Wedding - don't know where to start

Followthestarsxoxo · 2024-01-01T19:43:41+00:00

Getting married abroad. Max budget £8000-£10000 Is it possible? We only want a small wedding with close friends and family no more than 20 people. Has anyone been married abroad, has any tips advise for us please.

anothernamechangeagainsndagain · 01/01/2024 20:08

Firstly do you want to do the legal marriage abroad (as opposed to nipping to a registry office here)? If you are doing the legal overseas there's a website that tells you country by country what the process is, minimum period in the country before etc.

Once you have chosen the country you have a choice of diy or using a tour operator, the latter is obviously easier but potentially more expensive.

What has your budget got to include? Are guests paying their own travel, hotel and food other than the wedding?

One suggestion (as I shamelessly eavesdropped from my balcony) is the Bahia sunlight in Tenerife - they set out the ceremony area beautifully then the guests went into one of the restaurants.

Another option is on a cruise - their prices are on their websites eg it's about £3500 on p&o plus each persons standard fare

Original poster

Followthestarsxoxo · 01/01/2024 20:16

anothernamechangeagainsndagain · 01/01/2024 20:08

Firstly do you want to do the legal marriage abroad (as opposed to nipping to a registry office here)? If you are doing the legal overseas there's a website that tells you country by country what the process is, minimum period in the country before etc.

Once you have chosen the country you have a choice of diy or using a tour operator, the latter is obviously easier but potentially more expensive.

What has your budget got to include? Are guests paying their own travel, hotel and food other than the wedding?

One suggestion (as I shamelessly eavesdropped from my balcony) is the Bahia sunlight in Tenerife - they set out the ceremony area beautifully then the guests went into one of the restaurants.

Another option is on a cruise - their prices are on their websites eg it's about £3500 on p&o plus each persons standard fare

Thank you very much.

Yeah we are going to be asking friends and family to pay for their own accommodation. If there anyone who is struggling we may be able to help out if needed.

I'm looking online but their is so much to chose from and it's hard knowing you're making the right descion.

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breakfastdinnerandtea · 01/01/2024 20:30

We got married abroad in May 2023. We paid approximately £8k and that was for the holiday and flights (11 nights all inclusive), the ceremony abroad (which included the ceremony plus all paperwork, translation of English documents, the setting on the beach, a bouquet and buttonhole, cake, and a bottle of champagne), photographer, a small party in the UK (catered for 100 people, DJ, photo booth, decor), plus my dress, his suit, clothes for the kids.
It was beautiful, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Brefugee · 01/01/2024 20:32

Followthestarsxoxo · 01/01/2024 20:16

Thank you very much.

Yeah we are going to be asking friends and family to pay for their own accommodation. If there anyone who is struggling we may be able to help out if needed.

I'm looking online but their is so much to chose from and it's hard knowing you're making the right descion.

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how sure are you that your friends/family want to / can afford that?

Be realistic about what is going to happen here. Especially of it's not a "proper" wedding

breakfastdinnerandtea · 01/01/2024 20:33

Sorry, pressed post with my fat fingers!

We went through Tui. We were quite open minded and easy going and the lovely, lovely woman at Tui just helped us all the way through the booking process.
We got a wedding coordinator over there who emailed us a few times but mostly everything was sorted while we were over there.

I think the most complicated part was getting the Apostille stamp on our UK documents but that was only because I had a decree absolute which also needed stamping and that was slightly more complex than any standard documents.

breakfastdinnerandtea · 01/01/2024 20:35

I think you just have to accept if people can or cannot come to your wedding and not be too upset if they can't.
You shouldn't be expected to pay for everyone else's holiday! Although maybe that's the norm on MN but certainly not in my circles.

Original poster

Followthestarsxoxo · 02/01/2024 20:35

breakfastdinnerandtea · 01/01/2024 20:30

We got married abroad in May 2023. We paid approximately £8k and that was for the holiday and flights (11 nights all inclusive), the ceremony abroad (which included the ceremony plus all paperwork, translation of English documents, the setting on the beach, a bouquet and buttonhole, cake, and a bottle of champagne), photographer, a small party in the UK (catered for 100 people, DJ, photo booth, decor), plus my dress, his suit, clothes for the kids.
It was beautiful, I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Wow that is amazing. Do you mind me asking where please?
And how you started the process, did you do it through a wedding planner?

OP posts:

Original poster

Followthestarsxoxo · 02/01/2024 20:36

breakfastdinnerandtea · 01/01/2024 20:35

I think you just have to accept if people can or cannot come to your wedding and not be too upset if they can't.
You shouldn't be expected to pay for everyone else's holiday! Although maybe that's the norm on MN but certainly not in my circles.

Yes I completely agree, if they can't come I wouldn't be upset. The only people would help our finically would be both our moms and sisters but they would be it. But wouldn't be paying the full cost for no one

OP posts:

Original poster

Followthestarsxoxo · 02/01/2024 20:37

breakfastdinnerandtea · 01/01/2024 20:33

Sorry, pressed post with my fat fingers!

We went through Tui. We were quite open minded and easy going and the lovely, lovely woman at Tui just helped us all the way through the booking process.
We got a wedding coordinator over there who emailed us a few times but mostly everything was sorted while we were over there.

I think the most complicated part was getting the Apostille stamp on our UK documents but that was only because I had a decree absolute which also needed stamping and that was slightly more complex than any standard documents.

Amazing thank you I didn't even think to check TUI

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Hercisback · 02/01/2024 20:40

It's very presumptuous expecting people to come to an abroad wedding. It's your choice but on a limited budget you'd be better having a really nice do here.

The one person who had an abroad wedding in my circle ended up with 7 guests because funnily enough, no one wants to be forced to holiday.

Original poster

Followthestarsxoxo · 02/01/2024 20:49

Hercisback · 02/01/2024 20:40

It's very presumptuous expecting people to come to an abroad wedding. It's your choice but on a limited budget you'd be better having a really nice do here.

The one person who had an abroad wedding in my circle ended up with 7 guests because funnily enough, no one wants to be forced to holiday.

And I completely agree, I wouldn't not be offended if people didn't want to come or couldn't afford to come. As long as we have our parents and siblings we would be happy.

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breakfastdinnerandtea · 02/01/2024 21:06

We just went into Tui and said to them where is the easiest place to get married? They said Cyprus but we ended up with Greece because my husband had it in his head that we would get married on the beach. Although we were very tempted by Cyprus because there was a hotel she showed us with a beautiful enormous olive tree that we would gotten married in front of which looked fab.

We booked it all then and there. She went through it with us, picked the hotel, picked the wedding date and booked that online straight away.
We did nothing else other than pay for it until about 3 months before we got married. Everything was so simple. They sent us step by step guides on how to do everything next. All the legal stuff is your responsibility but it was all spelled out in these guides. They sent us an order form, some bits were included in our package but we could add on extras so we just needed to fill that in and send it, they went through this with us when we arrived. We didn't have a party out there because we knew we'd be having one in the uk so added next to no extras, only extra sparkling wine for a toast. Our "wedding meal" was included in our all inclusive but we picked one of their a la carte restaurants so it was lovely. They decorated one long table for us which was perfect because there was only 18 of us all together.

We got our certificates of no impediment from our local registry office, we needed them, full birth certificates, and my decree absolute all apostille stamped. We emailed copies over to them and took the originals when we went. Everything else was sorted by them. They were amazing.

We didn't even invite anyone as such. We didn't even say to anyone that we wanted them there. We told them we were getting married in Greece and said they were welcome if they wanted to but we wouldn't have any bad feelings if they didn't want to or couldn't afford it. We had it in our head that we would be alone for our wedding and would ask two strangers to be our witnesses. Thankfully most of our wonderful family came and we had a beautiful time. Of the ones who didn't, we don't feel any differently towards them knowing they couldn't make it, so I don't think it's presumptuous to assume people want to spend their holidays at your wedding, but I think you've got to have the right mindset around it.

I'd do it exactly the same over and over again. We had an amazing time with the people who we love.

Original poster

Followthestarsxoxo · 02/01/2024 21:11

breakfastdinnerandtea · 02/01/2024 21:06

We just went into Tui and said to them where is the easiest place to get married? They said Cyprus but we ended up with Greece because my husband had it in his head that we would get married on the beach. Although we were very tempted by Cyprus because there was a hotel she showed us with a beautiful enormous olive tree that we would gotten married in front of which looked fab.

We booked it all then and there. She went through it with us, picked the hotel, picked the wedding date and booked that online straight away.
We did nothing else other than pay for it until about 3 months before we got married. Everything was so simple. They sent us step by step guides on how to do everything next. All the legal stuff is your responsibility but it was all spelled out in these guides. They sent us an order form, some bits were included in our package but we could add on extras so we just needed to fill that in and send it, they went through this with us when we arrived. We didn't have a party out there because we knew we'd be having one in the uk so added next to no extras, only extra sparkling wine for a toast. Our "wedding meal" was included in our all inclusive but we picked one of their a la carte restaurants so it was lovely. They decorated one long table for us which was perfect because there was only 18 of us all together.

We got our certificates of no impediment from our local registry office, we needed them, full birth certificates, and my decree absolute all apostille stamped. We emailed copies over to them and took the originals when we went. Everything else was sorted by them. They were amazing.

We didn't even invite anyone as such. We didn't even say to anyone that we wanted them there. We told them we were getting married in Greece and said they were welcome if they wanted to but we wouldn't have any bad feelings if they didn't want to or couldn't afford it. We had it in our head that we would be alone for our wedding and would ask two strangers to be our witnesses. Thankfully most of our wonderful family came and we had a beautiful time. Of the ones who didn't, we don't feel any differently towards them knowing they couldn't make it, so I don't think it's presumptuous to assume people want to spend their holidays at your wedding, but I think you've got to have the right mindset around it.

I'd do it exactly the same over and over again. We had an amazing time with the people who we love.

Thank you so much for this, this is really helpful and I'm definitely going to contact TUI, I'm going to call them tomorrow and possibly pop in the weekend.

In regards to guests we are the same, we was looking into eloping so it was just me, my fiancé and our 2 sons. The only 2 people who I know 100% wont miss it would be both our moms, which is perfect for us if only their came would be amazing. I don't want too many people anyway if I'm honest, I just want something very small and intimate but we are like you if they can't make no hard feelings at all.

Would you mind me asking was it below 10k that you paid?

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breakfastdinnerandtea · 02/01/2024 21:20

The holiday was £2.5k and the wedding ceremony was £1.5k. This was early in May. The party at home cost around £2k and we paid around £1-2k on all the extra bits (photographer, dresses, suits, venue decorations, photo booth etc).

breakfastdinnerandtea · 02/01/2024 21:23

In my opinion, you couldn't get what we got for that price in the UK. We decided we'd rather get married on our family holiday than spend the same or more on feeding loads of people that we'd feel obliged to invite if we'd have married here.
We spent much less, still managed to see (and feed!) everyone and have a good time at our UK celebration, we were pretty much guaranteed the weather, and we got a fabulous 11 day holiday out of it.

breakfastdinnerandtea · 02/01/2024 21:23

The holiday was £2.5k for 4 of us (two adults, two children), just to be clearer.

Original poster

Followthestarsxoxo · 02/01/2024 21:40

breakfastdinnerandtea · 02/01/2024 21:23

In my opinion, you couldn't get what we got for that price in the UK. We decided we'd rather get married on our family holiday than spend the same or more on feeding loads of people that we'd feel obliged to invite if we'd have married here.
We spent much less, still managed to see (and feed!) everyone and have a good time at our UK celebration, we were pretty much guaranteed the weather, and we got a fabulous 11 day holiday out of it.

Amazing! Thank you so much I will contact them tomorrow! That like is I don't want nothing to extravagant, something that isn't going to put us in debt, just a nice simple wedding with nice weather. We will be looking for April 2025 as then we have been together 10 years

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m00rfarm · 02/01/2024 21:45

Loads of people come to the ALgarve (where I live) to get married. It is cost effective and generally very nice weather. Senhora da Rocha Chapel seems to be one of the most popular

breakfastdinnerandtea · 02/01/2024 21:47

Aww good luck! I hope you find what you're looking for!

Original poster

Followthestarsxoxo · 02/01/2024 21:48

m00rfarm · 02/01/2024 21:45

Loads of people come to the ALgarve (where I live) to get married. It is cost effective and generally very nice weather. Senhora da Rocha Chapel seems to be one of the most popular

Beautiful! Thank you

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Original poster

Followthestarsxoxo · 02/01/2024 21:49

breakfastdinnerandtea · 02/01/2024 21:47

Aww good luck! I hope you find what you're looking for!

Thank you x

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whoscoatsthatjacket2012 · 02/01/2024 22:25

Got married in Sandals in Jamaica in 2006 had 3 weeks there with upgraded virgin flights and upgraded suite paid about 5k for the 2 of us. Wedding coordinator sorted everything out. They sent someone to help with my dress and decorated our room
Got shown several places around the resort to choose from it was stunning

Amperoblue · 05/03/2024 18:22

Got engaged in Jan 2018. I could only get married in the school holidays so October was the best bet. Didn’t want a wet autumn wedding and the local wedding venues wanted £6k before food so I decided on the south of France.
Booked a suitable venue on Airbnb ( we got an amazing place that wasn’t designed for weddings but the owners themselves married there). Booked from Friday to Monday. It had enough rooms so that singles ladies stayed with me and we had a “hen” night plus with the younger members ( place had a pool and jacuzzi) . Booked a restaurant for the reception. Bought masses of drink and some nuts for the venue in local hyper market but made sure the reception was after lunch so no one needed food. Wedding at 4pm and restaurant 6pm. Paid for loads of taxis for the olds and the younger members walked with us down the hill to the town. No big party afterwards just drinks in the bars with sea views.
Bext day ( Sunday ) we took everyone up to a famous local village for lunch.
Most went home that evening family stayed at the villa and went home Monday. We stayed out for the rest of half term.It was fabulous.

We were ( very) surprised that only two people declined. Most were out before us to make a holiday of it. Several people have been back to the town as it is so lovely .

Cost £3.5k AirBNB, £5k amazing 4 course buffet, £1k flights, taxis and fizz.