Tying the knot overseas is the dream wedding scenario for many couples.  Some even do it on their gap year. Gorgeous weather together with a stunning setting can add to the romance. It gives couples the chance to combine their wedding and honeymoon destination, making it the ultimate marriage package. Like any wedding, there’s a lot to plan but getting hitched abroad has a few added elements to consider.

Budget

The first thing you should do is sit down with your partner and discuss budgets – then you’ll have a complete picture of what kind of wedding you can afford. Factor in all the things you’re likely to pay out for, trying not to leave anything out. Include every potential payout you can think of, such as entertainment, hair and make-up and even travel costs.

Legalities

You need to make sure that a member of staff at or near to your wedding destination can legally and officially marry you. Some couples have a ceremony when they arrive home as well in order to make it official, but this can actually be a benefit if some family members are unable to travel abroad.

Location is key

Image: Badjonni

It’s good to determine what kind of ambience you want to achieve. Las Vegas adds excitement while France offers serenity – Europe is widely considered as one of the best locations to tie the knot, while beach weddings in locations such as Thailand are extremely popular. Considering the time of year will also help you in your location search and the type of wedding you want weather-wise.

It’s all about the dress

Travelling abroad with your beautiful wedding dress can certainly present itself with quite a few difficulties. Keeping your dress pristine for when you arrive at your wedding destination can be difficult – even if it’s a short-haul flight those irritating creases will still manage to work their way in. You can avoid this by using certain storage techniques, and it’s worthwhile planning for this into the trip to ensure that your dress arrives in the perfect condition.

What’s on the menu?

Local delicacies from your chosen wedding destination can be the icing on your wedding cake. It might be worthwhile looking into local cuisine to see what kind of options are available.

The venue

Searching for the perfect wedding venue abroad can be a difficult task. But taking time out to explore where you want the ceremony to be held and where you want a reception is key. Try looking for reviews from other newlyweds or ask around to see if anyone can recommend any venues. Having a beach wedding in the Maldives will set you back around £2,636; something to be considered on top of the price of hotels and flights.

All of these basics can be explored further on Brides Magazine, and you can receive a step by step guide on how to plan your dream wedding.