Getting Married Abroad: An Expert Guide
A sun-filled jaunt with all your loved ones? Discover why a destination wedding could be your best-ever holiday.
4 February 2023
“Can you hear us OK?” There’s a slight delay before the person on the other end of the video call responds with a firm “yes.” My husband and I are speaking to the owners of Viva La Vaca, an Argentinian food truck that will be catering our wedding in my native New Zealand. It’s morning for them, the sun is streaming through their window. Matu, one of the owners, is wearing a T-shirt. It’s late evening in London, and winter has arrived, so my husband and I are in jumpers, a woollen blanket strewn across our laps.
The time difference and finding the right vendors are just two factors to consider when planning a destination wedding, or simply when organizing a wedding in another country. This New Zealand wedding will be our second time tying the knot. When my British husband and I got engaged, we decided it would be easier to have two weddings rather than expect one of our families to fly halfway across the world to attend the other. However, getting married abroad was never going to be easy, even with the help of my family on the ground there.
While ours isn’t a traditional destination wedding except for a handful of guests flying in from Australia, the allure of a destination wedding is easy to see: your wedding becomes a holiday for you and the people you love the most. What is more enjoyable than a big party in a stunning location? Moreover, following a slight lull during the pandemic, destination weddings are on the rise again. Here is everything you need to know about how to kickstart the planning process.
Popular Destinations for Weddings Abroad
Wedding planners frequently cite Italy, Portugal, and Malta as sought-after destinations for couples tying the knot abroad. “I think everyone’s automatic thought on the best place for getting married abroad is Italy,” Senel Besim of a luxury destination wedding company explains. However, she notes that couples often explore Italy only to change their minds when they realize the complexities surrounding legal marriage in that country, alongside the high costs.
“Places such as Portugal and Ibiza are very popular,” Besim adds. “I don’t mean the party side of Ibiza, I mean the relaxed side. Also, I have received numerous inquiries for weddings in Malta.”
Deciding if a Destination Wedding is Right for You
First and foremost, a destination wedding isn’t for everyone. “If you’re someone who wants to have absolute control over everything, perhaps a destination wedding isn’t the best fit for you,” Besim advises, citing airline strikes as a common source of stress for couples. Coupled with this, there are sacrifices and challenges that come with planning a wedding abroad.
“The biggest hurdle is accepting that not all your friends and family might be able to join the celebrations,” she says. Therefore, couples should carefully weigh their desire for a destination wedding against the potential limitations it imposes.
Budgeting for a Destination Wedding
“Compatibility with your budget is key,” Kennedy states. Popular spots such as the Cote d’Azur on the French Riviera and Italy’s Lake Como come with higher price tags. Thus, those wishing to have a destination wedding on a budget should view their funds as they would when traveling: you can make your hard-earned cash stretch further in less-touristy locales.
Consider a destination that holds special significance for you and your partner. It may be the locale of your first vacation together or where you got engaged—there are myriad reasons to choose the perfect destination.
Besim agrees that setting a budget is the first task after deciding on a destination wedding. While some clients spend around £80,000 to £100,000 on multi-day celebrations, a destination wedding is achievable without a planner and can be arranged on a smaller budget.
“It’s straightforward to find an incredible venue and not truly understand what additional costs you need to cover to make your wedding happen there,” she explains. Many overseas venues are dry hire, meaning you need to arrange items like lighting, chairs, and tables not provided by the location.
Guest Etiquette for Destination Weddings
One of the pressing questions regarding destination weddings is who pays for what? Guests are generally expected to pay for their own flights, while the couple usually covers everything on the ground, including accommodation, if part of the venue hire.
“In my experience, couples have taken care of everything, allowing guests to enjoy the experience without added financial burden,” Besim elaborates. However, guests might see the wedding as an opportunity for their own holiday and prefer to book accommodation separately.
Selecting the Right Vendors for a Wedding Abroad
Once you’ve selected your destination, it’s crucial to choose the right vendors for your venue, catering, photography, hair and makeup, as well as flowers. While some couples choose to bring in vendors from their home country, it’s often best to book catering and flowers from local providers.
“A quick Google search is insufficient. You must do thorough research, examine their social media presence, and view photography from previous weddings they’ve catered,” Besim advises.
It’s also essential to get everything in writing via email, and where possible, meet vendors in person. For venue viewings, booking an appointment at least a year before your wedding date is advisable.
Planning Events Around Your Destination Wedding
A destination wedding often provides an opportunity to celebrate for longer than just the big day itself, potentially extending across a long weekend or even up to a week.
Planning additional events makes the destination wedding experience worthwhile; welcome dinners or rehearsal dinners the night before can help guests mingle and relax. “Ensure your guests have a mix of planned activities alongside free time to enjoy themselves,” Kennedy suggests.
Many couples look to enhance the festival atmosphere by hosting boat parties or farewell gatherings, whether it’s a brunch, barbecue, or even a pool party.
