Guide to Weddings Abroad
Getting hitched? Here’s your guide to getting married abroad.
Getting married is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make in your life and where you tie the knot is just as important. You’ll want to create a magical occasion that you can look back on with the happiest of memories so the setting needs to be just perfect for your big day.
Nowadays, many couples are choosing to get hitched abroad and with so many dazzling backdrops to choose from, it’s little wonder destination weddings are becoming more and more popular.
If you’re planning an overseas wedding this year, we’ve got the lowdown on the best places to say “I do”, making memories to last a lifetime – and some of the best photographs of your big day you could ever imagine!
From exotic, sun-kissed beaches of the Caribbean to scenic Mediterranean towns and villages, let us help you choose the most stunning location for your wedding and how to plan every detail of your big day.
Where to get married abroad
Our partner tour operators have amazing choice of absolutely gorgeous places to get hitched.
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Lapland
• Malta
• Mexico
• Turkey
• Ibiza
• Greece
• Dominican Republic
• Aruba
• Cyprus
• Italy
• Majorca
• Croatia
• The Caribbean
• Mauritius
• North America
Whether you want to have an intimate affair with just the two of you, or if you want to fly your friends and family over to join in the celebrations, there’s a beautiful wedding for every taste and every pocket, which can all be skilfully organised by some of the biggest travel names in the business.
Thomas Cook have all the solutions to your wedding requirements and there’s plenty help available over the phone and online, especially on their Weddings FAQ page.
They even have a handy online countdown to your big day which guides you through what you should be doing and when. You can’t go wrong with this calendar of pointers which takes care of just about everything you’d want or need to know. You can also be safe in the knowledge that there is a dedicated wedding co-ordinator to organise every detail of your wedding and be rest assured that your big day will go off without a hitch, keeping those nerves at bay. No bridezillas here, please!
TUI also have an impressive destination weddings set up, catering for every bride and groom’s hearts’ desires with weddings on the beach, religious ceremonies, winter settings, vow renewals and same sex weddings. The world is your oyster when it comes to choosing the perfect backdrop to your big day. Check out the TUI online weddings brochure to help you make up your mind.
So, where is it going to be, you two lovebirds? The Caribbean? Europe? America? There’s a plenty of dream locations to choose from but it really is a personal choice between you and the other half. Certain places will mean something to you and others will be a new adventure. Go where YOU want and make it unique and special to the two of you.
Will you tie the knot in Italy?
If your heart is set on a romantic wedding in bella Italia, and let’s face it; who wouldn’t want to spend the most important day of their lives in one of the most seductive countries in the world? In a word, your wedding will be just bellisima!
An Italian wedding in Sorrento is a beautiful choice. This charming Neapolitan town has become popular with British tourists over the years, yet it still oozes Italian charm and offers an exciting blend of traditional life and a cosmopolitan vibe on its pretty streets. The perfect place for enjoying those romantic honeymoon days after your wedding and a picture-perfect spot for gazing at the jaw dropping scenery all around you. Just imagine your wedding photos…wow!
One of the venues used for weddings in Sorrento is the Cloisters of San Francesco which are tucked away within the walls of a Medieval monastery, although your ceremony will take place in the open-air courtyard with its arches draped in bougainvillea, hopefully under a sweet Sorrento sun. It’s also used for classical concerts in the area and it’s truly unique setting for your pictures too.
Stars (and stripes) in your eyes?
If a fun, Little White Chapel wedding is on the cards, look no further. Thomas Cook can also organise your nuptials in the glitzy bright lights of Las Vegas. Or if a Big Apple wedding floats your boat, you could also tie the knot in New York. There are currently six Central Park settings available for your ceremony. Thomas Cook also offer the Sunshine State of Florida in which case, you could maybe enjoy the magic of Disneyland for your honeymoon!
Take a look at all the wedding destinations available from Thomas Cook.
Caribbean Weddings
Do you fancy tying the knot on a beautiful Caribbean island? What could be more idyllic than standing barefoot on a sun kissed beach with glorious sunshine beating down on you both as you become husband and wife. The Caribbean is still a popular choice for lovebirds wanting to exchange those sacred vows on a dreamy distant shore, surrounded by swaying palm trees and candle-lit dinners on the beachfront. Sandals Resorts offer exactly that style of wedding and in some truly beautiful and romantic places such as Antigua, The Bahamas, Grenada, Jamaica and St Lucia.
Sandals Resorts really are the cream of the crop for Caribbean weddings and included in your package is everything you’d need to have a lovely wedding, all taken care of by your personal wedding planning team.
They will take care of marriage document preparation, wedding and honeymoon gift registry and free wedding website. There’s a whole host of other great items included in your Sandals wedding package.
How much does it cost for a wedding abroad?
According to 2017 prices, it costs roughly £6K-7K for a destination wedding and with the average wedding in the UK now costing around £20K, there’s clear benefit to jetting off to sunnier climes!
A rough guide to what you’ll pay to get hitched overseas – guide courtesy of weddingsabroadguide.com
Weddings Abroad on a Budget?
Not every dream wedding has to cost the earth, you know. There’s always things you can cut back on to keep costs down and let’s face it; if you’re opting for a beach wedding, do you really need a big meringue dress? There’s lots of cheaper gorgeous elegant options, suitable for overseas weddings.
Consider off peak/out of season packages and you’re sure to get a better price overall and you could still be blessed with decent weather. Bit of DIY? You can always make your own stationery and favours etc – all these little things can add up!
If you don’t think it’s too cheeky, and most couple opt for gift registry these days, you could always ask friends and relatives to chip in with the cost of the wedding and honeymoon instead of buying you a toaster or a bale of towels. Thomas Cook have the perfect travel gift voucher options.
Free wedding, anyone?
Some tour operators are offering free weddings as long as you fulfil their minimum stay obligations. This could work out really well, especially if you were already planning to honeymoon in the same resort. Take a look at the destinations on offer with the current wedding deals from Virgin Holidays and the Free wedding packages from Kuoni.
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Now, we know you can’t invite us to your big day but we would love you to share a picture or two with us. We love a good wedding here at talkholiday but more importantly, we love to hear about your travel experiences when you share them with us and your fellow tripsology community members. We’re sure your handy hints and tips will be invaluable to other bride and grooms-to be.
Congratulations from the tripsology team, now go on; book your dream destination wedding today. Your happy ever after starts right here.