Anyone get married abroad?

tori.k

we headed off to Mauritius a lovely island and really easy to get married there as it didn't evolve getting any paperwork translated&legalised, be warned tho as beautiful as the day was it's one of my biggest regrets,I never wanted the whole "big day" but getting ready I realised I really wanted my mum there with me, even if it was only to tell me everything would be ok, I didn't anticipate how nervous I actually was getting married despite already living a married life for years with DH.
so please be 110% sure you both want to go it alone, I'd hate for anybody to feel the apathy that I do about my own day.

Birdie85

I got married abroad and it was amazing, I can't recommend it enough! We went to the Dominican Republic (we went just there on holiday shortly after getting engaged and saw a couple of weddings whilst we were there and decided that was what we wanted to do ) and were lucky enough to have 15 friends and family attend, they just turned it into their holiday for that year and everyone enjoyed themselves. We certainly didn't expect people to come, but checked that close family could afford to go and were happy with the location and once they gave it the thumbs up we booked it.

As for the cost aspect, we were humbled that people paid that money to see us get married but everyone said that a) it was a great excuse to go somewhere new b) they'd have gone on holiday that year anyway. The holiday was pretty good value anyway as it was 2 weeks all inclusive so they didn't have to pay any extra once they were there. There were people who couldn't afford to go but we expected that and we had a big party when we got back which everyone attended.

We chose to go abroad as we had a small budget and whilst our friends were all busy planning huge £15-30k weddings in country house hotels we knew that we wanted something different since we couldn't keep up with that kind of do (not that we'd have wanted to spend that kind of money anyway!).

Oh and I agree about all weddings costing a lot to attend. When you take into account Hen and Stag parties, outifts, transport, accomodation, gifts, overpriced drinks at the bar etc, it's well into the hundreds. You're not necessarily doing people a 'favour' by opting for a wedding in the UK instead of going abroad, I know I'd rather spend that money on spending some time in the sun with my friends. I'd like some more of my friends to get married in cool places, over the years I imagine I'll get quite bored of going to the same cookie cutter 'big white weddings' that they all seem to be having!

blossomsuz

Congrats

Me and hubby got married in Cyprus Ayia Napa, 5 years ago (Sept) at the Grecian Sands Hotel and I couldn't recommend it highly enough (although things may have changed a lot in 5 years).

I found the whole just packing up and going away to get married much less stressful (and less costly) than getting married in the UK.

We told friends and family what we were doing and that we were happy for them to attend but we were also happy to go alone and use some hotel guests or staff as witnesses. In the end about 19 of us went and had a great time.

The wedding day was perfect and all sorted by a co-ordinator who took us to the town hall to sort paperwork etc.

The best thing I ever did :beer:

TopQuark

Congratulations OP!

I'm getting married in Vinon-Sur-Verdon next May, which is a little town in Provence in the south of France. Provence is so beautiful and hopefully it won't be too hot in May either (I want to avoid suncream and sunburn as I'm very blonde and fair!). We are just trying to decide on the reception venue now, which is much more difficult than I imagined it would be, what with having to have enough reasonably-priced accommodation at the venue or close by for the family and friends making the trip over.

Let us know your short list and where you decide!
TQ

angelil

^^ How are you managing that then TopQuark? Do you have residency? I was married in France too and know how difficult it is to jump through all the paperwork-related hoops!

TopQuark

angelil wrote: »

^^ How are you managing that then TopQuark? Do you have residency? I was married in France too and know how difficult it is to jump through all the paperwork-related hoops!

I'm marrying a native! The wedding will be at the Mairie my OH's hometown where most of his family lives. It's been reasonably pain-free (although still a lot of paperwork, but that's France, eh) as they are friends with the Mayor (in fact, OH's Dad was the Mayor, a couple of years ago)!

My FIL and MIL-to-be have been really great with helping me sort out the paperwork (I should say that I also speak French fluently). I wouldn't even be considering it if OH wasn't French though; too much hassle!

angelil

Definitely easier to be marrying a frog Although I have the impression it's easier away from Paris - one of my friends married a Frenchman near Grenoble and she said that where they live the mairie only sees about one wedding a year, so it's a different kettle of fish Have a lovely wedding

hellzbellz

I got married at a Toronto Canada courthouse for 30 bucks.

I had a honeymoon in the Niagara falls area and our after wedding meal was dominos pizza so much better there than here.

Maybe not a scenario for everyone but it was just we two no debt to repay and happily married eleven years later.

Btw congratulations!