Trash the Dress

A huge phenomenon in wedding photography is the uninhibited total destruction of a wedding dress or tux at the end of the night. Groom dunks bride, couple leaps into the ocean or some even get downright muddy on the beach, making for fun photos. “With the euphoria, brides are on a high,” says Marsha-Ann Brown, director of romance for Sandals Resorts. “It’s the last hurrah.”

Try: Round up your entire wedding party and dive into the pool.

White Out

Getaway brides tend to opt for tropical tones inspired by their exotic locales such as crimson, mango, sea glass or turquoise. Nonetheless, an all-white wedding is still a class-ic choice. “It’s clean and crisp,” says Brown.

Try: Ask every guest to dress in white, and only white.

Group Think

Gone are the days of private bride and groom-only elopements. Brown says the group-wedding side of the business is booming as more people are inviting their friends and family to connect before and after the wedding. “They’re almost like mini-vacations,” says Brown.

Try: Bond over catamaran trips, rafting excursions or a spa day before the big day.

The Social Network

Let’s face it, not every family member or friend is going to make it to your remote island nuptials. Brown notices more media-savvy couples using Twitter and Facebook to get pre-planning ideas, as well as to connect with friends and family back home during the actual ceremony.

Try: Tweet or post your own pics and videos to capture diary-style memories of your big day.

Culture Shocks

Since a destination wedding is primarily about the location, use local cultural influences. Brown says this can mean a conch-lined pathway, hiring a steelpan band, serving rum punch or choosing a menu with local dishes.

Try: Tamarind sauce, coffee and a playlist of local music make great wedding favours with an indigenous element.