Anyone get married abroad?

sheilds

We married in Cancun Mexico-combined it with our honeymoon-organised it all ourselves.
As Angelil says there are requirements that are different for every country -for Mexico it was

We needed to be resident for 7 days
We had to have 4 witnesses-wasn't a problem even though we travelled there alone
We had to get all our documents legally translated into spanish.

When they found out we were getting married our hotel staff and anyone we came into contact with treated us like royalty and everything was just perfect...Good Luck.

dontone

Congratulations to you both.

10 years ago, myself and DH did the Vegas wedding too. It was just me, him, the minister who had a bigger quiff than Elvis, and his missus who was both the witness and photographer.

We went to one of those little chapels near the Stratosphere. Was great fun.

claire16c

Cherry_Bomb wrote: »

We're definitely not expecting people to pay to come to our wedding! We also won't be paying for anyone else.

It's just going to be me, OH and DS and then we'll have a reception type party when we come home so all friends and family can be invited.

I like the idea of going on holiday beforehand but there's so many places I've been looking at I don't know how I'll fund all these trips
Hawaii looks amazing and I do like the idea of a beach wedding but then I looked at Central Park in New York and the idea of that is equally wonderful!

when are you getting married? I guess it depends how far inadvance you are as to if you could fit in a holiday before that or not?

We just invited anyone we wanted to come, up to them to decide whether to come or not- just like a wedding at home.

If you like the idea of Hawaii or NYC, you could look into all the relevant costs/ideas for flights, accomodation etc, and see what suits you best. Obviously NYC is a much shorter flight for example but that might not bother you anyway.

Then you can narrow down how/where you want to get married, and with who i.e. a wedding company, DIY all of it, and then focus on the smaller details afterwards.

fluffnutter

You need to also research whether the country's marriage laws are recognised in this country. I remember some friends had to do something or other once they were back in the UK to make their union officially recognised here.

Congratulations!

NEH

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Bear in mind the fact that, if you're having guests at your wedding, you should choose somewhere they can afford to visit, unless you're funding their expenses as well as your own.

In some ways that's true but at the end of the day its not about other people, the day is for two people making a commitment to each other. If they want to get married in some far flung place as that means more to them than getting married in this country so be it. It should be their choice and they shouldn't have to decide their ceremony based on other peoples needs....

I think a lot of people forget what a wedding really is about, so many times it becomes a political minefield and the true meaning becomes lost in the who should be there and where you should be having it. So many couples buckle under an obligation to do what others expect of them rather than what they truly want.

Ok rant over :rotfl:

Congratulations!

We got married in Italy, was a lovely intimate ceremony

One solution is if you do want people to be there hire a large villa/several villas/apartments on one site or something as that really can bring the costs down...

fluffnutter

NEH wrote: »

In some ways that's true but at the end of the day its not about other people, the day is for two people making a commitment to each other. If they want to get married in some far flung place as that means more to them than getting married in this country so be it. It should be their choice and they shouldn't have to decide their ceremony based on other peoples needs....

No, they shouldn't. But nor should they expect their friends and family to spend money they possibly don't have witnessing their 'special day'.

I think it's the height of arrogance and bad manners to decide to get married abroad, then present all your guests with a bill to attend!

Gigervamp

NEH wrote: »

In some ways that's true but at the end of the day its not about other people, the day is for two people making a commitment to each other. If they want to get married in some far flung place as that means more to them than getting married in this country so be it. It should be their choice and they shouldn't have to decide their ceremony based on other peoples needs....

This is true, but how often do we see threads on here where the OP is expected to attend a wedding abroad and they can't really afford it?

I think if you want an overseas wedding, you really have to just expect that it will be you and your fiance and if others can attend, that's a bonus.

claire16c

fluffnutter wrote: »

No, they shouldn't. But nor should they expect their friends and family to spend money they possibly don't have witnessing their 'special day'.

I think it's the height of arrogance and bad manners to decide to get married abroad, then present all your guests with a bill to attend!

Ive never been to a wedding the in UK that was free for me to attend. Every single one has involved costs. Including ones where the gift list ordering options drop out of the invite.

There is also a big difference between expecting and hoping/wanting someone to come. There is nothing wrong with hoping someone can come to your wedding.

claire16c

Gigervamp wrote: »

This is true, but how often do we see threads on here where the OP is expected to attend a wedding abroad and they can't really afford it?

The same amount as we see threads on here about people complaining they werent invited to someones wedding. Or their partner wasnt. Or their kids werent allowed. Or the bride wants the bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses. The list goes on.

Seems like its impossible for some people not to be offended in one way or another when it comes to weddings!

Anyway - this is about recommending ideas etc for the OP. So OP I hope you find something you like and have a great wedding wherever it is.

NEH

fluffnutter wrote: »

No, they shouldn't. But nor should they expect their friends and family to spend money they possibly don't have witnessing their 'special day'.

I think it's the height of arrogance and bad manners to decide to get married abroad, then present all your guests with a bill to attend!

Gigervamp wrote: »

This is true, but how often do we see threads on here where the OP is expected to attend a wedding abroad and they can't really afford it?

I think if you want an overseas wedding, you really have to just expect that it will be you and your fiance and if others can attend, that's a bonus.

There are solutions though.....

Not everyone is selfish enough to expect others to attend that's why so many have a "do" when they come back in some pub/village hall etc...

So many have huge guest lists when to be fair they probably haven't seen some of them for 15 odd years, it's just because they feel they have to invite them not because they want them to be there. I'm not being funny but why should you pay £100 meal for someone you never speak too?!

If you can't afford to go to a wedding then people shouldn't go. It's the same with weddings in this country. I know if you have a wedding in Europe for example it can work out cheaper to go to that wedding than some places in the UK when you add on petrol, accommodation, formal dresses etc.. ...