thinking about getting married abroad

cowhands

Morning all, (I searched for similar questions but cant seem to find my anwers - I hope this post is ok)

We just got engaged at the weekend - exteremely surprised and delighted!It couldnt have been any more romantic for me!

So as its all new, Im very excited so inbetween enjoying the sparkle of my ring and filling my friends in with all the details we are thinking about getting married abroad.

I wonder how this will go down with friends and family as there will be a cost to travel to our wedding. Am I being too selfish asking people to come abroad to celebrate my wedding?Such I just get married here in Ireland and keep everyone happy.

We were thinking of Portugal or Malta in late 2012 by the way.

I also dont have a clue where to start. Our budget will be about €10,000. I dont plan on spending any more than €500 on my dress and accessories, and would prefer simple flowers rather than masses and masses of expenisve roses etc. Would love if about 30 friends and family came but I dont know if that will happen.
We would love to go on a caribbean cruise for a honeymoon, and have a party at home afterwards for anyone who couldnt make the actual wedding.
I wonder am I being realistic with my budget? Cant seem to find any costs associated with such a wedding so if anyone can help me I would be very grateful.
Also would love any other tips/advice/opinions on getting married abroad that you may have.

Thanks in advance.

Orlaith

bryaner

I was at a wedding in Dubrovnik Croatia and it was fabulous, beautiful part of the world ,friendly people and first class service..

cowhands

bryaner wrote: »

I was at a wedding in Dubrovnik Croatia and it was fabulous, beautiful part of the world ,friendly people and first class service..

Thanks bryaner, I would consider it to be honest. Will try look into it. any idea of prices etc?

bryaner

I was just an invitee so not much of an idea of the wedding prices (the groom had a wedding planner who was brilliant putting everything together) prices for eating out and drinking were like high end mediterranean prices but well worth
it. I know up north Croatia is a good deal cheaper

barbiegirl

When planning a wedding abroad, which we did in 2008, you need to take a couple of things into account
1. Pick somewhere that is easy and cheap to get to. Think where does Ryan Air fly?
2. The area must have a good selection of accomodation, from cheap to expensive in order that people feel they can spend as much or as little as they want.
3. If you are going to take the guests to and from the airport, pick one flight out and one flight home, give the details for that flight, but make sure people know they are also free to make their own arrangements.
4. Set up a free website with all the details on one of the wedding websites.
5. Send save the date cards to everyone you are inviting 12 t0 10 months in advance, so that those who want to go have a choice as to whether to combine your wedding with their main holiday.
6. Don't get involved directly in booking flights, hotels, etc. Give lots of information but leave it at that, otherwise you become the travel rep
7. The area should also be somewhere that people want to go
8. Don't get offenbded if certain people cannot come, it deosn't mean they don't love you, only that they can't afford either the trip or the time off work.
9. Try to take some account of the guests food tastes, however don't compromise too much as they wille expect it to be a bit different
10. Relax and know that so long as you are married at the end of it, any disasters that happen along the way will make great stories in years to come.

Your budget for 30 people is perfectly reasonable. So congrats and have fun planning.

cowhands

barbiegirl wrote: »

When planning a wedding abroad, which we did in 2008, you need to take a couple of things into account
1. Pick somewhere that is easy and cheap to get to. Think where does Ryan Air fly?
2. The area must have a good selection of accomodation, from cheap to expensive in order that people feel they can spend as much or as little as they want.
3. If you are going to take the guests to and from the airport, pick one flight out and one flight home, give the details for that flight, but make sure people know they are also free to make their own arrangements.
4. Set up a free website with all the details on one of the wedding websites.
5. Send save the date cards to everyone you are inviting 12 t0 10 months in advance, so that those who want to go have a choice as to whether to combine your wedding with their main holiday.
6. Don't get involved directly in booking flights, hotels, etc. Give lots of information but leave it at that, otherwise you become the travel rep
7. The area should also be somewhere that people want to go
8. Don't get offenbded if certain people cannot come, it deosn't mean they don't love you, only that they can't afford either the trip or the time off work.
9. Try to take some account of the guests food tastes, however don't compromise too much as they wille expect it to be a bit different
10. Relax and know that so long as you are married at the end of it, any disasters that happen along the way will make great stories in years to come.

Your budget for 30 people is perfectly reasonable. So congrats and have fun planning.

Thanks a million barbiegirl!!!
There is some really excellent advice there!

tinkerbell

First of all congrats!

I think that if you intend having a wedding abroad, you need to take into account the following:

Not everyone will go because of expense, they want to use their hols for themselves, etc
Pick a place where you think people won't mind travelling to
Be prepared NOT to get presents from people if you travel abroad. Unless your guests can swing a €30 airfare, then it could very well turn out expensive for your guests.
Remember to consult with airline if you can have wedding dress as carryon!

dan_d

As most of my friends seem to be getting married abroad, can I expand slightly on barbiegirl's excellent advice...
As said, pick somewhere with a variety of accomodation. For example we were at a wedding in Tuscany, in an area near Florence last year, which was excellent as there was a large number of airports to fly into (Milan,Rome,Florence,Pisa,Nice etc, + a bit of driving), giving you choice in the flights (and prices), and accommodation varied from the local hotels in the villages, to renting a farmhouse between 10 (which we did) which works out very cheap for your guests. In contrast there's another wedding in Dubrovnik coming up. It's beautiful, but it's at high season in the city. Flights are prohibitive, as you can only really fly directly there, and hotels are not the cheapest - the wedding is in the city centre. We've settled for booking an apartment between 6 - it's the same price for 3 nights in the 3 bed apartment, as it was for 7 nights in a 5 bed farmhouse in Tuscany.
Malta, while again beautiful, is expensive I believe. Classmates from college are getting married there in Sept. Friends of ours have been invited, and have turned it down because they just can't afford it on top of 2 other foreign weddings this year, and because the flights are very expensive apparently.
One other thing - if you go for anywhere a bit rural (the Algarve) make sure you have enough transport for everyone, particularly elderly relatives and those who prefer not to drive abroad.That has come up as an issue before.
That's my point of view as a guest anyway! I know the Tuscany wedding was arranged as a package through an Italian wedding planner...I'm sure there are websites out there with more details on them.

cowhands

tinkerbell wrote: »

First of all congrats!

I think that if you intend having a wedding abroad, you need to take into account the following:

Not everyone will go because of expense, they want to use their hols for themselves, etc
Pick a place where you think people won't mind travelling to
Be prepared NOT to get presents from people if you travel abroad. Unless your guests can swing a €30 airfare, then it could very well turn out expensive for your guests.
Remember to consult with airline if you can have wedding dress as carryon!

Yes had thought about the expense it will put on others so we are not going to get married in fiji or the caribbean etc we will stick to easy access Europe side. Also would not expect anyone who travelled so far with us to give presents at all. We are pretty established anyway, own house and contents (prehaps too much as I need a massive clear out!). and will manage to save for our wedding with a small credit union loan I think so would not dream of asking or expecting anything from anyone.

I come from a large family, my dad has 13 brothers and sisters and each one has at least 2 or 3 children so Im hoping at least 40% might be able to make it to the wedding. We will have a party at home anyway to celebrate with everyone together.

Great advice about the carry one luggage! thanks!

Would it be a good idea to maybe put the word out amoungst family and friends that we are thinking of getting married abroad and see how people feel about it, would they be prepared to travel to join us? After all, at the end of the day I just want my family and friends around us when we get married no matter where it is.

cowhands

dan_d wrote: »

As most of my friends seem to be getting married abroad, can I expand slightly on barbiegirl's excellent advice...
As said, pick somewhere with a variety of accomodation. For example we were at a wedding in Tuscany, in an area near Florence last year, which was excellent as there was a large number of airports to fly into (Milan,Rome,Florence,Pisa,Nice etc, + a bit of driving), giving you choice in the flights (and prices), and accommodation varied from the local hotels in the villages, to renting a farmhouse between 10 (which we did) which works out very cheap for your guests. In contrast there's another wedding in Dubrovnik coming up. It's beautiful, but it's at high season in the city. Flights are prohibitive, as you can only really fly directly there, and hotels are not the cheapest - the wedding is in the city centre. We've settled for booking an apartment between 6 - it's the same price for 3 nights in the 3 bed apartment, as it was for 7 nights in a 5 bed farmhouse in Tuscany.
Malta, while again beautiful, is expensive I believe. Classmates from college are getting married there in Sept. Friends of ours have been invited, and have turned it down because they just can't afford it on top of 2 other foreign weddings this year, and because the flights are very expensive apparently.
One other thing - if you go for anywhere a bit rural (the Algarve) make sure you have enough transport for everyone, particularly elderly relatives and those who prefer not to drive abroad.That has come up as an issue before.
That's my point of view as a guest anyway! I know the Tuscany wedding was arranged as a package through an Italian wedding planner...I'm sure there are websites out there with more details on them.

Excellent, thanks so much for giving your point of view from a guest. Thats exactly what I need, I really hate to put anyone out, or omit anyone who wanted to come but cant afford it, but then again myself and OH really dont have any passion for getting married in Ireland so its either keep everyone else happy or just do what we want. Its hard to make to a decision.
Transport is a good point, will have to try and remember that! And again thanks for the suggestion of accomodation, will have to think about where people would be happy to stay and what they would be expected to pay!