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Weddings Abroad Guide

Weddings Abroad Guide - How to Get Married Abroad

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Destination Wedding Planning

Our Top 10 Steps for Planning a Successful Destination Wedding.

“Help!…Where do we begin?” Is your mind going around in circles and you’re not sure what to do first or how to start your Destination Wedding Planning?

10 steps for successful destination wedding planning | Image: Lauren & Mark's Small Wedding in Greece | planned by Lefkas Wedding | Photography by Maxeen Kim Photography

Lauren & Mark’s Wedding in Greece

Fantastic…you’re in the right place…we promise we’ll try to guide you through the planning process so everything will start to slot into place!

We’ve broken the destination wedding planning process into 10 very simple high level steps. If you click on the links below, you’ll find a lot more detail to get your teeth stuck into and set you on your way! And of course, if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Step 1 – Be Sure

Be happy and confident with your decision to get married abroad. Alleviate any concerns by being fully aware of the advantages and disadvantages of having a destination wedding.

Fethiye Beach Wedding Turkey by EGG Organisation photography by numbeos.com -Ali & Paul's Real Wedding Story Weddings Abroad Guide

Ali & Paul’s Wedding in Turkey

Top Tip: Download our free Starter Guide which covers the following:

  • what you will need to consider and how destination wedding planning differs from planning a wedding at home,
  • how to be 100% certain getting married abroad is right for you, 
  • the pros and cons of having a wedding abroad,
  • the potential challenges and obstacles that may arise when planning a destination wedding.

Step 2 – Vision and Priorities

To create a wedding that you love and more importantly can afford, we recommend having an honest conversation with your partner to decide what really matters to you and agree on a shared vision and a set of priorities. The answers will will help you stay on track, stay on budget and stay connected throughout the planning process, plus prepare you for any potential destination wedding planning challenges.

Elli & Niall's Bespoke Wedding in Cyprus | Planned by Wonderlust Events | Photography by Anneli Marinovich

Elli & Niall’s Wedding in Cyprus

Top Tip: To help you get clear on the look and feel you would like for your wedding day, our inhouse Destination Wedding Planning Consultant has created the Pre Marriage and Wedding Vision & Priorities Worksheets. These two essential worksheets are part of our Digital Planning Tool Kit (over 30 checklists, spreadsheets and worksheets designed specifically for destination wedding planning – £37) or comes free with our virtual 90 Minute Planning Consultation.

Step 3 – Select Your Destination

Narrow down and select your wedding destination. When doing this make sure you take into consideration when you would like to get married– some destinations are better at certain times of the year!

Best Wedding Locations in Croatia 4. Plitvice Lakes // Robert Pljusces Photography

Top 10 Wedding Locations in Croatia

Top Tip: Be Inspired and let your imagination run wild! Have a big picture vision of your wedding day – e.g. would you like to get married on the beach, have a small intimate day, be surrounded by incredible scenery. If you need inspiration, real wedding stories are always great!

Step 4 – Make Sure It’s Legal

Ensure you understand and can meet the legal requirements for getting married in the country of your choice. We always recommend getting first-hand information from the embassy or consulate of the country where you would like to get married – although websites try to provide up to date information, rules can change.

South Africa Destination Wedding Planning Mini Guide Part 2 | Vanilla Photography

Mini Guide Destination Wedding Planning South Africa

Top Tip: Although a symbolic ceremony / wedding blessing is not a legally recognised marriage ceremony, it is a perfect solution if you are unable to meet the residency and legal requirements in the country where you would like to celebrate your wedding. A blessing is a lovely way to make your destination wedding ceremony highly personalised and unique.

Step 5 – Budget

Set a budget – have an approximate figure of what you would like to spend on your wedding. Even if you have a large budget, always do your research to make sure you’re getting the best value for your money.

K&J's Rustic DIY Wedding South West France Real Destination Wedding Cost Breakdown | Honeydew Moments Photography

K & J’s Wedding in France Destination Wedding Cost Breakdown

Top Tip: An often an overlooked element when planning a wedding abroad is how to make payments to overseas suppliers and how locking in a favourable exchange rate can help save you money.

Step 6 – Your Invite List

Think about your guest list. Determine the size of your wedding – who you would like to celebrate with – will it be just be the two of you, very close family and friends, or a larger celebration. When inviting guests to your wedding, keep them fully informed to ensure coming to your wedding abroad is as easy and effortless as possible.

Large Group Exclusive Use Wedding Abroad Venues - What you Need to Know | Image Daniel & Rebecca's Catholic Wedding Positano Amalfi Coast - Planned by Accent Events - Photography by The Bros Photography

Tips for Booking Exclusive Use Wedding Abroad Venues for Large Groups

Top Tip: Most couples find that having a destination wedding will automatically cut down their guest list, however fewer guests may not necessarily reduce your costs. It’s important to note that many couples carry their wedding celebrations over a number of days and savings made as a result of reduced guest numbers are often put toward covering some of the cost of additional celebrations.

Step 7 – The Right Way to Plan

Decide how you will plan your wedding abroad– do you want to plan it yourself, use a wedding planner, use a tour operator or a use a combination of the above options.

Castle Wedding in the Austrian Alps Charlotte & Oliver | Katrin Kerschbaumer Photography | Stressfree Weddings by SandraM

Charlotte & Oliver’s Wedding in Austria

Top Tip: When considering the different options, take the time to think about what is important to you, for example are you interested in saving money, being stress free or being in control and hands on? You will find each option has both advantages and disadvantages and caters to subtly different needs. One, or even a combination of the above, may prove the most suitable choice. We think it will quickly become apparent which one you feel would be best suited to you.

Step 8 – Getting Help

Select the suppliers (tour operator, wedding planner or individual suppliers) who you will work with to plan your day. Follow our tips on how to choose the right companies to work with.

Mini Guide to weddings in Piedmont Northern Italy // Extraordinary Weddings

Mini Guide – Wedding in Piedmont Northern Italy

Step 9 – Work out the Details

Work on the finer details and the structure and components of your day. This includes selecting your wedding venues and how you would like your day to run.

G & K Real Destination Wedding Cost Breakdown Villa Di Ulignano, Volterra Tuscany | Beatrice Moricci Photography

G & K’s Wedding in Italy Destination Wedding Cost Breakdown

Step 10 – Just In Case

Get yourself covered. We strongly recommend getting wedding abroad insurance – it’s better to be safe than sorry!

To make everything a little easier download our FREE wedding planning checklists, so matter what planning stage your at our essential checklists will help you get it together!

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How to Plan a Wedding Abroad - 10 Simply High Level Steps to Planning a Successful Destination Wedding

Destination Wedding Planning – First Steps

step by step guide to planning a wedding abroad

Our step by step guide will guide you through the all different stages of planning a wedding abroad.

Step by Step Planning Guide

How to Plan

We look at the different ways to organise a wedding abroad, each with its pros and cons. This is a great overview and a good place to begin so everything will start to slot into place!

How to Plan

The Essentials

Our Top 4 Wedding Planning Essentials. Even if you want to take a complete backseat with the organisation of your wedding, it’s important that you personally understand these topics.

The Essentials

The Details

This is for those of you who don’t like sweating the small stuff…even if you’re not a detail person the following are the most important details you won’t to miss.

The Details

Hot Tips!

From my experience, I’d like to offer one little piece of advice…”The planning phase can be just as exciting as your wedding day itself… it definitely lasts a lot longer, so make the most of it and really enjoy it”.

HOT TIPS 10 Steps to planning a successful wedding abroad weddingsabroadguide

Welcome to Weddings Abroad Guide a website dedicated to those planning a destination wedding providing independent information & advice for those planning a wedding abroad.

Digital Wedding Planning Tool Kit - The Essential must have Easy to Follow Checklists, Spreadsheets & Workbooks Guide for a Destination Wedding Abroad by Weddings Abroad Guide

Planning a Wedding Abroad - Easy to follow steps www.weddingsabroadguide.com Learn how you can plan a Destination Wedding www.weddingsabroadguide.com Downloadable Destination Wedding Planning Tools & Checklists www.weddingsabroadguide.com Weddings Abroad Destination Guides & Country Overviews www.weddingsabroadguide.com Top Destination Wedding Tips & Advice www.weddingsabroadguide.comDestination Wedding Etiquette Tips & Advice www.weddingsabroadguide.com Destination Wedding Inspiration, Real Wedding Stories, Films, Styled Shoots www.weddingsabroadguide.comTop 4 Destination Wedding Planning Essentials www.weddingsabroadguide.comDestination Wedding Details all you need to know www.weddingsabroadguide.comFind Destination Wedding Suppliers worldwide www.weddingabroadguide.com Find your perfect Destination Wedding Venue www.weddingsabroadguide.comWant to know more about getting married abroad? Ask a question here. www.weddingsabroadguide.com

Mix & Match Bridesmaid Dresses from Dessy Group

Honeymoon & Wedding Gift List by Holidaysplease member of the Destination Wedding Directory by Weddings Abroad Guide

We can connect you with Destination Wedding Couples - Let us help you Grow your Wedding Business.- Find out more about how to be become a member our Destination Wedding Directory.

The Ultimate Destination Wedding Planning Checklist - Download your FREE Planning Tools Today!  // weddingsabroadguide.com

Planning!

Digital Wedding Planning Tool Kit - The Essential must have Easy to Follow Checklists, Spreadsheets & Workbooks Guide for a Destination Wedding Abroad by Weddings Abroad Guide

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