Destination weddings are becoming more popular, there’s something magical about the idea of escaping normal life completely to returning with your fiance as a married couple.

With the current coronavirus pandemic, a lot of people are rethinking their plans of having a big traditional wedding at home and choosing to elope instead, or having a smaller wedding abroad with fewer guests next year.

Here are a few reasons that you might decide to marry abroad.

It could actually save you money

It is common for people to dismiss travel as unaffordable without sitting down to think about the costs. Not everybody has a huge budget for their wedding but if you are considering spending money on a traditional English wedding then the chances are you can afford a wedding abroad. Many countries in Europe have a much lower cost of living than the UK (especially in Eastern Europe), therefore even with the added extra costs of flights and accommodation, it can still be more budget friendly to marry in a different country. I’ve taken many weekend trips to European cities and spent far less money than if I were at home doing the same things (dining out, going to bars and other leisure activities, for example). The downside is that your guests will likely have to spend more money on travel, that they wouldn’t normally be spending if you married at home.

With wedding venues charging per head the easiest way to rack up the cost of your wedding is by adding on lots of guests. If you are allowing ‘plus ones’ and children then you can see how the cost can go through the roof. If you marry abroad you’re more likely to keep your head count lower and have your closest friends and family there with you to celebrate rather than inviting work colleagues and distant friends who you feel you should invite. The less close you are to people the less likely they are to attend a wedding abroad (therefore they will understand not being invited!), whereas your close friends will be delighted at the invite of an overseas holiday with you.

If you’re planning to have a honeymoon then you could even combine your wedding with your honeymoon and hen/stag do so the costs are combined and for a truly unforgettable overseas wedding experience.

You will likely also save money by not buying lots of personalised one use items. You are restricted with how much stuff you can take with you so you are far less likely to spend money on things like personalised robes and hangers, wedding favours, buying the guests flip flops for dancing in, personalised glasses for the happy couple, etc. All of these added extras can really rack up the cost of a wedding and it is unlikely they will get used again.

Extended celebrations

Whilst a wedding abroad is more likely to mean that some people can’t attend, those who can will likely be around for a few days so you can make your wedding trip into a little holiday with your favourite people.

Imagine waking up the morning after your wedding and being able to explore a new town, go diving in the sea or have a beach barbecue in the sunshine. Exciting!

The weather

Good weather can’t be guaranteed anywhere but let’s be honest, in the UK we have a reputation for rain and unpredictable weather. If you choose a country that is know for better weather, you are much more likely to have a warm wedding, even winter weddings can be warm and feel like summertime. In warm countries you’re much more likely to get that sunset you’ve been dreaming of.

Wedding destination ideas

A few places that I’ve been to that I think would make for a perfect wedding destination and would absolutely love to photograph a wedding at.

The Dolomites, Italy

A recent trip to the Dolomites and I fell in love! The South Tyrol region is absolutely stunning with beautiful mountains, woodland and vineyards all over. The region formerly belonged to Austria (until 1919) so it’s a really interesting mixture of Austrian and Italian culture and the language most widely spoken is German. The neighbouring region of Belluno is also said to be stunning.

Good news, British nationals can marry in Italy. You must fill in a Nulla Osta application form and there is a law stating that females whom have been divorced cannot marry in Italy within 300 days of the divorce.

Tallinn, Estonia

The capital of Estonia is a gorgeously colourful, friendly city and would make a wonderful marriage destination.

British nationals can marry in Estonian but you may need to acquire a certificate of no impediment and some further documents. You will also need to have been living in Estonia for 3 days prior.

Vilnius, Lithuania

Vilnius has 28 churches just in the old town itself. Whilst I was there I saw numerous weddings and wedding photoshoots happening, it seems the old town is a popular choice for Lithuanians with all the beautiful churches. And it happens to be a stunning city.

To get married in Lithuania at least one of the individuals to be married must be either a Lithuanian citizen, a resident of Lithuania, or have Lithuanian ancestry so it isn’t possible for just anyone. Perhaps you have a Lithuanian great great grandma? If so, lucky you! Go and get married in Vilnius!

Naples, Italy

I also absolutely fell in love with Naples when I visited in 2019. I had heard some negative comments but to me it was just so exciting, full of atmosphere, architecture and culture. It’s definitely more of a nitty gritty city so if you’re looking for a tranquil paradise wedding then Naples won’t be for you, but if you’re a busy city (and pizza!) lover then, like me, you might just adore Napoli. The graffitied walls and motorcycles would make a quirky backdrop for your couple shots if you’re a couple who love the city.

Udaipur, India

India holds a special place in my heart. Although Udaipur isn’t necessarily my favourite place in India, it strikes me as an amazing city to get married. There are lakes galore and you can spend a lot of time on rooftops with amazing views. I find the light in India just magical too, with beautiful sunsets.

What’s the con? You can’t just decide to marry in India. You have to prove that one of you has lived in the country for 30 days prior to the wedding application and provide a number of other documentations. Knowing how difficult it can be to even book a train in India then I imagine it’s not the easiest process but I’m sure it will be worth it for a spectacular Indian wedding!

There are also visas and vaccinations required to visit India, which adds an extra hurdle, especially if you’re bringing a number of guests.

Slovenia

Wow, Slovenia is a beautiful country. It might not be the best choice if your main requirement is perfect weather as the summers can be very hot with thunderstorms occurring with little notice. But the country is stunning with mountains, forests, fairytale castles, lakes… I could go on.

Lake Bled is a fairly popular marriage destination. I only visited Lake Bled in the autumn of 2015 and it was beautiful but I have heard that it is very busy in the summertime. As well as hotels weddings can take place at the church on the island in the middle of the lake. Tradition says that to ensure a happy marriage the groom has to carry the bride up the 99 stones steps to the church.

The capital city, Ljubljana is a quiet, but quirky, city with plenty to see and do and not crowded with tourists (yet!).

British nationals are welcome to marry in Slovenia, you will need to fill out some documents and a certificate of no impediment.

The Algarve, Portugal

I haven’t explored much of the Algarve but I have been to Faro and it is very picturesque. There are supposed to be some stunning beaches in the Algarve and it would be a beautiful place to marry. It’s also the sunniest part of Portugal but doesn’t get as hot as the South of Spain in the summer because of the Atlantic breeze. It could be the perfect place for a beach wedding in the winter.

Legally Birtish nationals can get married in Portugal, the ceremony must be conducted in Portuguese and only with the required documents. One thing to note is if you’re having a Catholic wedding, once you get approval from your priest your wedding must then take place within three months.

One of the downsides to marrying abroad is that there is more to think about and organise. Restrictions and legalities, visas and the language hurdle. If you’re not able to speak some of the language of the country to plan to marry in then you may want to hire a wedding planner to take care of things for you.

You might find that some of your invited guests cannot make the commitment of travelling abroad to a wedding, so you could end up losing a few guests because of this.

It may be a good idea to ‘plant the seed’ with your family and close friends before you book your wedding abroad, just incase there is someone whose attendance is really important to you but who can’t travel internationally (perhaps for health or visa reasons). Also it’s a must to give your guests plenty of time to save up, plan time off work etc. Flight prices fluctuate massively (as can hotel prices) so affordable travel must be planned in advance.

Remember to thoroughly research the country you are planning to marry in and it’s an absolute must to visit the country before making your decision. There are plenty of groups on social media and online forums so you can chat with other people in the same situation as you. Some countries/regions will have different regulations on different religions marrying so lots of research is essential.

The laws and regulations can change at any time so please don’t take my words too seriously. This information was written in 2020 whilst we are still in the transition period of leaving the European Union so things may change from January 2021 when we have fully left.

Pricing for destination wedding photography within Europe is listed on my pricing page. The collection includes exactly the same as the standard collection with a set fee added on for expenses. You will still receive two photographers so the cost includes all flights, accommodation and any other travel fees we might incur (car hire etc) for the both of us. Travel costs do tend to be a fair bit lower in the winter so therefore the ‘off peak’ fee is lower.

I am a lover of travel so these costs are kept down because I will likely combine the wedding with a trip and explore the area myself, so if my expenses go over the fee I’ve charged then I am happy to put some of my own money into the cost of flights.

For your peace of mind I will always arrive a day or two before the wedding to make sure flight delays etc don’t get in the way and I will book all of my own flights and accommodation so you don’t have to worry about anything. The deposit you make will be the usual £150 plus the travel fee (£500 October-March and £700 April-September inclusive of both photographers).

Weddings outside of Europe will be quoted for on an individual basis as travel costs vary a lot depending on destination.

Good luck with the wedding planning and don’t forget your passport!