What is a destination party? A destination party is when a group of invited guests travel together to a location for the sole purpose of celebration. Best used for reunions, major-digit birthdays, bachelorette parties, or a thank you gift to yourself for a personal or professional accomplishment and other events that a mere dinner party just won’t adequately honor, the destination party allows a small group of select invitees to get away from everything except the party and share new experiences together.

Domestic or International? Fly or drive? Depends on the celebration and the group of guests planning to attend. For example, the sultry heat, fierce shopping, beautiful beach and raging club scene of Miami was a natural fit for a bachelorette party. As Morgan and Brooksie's gift to themselves to celebrate their upcoming book, Reykjavik was not as obvious a choice. Simply, we were enticed by the low cost and short duration of the flight to Reykjavik from BWI. A little research on the web informed us that Iceland has great spa technology, a raging party scene and is a wholly unique location. More than that, a visit to Iceland best articulated our literary theme as the country publishes and reads more books per capita than any other industrialized nation. And besides, where else can you get an underwater massage in 90 degree water?

When pioneering a new concept such as destination parties, it’s always best to start with the most familiar elements. That’s why we decided to begin our destination party adventure with our domestic sojurn to Miami. But after we assured ourselves that the party fundamentals are the same whether your party space is your home or the world, we were ready and well equipped to go farther afield.

When planning a destination party remember to select a location that will articulate your theme. Your location really is your decoration and your shared activity. Be sensitive to the budget needs and comfort zones of your guests. For example, a discount hotel near the beach was the perfect fit for the Miami event and guest list, but in Iceland we selected a hotel near the city's trendiest streets which houses, according to Conde Nast Traveler, one of the world's 100 hottest restaurants. And finally, be open to the experiences of the trip and the local color, whether you are chatting with the parking meter fairy in Coconut Grove or snowmobiling across an Icelandic glacier, the party is in the experiences!

Salut and may this summer take you to the destination parties of your lifetime!