REASON #1 - To share a love of a place

While dating, my husband and I spent a lot of time in Hocking Hills driving the twisty back roads and hiking from Old Man’s Cave to Ash Cave.  There was even an instance very early in our relationship where we got separated while hiking with friends and he ran 3 miles of trails just to try to find me.  It was then I knew that our relationship was permanent and marked the first of many trips to Hocking Hills.  The importance of Hocking Hills in our relationship was a huge factor in why we chose it, was reminiscent to who we are as a couple, and in the end created an authentic wedding for us.

REASON #2 - More than just a wedding

So many of the weddings I’ve attended are beautiful days filled with laughter and dancing, and they always felt abrupt and perhaps not as lingering as I wanted my own wedding to be.  With a full weekend of time, guests can go hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, rappelling, and more!  What better way to showcase one of our favorite places than to have our wedding there and let our guests enjoy it, too?

REASON #3 - To spend time with guests

We wanted our wedding to last more than one day so that we could spend time with loved ones.  Our guests traveled from all over the country to celebrate with us so we wanted to make sure that our timeline offered the opportunity to slow down and relax. Expanding our celebration to a full weekend allowed time for chats around a bonfire and over early morning coffee.  We didn’t feel rushed at the reception, trying to greet everyone or stressed about dividing our time between guest tables. It was like a giant reunion and we really felt loved when everyone spent the weekend with us!

REASON #4 - The budget

One of the biggest reasons we chose to have a destination wedding was to make our budget go further. Some couples choose to do it so that they can spend less (which by the way is possible, but depends on what you’re planning).  But since we were paying for the majority of the wedding ourselves, we knew we could save by taking our wedding out of the city and letting the surroundings be the backdrop for our nuptials.

REASON #5 - To have a unique wedding

Nobody wants a cookie cutter wedding.  Those days are long gone.  Having a destination wedding creates a unique feeling, vibe, and style.  Getting married in Hocking Hills is completely unique no matter where you get married.  We opted to have our ceremony within the state park at Ash Cave.  No chairs, no decorating, just those we cherish standing around us in a magical place as we publicly declared our commitment to one another.

REASON #6 - To have a vacation

Everyone loves going on vacation.  Vacations are fun, relaxing and exciting.  A lot of our guests chose to extend their time at their lodging and explore even more of what the amazing Hocking Hills region has to offer.

REASON #7- To have a good time

This is probably the biggest want that couples have for their weddings, whether you’re having a destination wedding or not.  They want to have a good time and they want their guests to have fun.  At a destination wedding, you’re pretty much guaranteed a good time!

Have I sold you on having a Hocking Hills Wedding? If you or someone you know are considering or have already booked a wedding in Hocking Hills, you should check out the Hocking Hills Wedding Show.  It’s a showcase of the best the region has to offer and will help cross off the remains of your to-do list.