A wedding abroad is a romantic and memorable way to begin a life together. It could be one of the greatest moments of your life, or it could be one of those embarrassing stories you tell your friends some years later. There is a lot that goes into making a wedding abroad a special day and there are some things that not everyone takes into consideration. So, if you’re thinking about a wedding abroad here are a few things for you to keep in mind while you’re planning:
Time To Prepare
There is a lot to plan for a wedding abroad – not only for the happy couple, but the guests, too – so, the earlier you make your plans and send out the invitations the more time everyone has to get everything ready. Accommodation especially is something that a lot of guests have difficulty sorting out on their own, so giving them time to look around and consider what they can afford will guarantee more guests that will attend. Getting organised earlier is also a great way to avoid panic. If anything goes wrong it’s good to know that there’s enough time to put everything back on track.
The Weather
When thinking about our wedding abroad a lot of us imagine sauntering down a tropical beach with our loved one, white gossamer gowns fluttering in the breeze, warm sand between our toes and the sunset at our backs. Very few people picture a heatwave or tropical storm as their ideal wedding weather, but if you don’t check ahead that might be exactly what you’re in for. Before booking the location and day of your wedding you should take a look at the weather and typical climate of your chosen location. Think about what sort of temperatures everyone would be most comfortable in and make sure you and your guests know how to dress appropriately. As much as you might love that waist cinching Vera Wang ball gown, fainting from heatstroke is definitely not romantic.
Getting There And Back
There’s a lot more to getting married abroad than getting whisked onto a plane to paradise. There’s a lot that you need to organise in addition to your ticket. If you plan to carry your dress on the plane as hand luggage then you need to clear it with the airline beforehand. The rules about what you can and can’t take with you can differ depending on who you’re flying with. Also, if you plan to drive to the airport, you need to think about your airport parking. You can book beforehand with the airline or, if you want to save a bit of money, you could find cheap airport parking by looking at airport parking deals online and booking as early as possible.
Paperwork and Legalities
This might be the most boring part of getting married but it’s the most important and if you don’t get it right you could end your wedding without actually getting married. Different countries have different laws about marriage, so read up on what sort of documents you might need. Otherwise, you might need to get officially married at home after your ceremony abroad.