Get married abroad....

Jordie1983

Hi all, my girlfriend has always wanted to get married somewhere outside of the uk (she wants a small intimate wedding).

She quite likes the idea of white sandy beaches etc, but we would be open to suggestions.

AS we are only planning on doing it once we would love some recommendations if any of you know any good travel companies etc, or destinations....

Any advice is appreciated...

Jordan.

JenIttels

I'm getting married in Vegas in November (for various reasons including convenience and cost!) and so far it’s been easy to get what we want simply by researching over the internet and sending off emails. I’d really advise joining a few wedding forums to get some independent advise – you’ll always find someone who has used your potential venue if you look hard enough.

You can start with somewhere like http://weddings-abroad-guide.com where there’s also a very under subscribed forum! You might find some information from https://www.confetti.co.uk as well.

It’s not perfect doing researching and planning (some people use wedding planners but they're not cheap!) ourselves but we’re helped by the fact that my OH has been to Vegas on business so he was able to check out a few potential venues over there – something I’d really recommend doing as the photos on the venue websites do not always properly reflect what the venue is actually like (wide angle lenses and the right lighting can do wonders!)

JenIttels

I’m sure you’ve already considered the implications for guests by getting married abroad and if there are people who you are desperate to be there then you need to consider paying for their travel and accommodation costs. It’s been discussed on these forums before but it can be detrimentally presumptuous to assume that your guests will want to spend a lot of money just getting to your venue!

As for Vegas as a venue I think it could be worse. We’re not going to go the tacky way and we’re considering going with https://www.valleyoffireweddings.com or similar as the setting is stunning and it’s not too expensive. We’re also considering a hotel outdoor venue which is even cheaper and still very nice.

Do a search on these forums and you'll find lots of threads with your sort of question being asked and with lots of advice. HTH.

15lsp

my friends got married in the Dominican then had a big party for friends and family at home when they got back.

Nile

Hello Jordie1983

I'll move your thread over to the 'Marriages, Relationships & Families' board, where it should get more views and responses.

Hi, Martin’s asked me to post this in these circumstances: I’ve asked Board Guides to move threads if they’ll receive a better response elsewhere(please see this rule) so this post/thread has been moved to another board, where it should get more replies. If you have any questions about this policy please email [EMAIL="abuse@moneysavingexpert.com"]abuse@moneysavingexpert.com[/EMAIL].

Regards

Nile

hollydays

Remember Jerry and Mick,wherever they got married wasnt it later declared invalid?

myrnahaz

Go for it - My son got married in Jamaica in May this year - and I'd recommend it to anyone. They married at the end of week one, then we all went home and left the happy couple to honeymoon alone for the 2nd week.
It cost a fraction of what it would have cost if they'd done it over here; they invited anyone to go to the wedding who wanted to (there were just 7 of us in the end, but it was fabulous) then they had a big party when they came home.
It was the most relaxed wedding I've ever been to in my life - no stress or quarrels - just wonderful happy days with white sand and turquoise blue sea that was as warm as bath water.
The travel agent arranged everything, and they even had documents available that proved the validity of the marriage in the UK (as did the Jamaican minister who married them).

myrnahaz

PS - they went to a hotel resort in Montego Bay with Thomas Cook on an all-inclusive package (hair, make up, flowers, cake etc all arranged for them) with one 'posh' restaurant meal and two 'semi posh' meals included in the cost. All drink and food was included (cooked fresh every meal time). Guests paid around £900 each and the wedding package was around £3,000 in total (double room, wedding, meals, drinks, airport taxi - everything)

Maranatha

Other than the weather, which has been sub tropical recently, but dont count on it, why don't you get married in Scotland. You have no idea of the beautifull white beeches on Harris on the Western Isles, likewise Dornoch in Sutherland. The Ministers up here will marry you at venues like that. The other option is to hire a small remote hotel in Scotland where the whole family can take the place over. This time of year, no problem. You could get a Piper, the works. It could be like something out of Brigadoon!

boltonangel

we got married in the dominican and it was fantastic!! really relaxed and i wasn't at all nervous - as i would have been in the uk - no family arguements - as there would have been in the uk!!!!

the only thing to be aware of is the documents that are required - these did all add up.
our next door neighbours are now getting married there next wk.
we went with superclubs breezes - puerto plata and got a free wedding package inc. approx £800 pp AI . the Riu hotels often have good deals on aswell.

sarah

MegS

We got married in Vancouver, in Stanley Park overlooking English Bay with the mountains in the background - totally stunning. It was really easy, I just picked a marriage commissioner from the Virtual Statistics Agency (can reommend if you decide on Vancouver), corresponded by e-mail, phoned her when we got there, picked up a licence (about $80), booked a restaurant and paid the commissioner on the day (about $80). We had family over there so we didn't have to worry about picking up strangers in the Park to be witnesses. Vancouver is a fantastic place to be and is close enough to the Rockies to make a good two centre honeymoon trip. Recommend you do it between May and September though as it has been known to rain over there lol. Doing it this way is much better as there are no family arguments over whose sitting next to who and who to keep apart etc etc.