Six and a Half Reasons to Get Married in Cartagena, Colombia
1.
It’s cheap: Airfares from the East Coast dip as low
as $300 at many times of year, $100 will get you a super-charming
hotel room, $5 will get you a hearty lunch and $2 will get
you an ice cold beer in my favorite salsa bar (Donde Fidel).

2. It’s easy to get to: There is
a maximum one hour time difference with the East Coast,
its only a three hour flight from Florida, and the city
is only 10 minutes from the friendly little airport. Traveling
to Cartagena is a snap.

3. It’s already decorated: With
all the beautiful old churches and stone walls, brightly
painted colonial houses, flowering vines and whatnot, there’s
really not much you need to do to improve things.

4. Aimless wandering: When they’re
not attending your wedding, your guests can walk out the
door of their hotel and immediately start bumping into great
restaurants, museums, street dancers, pick up soccer games
and guys selling delicious cups of fresh cut mango. They
will have fun, and you don’t have to plan a thing.

5. It’s safe: Don’t let old
stereotypes frighten you. Cartagena is probably safer than
whatever city you live in. That said, if there is someone
you don’t want coming to your event, try to bring
Pablo Escobar up in conversation every so often.

6. The cool factor: Despite what I said
in point five, most people back home will think you a daring
adventurer for traveling to Colombia, traveling in the footsteps
of Anthony Bourdain and Michael Douglas from Romancing the
Stone.
6.5. This one is less a reason than a
reason to believe me, so I only count it half: I have photographed
weddings in Cartagena, and I myself recently got married
there (to my lovely Colombian bride Karen). Which is to
say, I know of what I speak and put my money where my mouth
is!

|