More and more couples are eschewing the traditional big wedding celebration in favour of a smaller more intimate wedding ceremony in an exotic location.
Destination Wedding
These days, more and more couples are choosing not to have a traditional reception. Instead, they are opting for a destination wedding - a smaller more intimate ceremony in an exotic location. Destination weddings can be less expensive than traditional celebrations. But more importantly, they can be a fantastic experience. However, before you drag your family into the jungles of Thailand or the plains of Africa, you need to do a bit of research. Here are some tips on choosing your wedding destination.
Legal requirements
If you’re thinking of tying the knot overseas, remember marriage laws vary substantially between countries. Depending on where you go, you might have to provide passports, visas, blood test results and a lot of official documentation before you can be granted an internationally recognised marriage certificate.
In Mexico, for example, you need to have valid passports, tourist visas, and blood tests. Also, the wedding must be witnessed by four people and conducted in Spanish. This definitely makes for an exotic and unique wedding, but don’t forget to invite someone to translate!
Other countries are not so complicated. For example, New Zealand law requires you to make a statutory declaration saying there are no lawful impediments to the marriage.
Wherever you decide to get married, make sure you find out what the local marriage laws are. There are many useful booklets and internet sites that can help you find out the relevant laws and obtain copies of official documents or you can contact the local tourism bureau. If this all sounds too hard, don’t worry, there are other options available.
Wedding Planner
The cost of getting married in Australia can be expensive, so many couples are incorporating their weddings with their honeymoons, in exotic destinations around the world. Popular wedding locations include: Fiji, Hawaii, Thailand, Vanuatu and even fairytale weddings in Disneyland.
If doing it all yourself sounds frightening, there are many local companies that help foreigners organise the legalities and details of weddings.
Professional help is important for foreign couples who are unlikely to know local suppliers and are unfamiliar with traditions and etiquette. Companies that assist in destination wedding planning can organise everything from your marriage license to your flowers and cake to your guests’ accommodation.
However, before engaging a wedding planner, try to speak to as many people as you can. Contact their references, such as couples whose weddings they have organised. Once you have found a reputable planner, you can leave all the stress and worry to them.
The resort route
Having your wedding at a hotel or resort is often an easy way to ensure everything runs smoothly, allowing you and your guests more time to enjoy the activities and facilities.
Destination weddings at hotels or resorts are definitely the most popular choice for couples because of the fantastic packages available. It is also great having all your guests staying in one place.
Destination Australia!
If you want a destination wedding but don’t want to leave our shores, there are an abundance of places throughout Australia where you can have a beautiful wedding away from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Money, money, money
Before you get swept up in the romantic notion of getting married abroad, don’t forget to consider the costs and logistical issues involved.
On paper, a smaller wedding should mean less people, less food and wine and, therefore, less money. This isn’t always so. Sometimes, the costs you save in having fewer guests can be offset by the transport and accommodation costs.
Whether it is transporting people to a winery in Victoria’s Yarra Valley or flying your bridal party to Bali for four days, flight and accommodation costs are usually the biggest variable in destination weddings. It is likely some of your guests will not be able to afford to come to your wedding if you choose to have it overseas.
Many travel companies offer deals for groups of 10 or more people. You can usually get a group discount on airfares, travel insurance and sometimes hotels depending on how many rooms need to be booked.
Check with your travel agent to see whether it’s worth coordinating everyone’s itineraries together to get a discount
Looking for the perfect wedding destination? Find it on the Bride Directory.