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How to plan a wedding abroad in 10 easy steps

Getting married abroad is becoming an increasingly popular option for many people.  If you live in a country where the weather is notoriously unpredictable then the call of warmer, drier climates is often irresistible.  Getting married in a particularly beautiful or exotic location also further adds to how special and exciting your big day is.  If you’re not convinced yet then here’s the deal breaker, it can often mean less stress and lower costs, what more could you ask for?  Many couples are now choosing to turn their wedding into an extended holiday with all the most important people in their lives invited.

If you’re tempted by the idea but still worried about how you’d go about planning such a monumental event then you’ll be relieved to know it’s not all that difficult, it’s a lot like planning a holiday!  Here is my guide on how to plan a stress-free wedding abroad.

1)      Find a location and check out the legalities attached to getting married there

Depending how soon you want to get married you could even take a holiday out there first to scout out the best locations and accommodation.

2)      Work out a budget and make sure it is definitely realistic.

If you are taking guests with you, work out early on what you are going to pay for and what they need to pay for themselves, speak to them early on as well so that you can gauge interest and have an idea of numbers.

3)      Documentation and forms

If documentation and forms are needed then get them filled out and sorted straight away to avoid wasted time if it falls through later down the line.

4)      Book your wedding package/wedding planner

When you know the numbers for your wedding start looking for your ideal wedding package and accommodation and get it booked. If you book a wedding package you will usually have a wedding planner that comes with it who can sort everything out in your chosen location for you.  Make sure that you get their details so that you can start communicating with them straight away.

5)      Passports

Make sure that you and your guests all have valid passports; some countries require you to have them for at least 6 months in advance of when you’re due to travel.

6)      Wedding dress and groom’s suit

Start looking for your wedding outfits as early as possible, when getting married abroad this can be one of the most stressful parts of the planning!  Sometimes it can take a long time to get wedding dresses fitted and altered so make sure that you’re getting your requests in plenty of time as there’s often a waiting list.

Sophia Tolli Bridal Gown

7)      Organise/book your honeymoon

If you’re going somewhere separate for your honeymoon then make sure you get this planned and organised early on.  Make sure that it is going to be a smooth transfer from your wedding destination to your honeymoon.

8)      Take out insurance

Put your mind at rest by taking out wedding insurance to cover you for your big day.  Make sure you have travel insurance arranged as well to cover you if anything were to happen to your flights or your luggage.  Then if the worst case scenario actually happens and you lose your luggage, wedding outfits and all, the fact that you’re covered by your insurance will take at least a little bit of the sting out of last minute shopping for wedding dresses in Gauteng, South Africa or for the Groom’s suit in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

9)      Invitations

It’s usually best to get invitations out for weddings abroad at least 6 months in advance.  This might seem like a long time ahead, but remember people will want to book accommodation and flights at the best prices possible and book time off work.

10)   Organise the finer details with your wedding planner

Find out what your wedding package includes and decide anything that you want to take yourself, e.g., wedding cake.  If you want to get your hair or make-up done professionally before your wedding then make sure that you’ve booked these kinds of appointments in advance as well.

Author Bio

Sarah Hewitt is a new blogger who blogs about anything and everything. You can contact her via her Twitter page

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Pros and Cons of a Destination Wedding

More and more couples today are looking at destination weddings for their special day.  At first glance they seem like the perfect choice because you get to enjoy your wedding in the location of your dreams.  There are some negatives to consider though.

Mori Lee Destination Wedding Dress

  • Some people won’t be able to afford to make the trip so your wedding may be smaller than you would like.
  • If your destination wedding is in the same place as your honeymoon you will have all your friends and family with you on this important experience.
  • Planning can be difficult since you are so far away from the wedding location.

If you have the time and money to do it right, there are few things more exciting than a destination wedding, but you really have to make sure you plan out every detail ahead of time because you won’t be able to make changes at the last minute.

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Trends in Wedding Favors

Wedding favors are an age old tradition of offering small gifts as a gesture of appreciation to guests at your wedding. Over the years the styles and types of wedding favors have changed and it’s become increasingly difficult to keep up with what’s ‘in’ and what isn’t. It is important to note that although favor trends come and go you should always aim to personalise the gifts. If you have received wedding favors before you may have found that they aren’t always particularly useful and sometimes just end up as drawer fillers at home. For your own wedding day you’re going to want something that they’ll keep as a memento, that is why personalisation is great. Jonathan Goodyear who has worked for a number of wedding planners in Johannesburg says that “don’t look for just another generic gift; look for something that relates to you and the style of the wedding- a little something to remember it by” so bear this in mind when you’re searching for your favors.

Aqueous Bunting Banner - wedding favors

In their earlier days, wedding favors were given among European aristocrats and the gift was usually sugar cubes in trinket boxes. Back then sugar represented wealth and was much more costly than today. This wouldn’t go down too well with your guests in a modern setting but a sugar filled treat will. Chocolates, cakes, and other sweets will always win people over and can easily be customized to match your wedding style and personality. They are a timeless gift that can be enjoyed by anyone.

If you’re looking for a gift that is a little more long term than something like chocolates then succulents are 2013s newest trend. These plants have thicker, fleshier parts than normal meaning that they can better retain water making them very easy to care for. So how can they be personalized? You can swap and match their containers as you choose, or maybe even purchase containers with the individual names of your guests or something unique on each one. The choice is yours. These wonderful gifts will be able to be enjoyed by anyone and won’t find their way into the bin.

This one is a little unusual, but if you’re looking for a unique favor it might be for you. Blankets, throws and pashminas will be a welcome gift for your guests, especially if the wedding is on a cold winter’s day. Conversely if it’s a hot summer’s day, present your guests with fans to keep them cool. To personalize why not try having the bride and grooms initials embroidered onto the blanket, or put onto the fan? This is another gift that can be used time and time again, long after the wedding is over.

On your wedding day give a little something to someone or somewhere that needs it most. You can choose a charity that is closest to your heart and give favors that are symbols of that charity. Many different charities offer different types of favors for a donation, so check what your preferred charity has to offer.

These are just some routes you could go down when choosing your wedding favour, but there are no rules. Try and keep it unique and personal, something you would like to receive on a wedding day and make sure it reflects your wedding!