I have to share my experience with all the people out there that love to travel. I was 26 before I ever traveled abroad. My first trip was in 1996 to Switzerland. I fell in love with the history, art, food, and culture of Europe. My first trip I went in the middle of Summer and spent almost $1000.00 on an economy class ticket. I am not wealthy by any means so I didn't think that I would be able to travel much. Then I started to research. I found that I could find amazing fares on the internet for both air fares and hotels. I was addicted. Since 1996 I have made either one or two trips a year to different countrys in Europe. When my fiance proposed I couldn't help but think that it would be wonderful to get married in Europe. I didn't really want a big wedding and I didn't want to elope. I was the typical woman and wanted to dress up and have my picture made so that I could remember the day. I started researching. I found out that it is fairly easy to get married in Italy. I got in contact with www.italyweddings.com. For something as simple as I wanted it was cheaper to get married in Italy than it was to have a big production in the U.S. All I wanted were the documents taken care of. A civil service (much more beautiful than going to the courthouse here. Ours was held in the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence.)flowers and a photographer. They even provided a translator and transportation on the wedding day. There are so many people on this site that have such an evident love of travel that I had to pass this along. If you love to travel and you are planning on getting married why not combine the two loves in a destination wedding. This was the best thing that I have ever done in my life. What is funny is that 3 months after the wedding the Travel Channel's Fun and Sun program was about the top 10 places to get married. Florence and the Palazzo Vecchio were on it and they interviewed our wedding coordinator. I have been reading the postings and I know that I am just a baby at the travel thing. I don't have half of the knowledge (nor the money) that some of the people on this site do but I just wanted to share what was the most wonderful travel experience of my life!

How lovely and how nice of your to share your wonderful idea.

lbb<BR>Congratulations on your wedding and thanks for sharing...<BR>I have to admit when I got bogged down in some of the organising of my wedding several years ago I did think briefly of getting married overseas with a coordinator to work out all the details and a honeymoon destination and wedding venue all rolled into one.<BR>We decided against it because some of the guests we wanted to share our day with just wouldn't have been able to come but it does sound a wonderful option.<BR>Kavey

Thanks for the info!<BR><BR>My boyfriend and I plan to elope one of these days...I never had the desire to plan a wedding...and Italy is one of my favorite places. I'll have to check out the site.

Not a wedding story, but a great honeymoon piece in the NyTimes today, for Portugal:<BR><BR>http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/23/travel/QUINTA.html<BR><BR>For what it's worth, the pictures posted with this piece actually belong with the OTHER story on Portugal, also published today (and the pictures are shown correctly - - they're just duplicated both locations).<BR><BR>Best wishes,<BR><BR>Rex<BR>

uppers<BR>

Suzanne, you don't really "plan" to elope.