Getting Married Abroad

Just because you want to get married it does not mean that you have to have the ceremony in the country of your birth or residence. You can always tie the knot on foreign shores and combine the wedding with the honeymoon. That way you can keep the costs of the wedding down and have only a select number of people at the ceremony.

Getting Organised

The first practical step that needs to be taken when it comes to having your perfect wedding abroad is knowing exactly where you want to go with your future bride or groom. The next thing to do is see a travel agent who will be able to arrange all of the finer details. Some travel agencies can cater for honeymooning couples and even get the ball rolling when it comes to the ceremony, too.

Things to do

• When budgeting for a wedding abroad be sure to account for everything including flights, accommodation, fees for wedding planners and organisers, etc.
• Check that the travel documents for you, your partner and (or) any other members of the family are in order and not due to expire.
• If you have chosen an exotic location to get married make sure you have had any necessary vaccinations.
• Don’t forget to check out the venue for the ceremony, especially if civil weddings can take place there legally. As most places need a licence for couples to be married, the embassy for the country needs to be consulted on all things legal and this may vary from place to place.
• Your travel agent can make sure the area you plan to visit has ministers who can carry out the religious ceremonies; it is not wise to just get on a flight and randomly decide you want to marry abroad.
• Getting into a wedding commitment can be hard enough so the added stress of arranging a wedding abroad can be even worse. So remember that giving the location a preliminary visit might be a good idea just so that you can see exactly how you big day will be.
• See what the customs and culture are in the place where you have chosen to marry. There may be rules and etiquette that you need to follow, for example you may not be able to carry out Christian weddings in certain countries.

Popular places to get married

Las Vegas – This is the home of the ‘Elvis’ wedding and can be a fun way to get married.
The Caribbean Islands – Part of the most idyllic way to tie the knot, the weather is hardly ever in question.
The Far East – The orient can combine the East with the West and your money often goes a lot further here.
Australasia – Home of the stereotypical beach wedding, the Australian experience adds a different dimension to your wedding.

Find an appropriately luxury holidays but don't forget to take out travel insurance for your trip.