It’s Bridal Show Season! From Washington, D.C. to Atlanta to Denver, wedding expos are on the calendar to kick off the new year. And, no wonder, because seven of the nine most popular days for couples to get engaged are just before and during the holidays.

In fact, one of every six engagements happen in December alone!

If you’re newly engaged, congratulations! If not, there’s still time. The other two most popular days to propose are Feb. 13 and Feb. 14.

Either way, if you have marriage on your mind, you’ve probably imagined a destination wedding. Getting married away from home continues to be a rising trend, with 25 percent of nuptials now taking place out of town. Destination weddings are even more common for couples who have been married before.

You might be surprised to hear that most destination weddings – seven out of every 10 – happen in the continental United States rather than in Hawaii or outside the country. And did you know that many destination weddings are held in Michigan? Mackinac Island not only was last year’s hottest summer travel destination, but it has been voted one of the Best Islands in the U.S. and is a popular setting for destination weddings.

Here are just a few reasons that Mackinac is an extraordinary place to have your wedding:

• There are few things more romantic than a Mackinac Island carriage ride on your wedding day. There are no automobiles on Mackinac, so it truly feels like you’re living in a fairy tale – especially when a horse-drawn carriage whisks you away after your ceremony, taking you on a leisurely tour of the island full of stunning Great Lakes vistas.

• During your carriage ride, you can stop on Main Street and re-enact the iconic Mackinac kiss!

• So many incredible places for your ceremony: Mackinac is home to the world’s longest porch at the Grand Hotel, the “Somewhere in Time” Gazebo from the 1980 movie of that name starring Jane Seymour and Christopher Reeve, and the historic Fort Holmes on the island’s highest point. You can say your “I dos” on the cannon platform at the Revolutionary War-era Fort Mackinac, on the beach at British Landing with the Mackinac Bridge in the background or in a butterfly conservatory accompanied by colorful little guests with wings. For a church ceremony, options include the historic Mission Church, which is the oldest surviving church building in Michigan, and Ste. Anne Catholic Church, where the names of brides and grooms are added to the parish register that dates back to the 1600s.

• Of course, flowers are a big part of every wedding. It just so happens that Mackinac Island is home to some of the oldest and largest lilac stems in the world. There’s even a festival each June to celebrate the flowers that flourish all over the island and fill the air with their pleasing fragrance.

• World-famous Mackinac Island Fudge is among the reasons a little island in northern Michigan has become one of America’s favorite summer destinations, and it’s partly why Expedia has named Mackinac one of the Most Tourist-Friendly Cities in the U.S. When it comes to wedding favors for your guests, what could be better than authentic Mackinac Island Fudge?

• Speaking of guests, they’ll appreciate the wide variety of activities to enjoy on Mackinac while attending a destination wedding. In addition to cute downtown shops, unique downtown nightlife, and historic lodging facilities, the island encompasses a state park that once was the country’s second national park. More than 80 percent of Mackinac is public land with opportunities to explore by hiking, biking, kayaking, horseback riding and so much more. Staying on Mackinac is truly a special experience, and one that will make many memorable moments for you and your guests.

Check out the Mackinac Island Wedding Guide to see more of what makes Mackinac the perfect place for your destination wedding. And you can relax knowing that local Mackinac Island wedding consultants are available to handle all the details so that you and your guests can enjoy the wedding of your dreams with minimal stress.