Tickets, Passport, White Dress... Our Guide to Weddings Abroad

• Guides
• Published: 21 Apr 2009 in Travel and Travel Insurance

According to statistics issued by market research company Mintel, approximately 50,000 couples tied the knot overseas in 2008. This is twice as many as were married abroad a decade before.

Getting married abroad has some pretty obvious benefits: you can choose somewhere exotic – possibly on a beach where the sea is as warm as a bath; you may be able to guarantee sunshine; relatives you don’t like are less likely to be able to make it… But there’s another advantage which may not be immediately self-evident – and that’s a reduced cost. In the UK, your typical wedding is likely to cost between £15,000 and £20,000. Mintel claim that weddings abroad usually cost in the region of £6,000. Bargain!

So where to go? Well the number of nuptial destinations are on the rise, and the amount of red tape is on the decline. For those who really want to go for a far flung union, Long haul travel operator Kuoni 51 has produced a top ten to inspire couples. It lists the following:

1. Sri Lanka
2. The United States
3. Kenya
4. St Lucia
5. Mauritius
6. Thailand
7. Canada
8. Antigua
9. Zanzibar
10. Tobago

The long haul wedding staples are also being challenged by spots in the Med, such as Italy, Greece, Malta and Cyprus. South Africa, Canada and New Zealand are also emerging as favourites for civil partnerships.

For those considering getting hitched somewhere exotic, the Foreign Office have issued the following advice:

• Obvious really, but do your homework concerning marriage in the country you’re planning to hold the wedding or civil partnership in. For example, make sure that getting married in the country of your choice would also be legally binding in the UK. You don’t want to get back and find you’re not actually considered to be married back home. That would be rubbish.
• Research exactly what documents the local authorities will require. Bear in mind that some may take months to process, so organise this well in advance.
• By the same token, check to see if you need visas to enter the country or proof of residency.
• As with any trip, be sure to ask your GP in plenty of time whether you’ll need specific vaccinations or medication – especially if it’s a tropical country.
• If you’re hiring any wedding planners, venues or other services abroad, be sure to get a written quote before signing anything.
• Don’t go under-insured! You may also wish to take out specialist cover to insure your ceremony, and the all-important wedding dress. For a brilliant deal, why not compare travel insurance policies at Confused.com.
• Don’t forget that guests will need to get their own visas, vaccinations and travel insurance too!

For the latest details and advice concerning getting married abroad, visit the Foreign Office website.