A couple having their wedding at the beach.

Destination weddings are becoming a trend in Alberta as the number of bookings for such weddings increased significantly last year amongst Albertans.

According to the reports from AMA Travel, destination weddings increased by 8 percent in 2009 from the all-time record number set in 2008.

150 destination weddings were booked by the group travel specialists of AMA travel alone. These travelling groups were as many as 80 people in 2009.

AMA Travel’s director of business development, Andrew Hopkyns, said that one of the main reasons for this trend is the cost. He said that marriage is recession proof; Regardless of the economy, people get fall in love and get married. However, it is costly to have a wedding in Calgary in the month of June, so people settle for other destinations.

Danielle Bruce, office manager of Travel Cuts, agreed to what Hopkyns said. She said that the costs and the expected number of guests are truly important factors on where couples decide to get married.

Furthermore, Bruce said that when couples plan their wedding budgets, guests, and venues, destination weddings usually come into play. A destination wedding is a good option for couples who have financially-able and cooperative guests, or if they want to have a low key wedding with immediate family members only.

According to AMA reports Punta Cana and the Mayan Rivera are the two most preferred wedding destinations; Jamaica and Cuba are tied in third.

Nevertheless, wedding venues in Ottawa are equally as beautiful and as romantic as these places.