It’s the all important question…what is the average wedding price abroad?
So let’s get to the bottom line, what will it cost you to get married abroad?
Firstly, I’m going to jump straight to price as I’m guessing you may be at this page because you typed into a search engine “what does it cost to get married abroad” but actually this figure is not what you really need to know! More on that in a bit….
As it currently stands, the latest survey figures state that the average cost of a wedding abroad is £14,200 (bridebook.co.uk 2018 National Wedding Survey).
With the average cost of a wedding in the UK being £30,000 this means you could pay less than half the cost of a UK wedding if you decide to get married abroad.
Obviously like all things this is just the average and if you decide you would like to have a larger more lavish wedding your wedding price abroad will increase.
Real Wedding Budget Breakdown Costs
Providing the average cost of a wedding abroad which has been collated by market research surveys can be useful, however averages don’t tell the whole story and in many cases this figure will be way off the mark!
Although it may sound simple, I believe the cost of a wedding abroad is what you are willing and able to spend! With so many variables, the cost of getting married abroad will actually depend on your individual circumstances. The wedding price abroad will increase along with your guests numbers and wish list.
Many couples find it useful to look at examples of weddings that may be comparable, in terms of destination and guest numbers to gain an initial idea of costs. I recommend browsing our Real Wedding Budget Breakdowns, to gather real wedding abroad costs from real couples.
Does a wedding abroad cost less than a wedding at home?
If you go by the market research figures above – YES, having a wedding abroad is cheaper than getting married at home.
However getting married abroad doesn’t automatically mean that it will cost you less and in some cases it may actually be more expensive.
The primary factor that makes weddings abroad less expensive is the lower number of guests that couples have attending their weddings. It is not necessarily that individual service providers cost less abroad than they do at home. But…what many couples find is that if you are getting married abroad you are likely to get better value for your money.
When looking at wedding abroad costs, I think it’s also important to note upfront that when you choose to get married abroad, your wedding often becomes more than just one day. Many couples make the most of having all their guests in the one location and carry their wedding celebrations over a number of days. If you would like to have additional celebrations you will also need to factor these in and decide if these will fall under your wedding abroad budget.
Setting a wedding budget
The first step that I recommend when setting your wedding abroad budget is for you and your partner to have an honest conversation about:
- What amount you can afford to spend on your wedding abroad
- What amount you are comfortable spending
Once you have this figure in mind, this is what your wedding abroad should cost not what the average figure states!
You will also need to set some general rules about what is included in your wedding abroad budget.
For example will your total wedding budget include such things as:
- Flights
- Accommodation
- Travel Expenses
- Honeymoon
- Home Party
Researching wedding supplier costs
Once you have an initial wedding budget in mind, it is at this stage you can then start researching the cost of key wedding suppliers.
A fast and simple way to collect quotes is to use our Destination Wedding Cost Estimator.
Choosing which companies and destination wedding vendors to work with is probably the most important decision you’ll make. Therefore, it’s absolutely critical that you do your research properly and don’t rush in too quickly.
Guidelines to help you evaluate and select your wedding abroad suppliers are outlined here.
The factors that have the biggest impact on your wedding abroad budget
Where to spend and where to pull back is a matter of personal preference however, as a general rule the following four factors will have the biggest impact on your budget. If you are looking to maximise your wedding budget understanding and looking carefully at any of the factors below, can help you make big savings.
1. Wedding abroad destination and location
When selecting your destination there are a number of factors that should take into consideration.
2. Number of Guests attending your wedding abroad
Most couples find that having a destination wedding will automatically cut down their guest list and having fewer guests will save you money. However you do need to be mindful that having a wedding abroad will be more expensive for your guest to attend than if you were having your wedding at home.
When planning a wedding abroad, I do think it is important to think about the cost to your guests. My advice is to make your guests’ experience of attending your wedding abroad as easy and effortless as possible.
3. Your wedding date
Think carefully about when you would like to get married abroad and choose your date wisely. The time or the year or the day of the week you choose to get married will also have an impact on your budget.
4. How to plan your wedding abroad
How you plan your wedding abroad will have an impact on your budget. Many couples assume that the DIY route will be cheaper but this is not always necessarily true. The wedding abroad price will depend on a number of different factors including how personalised you would like your day to be.
What couples going down the DIY route need to take into account is how time consuming planning a wedding abroad can be, how ineffective their research can be due to their lack of knowledge of the wedding industry and the suppliers in the destination where they plan to get married.
Cost Considerations
If cost is a consideration in your decision to get married abroad there are some excellent wedding abroad packages that offer excellent value for money. For a detailed list of weddings abroad prices in some of the more popular wedding destinations click here.
Also becoming increasingly popular are Gift List Services where your family and friends can contribute to the cost of your Wedding and Honeymoon abroad. This is a great way of cutting your wedding costs. Many Travel Companies provide this service as well as a number of independent websites.
Understanding wedding abroad costs in more detail
Watch the conversation I had with Destination Wedding Planner Nadia Wood from Amulet Events. We look at how as a wedding planner how she approaches the question “what does it cost to get married abroad”, the elements of a wedding abroad that will typically be your biggest spend and the best ways to maximise your budget.
If cost is not the main motivating factor in your decision to get married abroad you will definitely be rewarded with the added bonus of getting excellent value for money. Your money will stretch a lot further abroad than it will at home.
As an example in Continental Europe, you will pay a fraction of the cost for excellent local wines and exceptional 5 course meals will delight your guests and your pocket!
