Planning Your Wedding Abroad
With the average wedding costing UK couples £30,000 or more (Bridebook National Wedding Survey 2018), it’s no surprise to see more and more couples are flocking abroad to get married. In the last two years more than 400,000 brides and grooms have gone overseas to get married in a bid to decrease wedding costs (YouGov Poll for Direct Line Home Insurance).
Whether you’ve always dreamed of saying I do on a white sand beach in the Caribbean, or you’ve found that it’s cheaper to marry the love of your life in a stunning rural Italian village, planning a wedding abroad takes time and patience. Diamond Heaven have put together some tried and tested tips that will help you plan your dream destination wedding.
Consider the weather
Just because the summer months in the UK are June, July and August, it doesn’t mean it will be summer everywhere else in the world. When you’re looking for the perfect country to get married in, be sure to research when the seasons fall – you wouldn’t want your exotic tropical ceremony ruined by a monsoon or stifling heatwave.ÿ If you’re on a limited budget, you should consider booking your destination wedding during the country’s low season – making it all much cheaper!
Research wedding customs across the world
If you wish to get married abroad, you’ll have to go with the flow when it comes to the order of proceedings. For example, it’s common for a wedding to begin during the late afternoon in Malta, whereas weddings in the UK start at midday and last until the early hours of the morning. It’s important for you and your guests to be happy with how the day falls.
Book everything in your maiden name
Even if you’re planning to change your surname when you get married, book all of your travel tickets in your maiden name – otherwise you’ll end up with plane tickets in with one name and your passport in another. If you want to book tickets with your partner’s surname, sort all the documents out before you jet off.
Check the marriage ceremony legalities under local law
When you’re choosing your destination, make sure to check the details of the marriage ceremony under the location’s local law. In some instances, you won’t be able to have a legally binding ceremony unless you’ve lived in that country for a certain amount of time. There may also be instances where you need to provide evidence that you are single and there are no objections to your marriage. If this is the case, you can always have a legal ceremony in the UK and a blessing at your dream destination.
Take out insurance
Taking out insurance if you’re getting married abroad is an absolute must! From forest fires to heavy snowfall and flooding, there’s always a risk and taking out wedding insurance will not only protect you against this risk, but will help to alleviate any concerns or worries you may have. When arranging your insurance, discuss what’s covered with your insurer.
For more information about how to plan the perfect wedding abroad, download our guide.
