How to Plan Your Wedding Abroad

Many couples who get engaged decide that they would like to plan a completely unique wedding to give themselves and their guests a day to truly remember.  From themed weddings to shabby chic inspired décor, there really are many ideas to set your big day apart from the rest.  One popular trend that many couples dream of is a destination wedding abroad; in fact, nearly one in four couples get hitched overseas.  However, rather than simply jumping on a plane and taking your vows, there are many things to plan and consider.  Here are some key tips to keep in mind if you are planning your wedding abroad.

Check the Marriage Laws in Your Country of Choice
Before you go booking anything, it would be wise to check whether a marriage would be legal in your chosen country.  You will need to contact the relevant foreign embassy to find this out, and you will need to know whether the marriage would be valid back home.  For example, if you wanted to get married in France, there are a few requirements that may cross it off the list of possibilities.  For a religious ceremony in France, you already need to be legally married in your home country.  Also, note that any paperwork will all be issued in French.  If it sounds too complicated to have a legal ceremony in your chosen destination, it might be an idea to have a registry office wedding at home and a blessing overseas.

Use a Wedding Planner
Planning a wedding in your own country is difficult enough, and this is the case even when you can visit the venue and actually speak to any caterers and entertainment providers in your own language!  If you plan to have your ceremony in a non-native speaking country, it can be worth the extra cost to invest in a wedding planner.  A wedding planner can help to provide suggestions for the perfect wedding location, as well as barter on your behalf.  A good wedding planner will have plenty of experience and will have contacts on hand for the best hotels, photographers, entertainment packages, etc.  The last thing you want to do is book a flight and leave the essential details to chance.

Find Accommodation for Both Yourselves and Your Guests
Once you have decided that you would rather get married in the guaranteed sunshine, it is time to make a list of possible destinations and find suitable accommodation for both yourselves and the guests who you wish to invite.  For example, Mykonos weddings have become popular of late because the island combines areas of natural beauty with a great nightlife and plenty of local culture to immerse yourself in.  This also makes it a perfect choice for a honeymoon.  If you plan on inviting family only, the guest numbers could still reach in the double figures, so these villas are perfect for weddings as they can house up to 24 guests.  A company like Blue Villas also guarantees the best price around, which is great for when you want to save on costs.

Consider the Weather and Time of Year
The destination you choose may have certain festivals and national holidays which make the demand for flights and accommodation unusually high, so it is worth doing a quick search before choosing your wedding date.  It is a good idea to pick a date outside of peak season so that you have a better choice of flights and hotels.  However, you also want to keep in mind that some countries have extremely high temperatures or even monsoon seasons at certain times of the year.  For example, The Far East and the Caribbean experience their monsoon/hurricane season in September, and in India, it falls between July and September.  The last thing you want is for your wedding to be a complete washout due to lack of careful planning, so double check these details before you book anything.

Make a Check List of What to Pack
Once your date has been set, and everything is booked (congratulations!), you will need to make a checklist of what to pack so that nothing is left behind.  Obviously, you will not forget your wedding dress, but you may need to check with the airline as to whether you can book it in as extra hand baggage in its own bag or box.  This may come at an extra cost, so factor that into your flight budget.  You also need to make sure you bring all legal documents, such as a valid passport (you will need at least six months left on this), your birth certificates, any required visas, the rings (the rings!) and of course a copy of your vows if you have chosen to write your own.

Planning a wedding abroad can mean a lot more time and effort is involved, but the experience and the beautiful wedding photos to follow will make it all worthwhile.