You're getting the picture…you think. A destination wedding can be anywhere and take any form. But the real point is that it's different from what most of the bride's friends are doing, and it also fosters a real sense of family because you'll all be spending a lot of time together in the days before the ceremony.

So what might your experience at the destination wedding be like once you all get there?

Playing It (Relatively) Safe

Resorts that deal with destination weddings on a regular basis know how to help the bride prepare for her wedding; the receptions are set up and ready for the guests (whether the couple is expecting eight friends and relatives or eighty), and there's someone in charge who can be taken to task if things aren't going as planned. Much like a wedding in a banquet hall in the bride's hometown, there's a certain safety in this plan.

Your role here? Show up, be good company for everyone around you, and follow your daughter's instructions.

Taking a Chance

Now, if the bride and groom are bound and determined to go where no other couple has gone before and take their vows in a really secluded, distant place…all bets are off. Chances are, the ceremony will still be beautiful and touching, but since the ease of settling the details may be a little tougher, the entire day might run less smoothly than it would at an all-inclusive resort. If the couple is running their own little reception in a park, for example, it may well turn out to be lovely, but no one should expect things to tick along like clockwork. It will most likely be less formal, but there's nothing wrong with that.

You may be called on to assist during a destination wedding where a planner isn't involved. In fact, you may become an incredibly valuable resource — the go-to guy. You might find yourself running to the store for ice, or standing out front directing guests to the correct location — you could find yourself doing anything, really, that a planner or a banquet manager would normally take care of. Jump into your role with both feet. This could be a little stressful at times, but it's also likely to be a lot of fun.

Overall Advice

If you've never heard of a destination wedding, let alone attended one, the best thing you can do is to enter into it with no expectations. The destination wedding can be as traditional or as nontraditional as the couple wants it to be; it can be very formal or incredibly informal. It can be anywhere, in any season, at any time. Because this isn't your event, and you really do have to attend, all you can do is try to enjoy yourself. And remember: Just because there isn't a cathedral involved doesn't make it any less of a valid ceremony. Go with the flow on this, even if it's against your better judgment.