Getting Married Abroad
Your wedding day is arguably the most memorable day of your life, weddings abroad make this special day even more momentous, surrounded by your closest friends and family. You can spend a few days before the wedding creating memories that will last a lifetime before starting your new life together as husband and wife and the bonus that you needn’t travel any further for your honeymoon.
Weddings abroad mean you can take advantage of the most stunning venues and tropical beach backdrops for your wedding photos whilst also saving yourself some money as getting married abroad is much cheaper than in the UK. You will have a destination wedding expert in the UK that you can see in person, over the phone or via email as well as a wedding planner in the wedding destination so not only are you supported 100% of the time so all those finer details for your special day will be well thought of.
How Much Does It Cost To Get Married Abroad?
This will really depend on you and how you imagine your special day to look like. We have created weddings abroad including flights and accommodation for the bride and groom from around £4000 which will include flowers, the venue and photographer etc (see some example destination wedding packages here so you can at least get an idea of what is included and what you might expect to pay. We have also done a research report about the cost of getting married abroad in 22 different countries including the UK and the findings show you can save £13,500 by getting married abroad!
Popular Wedding Resorts
We can help you find the perfect destination and wedding for your destination wedding. Whether you prefer a beach wedding, sunset wedding, garden pavilion or something more traditional, we are here to help. These are some of our most popular wedding resorts…
What Happens Next
Click the button below to arrange a time to speak to an expert in weddings abroad. Please give us as much information as you can so we can make sure we assign you the most experienced destination weddings expert for you unique requirements. We will take the time to understand what you want, give you some advice and then we can start putting together some options for you to look though. If you prefer you can fill out the form but we do recommend having a chat with someone as this is such a special event its important we get to know you both and what you like and dislike to ensure we can make your destination wedding absolutely perfect. Don’t forget to give us the best number to call you on and tell us when is usually a good time to call.
What countries are best for getting married abroad?
This will depend on what you imagine your wedding day to look like; we need to consider seasonality to ensure it won’t rain, travel duration and accessibility of your guests, you may have budget constraints, the size of the wedding party, legalities etc. There are many considerations that we will walk you through to make sure we select the best destination for your unique preferences.
Will you advise me on the legalities of getting married abroad and tell me what I need to do?
Yes. Once you have decided where you want to get married abroad, we can brief you on the legalities and requirements needed to ensure your destination wedding is legally binding.
Is there a minimum night stay for weddings abroad?
Usually yes, this will depend on which country your destination wedding will take place. We can discuss this during your consultation and make recommendations for you.
What type of locations can I get married at?
Our destination weddings usually take place on beaches beautiful hotel resorts but if you have something specific in mind we can make it a reality. From beach weddings and wheelchair accessible weddings with beach views to yacht weddings, simply tell us your likes and dislikes and your destination wedding expert will plan the perfect day.
How does payment work?
Simply put down a deposit once you have decided on the wedding you want and then you can pay bit by bit, monthly or later in a lump sum, whatever suits you best. Just make sure everything is paid in full 8 weeks before departure (12 weeks for cruises). We can offer this for your wedding guests as well and will manage all payments separately so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
How can I be assured of the wedding location and reception without seeing it?
Many of our couples take a short trip to the destination so they can see a range of places to hold the wedding ceremony and the reception. If you would like to do this we can arrange the viewings for you as well as your flights and accommodation. Alternatively, we have personally visited an extensive amount of wedding locations throughout the Caribbean and Indian Ocean so we know firsthand what you can expect so we will know if it will meet your expectations or not. We only work with reputable suppliers as quality is important to us and our reputation. Many resorts have videos so you can get a feel for the place without having visited it.
Do I book the wedding party accommodation?
You probably already have enough to think about so we can arrange everything for your guests. We can ensure they arrive at the right place and on the right dates, in accommodation that suits their budget.
How far in advance should I book?
9 to 15 months is ideal – we can plan short notice destination weddings, this really depends on the amount of guests you plan on having and how particular your requirements are. Flights are available 11 months in advance of travel but hotels and weddings abroad can be booked sooner. We recommend getting booked as early as possible as it will likely cost you less and its one less thing you have to worry about – you want to make sure you are relaxed before your wedding day so you can enjoy the destination, time with your guests and most importantly, each other. Planning in advance will also ensure your guest can make the required preparations to attend as they will need to book time off work and pay for their travel.
What if something goes wrong?
We organise many large scale events abroad so we are well equipped at considering all the smaller details and ensuring we have considered all aspects. We have a 24 hour emergency phone number so will always be on call if something should happen. Your destination wedding planner will also be available if you need someone in the destination of the wedding.
What are the advantages of getting married abroad?
There are lots of advantages to getting married abroad with the biggest one being the cost – it’s much cheaper to have a wedding abroad, the locations are stunning and the choice is better – plus who wouldn’t prefer a picture perfect Caribbean beach as a backdrop to their big day?! Having a wedding abroad makes your wedding day extra special and it’s not just a one day event as we can arrange a group day out, special dinners or you can all just hang out together by the pool. This is an experience you are unlikely to ever have with your guests, you will be creating memories that every single person will treasure forever.
How much can I expect to pay for a destination wedding?
This really depends on what you want and how particular your requirements are but to help give you an idea on costs you might expect to pay £4130 for a basic wedding abroad in Antigua for example. This would get the bride and groom all inclusive accommodation for 2 weeks in the Caribbean, a basic wedding package (cake, sparkling wine, a bouquet, décor and wedding ceremony) as well as flights with baggage for you both. A destination wedding is likely to always be cheaper than a UK wedding. We are working on a project to demonstrate the cost comparison in many countries compared to the UK which will be released in September.
What is included in the average wedding abroad?
This really does depend on the resort where the wedding will take place but usually you will get a wedding planner in the destination of your wedding, the location of the ceremony, décor, a bouquet for the bride and button hole for the groom, sparkling wine or champagne for the toast, sound system and microphones and wedding cake as the minimum. Many packages include hair and makeup for the bride and barbering for the groom, celebrant, photographer and bouquets for the bridesmaids. Extras like steel bands, cocktail receptions and sit down dinners can be arranged.
How much can wedding guests expect to pay?
This really depends on the destination, time of year, how long it’s booked in advance and how long they plan to stay. We often get Caribbean all inclusive holiday deals for under £1000 (that will include flights, accommodation, all meals, snacks and alcohol). Guests can pay in instalments to make it easier.
What if it rains?
The benefits of getting married abroad is that the chance it will rain is greatly minimised. This is something we will take into consideration during your consultation, seasonality of the destination will play a huge part in this. It’s unlikely it will rain if you travel around the high season and shoulder season but if this does happen your chosen resort w
ill have a backup plan. If you are getting married in the Caribbean for example, rain generally clears quite quickly.
Where do I get my hair and makeup done and what about a photographer?
Some resorts will include this in their packages, some of our brides fly their preferred makeup artists and photographers over from the UK. Your wedding planner in the destination you choose to get married in can provide some recommendations for you as well, or you can find your own if you prefer.
What else can you assist with?
We can book tours, boat trips and special sight seeing days out for you both or for the whole of the wedding party group. In addition we can arrange hotel transfers, airport parking, hire cars and even airport lounges. If you would like champagne in the room or any romantic surprises we can arrange something you will both love.