Home or away? The pros and cons of getting married abroad
The decision about whether to get married in your home country or hold your ceremony abroad is the key to all your wedding planning. Although getting married abroad for many couples is a dream, there are certain issues which hold them back.
For every drawback to a wedding abroad, there is usually an exotic positive, but at these early stages it pays to think things through to make sure you really get the wedding for you.
This list of the pros and cons of getting married abroad should help you pinpoint what really matters to you and provide the foundations to help you start planning your wedding.
The pros of getting married abroad
Choosing to get married abroad means the world is your oyster. The choices are almost endless and you have far more scope for innovation and creativity than you would at home.
Many couples choose to get married abroad to make sure they have great weather for their wedding. A wedding abroad in a hot climate greatly lessens the chance of rain-squashed hair and a muddy dress on your big day.
Believe it or not weddings abroad can be a lot cheaper than getting married at home. Although you do have greater transport costs, you are still likely to save money. Many hotels and package companies provide excellent value deals. The expense of weddings at home can quickly spiral with hundreds of guests, meals, drinks and evening parties.
Holding your wedding abroad can also be a lot less stressful. Many packages include a lot of the wedding co-ordination. There will usually be a lot fewer guests to organise. Your wedding abroad can easily be very simple, even with just the two of you if you wish.
You can combine your wedding abroad with your honeymoon and a holiday with your nearest and dearest if you wish.
The cons of getting married abroad
One of the main things which puts couples of getting married abroad, and understandably, is that they are usually limited as to the number of guests they can invite. It is common to ask very close family and friends to join you for your marriage abroad, but beyond that it is a lot to ask other people to pay out and often isn’t practical. Couples may feel guilty about this. One thing to remember is that getting married abroad is an increasingly common choice which people are used to. Also, a popular way around this is to hold a party and/or blessing when you return home so that all your friends and family can be included in your celebration.
Some people may worry that by getting married abroad they are missing out on the traditional wedding. Remember though, that there is no typical wedding abroad. Although the stereotypical idea of getting married abroad is a ceremony on the beach, it is just as possible to have a white wedding in a French chateau.
By planning your wedding abroad from afar, you are less likely to be able to check out the venue beforehand and you may worry about things going wrong. If you do decide to marry abroad look out for testimonials from other couples who have married there. Also make sure that you keep in touch with a contact at your destination or hotel. They should be able to reassure you.
Hopefully this has clarified some thoughts and allayed a few fears about getting married abroad. Time to start planning!