mrs2be.ie

[jayne]

Hi,
I've just recently got engaged, but haven't planned anything yet.
My h2b suggested that we get married abroad, which is something I had never considered.
I was just wondering, for those of you that are gettting married abroad, why did you choose to?
What are the pros and cons? Is it hard to plan a wedding abroad from Ireland.
Where would you recommend?

Thanks,
jayne

[mrs kefjo]

Hi Jayne,

We're getting married in Canada because that's where I'm from originally, and where all my family is. But we're also doing a blessing and reception over here too. I'm sure you're asking more in terms of getting married in Portugal or Italy or somewhere though... But so far it's been relatively easy to plan (ask me again in a few months and I'm sure I'll take it all back!)

Good luck with whatever you decide... just remember to enjoy yourselves!

[mrsOtobe]

I was the same actually, I hadn't ever really considered a wedding abroad - it was my H2B that was keen on it. Once we spoke about it, I was fairly quickly won over. Main reasons for going abroad are:

- sunshine!

- we can get away with a much smaller wedding - numbers would get totally out of control if we had it in Ireland

- it will be nice to spend some decent quality time with close friends and family all together

- we thought it would be a lot cheaper (that's not working out to be the case though!! Although we are able to afford an open bar for the guests though which was something we didnt expect to be able to do)

- to do something different


We have a wedding planner too. I think it makes sense for most people getting married abroad to use a wedding planner. We found it useful initially to contact a few planners to see what venues they suggested. Although one suggestion I would have is that if you are getting married in a hotel, check if they have their own internal wedding co-ordinator (they often do) - they will organise everything for the reception and food etc and usually have contacts for bands, hair and make up, florists etc. So depending on the situation, you may not need to pay for an external wedding planner as they will duplicate a lot of the work that the hotel will do. Suss out how good and helpful the hotel are likely to be before deciding on a wedding planner. That said you might still need one to help you with church or other arrangements. We are going for one because we're not getting married in a hotel and need help arranging a whole range of stuff. It's also nice just for piece of mind to have someone over there who you can run things past when you need to.

It's probably slightly harder to arrange a wedding abroad, but not that much more. The hardest thing I've found is not being able to just pop down to the venue to take a look around and help picture a few things in my mind. But we're going back over soon to look at the venue again to help iron out a few details. The pros of that side of it is an excuse for an extra holiday!

We initially looked at Italy but found it a little expensive and it was hard to find somewhere that suited us so we switched to Portugal. Its that bit cheaper and seemed immediately to be very flexible to our needs. (That's only our experience though, I know several people who got married in Italy and had a great time). The other reason for choosing Portugal was cheap flights in Faro and only a short flight time. So that was also out of consideration for the guests. We're conscious of trying to keep things as cheap as possible for them seeing as we are asking them to travel.

[mrsOtobe]

I'd recommened trying to go to the location

[secondtimelucky]

We're getting married in the UK, because that's where most of the family is.

The hardest part is the fact that we have to be resident in the UK for 7 full days (ie not counting travelling days), then we have to give notice of our intention to marry, then we have to wait a minimum of 15 days before we can get married. As h2b doesn't get paid holidays, this is adding directly to the cost of the wedding.

In other countries, the residency period is shorter, and there's no notice period (in Italy you have to be resident for 4 days, but then can get married immediately).

[secondtimelucky]

We're going to go over there for Christmas/New Year, on the basis that h2b would be having time off then anyway, so it reduces the cost a little. We're then going to come home, and go back again for the wedding in May. Once we've given notice we have to get married within the year - if we don't, the whole procedure has to start all over again!!!

[sunshine]

I got married in Italy a year ago and I have to say it was great, husband and I loved every minute of the day. We choose to get married aboard for a number of reasons as husband has a lot of relations out in Italy so decided to go there, we wanted a small wedding and also to get away and do something different from the norm. We wanted something very relaxed and you certainly get that when you go away as everyone gets to bond and spend a few days together so its more of a wedding weekend as opposed to just your wedding day. Plus our wedding photos are fab with the beautiful scenery behind us. When some of our engaged friends came to our wedding they decided to also get married away when they saw how relaxed it was. Since then I've been at 2 more weddings in Italy and one in Spain and all have been great. Plus if you choose the right month your nearly always guaranteed good weather. So it really depends on you and your husband to be and what you want from your day. Whatever you decide you'll have a great day

[Bloem]

I'm not from Ireland, my h2b is. So, in a way I am getting married abroad as well. I wanted to get married here, instead of The Netherlands, because the scenery here is just breath taking I only have a small family and they are all flying over for our big day

[engaged]

We wanted to do it as had read in quite a few places it was cheaper and we can select only the guests we want there not loads of people that will get drunk and argue- but it's not working out cheaper so far- and we're struggling to find venues we like. SOme we saw pictures that looked grand but googled it and read poor comments about it not being as nice so we would need to go view the venue before hand. Good excuse for a holiday- but not sure what we're going to do at the moment.

[mrsOtobe]

but it's not working out cheaper so far- and we're struggling to find venues we like.

Hi engaged! Yes, that's what we found in relation to cost too - it's not working out as cheap as we initially thought!

What country are you looking at at the moment?

[Marilyn]

We are going to Spain for a few reasons
1.Less stress-the joys of having a wedding planner
2.Less expensive
3.Dont have to invite all our crappy neighbours!!!
4.Sunshine!!

[claredotcom]

hi...

we're getting married in Vegas in September...

Its second time round for me and I'm not Catholic so a church wedding is out - the local regsitry office is next to the courthouse and a halting site so we looked at some hotel/castle venues and the prices were ridiculous!!! plus if we get married here my h2b family is enormous!! every would be offended if not invited so this saves a LOT of hassle and about 20k!!!

for only $3000 we will be getting married in the beautiful walled garden of the 5 diamond Wynn Hotel, our planner, photos, video, flowers, officient, limo to get licence, album, champagne etc etc etc is all included and we have to worry about nothing - no waiting period and licence is only $60!!

we'll have a small party when we get back butI remember the stress hassle and expense of trying to please so many people first time round (mainly my mother in law) this time I'm able to just look forward to it and relax

My first wedding was for everyone else - this time its for us - and that makes it so much more special - we're bringing 6 people with so it'll be so intimate.

do what make you both happy because it goes so very quickly..

love
Clare.

[mrsOtobe]

for only $3000 we will be getting married in the beautiful walled garden of the 5 diamond Wynn Hotel, our planner, photos, video, flowers, officient, limo to get licence, album, champagne etc etc etc is all included and we have to worry about nothing - no waiting period and licence is only $60!!

Oh, the Wynn Hotel is fab. Is that garden the one with the giant waterfall as well or is it elsewhere?

H2B and I have said a few times that we should have just gone to Vegas! So good choice, you'll have a great time! What you have said about your first wedding being for everyone else is so true. I mean, I'm really looking forward to the day still, and it will be great to get a load of our friends away for a few days holiday with us, but there's still so much of it that I would dispense with if I could!

[claredotcom]

hi!

Thanks! Its a beautiful walled garden with italian fountains and palm trees - away from the noise etc... very private, I've attached a picture (in case anyone else fancies it!!) our officiant is lovely has been in regular contact since we booked - its really not the quicky drive-through thing you expect (although thats available too)...

[mrsOtobe]

Wow, thats gorgeous, very pretty. When we were in Vegas we saw a few weddings of the non-drive through variety and yeah, you can really do it in style over there!