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Where to wed

Getting married abroad

Marrying in an exotic location is becoming more and more popular.

It can actually work out cheaper than a traditional wedding, as there tend to be fewer guests and the dream honeymoon comes as part of the package.

Most tour operators offer wedding packages ranging from romantic islands in the Indian Ocean or Caribbean to Las Vegas or Disneyworld

Normally couples need to be resident in the chosen country for 1 to 3 days before the Big Day but it is advisable to book a two-week break to allow for delays or last-minute problems. A change of date is not unusual.

Discuss with the travel agent where you want the ceremony to take place. If your heart's set on getting married on the beach, check out the destinations where this will be possible. Most hotels offer a choice of wedding locations within their grounds.

Find out how hot it is likely to be at your chosen destination so you can choose your outfit appropriately. And make sure you don't go in the middle of the rainy season! In hotter climes it is often better to marry in the morning or just before sundown.

Check with your travel agent the legal documents you will require for your chosen destination. The basic ones are listed below but it can vary from country to country. You need the originals, although your travel agent will probably ask for photocopies as well to be sent to your hotel.

  • Your birth certificates
  • Ten-year passports valid until at least six months after your return
  • Proof of your full names, addresses and in some cases religions
  • An affidavit to confirm your single status
  • If you are widowed, the death certificate of your former spouse
  • If you are divorced, a decree absolute
  • Proof of name change if it has been altered by deed poll
  • Wedding locations unusual/civil

    The choice of venue for a wedding is vital to ensure a day for the happy couple to remember for the rest of their lives. According to statistics, someone in Britain gets married every 103 seconds. Now, thanks to changes to the 1994 Marriage Act, they can make their special day a real day to remember with an unusual setting for their wedding.

    Couples now have the option of marrying in such unusual venues as museums, caves, theme parks, zoos, castles and football stadiums, as well as the more obvious venues such as stately homes and prestigious hotels.

    Sponsors of Citizen Wedding Guide