Destination weddings are a popular alternative to a traditional hometown event. These intimate getaways have become the modern day family reunion that lasts an entire week. If rising airfares are putting a damper on your plans for a far-flung affair, consider a destination close to home. A nearby resort or winery will still offer your family and friends the opportunity to escape the pressures of daily life and focus all their energies on enjoying a weekend of wedding festivities.

If you live in Hawaii, the venues are seemingly endless. Oahu residents Lillian Masamitsu and Jay Kam opted to get married on the island of Kauai instead of staying at home in Honolulu. The twenty minute flight to the "Garden Isle" allowed their guests the luxury of a brief getaway, without the expense of a mainland trip. "We wanted this to be a relaxing vacation for everyone," said Lillian. "We didn't want people to have to worry about picking up the kids or getting up for work the next day. We all had a fun weekend away from home." The Princeville Kauai Resort on Hanalei Bay provided the picturesque setting for their beach wedding, where family and friends took advantage of the hotel’s fabulous facilities, gathering at the Lagoon Bar in the middle of the pool to celebrate after the ceremony.

In lieu of a plane, an exhilarating ferry ride from Maui’s Lahaina Harbor will transport guests to the island of Lana‘i, where they can enjoy the slower pace of old Hawaii. “Four Seasons Resorts Lana‘i offers more ceremony locations than any other resort in Hawai‘i, whether high atop the cliffs overlooking the ocean, in a sophisticated upcountry garden, or set in a unique location of their own choosing, couples will experience their dream wedding,” said Jill Hamasaki, wedding specialist at the resort. Manele Bay boasts a stunning white sand beach, while the Koele Lodge offers a cooler climate and rolling hills that truly make you feel as if you’ve traveled to a faraway destination. And if you’re all about drama, consider exchanging vows on the breathtaking cliffs overlooking the ocean. The resort offers a generous kama‘aina rate for both rooms and wedding packages, so you can bask in the legendary Four Seasons hospitality with a smile.

If you’re a California girl, the possibilities of a destination wedding at home are just as inviting. Sausalito is a romantic haven just over the Golden Gate Bridge with wonderful places for your guests to stay. The Inn Above Tide located right on San Francisco Bay is at the top of our list. Like many of the hotels in the area, it is just a minute’s stroll to Sausalito's galleries, restaurants and shops as well as the ferry to San Francisco's many attractions. Each beautiful room and suite has a stunning bay view of the city skyline, Angel Island and Alcatraz. Once you’ve been to this quaint village, you will long for the chance to return.

Just a short drive north of Sausalito, the scenic vineyards of Sonoma and Napa reveal another realm of possibilities for a California wedding. The wonderful thing about planning a destination wedding close to your home, is that you and your fiancé can take a leisurely drive to find the perfect location. What better way to spend a weekend, tasting your way through the beautiful hills of Wine Country? One hidden gem is the vintage barn in Fawn Park Vineyard, set amid Whitehall Lane Winery’s 100+ acres. It is a unique and charming wedding venue with accommodations nearby for your guests.

Lael Dandan and Nicolas Keeler’s mutual love of fine wine drew them to the lush vineyards of Temecula Valley, where they selected the Ponte Family Estate in Southern California’s wine country for their outdoor nuptials. “When we first stepped into the estate’s reception area, we could picture our guests enjoying a family style dinner among the old oak wine barrels,” says Lael. Southern California’s wine country is just one of the many wedding locales from which to choose. Whether you live in Hawaii or California, you won’t have a difficult time planning a destination wedding close to home.