Weddings can be stressful and expensive. Some couples dive into the venues/menus/bridesmaids/receptions thing with gusto, but others prefer to "get outta town" and keep the tab under five figures. My stepson, Eric Binder, and his fiancée, Jenny Loveland, didn't waver a nanosecond. "We want a destination wedding in the Caribbean. We'll save money and the setting will be unforgettable."

We elders raised the obvious issues. Attendees would have to pay their own way, so some people might not come. Caribbean countries are usually "third world" - suppose they get sick? Suppose their luggage (or even Jenny's wedding dress!) gets lost? What if some international incident or weather disaster (remember the tsunami?) prohibits travel altogether?

Eric and Jenny just held hands and smiled.

They'd clearly been thinking. "We want a family resort with a date during April school vacation so nieces and nephews can come," they said. Next they wanted the value and ease of an all-inclusive resort - no fussing over dinner checks or signing for drinks. They also wanted nightlife - good shows, perhaps a casino.

Hundreds of resorts in more than 36 Caribbean countries offer destination weddings, but they quickly zeroed in on the Dominican Republic - an easy, four-hour, nonstop flight out of Boston (though longer with connections). After research with a travel agent and scouring online reviews, the Majestic Colonial Resort in Punta Cana got the nod.

Like many Caribbean resorts, the Majestic offers wedding packages with several options and a choice of on-property locations. Get hitched on the beach, in the garden-setting gazebo or your in own suite. Jenny wisely chose the gazebo. Punta Cana's beaches are spectacular, with sugar-white sand, but also can have spirited breezes (think sand in your teeth while saying "I do!"). The Majestic's wedding planner, Massiel Jimenez, negotiated a date with Jenny by e-mail: April 22 at 2 p.m.

Now for planning. Work . . . sort of. Jenny and Eric needed to pick a "look." Tuxedos, casual? They went casual - guys in tropical-weight linen shirts and pants for comfort and keeping luggage weight (and baggage fees) low. As for flowers, the reception, cake, music, photography, virtually everything, Massiel had a single message: "Don't worry!" She would handle everything onsite.

Some tasks evaporated . . . others emerged. Most Caribbean countries require couples to complete and forward legal documents well in advance and also be "in-country" for several days before the wedding. Massiel and our travel agent conferred, and Eric and Jenny booked flights several days in advance of the wedding (not a tough sell!).

On the home front, Jenny's mom and stepdad offered their New Hampshire home for a post-wedding, July reception. Invitations went out in September with the April and July dates/locations and the travel agent's contact information so guests could choose.

Were there confounding variables in between the time Eric and Jenny made plans and the actual wedding? Absolutely. For one thing, the economy tanked, making booking somewhat unsettling. For another, Eric and Jenny had a baby and arrived for the wedding with strapping, 4-month-old Jack in tow.

Deal-breakers? Nah. Prices moderated and people got flights and rooms. Eric and Jenny did the math and packed enough diapers and canned formula and a handy umbrella stroller. An "okay" from the pediatrician, a passport for Jack, a "lap-baby" airline ticket and . . . voila!

Jenny admits to some pre-departure jitters that were happily unfounded. Flights were on time, there was hanging space for her dress, Jack was a fabulous traveler and, on arrival, they were upgraded to an ocean-front suite.

But it got better. Massiel answered Eric and Jenny's questions with a quick tour of the resort. They chose accent colors and flowers and decided on the beachfront Tres Carabelas Restaurant for their reception dinner. Massiel's iPod was already loaded with their music selection and they booked a meeting with the resort photographer. Done!

In the days before the wedding, Eric and Jenny chilled out by the pool and guests arrived on a staggered schedule. We were 22 in all, some seasoned travelers, some homebodies. Some of us old friends, some just getting introduced. Parents, step-parents, siblings with spouses, nieces and nephews from 3 to 9 years old. We snoozed under palapas, lolled around in the pool and strolled the beach. There was beach volleyball by day, reggae dancing at night and croissants and coffee at sunrise.

By wedding day, we all felt at home. The restaurant staff cheerfully combined (and decorated) tables for us and clearly adored the kids. The 2 p.m. ceremony meant there was time for a dip in the pool after picture-taking and before the 6 p.m. reception - even for the bride and groom!

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