Weddingbee boards

After much back and forth, my honey and I finally decided on...Brazil!  We've both traveled a lot and were looking for something new and exotic.  We wanted beach/bikini weather, but with a little something extra in terms of activites and culture.  Other concerns were Sept/Oct weather, and not wanting a ridiculously long flight (we are leaving from california but returning to new york) which pretty much eliminated southeast asia and africa.  I started to think we would never figure it out!  We were even considering just going back to Panama, where we went a few months ago.  I had looked into Argentine but it won't be quite warm enough...and then someone suggested Brazil!  It's just further north enough that it will be warm. Not a short flight, but not over the date line!

So it's five days in Rio, then seven days in Fernando de Noronha.  I can't wait!!  Did anyone else have a hard time deciding on a destination?