Weddings Abroad
Getting married abroad can save you a lot of money
and hassle over the tradditional wedding. Pinpoint
exactly what you'd like to do and try to draw up a
realistic budget. That's the best way to find out
whether it's cost-effective.
You can choose to pay for the guests for the trip
or leave it to them to finance the journey to your
wedding. You can incorporate as much or as little planning and financial committment as you so wish.
For example, a friend of ours flew from the UK to Las Vegas and had the stag/hen night, the wedding and the honeymoon over a 2 week period. Unbelievably they even managed to pay for most of the wedding by winning at the casino !!
I have compiled a list of advantages and disadvantages in planning a wedding abroad which will be useful to consider before deciding to go ahead.
Advantages
You can get married on a tropical Island if you want, be guaranteed the idyllic setting and most importantly idyllic weather!
Going away to get married can be less expensive. Obviously you will splash out on the hotel, flights and other luxuries, but you're unlikely to be paying for a large number of guests to join you, so catering, venue and drinks costs may well be less than the average.
There are so many wedding companies now that focus entirely on weddings abroad. If you choose Cyprus, Italy, the Maldives, France or anywhere else, you can be sure there is a company that can take the hassle factor away from you!
If you're looking for an intimate wedding celebration, this is it. You can tie the knot abroad on a small scale, then celebrate with family and friends when you get home. If you ‘want to be alone', this is the perfect option. It can also minimise guest list dilemmas - you don't risk offending friends and relatives if you're not inviting anyone!
You get your wedding and honeymoon all in one. Get married overseas and as soon as you become husband and wife, you're on honeymoon. No packing, taxis or waiting around at airports.
Disadvantages
Not all of your friends and family will be able to see you get married on your special day.
You need to be aware of legalities. In some countries it's very easy to marry, in others it's very difficult with lengthy residency rules. So, you need to do your homework thoroughly.
Getting married abroad obviously involves a journey and transporting everything for your wedding isn't always easy. An intricate chocolate cake, fresh flowers or anything else delicate or perishable is unlikely to survive the trip - so you will have to consider alternatives or trust local suppliers.
If you've invited immediate family and friends to your wedding overseas, there's no escaping them after the ceremony. If you want to get away for some private time, you may have to jump on another flight!
Wedding packages abroad tend to be quite basic and any extras will cost you money so just be aware of hidden costs when calculating your budget.
Destination weddings can be exciting and glamorous but can also be hard work. Make sure you’re aware of the pros and cons before you make any decisions. I think they are a fabulous idea but sometimes people tend to get caught up in the love and forget about the reality!
