Caribbean or local beach?

I am torn between two ideas for our wedding, we have both always dreamed of having a destination caribbean wedding, however much of my family would not be able to come due to personal(not liking to fly), health and money issues, so we have started looking at a local beach wedding (the spot we got engaged to be specific), to accomadate and still get a beach wedding.

If we did a caribbean wedding, it would only be a few people invtited to wedding and then a big reception for everyone showing pictures and vow exchange when we get back from honeymoon. For a local beach, everyone would be invited to both cermony and reception, the cermony on beach then have reception at a local hotel or other venue.

I want a caribbean wedding so bad, it would just be gorgeous and a dream, but I also want my family to be a part of it. I think that the local beach would be nice too but would always regret and wish I had a caribbean wedding but if I did the caribbean wedding I would always regret my family not being there. I feel as though I am going to regret something no matter which way I pick.  Fiance told me whatever I wanted he would back me. Any suggestions or comments??

You have several options you can go to the Caribbean with a few people get married have a honeymoon and then come back and have a reception at a later date with elements of the Caribbean. or have your wedding local and bring elements of the Caribbean to you. And elements can be anything from colors, tropical flowers, style of dress, music and food.

This is what I would do. . . Bring the caribbean to you. Go on that romantic honeymoon after and RENEW your vows out there. Buy two dresses and if people want to go to see you exchange vows again they can!

That way you can have your Cake and eat it TWICE litterally. You can make it so the one up here is not legal and make the one down there legal if it is a specific date you want the legal thing to happen.

Mark and I are renewing our vows with family in February, but we will not go on vacation until August. This way I have both of my dreams. Winter wedding and beautiful honeymoon in Bermuda w/o having to fly. I am one of those who hates air planes with a passion.

I hear you, girl! I always wanted a caribbean wedding too, but I knew our very large families would not all be able to come; and after 8 years, we really wanted to share our day and celebrate with everyone!! I found a compromise... we had a beach-themed wedding in our home town in PA, and then I took my dress with me on the honeymoon and we did honeymoon photos there. I got the best of both worlds -- we shared our wedding with all the people we love, and I got those dreamy, gorgeous wedding shots on the beach. The photos are to die for, and it is by far the best decision we made during wedding planning! We loved every minute of the photo shoot too.. we had time to have those "intimate" us moments and not be rushed by the whole day of a wedding! It was perfect :)

Welcome to PW and congrats on your engagement!!!  I believe you could have what you what in the area that you currently live as well.  I would definitely check out Faithk08's bio, as her beach-themed wedding was gorgeous!!!

Thanks for the suggestions everyone! It's good to hear opinions from everyone, espicailly those not close to you having a biased opinion, and fiances who say "it's your day whatever you want sweetie!" (which could be a love hate situation).

I think I am leaning towards having something local and then our honeymoon where we want and i really like the idea of doing pictures down there as well. As far as the vow renewal goes, are you hiring anyone to lead a small service or are you just doing something on your own? Thanks again ladies!

I was going to do a destinaion beach wedding. At like an all inclusive resort that does the wedding for free. BUT none of my family will fly or couldnt afford to go. Plus my fiance is from Jamaica so we REALLY wanted a dream destination wedding but just couldnt afford it. Luckly i live in Florida and i have a beach on each side of me! If you want your family there then by all means i would involve them. Take a nice honeymoon and go where you couldnt go for your wedding. I know how it is to be stuck between what you want and whats the best for your situation. But there is always a fix

I friend of mine had a vow renewal a few weeks ago in the dominican republic(very few people). I will said have the wedding at a local beach, and them if you can afford it later on a small vow renewal overseas.

I have not asked the person who I would like to officiate yet, lets say it is someone I know very well.

I was also thinking about just doing it ourselves, but I really think having someone up there will be nice. BUT we are also celebrating 20 years, so that made a difference for us. We will be doing it again for our 25th and it will be just the two of us on a beach!