Destination Dash Every bride dreams of her wedding day, but it seems more and more are swapping the traditional march down the aisle for a barefooted ceremony on the beach…
The advantages to marrying abroad hardly need to be mentioned – there’s the guaranteed sunshine, the fact that your wedding celebrations will probably last a whole weekend or maybe even a week, you’ll be surrounded by only your closest family and friends and it should cost less than your traditional wedding at home.
On the downside? Well...there’s the fact that you won’t be able to invite all your distant Aunts, Uncles and work colleagues to your big day, but hey, maybe that’s a good thing!
But isn’t planning a wedding thousands of miles away really difficult I hear you cry? Well no, especially if you engage the help of a specialist wedding planner or book a wedding package with a tour operator, both of which will look after all legal red tape, organise the venue and will help you source local suppliers such as the florist, photographer, cakemaker etc…
WHERE TO START?
It can be quite daunting deciding on a wedding venue at the best of times, but when the whole world is your oyster, the choice can be overwhelming. Start narrowing down your options by thinking about the type of wedding you want, and ruling out those destinations that don’t suit it. For example – do you want a long or short haul destination? Some of the most romantic destinations in the world such as Paris and the Amalfi coast in Italy are just a couple of hours away, whereas South Africa is halfway round the world.
CONSIDER THE WEATHER
You can then halve the number of destinations open to you by thinking about the sort of weather you want – do you dream of a wedding on the beach or on a snow capped piste? |  |
LET THE BUDGET DECIDE
Money is another factor to consider – European destinations are traditionally more expensive when it comes to accommodation and food and drink, whereas you might find you get a lot more for your money in an all-inclusive Caribbean resort.
PLANNING TO PERFECTION
With your country chosen it’s time to hit the web and start your research. If you choose to book through a tour operator, your travel agent will guide you every step of the way, helping you plan your destination wedding to perfection. If you choose the DIY route and want to tailor your wedding, a specialist wedding planner, based in the country of your choice is highly recommended. It may cost you a little bit extra but their expert contacts, reliable supplier and keen negotiating skills may actually save you money.
When you’ve found a planner that sounds right for you, always try to have a telephone conversation with them (email is fine, but starting things off with a phone call will give you a much better feel for the ‘person’ you are dealing with) and don’t’ be afraid to ask for the contact details of recent brides, a good reference is priceless.
TOP TIPS FOR TRAVELLING BRIDES:
- Contact the foreign embassy or consulate of the country you are considering getting married in to obtain first hand information about their legal requirements. You need to be sure that your marriage will be both legally recognised in your country of residence and in the country in which you choose to get married.
- Always take out travel insurance, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Policies usually start running from the date you take them out, so apply sooner rather than later so you are protected should any complications arise (such as a company you are dealing with going into liquidation or companies go under, during the planning period.
- Check in advance with your doctor if you are going to need any vaccinations for your trip.
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Honeymoon 
