Beach Wedding - Where to start?

Wheresmrpenguin · 2021-08-30T19:40:40+00:00

Planning for 2023, hoping things have settled down by then, but theres so many websites I don't even know where to start. Looking at the usual greece, cyprus, possibly Italy. Ta!

whatagloriousthingtobe · 08/09/2021 13:53

Hi @Wheresmrpenguin I'm getting married in Cyprus may 2023. I don't really have to do much as the hotels wedding planner does most of it. What did you have in mind ?

Original poster

Wheresmrpenguin · 12/09/2021 23:18

@whatagloriousthingtobe

Hi *@Wheresmrpenguin* I'm getting married in Cyprus may 2023. I don't really have to do much as the hotels wedding planner does most of it. What did you have in mind ?

sorry missed this!

Would you mind sharing your wedding planner or options? How have you found it so far?
I'm very undecided between cyprus, maybe around paphos area and then also crete. Not sure how to go out about choosing a planner, do I choose venue first and see if a planner works with that venue, or would the planner be able to organise something with a venue I liked?

OP posts:

AmperoBlue · 15/09/2021 21:32

I think start at why you want a beach wedding and work backwards.

I wanted warm in October, beautiful, somewhere I loved. I wanted friends and family and luckily we are older so people had more more money and time to fly out and stay. I booked a fantastic Airbnb with infinity pool and hot tub and a restaurant and had the best wedding and honeymoon DIY for under 6k on the French Riviera.

If it’s just “good value” I don’t think it matters. Book a Tui wedding and have a lovely time.

Oceangirl82 · 16/09/2021 20:53

Just as an observer, I saw many beach weddings in the Caribbean, the bride shouldn’t wear a long dress, too many ruined sandy hemlines and the groom doesn’t need to wear a boiling hot three piece suit.

DominicRaabsTravelAgent · 16/09/2021 20:54

My main advice would be to read an awful lot of reviews and then read some more.

I've heard too many stories of people getting married at all-inclusive resorts abs the whole day being ruined by loud drunk, people everywhere.

Original poster

Wheresmrpenguin · 16/09/2021 22:00

Some interesting view points here, good to hear the ugly too!

@AmperoBlue that sounds beautiful! Did you organise all the legal stuff yourself or get someone to do it?

My general thoughts are that I just want something very simple, warm weather, max 15 guests, outdoors and by either a lake or the sea, nice fresh bbq type food and good cocktails. Nothing fancy, just a nice venue and the right company.

My experience with UK weddings are the venues are always dark and depressing, weather often awful, terrible bar service and drink offerings, unnecessarily fancy 3 course meals, to get nice views other than generic country side or anything thats not the above I'd have to pay a premium for. I understand that some people like this, but its just not for me or my DP and I think i'd get this more from an abroad wedding.

Also I've already planned for shorts for the grooms, and a big pouffy dress is an absolute no no for me, considering going for one of the high street brands in a wedding style. Also i don't want to get married ON the sand, but by the sand would be good. Anything else to consider though please pass it on haha

OP posts:

Suzy39 · 16/09/2021 22:07

I can highly recommend Virgin Weddings. We got married in the Carribean and were treated like royalty all the way with lots of extras thrown in. Actual wedding costs were in the hundreds including the wedding planner (who was FAB!) on top of the usual holiday cost.

It is a long way to go for guests (we had none and a party when we got home) so definitely accept that people won't/ can't travel if you do opt for an abroad wedding. My friend got married in Cornwall and that was beautiful, as is South Wales (Gower).

You and Your wedding have a great forum with threads for abroad / destination weddings too

AmperoBlue · 16/09/2021 22:47

We looked here and decided on abroad for just the reasons you mentioned. Check which countries offer legal marriages. We did the legal bit here and had a celebrant in the end. I was worried it would seem like a fake wedding but as France is secular you can’t have a legal church wedding anyway. We didn’t want a church service but thought it amounted to much the same things as vows in front of those you love best.

I’d also suggest going somewhere you know you can get back to for special anniversaries or to take your kids (if you have/ want them) down the line.

As someone said do lots of research. Join Facebook groups for the areas you like. Join all the groups you can really!
And really think about guests. It’s ALOT of money for them so make sure they have more than just half a day of a wedding to look forward to.

Original poster

Wheresmrpenguin · 20/09/2021 21:42

@Suzy39

I can highly recommend Virgin Weddings. We got married in the Carribean and were treated like royalty all the way with lots of extras thrown in. Actual wedding costs were in the hundreds including the wedding planner (who was FAB!) on top of the usual holiday cost.

It is a long way to go for guests (we had none and a party when we got home) so definitely accept that people won't/ can't travel if you do opt for an abroad wedding. My friend got married in Cornwall and that was beautiful, as is South Wales (Gower).

You and Your wedding have a great forum with threads for abroad / destination weddings too

Just had a look and the destinations a bit too far. I hate flying myself so wouldn't want to go too far haha

Never heard of you and your wedding thankyou! I'm on hitched, but seems very orientated towards Uk weddings.

OP posts:

Original poster

Wheresmrpenguin · 20/09/2021 21:44

@AmperoBlue

We looked here and decided on abroad for just the reasons you mentioned. Check which countries offer legal marriages. We did the legal bit here and had a celebrant in the end. I was worried it would seem like a fake wedding but as France is secular you can’t have a legal church wedding anyway. We didn’t want a church service but thought it amounted to much the same things as vows in front of those you love best.

I’d also suggest going somewhere you know you can get back to for special anniversaries or to take your kids (if you have/ want them) down the line.

As someone said do lots of research. Join Facebook groups for the areas you like. Join all the groups you can really!
And really think about guests. It’s ALOT of money for them so make sure they have more than just half a day of a wedding to look forward to.

Thankyou, i'm looking at crete and cyprus and they seem legal, pretty straight forward to organise a legal wedding and not too far.

Didn't think of facebook groups, good thinking thankyou.

I know it might sound bad, but we have the main people (who would be the ones paying) and then about 3/4 extras and if they weren't happy paying then we''d just give them the option to not come.

OP posts:

Original poster

Wheresmrpenguin · 20/09/2021 21:47

@Suzy39

I can highly recommend Virgin Weddings. We got married in the Carribean and were treated like royalty all the way with lots of extras thrown in. Actual wedding costs were in the hundreds including the wedding planner (who was FAB!) on top of the usual holiday cost.

It is a long way to go for guests (we had none and a party when we got home) so definitely accept that people won't/ can't travel if you do opt for an abroad wedding. My friend got married in Cornwall and that was beautiful, as is South Wales (Gower).

You and Your wedding have a great forum with threads for abroad / destination weddings too

Looks like Hitched IS you and your wedding 😅 Oh well, i'll keep trying on there!

OP posts: