Weddings abroad - any advice?

claire16c

Catty - wow lucky cousin! If she doesn't live there permanently I would be making use of the free accomodation and going on lots of holidays there whilst you can ! I know what you mean about the not seeing things before, I had already been to Hawaii and so I had seen everything apart from the place we were going to get married in, but read loads of reviews and looked at photos online. And anywhere there I knew would beat any pictures Id get here hands down anyway

df03 - The price can range from $65 for a licence to get married on a beach plus cost of officiant to marry you, to thousands for something more elaborate. We found the overall prices were similar to the UK, but because you have less guests it can work out a lot cheaper. We had too many people for a beach wedding, but if we had got married on a beach it would have been very cheap because you literally just pay the license fee and then the cost of the minister, and if you want a company to help arrange it all, and photography etc. For the evening reception at the luau it cost $100 per person, which included 5 course meal, all you can drink, and watching hawaiian dancing etc for about 3 hours. There are cheaper ones but we chose that particular one as it was smaller and table service, not a buffet. But you could just as easily go to a nice restaurant.

Candygirl - we gave everyone 2 years notice. We worked out if they saved around £40 a month I think they could then come. If they couldnt be bothered to do that it was their choice. And I really mean that because some of them could have come but were too busy spending their money on other things. The ones that really wanted to be there, made it there. My husbands mum lives by herself, works on minimum wage but made it!

And people who had something unfortunate come up and therefore couldnt come, we didnt mind. I mean if someone lost their job or something we wouldnt have given them grief! We also thought that if my husbands mum could not have got the money together, as long as she had tried to save something we would have tried to help her with the rest.

I loved the fact we had a smaller wedding, we got to spend time with all of our guests, and not just a 5 min chat like you normally get.

df03

for ladies getting married in Lindos, I have been looking here, but havent been able to find any all inclusive / half board holidays, they are coming up as self catering,
any recommendations? x

Catty212

joho wrote: »

NEXT WEEK? :eek:You do mean next YEAR don't you?

I think you will need time to sort out paperwork. In fact, if you are dead set on doing it abroad, the paperwork is the hardest part, I've found!

I'm another vote for Lindos, Rhodes but it is very popular (especially St Pauls Chapel). But then, as it is a popular resort, it will probably be more affordable for family and friends than some of the more exotic locations.

If you can afford it I would recommend using a local wedding organiser (there are several there with a variety of packages) as they will deal with all your bookings and can help if there are problems with delays or changes.

We were there last year to meet our organiser and a young couple were there getting married through Thomson or Thomas Cook (can't remember which) but they didn't know what time they were getting married because the travel companies don't seem to book ahead like local organisers.

Congratulations and good luck. x

HAHA yeah I mean next year. I think the OH would die if I told him it was next week :rotfl:

Catty212

claire16c wrote: »

Catty - wow lucky cousin! If she doesn't live there permanently I would be making use of the free accomodation and going on lots of holidays there whilst you can ! I know what you mean about the not seeing things before, I had already been to Hawaii and so I had seen everything apart from the place we were going to get married in, but read loads of reviews and looked at photos online. And anywhere there I knew would beat any pictures Id get here hands down anyway

df03 - The price can range from $65 for a licence to get married on a beach plus cost of officiant to marry you, to thousands for something more elaborate. We found the overall prices were similar to the UK, but because you have less guests it can work out a lot cheaper. We had too many people for a beach wedding, but if we had got married on a beach it would have been very cheap because you literally just pay the license fee and then the cost of the minister, and if you want a company to help arrange it all, and photography etc. For the evening reception at the luau it cost $100 per person, which included 5 course meal, all you can drink, and watching hawaiian dancing etc for about 3 hours. There are cheaper ones but we chose that particular one as it was smaller and table service, not a buffet. But you could just as easily go to a nice restaurant.

Candygirl - we gave everyone 2 years notice. We worked out if they saved around £40 a month I think they could then come. If they couldnt be bothered to do that it was their choice. And I really mean that because some of them could have come but were too busy spending their money on other things. The ones that really wanted to be there, made it there. My husbands mum lives by herself, works on minimum wage but made it!

And people who had something unfortunate come up and therefore couldnt come, we didnt mind. I mean if someone lost their job or something we wouldnt have given them grief! We also thought that if my husbands mum could not have got the money together, as long as she had tried to save something we would have tried to help her with the rest.

I loved the fact we had a smaller wedding, we got to spend time with all of our guests, and not just a 5 min chat like you normally get.

That sounds ideal. We would invite people but really won't mind who came as long as our parents made it.

We're off tomorrow to have a look at the travel agents and see whats about. Im going to get an idea and then come and do LOTS of research online and see whats what. Thanks for all the replies. x

noodledoodle78

We are just back from getting married in Cuba and had a fantastic time. There are lots of different resorts and options available if you are looking to marry abroad. Make sure you do lots of research - and good luck. You'll love it!

fawny

df03 wrote: »

for ladies getting married in Lindos, I have been looking here, but havent been able to find any all inclusive / half board holidays, they are coming up as self catering,
any recommendations? x

Hi,

Sorry I don't know of any hb or ai places as we always self cater, would hate to do anything else. In Lindos village itself I think most of the places are appartments, I know the area just above Lindos - Krana I think it's calls has some bigger hotels with pools they might do other board options. Lindos is full of lovely places to eat & drink so you would not have any problems SC.

candygirl

claire16c wrote: »

Catty - wow lucky cousin! If she doesn't live there permanently I would be making use of the free accomodation and going on lots of holidays there whilst you can ! I know what you mean about the not seeing things before, I had already been to Hawaii and so I had seen everything apart from the place we were going to get married in, but read loads of reviews and looked at photos online. And anywhere there I knew would beat any pictures Id get here hands down anyway

df03 - The price can range from $65 for a licence to get married on a beach plus cost of officiant to marry you, to thousands for something more elaborate. We found the overall prices were similar to the UK, but because you have less guests it can work out a lot cheaper. We had too many people for a beach wedding, but if we had got married on a beach it would have been very cheap because you literally just pay the license fee and then the cost of the minister, and if you want a company to help arrange it all, and photography etc. For the evening reception at the luau it cost $100 per person, which included 5 course meal, all you can drink, and watching hawaiian dancing etc for about 3 hours. There are cheaper ones but we chose that particular one as it was smaller and table service, not a buffet. But you could just as easily go to a nice restaurant.

Candygirl - we gave everyone 2 years notice. We worked out if they saved around £40 a month I think they could then come. If they couldnt be bothered to do that it was their choice. And I really mean that because some of them could have come but were too busy spending their money on other things. The ones that really wanted to be there, made it there. My husbands mum lives by herself, works on minimum wage but made it!

And people who had something unfortunate come up and therefore couldnt come, we didnt mind. I mean if someone lost their job or something we wouldnt have given them grief! We also thought that if my husbands mum could not have got the money together, as long as she had tried to save something we would have tried to help her with the rest.

I loved the fact we had a smaller wedding, we got to spend time with all of our guests, and not just a 5 min chat like you normally get.

we didn't even have a years notice, and it would've cost us at least £1500 to be there:(:(My work situation is sporadic, and OH isn't well paid so I thought they'd understand:(:(

Tiara_2

Sorry Claire16c but this sounds a little unfair. £40 a month every month for 2 years is asking a lot. I couldn't afford that- once the bills are made I have very little over each month, certainly nowhere near £40. Perhaps some of the people you invited genuinely couldn't have afforded to save that amount.
Also, perhaps they had other priorities with their spare cash. You may have picked a destination they wouldn't have chosen themselves, and it also eats into their annual leave allowance, that they may have had other plans for.

There are many advantages of getting married abroad- beach weddings seem so romantic and you'd get some stunning photos. However I don't really see it as being a cost saving compared to a UK wedding, as you are simply passing over a hefty chunk of the cost to your guests.

Giving people as much notice as possible is just polite- Candygirl, that just sounds awful. £1500 is a huge amount to expect you to pay to attend the wedding, and I am stunned that people aren't more understanding about your reasons for being unable to afford it. If you being there is so important to them then would have offered to pay for your flights themselves! I hope the bad feeling fades quickly xx

claire16c wrote: »

Candygirl - we gave everyone 2 years notice. We worked out if they saved around £40 a month I think they could then come. If they couldnt be bothered to do that it was their choice. And I really mean that because some of them could have come but were too busy spending their money on other things. The ones that really wanted to be there, made it there. My husbands mum lives by herself, works on minimum wage but made it!

candygirl

Tiara wrote: »

Sorry Claire16c but this sounds a little unfair. £40 a month every month for 2 years is asking a lot. I couldn't afford that- once the bills are made I have very little over each month, certainly nowhere near £40. Perhaps some of the people you invited genuinely couldn't have afforded to save that amount.
Also, perhaps they had other priorities with their spare cash. You may have picked a destination they wouldn't have chosen themselves, and it also eats into their annual leave allowance, that they may have had other plans for.

There are many advantages of getting married abroad- beach weddings seem so romantic and you'd get some stunning photos. However I don't really see it as being a cost saving compared to a UK wedding, as you are simply passing over a hefty chunk of the cost to your guests.

Giving people as much notice as possible is just polite- Candygirl, that just sounds awful. £1500 is a huge amount to expect you to pay to attend the wedding, and I am stunned that people aren't more understanding about your reasons for being unable to afford it. If you being there is so important to them then would have offered to pay for your flights themselves! I hope the bad feeling fades quickly xx

Thanks hun.My OH is gutted about it, and his family are very hostile about it:(:(:(:(

ixia

I got married in Rhodes town and it was lovely, it is a beautiful island and not as expensive for other family members and friends to go to as somewhere in Asia or the Carribean but it is all down to personal choice.

I wanted to get married in Sorrento originally but it was too expensive for our friends and family that's why we decided on Rhodes. We went in the August to Sorrento for our honeymoon instead.

We got married in may which was cheaper for everyone low season and friends stayed in all sorts of accomodation from basic self catering to 5*hotels depending on their budget. I wouldn't have changed anything I loved my wedding.

I saw quite a few weddings at my hotel in Cuba last year too.

Good luck.