by Meg Jack

Created on: July 05, 2008

In today's day and age, there are hundreds of options for places to tie the knot. What used to be a simple decision; go to the family church or go to Vegas, is now the first thing to be decided. This decision puts stress on the bride and groom from day one of the engagement. So, once there is a ring on the soon-to-be-bride's finger, and everyone is saying "Congratulations! When's the big day?" What do you say?

It almost becomes annoying how many people ask when the "big day" is, but how can one decide on the day until they pick the place? As soon as couples get engaged, the first thing on the to-do list is to pick a place. With so many options, how is that possible? It all depends on the time of year and the type of wedding the couple wants. I know I went through a couple locations before I picked my final spot!

There's the ever so popular destination weddings, where the couple picks an exotic spot around the world that may or may not be meaningful to them and let's all their guest know far ahead so that they can make this their vacation! Pros? It's an incredible experience! To get married someplace like Jamacia, The Bahamas, Ireland- who wouldn't love such an opportunity? The cons? Guests may have difficulty getting there- not everyone has the money to spend on showers, wedding gifts, plane tickets, hotel rooms, etc, etc. Also, it's not so easy to plan a wedding when you're hundreds of miles away from the location! And unless you and your fiance have the spare change to go on a pre-wedding trip, you may not get to see the location until the very week of your wedding!

On the exact opposite end of the spectrum, there's a good old fashioned church wedding. Maybe a church that your mother or grandmother got married in? This may not be "all the rage" or wow your guests as much, but it may have the sentimental value that the destination weddings lack. Plus, church weddings can be much cheaper as you don't have to pay as much for the ceremony site, if anything at all. It's much easier for guests to attend, and there's always the honeymoon to look foward to!

In the case that you want to have the wedding near your home, but not in a church setting, there are multiple options. First off, look online for popular wedding locations in your area. There may be ceremony locations such as grand halls, or hotels. In the case that you want an outdoor wedding, look for gardens or beaches. Many gardens are set up for weddings and have gazebo areas.

The point is, there is a perfect place for everyone to get married, and it's different for every couple. As a couple, take the time to get to know your options. Don't overlook anything, you never know what option may end up being your final pick! Before you know it, y'all will have an answer to "So, when is the big day?"

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