Once upon a time, the term “destination wedding” was reserved solely for tropical islands and the occasional wedding cruise. These typically involved large budgets and lots of sunscreen.

Today’s savvy couples know what they want — destination weddings done their way and in their style.

Travel is one of America’s favorite pastimes and most people can easily take four days off from work and family obligations to celebrate a wedding and fit in some tourist action as well. Couples are choosing cities, villages and towns that offer a wide range of entertainment depending on the area. Sightseeing, popular area attractions, dancing, horse racing, camping (with late night jubilation around blazing fire pits), shopping and restaurants are all activities to look forward to in or near the Adirondacks, beyond the wedding day.

Destination weddings offer the bride and groom, their families, the bridal party and out-of-town guests an opportunity to experience more than an exchange of vows and a reception hall. They can all experience a part of the country they may not have had an opportunity to explore otherwise.

As a professional off-site catering and design company, we have the ability to design a destination wedding based solely on your individual style.

One couple we worked with chose Schroon Lake for their destination wedding location, even though they lived in Manhattan. During their entire childhood, their families summered on the lake as neighbors.

In addition to exploring the many attractions the Adirondacks offer, many couples bring their guests to Saratoga Springs, to experience the horse racing, museums, restaurants and downtown shopping. With or without connections to Saratoga, this area is definitely a hot spot for guests from around the world to explore while also celebrating your wedding.

If your lucky and own some land in rural areas of the Adirondacks, stunning tented affairs can be created. A small city can be erected, with the aid of tents, generators and bottled water, to entertain and sustain hundreds of guests. The guests then use extra days in the area to see and experience the stunning Adirondack region.

Destination weddings provide other benefits as well. The bridal couple can use the extra days around their wedding day to hold BBQ’s or brunches, extending the casual time they have with friends and family.

The anxiety some couples can experience on their wedding day is certainly lessened when they can relax with close friends and family during the days prior to the big event.

The choice of having a destination wedding is a very real option for today’s couples. It can offer peace of mind, an environment with meaning and a mini vacation for everyone that will be talked about for years to come.

Heidi Hoyt
Chef Co Owner
Black Diamond Caterer