San Diego, Hawaii, Costa Rica

At the house of Home exchangewe like to give the floor to those who speak best: our members. This testimony was written by Rachaelan amazing member who used HomeExchange to get married not once, but three times…and it’s not over yet!

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The beginning of our lifelong runaway story

When my partner, Andy, and I started considering a getaway to get married, we were overwhelmed. The world is full of incredible places, and choosing just one location for “the big day” seemed impossible. A tropical beach? An isolated mountain peak? A lively city? The options were endless, and we couldn’t decide.

Andy then had a brilliant idea:

What if we just chose one place first…and then continued to choose new ones to “marry” throughout our lives?

The idea was simple, but exciting. Instead of just one wedding, we would have a lifetime of celebrationsjust the two of us, and sometimes with our family. We would pack our wedding outfits, have our own ceremonies, and find unique accommodations. What made this dream possible was the discovery of Home Exchangea hospitality service that opened the doors to a world of unique and affordable travel.

1st ceremony: wedding in San Diego

Our first real “getaway wedding” took place in San Diego, a destination that was both exotic and accessible. We took our daughters with us, eager to see the West Coast for the first time. We stayed in a beautiful HomeExchange house, where our hosts had thought of everything: special gifts and a huge bouquet of flowers that I carried during the ceremony.

The ceremony was beautiful, on the rocky coast of California — a type of beach our girls had never seen before. But, ironically enough, their favorite moments weren’t the spectacular waves or the wishes. What they enjoyed most were simple, authentic activities at home: cleaning the pool and eating fresh oranges picked straight from the tree.
A perfect reminder that adventure, especially for children, is often hidden in the smallest moments.

2nd ceremony: live like locals in Hawaii

After our success in San Diego, the call of the Hawaiian Islands was irresistible. Thanks to HomeExchange, we were able to go there several times, something that would have been impossible on our budget if we had to pay for hotels.

We celebrated our wedding on several Hawaii beaches, capturing those precious moments for ourselves at dawn and dusk. Each time it was like a renewal of our vowsa way to deepen our love and attachment to a way of traveling that prioritizes experience over expense.

Staying with HomeExchange in Hawaii meant we weren’t just tourists: we were temporary locals, living in real neighborhoods and fully enjoying the island lifestyle. These interactions offered us a level of comfort and freedom that no resort could have matched, allowing us to focus on our celebrations and create intimate memories as a family.

3rd ceremony: a retreat in Costa Rica with our parents

Our latest “getaway” added a new dimension to our tradition: including my parents in the adventure. This time we found a stunning HomeExchange house in the mountains of Costa Rica. The house felt like a secluded retreat, and our hosts were incredibly helpful, giving us great advice on sightseeing and making sure my parents, who have limited mobility, were comfortable and had their own moments, too.

One day, while my parents were on a botanical tour of the property with our lovely hosts, Andy and I slipped away. We walked to a remote waterfall, alone in a postcard-perfect setting. We changed into our wedding outfits and, surrounded by the sounds and colors of the rainforest, we exchanged vows once again.
A moment both romantic and intense, which proved that even when traveling with several generations, there is always room for a private and deeply personal moment.

Get married endlessly thanks to HomeExchange

Our adventure taught us that a wedding is not just one day: it is an ongoing celebration of the couple and the adventure. By choosing HomeExchange, we were able to turn this dream into realitycreating countless treasured memories without blowing our budget. We shared these moments not only with each other, but also with our daughters and our parents, weaving a rich story of family travel and personal celebrations.

This unconventional approach has given us a lifetime of shared adventures and intimate ceremoniesreplacing the stress of a single big event with the joy of constant discovery. Our wedding album continues to grow: sunrises over the Pacific, sunsets on Hawaiian beaches and vows exchanged beside a Costa Rican waterfall. It is proof that love, like travel, is a path without a final destination.

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