Jim & Sheryl O'Hara
June 12, 1979

By HEATHER CASS

BAHAMA BREEZES
Not all brides dream of a church wedding and big reception with 300 guests. Some would prefer to take their vows standing barefoot on a white sand beach with warm tropical breezes blowing through their veil

Such was the case for Annette Fabrizi Coccarelli who chose to marry her sweetheart, Jim Coccarelli, at the Super Clubs Breezes Resort in Nassau, Bahamas on April 4, 2003.

Why did the two choose a destination wedding?

"We both like the outdoors, especially the beach and ocean, and we wanted our wedding to be relaxed and romantic," Annette said.

According to Annette, setting the wedding up from Erie was quite easy. "We looked on the Internet for 'all-inclusive' adult resorts and found that Breezes was the most reasonable. I called them to make a reservation and spoke to their wedding planner. She asked me a few questions about things like flowers, what type of minister we wanted and whether there would be others attending. Then, they did all the work!" Annette said.

Brother William Miller performed the ceremony in a "sermon-like" style on the white sand beach. Another couple they met at the resort "stood up" for Jim and Annette at their ceremony in return for Jim and Annette standing up for them the day before.

Annette estimates the cost of the 8-day wedding trip at about $3,000 and said she felt they had saved a lot of money by having a destination wedding.
 
One of the few drawbacks of a wedding in a far-off paradise is that it is often difficult for family and friends to attend. But, many couples solve that problem by choosing to have a reception when they get home.

"On June 28, we renewed our vows for our kids, family and friends and we all celebrated 'pig roast style' at our house," Annette said.

Annette and Jim's advice for other couples considering a destination wedding?
"Definitely do it," Annette said.  "It was absolutely the most 'stress-free' time in our lives and it was amazingly romantic," she added.

So romantic, in fact that the two hope to return soon. "They offer a discount for your five year anniversary and we definitely want to go back then, if not before," Annette said.

Jim and Annette met on a blind date and, according to Annette, they knew they were meant for reach other by their second date and were married nine months later.

"I was 42 years old and if someone had told me it would happen this way, I never would have believed it. I am so glad that I waited for 'the one for me.' Our wedding was like a fairy tale," Annette said.
  
VEGAS OR BUST
When Sheryl and Russell Dunn of Erie tied the knot on May 27, 2003 they decided to do it Vegas style with 22 of their friends and family choosing to join them for a fun wedding/vacation in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Like Annette and Jim, Sheryl and Russell found it quite easy to set up their destination wedding - as easy as a few Internet connections and a follow-up phone call.

The happy couple stayed at the Excalibur Hotel and selected "The Garden of Love Wedding Chapel" after receiving information from all types of chapels — from drive-through services to getting married by 'Merlin'.

"We got a really great wedding package deal! Included in the package were: transportation to get the marriage license and back to our hotel; transportation of the entire bridal party (in two vehicles) to the chapel; the chapel and minister; all the flowers; 73-pictures on a CD ROM; a marriage license frame; and a video of the wedding," Sheryl said. 

Sheryl and Russ incorporated some "big wedding" traditions into their ceremony. Sheryl wore a formal bridal gown and invited close friends and family to participate in the bridal party.

"My father, Richard Wagoner, and Russ' father, Ronald Dunn, stood up for him. Vicki Wolfram from Kingman, Arizona (my best friend) Barb Brooks, and Ilona Elias (from Erie) were my bridesmaids. I bought my dress and my bridesmaids' dresses in the formal department at Bridal Elegance," Sheryl said.

Sheryl and Russ say the entire wedding (including four days in Vegas) cost approximately $1,500. "We definitely saved money, plus my husband won $800 in the casino," Sheryl said.

According to Sheryl, one of the best things about a destination wedding is having a wedding that, effectively, lasts for several days instead of just one evening or afternoon.

"There is so much planning involved in a wedding that brides and grooms should be entitled to at least a week of the spotlight being on them," Sheryl said.
 
One disadvantage to a destination wedding is that not everyone can attend. "My mother doesn't fly, so she couldn't attend the ceremony in Vegas," Sheryl said. "Also, traveling with such a large group of people (22 friends and family members came) can be stressful. Trying to get everyone on the same page and staying together through the airport was a little crazy," she said.

Like most destination wedding couples, the Dunn's had a reception when they got home. "When we returned to Erie we had a reception at the Millcreek American Legion a day after we got back. KandC Custom Catering catered the reception. "They did a wonderful job. It was a blast!  I had to ask the bartender and Lisa Keating our DJ, to stay longer because no one seemed to want to leave — and neither did we," Sheryl said.

Sheryl advises other destination wedding planners to ask a lot of questions in order to avoid problems and be sure to check the Internet for special travel offers.  "You will want to be sure to ask what floor you'll be on when you're booking a room.  We got stuck on the 14th floor and it seemed to take forever to get to our room at night."   Sheryl also recommends booking the airfare and hotel separately to get a better price. 

Sheryl and Russ are also planning to return to the scene of their wedding soon. "We are planning a return trip for the one year anniversary with our friends. We want to stay at Caesar's Palace," Sheryl said.

Sheryl and Russ really enjoyed their Las Vegas wedding and say they'd do it again in a heartbeat.

"I really truly can say that there was nothing I would change, everything worked out perfectly," Sheryl said.

For more information about destination weddings or costs - contact a local travel agent. §

Annette Fabrizi Coccarelli is the owner of Shear Magic Take 2 Hair and Makeup Salon in Erie. Jim Coccarelli is a salesman at Erie Bearings. They have three children - Lindsay Coccarelli, 16, Kaila Coccarelli, 7, and Carly Fabrizi Wheeler, 6.

Sheryl Dunn is a driving instructor in Erie. Russell Dunn is a customer service representative with Piedmont Airlines.