help us choose a wedding destination

woohoo

Hi,

we are planning to get married abroad but I just don't know where to do it!!

There will be me and fiance, a 12 year old and a 9 year old. I don't want to be all in one room, unless it is partitioned off. Would have to have 2 rooms if not too expensive rather than all be stuck in the same one. There needs to be stuff for kids to do, and water slides would be a bonus to them. It needs to be a lovely hotel with a beautiful white sand beach. I am open to various destinations including greece (inc islands), cyprus, caribbean, mexico, indian ocean (if only we could afford it). We need to go in the school holidays, maybe Easter 2016 or Summer this year (depending on destination and weather) and would prefer 10/11 nights, but 14 if need be. All inclusive too. Budget about 7k


Can anyone suggest a hotel that they think would meet these requirements? I would be so grateful as I have a headache looking!! Oh - would consider a cruise if within budget too!

Any help much appreciated! :beer:

mgdavid

are you intending to share this special occasion with any close friends or family, or are you just blowing the £7k on yourselves?

richardw

Skopelos in Greece as seen in Mamma Mia film.

woohoo

The budget is for 2 adults and 2 children only. The reason we are going away to get wed is that not everyone is in agreement that it is a 'special occasion'!! So yes, blowing it on ourselves.

Thanks for the Skopelos suggestion. I shall look now!!

becominganobsessivesaver

For Easter 2015, just indicative dates, but school holidays, Mauritius would be in budget. Check out kenwood travel. I think you could get Shandrani for just over 7k

InsideInsurance

Are you actually intending to get married there or just have a ceremony?

Legalities of getting married vary massively by country and can require you to be there for some time to give notice of marriage first etc. Many countries the legal and ceremony part are separate events too.

A fair number of people that get married abroad decide to do the legal marriage here at the registry office and then do the white dress/ bikini thing at their overseas destination to avoid these issues plus making life simpler if you ever need to produce your wedding certificate etc

Neil49

Various cruise lines do wedding packages but they vary according to the company. Royal Caribbean would suit the children given the great on board family facilities but I believe the wedding has to take place on shore for legal reasons whereas P&O only do them when at sea (but it is a legally accepted marriage in the UK).

A cruise specialist would be the best place for advice as a starting point.

duchy

Weddings in the US would fit your budget - Vegas is the obvious one - doesn't need to be an Elvis type one - there's some nice pretty chapels-like for example http://www.lasvegasadvisor.com/referenceguide-weddingdetail.cfm?id=66 which is in a suite hotel so you could have a suite rather than rooms to give you the partitioned space and it's a pretty resort with a pool so great for kids . Far enough from the Vegas madness but close enough to walk to it when/if you want it. LA is close enough you could add Disneyland to the beginning or end of your holiday with that budget too.

Florida would be another option - rent a villa (or a suite hotel again) and weddings are easy to arrange there too probably stretch the budget if you wanted to include the theme parks too though but it'd be do-able..

No problem with the legalities with US weddings (lets face it if you wanted a no frills legal ceremony you'd just pop to the registry office at home anyway). For Vegas you can do the (very minimal) paperwork online in advance and collect your licence once in Vegas.

We chose Vegas due to complicated family situations (not bad just complicated) and the fact we've both done the white wedding thing and want something personal and special despite the small wedding party.

Wouldn't be all inclusive but even allowing for food you'd be well in budget.

martindow

Are you expecting guests to come over to join you at the ceremony? If so the cost of travelling far afield could be a major issue - their budgets could be far more modest than yours!

duchy

mgdavid wrote: »

are you intending to share this special occasion with any close friends or family, or are you just blowing the £7k on yourselves?

Did you miss that it's the OP , her partner plus children. Family doesn't get any closer than your children surely !

Pollycat

Various tour operators (First Choice, Olympic Holidays, Thomas Cook etc) do wedding packages although it might not be worth booking that just for the 4 of you.

You can also get in-resort wedding planners - I know there are a couple in Lindos (Rhodes) which is a lovely resort and has a great chapel close to the sea.

Good advice here:

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Legalities of getting married vary massively by country and can require you to be there for some time to give notice of marriage first etc. Many countries the legal and ceremony part are separate events too.