PLANNING A DESTINATION WEDDING
2020 has been an unusual year to say the least. For many couples has meant a postponed big day. With winter months ahead, many couples are thinking about a sun-filled wedding in 2021/22. If this is you, then an overseas celebration might be just what you’re looking for. TLC’s wedding planners travel the world to find the most fabulous destinations for our clients. From Fiji to Florida, Maldives to Marbella. The world is literally your oyster. But planning a destination wedding come with unique challenges and opportunities. Gov.uk has all the legal information you need about tying the knot overseas. However, there are many other things to consider before booking your flights. It’s may not be as straight forward as a UK wedding, but can also be hugely romantic and memorable. So, here are some of the pros and cons to help you decide whether is a wedding at home, or away, for you:
PROS
Sunshine:
The motivation in planning a destination wedding is often the weather! It’s true that you can’t rely on a British summer to bring you a sunny day. Sadly, the same is true wherever you go in the world. But if sun is what you’re looking for the odds are obviously better in some locations than others. If taking your vows in the open air appeals to you, then an overseas wedding could be for you.
Keep it intimate:
Unless Hello magazine is paying for your wedding, it’s likely that any ceremony overseas is going to be smaller than you’d have at home. This is great for those wanting an intimate wedding. It can avoid fall-outs about which friends and family make the guest list. And if you can’t bring along everyone you would like to, there is always the option to keep the celebration going with a second, larger wedding party when you get home.
Good value luxury:
If you are looking for the cheap option, don’t choose a wedding overseas. On the other hand, if you are looking for luxury then getting married overseas can offer some less expensive options than similar celebrations at home. The smaller guest list for couples marrying abroad can also help to keep costs down. It is generally accepted that guests pay their own flights and accommodation to be with you on your big day.
Forget the details:
Planning a destination wedding more or less guarantees that you’ll have to bring a wedding planner in to do the organising for you. Some tour operators will do this as well. But remember, if you are handing your big day over to someone else be clear about what you are getting for your money, so that there’ll be no unwelcome surprises when you get there.
Honeymoon sorted:
Unless in planning a destination wedding you’re arranging a round the world trip, it’s more than likely that you’ll choose your wedding destination because it’s somewhere you plan to honeymoon too. When you do this it’s like getting a two for one bonus. Waking up from the wedding night on a romantic honeymoon is, for many couples, a dream come true.
CONS
Those left behind:
Even if you’re willing to pay for guest’s travel and accommodation, when choosing to get married in an exotic locations it is likely that there will be some family and friends who won’t be able to make it to your big day. Although you can always have another big bash when you get home, think carefully about who you might leave behind. Will you later regret that they weren’t there to hear you say, ‘I do’?
Handing over control:
If you are someone who wants to organise every last detail of your own wedding then a destination wedding probably isn’t for you. Unless you plan to elope just the two of you, there is as much organising to do for a wedding overseas as there is back home in the UK. The distance, possible language barriers and cultural differences are all areas where confusions with booking can arise, so it is always best to hire a wedding planner who has organised similar events many times before.
Making it legal:
Unfortunately being madly in love is not enough to be able to get married away from home turf and often there are mountains of paperwork to complete before you can make your marriage official. It is easy to marry in some places, like Las Vegas, but in others, like Vietnam or Cambodia, the requirements and paperwork can be more difficult. In some countries it is often easier to do the legal part at home in the UK and then have a ceremony, with vows at your dream location.
Can be costly:
I know we already mentioned budget in the pros as well, but the cost of an overseas wedding is one that you really need to weigh up carefully. Never choose an overseas wedding on the basis of cost alone. It may at first look cheaper on paper. However, if the idea is to have a second party for all your family and friends when you get back, in the long-run it could end up costing more.
Sharing your honeymoon:
Lastly, it is usual when family and friends travel to see you take your vows in the location of your dreams, that they too holiday for a week or so and soak up the atmosphere. To get some private time alone you might think about staying on longer or taking another week’s holiday. But if your dream honeymoon is the two of you spending time alone wrapped-up in newly-wed bliss, then you might want to rethink rolling your wedding and honeymoon into one.
A TASTE OF THE BIG DAY
Our blog on top wedding cake trends is the perfect guide to creating a centre-piece for the big day!