Weddings Abroad

However, just like any wedding, there is a lot to think about and the number one consideration is where to go. Do you want a beach ceremony or would you rather be in a city? Is your heart set on getting married in an old chapel or would you prefer to be out in the open? Also, think about how private you’d like it to be. If you’re getting married on a beach in a popular destination, you may have to contend with onlookers – would this bother you?

Also be aware, that not all countries offer legally binding marriage ceremonies to non-nationals, so do your research and find out the legalities of getting married abroad. In the Maldives, for instance, you can only have a wedding blessing, so you will also need to arrange a legal ceremony in the UK as well. Other countries like Australia, South Africa and Barbados will allow UK Nationals to legally marry there, although you need to find out the rules and regulations before you go. How long will you need to be in the country before you can marry? Do you want a religious or civil ceremony? What documentation do you need to bring? And, what are the costs? All these questions are things you’ll need to consider.

Having decided where you want to go, you’ll need to think about whether you’d like to invite guests or whether you’d like it just to be the two of you. If you are thinking of asking people, then decide how many and whether you’d like to take over a small hotel or lodge for the occasion, or simply hire out a number of rooms for your guests. If you already have a dream hotel in mind, then find out firstly if you can actually marry there and secondly, how many guests they are able to accommodate.

Then have a think about what you’d like to do after the wedding. Would you like a special wedding reception or would you prefer a sunset cruise followed by dinner in your room? Speak to different resorts and see what they offer and how flexible they can be to accommodate you. Generally speaking, the cost of actually getting married will usually be the same year-round, although of course, flight prices and room rates rise and fall.

Finally, once the hotel and destination have been decided, think about what to wear and speak to your airline about the best way of packing your dress. You don’t want to go to all the trouble of organising your dream wedding to find out that your dress is crumpled before you even get the chance to wear it!