100 scenic U.S. places to tie the knot

Many couples planning a destination wedding look for a lush Caribbean island or serene Mexican beach. But a new book called “100 Best U.S. Wedding Destinations” (Globe Pequot Press, $18.95) says you don’t have to leave the country to tie the knot in a beautiful setting.

Author Kathryn Gabriel Loving’s list includes Pearson’s Pond Bed & Breakfast in Juneau, Alaska, where proprietor Diane Pearson can arrange a wedding ceremony on a nearby glacier.

Other choices range from the Chapel of Love in the Mall of America in Minnesota – conveniently located in a place where it’s easy to shop for everything you’ll need to get married – to the Little Chapel of the Flowers in Las Vegas, which the author describes as surprisingly elegant.

In addition to providing details on amenities, services and costs, Loving also offers advice and rationales for taking a wedding out of town.

Among her conclusions: Destination weddings can actually be cheaper than a hometown bash because the number of guests typically drops and the trappings can be downsized.