have friends at your current residence, you’ll pretty much be on your own once you reach your new home. Another thing to consider is the long drive in a large truck and the traveling on congested roads. 

Saving Money Using a Moving Company 

The initial estimate can instantly overwhelm you. However, there are ways to bring costs down. For instance, most moving companies include a fee for packing and supplying boxes. If you opt to provide the boxes and do the packing on your own, you can literally reduce the estimate by several hundred dollars. Another way to move long-distance for less is to go in the off-season. If this is not an available option, you can still save money by scheduling the pick up for mid-week. 

Packing Supplies 

Packing up your collectibles, high-tech devices, and glassware doesn’t have to break the bank. In fact, for little money, you can pack, label, and protect your furnishings. Contact your local supermarket or retail store to see what days during the week they receive shipments. Since they only toss the boxes away in dumpsters, most won’t have an issue with giving them away for free. When it comes to wrapping your furniture, use sheets and, with regard to your collectibles and glassware, use old newspapers and ordinary coffee filters. 

Down Size 

A move presents a wonderful opportunity to de-clutter your home and downsize. Remember that everything you bring will require added storage space, and if you want to spend less, you’ll need to lighten the load. Rent a dumpster for the items showing wear. As for the items in good condition that you no longer want, have a moving sale. The money you make will help offset some of the costs. 

Deduct the Move Next Tax Season 

You can get additional savings by adding the cost of your move when you file your taxes. On the federal tax return form 1040, there’s a place to put in moving costs. So keep all of your receipts. 

Host a Cleaning Party 

Hosting a cleaning party provides a terrific way to say goodbye to friends and get your residence spotless without the need for hiring a cleaning service. Once the home is clean, you can offer repayment for all the efforts with a cold cut platter and fixings or burgers and hot dogs on the barbecue. 

Moving is exciting, especially when you advanced your career through additional schooling. Don’t let the excessive costs put a damper on your feelings. Whether you decide to use a rental truck and drive or hire professional movers, you can do the move for less.