Getting Married Abroad
Exiting Times Ahead
Contemplating getting married abroad? Congratulations on the start of what is going to be an exciting and fun journey into a whole world of wedding options.
Are you feeling a bit overwhelmed? If yes don’t worry, you’re not alone. With so many decisions to be made, you’re probably not sure where to even start, but don’t worry, we’re here to help. All the information is out there, it’s just a case of breaking the decisions down and taking things one step at a time.
Enjoy the process and the discovery, if approached carefully this step can be one of the most fun parts of getting married abroad. You get to explore ideas and options and what’s best is all the information you need is at the end of your fingertips! So you can do it all from the comfort of your favourite chair or comfy sofa.
To start with we suggest considering your reason for getting married at home. This is the building block to really working out your main priorities and will help in your venue search and eventually choosing and paying a deposit for your wedding venue.
YIKES. Exciting times!
This is where it gets REAL! So grab your jotter or planner, a cup of coffee or a glass of your favourite tipple (no judgement here) and let’s delve into the world of weddings abroad.
‘David and I are from different parts of the UK and no longer live in England, it seemed natural to have a wedding abroad.’ Jessica, married in Tuscany
Getting Married Abroad Vs a Wedding at Home
Getting Married Abroad is increasing in popularity every year according to a new report featured in the Independent.
With as many as 1 in 4 weddings now taking place abroad, the draw of good weather, the many cost savings and a built in holiday attracts more and more couples every year to consider getting married abroad rather than a wedding at home.
With December being one of the most popular times for wedding proposals it’s only natural that January and February are our busiest months for enquiries, we get daily emails from excited but anxious newly engaged couples asking simply
‘Where do I start?’
We’ve put together a series of ‘info blogs’ to help you get from A to Z in your wedding abroad planning, we hope this will guide you, fill you with ideas and answer any burning questions…..some you may not even have yet!
If at any time it all feels like too much then pick up the phone and chat to one of our award winning wedding planners. We’re always happy to ‘chat’ weddings.
Today we’re looking at the reasons behind getting married abroad?
It’s important to consider your reasons at this stage to make sure that getting married abroad is right for you.
ONE – The Weather
The weather is one of more obvious draws for choosing a wedding abroad. With weddings abroad possible year round all over the world if you long for sun or snow you’re sure to find it abroad, if not at home.
A word of warning, always check the seasons in your chosen destination, for example, we suggest avoiding rainy or monsoon season in Asia and the Indian Ocean and hurricane season in the Caribbean. A quick search on Google or chatting with a good travel agent will give you the information you need about average temperatures and expected rainfall. Going abroad for a sunny wedding and then being hit by torrential rain is no fun! Weather is never 100% guaranteed but with careful planning you can make sure you do the best to guarantee the best possible weather for your wedding day.
TWO – The Cost
Weddings abroad are not only cheaper than in the UK but naturally tend to have smaller guests lists, these two things alone will generally lead to an immediate cost saving.
Whether cost is your driving factor or not you can certainly have a more extravagant wedding abroad than you could at home for the same budget, as long as you choose the right venue.
Destinations like Greece and Cyprus are excellent value for money, whilst destinations like Italy and France, Spain can be more expensive, but even in these locations some offer excellent prices, especially in low season, so it’s worthwhile shopping around.
‘Dana Villas Santorini, stood out as it was an intimate location and it had beautiful views; it was the perfect choice for us’ Rebecca Ashton Married in Santorini
‘My theme was classic elegance, I didn’t want any of the decoration too over the top because the ceremony and reception venues already had the WOW factor’. Lauren married in Dubrovnik
THREE – Guest Numbers
If the thought of arranging a wedding on a huge scale is already making you break out in a sweat then planning a wedding abroad could be perfect for you. The cost of flights and hotels is a natural deterrent for some guests and if you really want to restrict your guests list then consider booking a venue that has a maximum guest capacity. No need to make excuses then for not inviting people!
‘I’m so sorry, but our venue is so small we can only invite 30 people, otherwise I’d love to invite you’
On the other side however, if you want a huge wedding in the sun, (rather than risking the great British summer) go for a destination closer to home, with great connections and regular budget flights.
For example the Spanish Islands are only 2 hours away and are serviced by most budget airlines so are a great option for big groups. Family and guests can choose to stay for a week or simply fly in for the weekend.
FOUR – Unique Venues
Do you desire a wedding ‘out of the ordinary?’
Maybe you’re imagining a cliff top at sunset, being barefoot on the beach or hiring a historic home or private villa for the day?
If a wedding at home doesn’t give you this option you may have to look further afield and a wedding abroad offers you endless unique options. Quite often one of the most stressful parts of planning a wedding abroad is choosing the perfect venue with so many incredible options to choose from, imagine powder soft sandy beaches, magnificent castles, luxury yachts or a vineyard in Italy, you will truly be spoilt for choice.
Remember a unique wedding gives you the immediate WOW factor, even without decoration. This can be a great way to save on costs, after all a botanical garden in Greece overflowing with flora and fauna needs very little in the way of dressing, it’s the complete opposite to a square conference room we can find in the UK, that needs all the help, decoration wise, it can get
FIVE – Family
We’re such travelled people now that quite often we end up living away from where we grew up, I myself met my husband whilst working in South America and we settled eventually back in the UK, but in a different area to where we grew up. So with family spread out in different locations quite often it’s easier to find a central place to meet and have your wedding abroad as part of a family meet up/celebration.
A wedding abroad is a great way for family to meet for the first time. Imagine everyone in holiday mode, on a natural happy high and in the mood for a celebration. No pressure, no formalities, just fun.
SIX – Renewal of Vows
Perhaps you have a special anniversary coming up and you want to celebrate this with renewing your love for one another, or maybe you’ve had a particular tough few years and you want this renewal to be the start of a new chapter, either way you want the place and venue to be unique and different to your wedding day.
A wedding abroad is perfect for this and you could team it up with a holiday of a lifetime too!
Why not, after so many years together, you deserve it!
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