Adelman’s Geri Jacoby-Smith, Vacation Advisor and Honeymoon & Destination Wedding Specialist, has been helping couples plan their dream honeymoon or destination wedding since the late 1990s.  She is a frequent participant at the Metropolitan Wedding Expo, two-time recipient of the Merchants’ Choice Award, and 2022 recipient of Metropolitan Weddings Couples’ Choice Award.  As a honeymoon and destination wedding expert, Geri knows that many top destinations tend to be a trend while others are tried and true favorites.   

“Many couples think of their dream honeymoon as a once in a lifetime chance to visit a more exotic location like the beautiful Islands of Tahiti or Fiji, while others look for the convenience of a shorter flight in order to get to their destination as quickly as possible,” says Geri.  “This year at the Metropolitan Wedding Expo, many couples asked about Greece and Tahiti, which are both very romantic choices.”  

Many couples dream of a private wedding on the beach with tropical flowers and palm trees swaying in the breeze.  According to Geri, over the years, the most popular Caribbean destinations for beach weddings include the beautiful islands of Jamaica, St. Lucia, Aruba, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  Hawaii is another top destination for beach weddings.    

Another consideration when choosing an ideal wedding destination is the wait time to get married.  Since many couples combine their destination wedding with their honeymoon, they look for destinations with short or no waiting periods.  For example, couples arriving in Jamaica must wait only 24 hours before they can marry, while the U.S. Virgin Islands have no waiting period, so couples can get married the same day they arrive.   

Affordability is another consideration as many couples want to be surrounded by family and friends on their wedding day.  More affordable destinations, such as the Caribbean Islands, allow more invited guests to help the couple celebrate their special day.     

Geri’s top honeymoon spots for 2023:  

• St. Lucia 
• Jamaica 
• Exuma, Bahamas 
• Bora Bora, Tahiti 
• Mexico rounds out the top and is a great choice for those looking for a more budget friendly honeymoon 

For European honeymoons and weddings, the city lights of Paris, a castle in Ireland, a private villa in Tuscany, or a romantic Greek island are top choices and make superb backdrops for celebrating your perfect day.  

If you or someone you know is recently engaged and needs to plan a destination wedding or honeymoon, give Adelman Vacations a call at 800-749-7116 or 417-888-4488, or visit our website at www.adelmanvacations.com. Our experienced vacation advisors are happy to help plan your dream honeymoon or destination wedding.