More and more, we are seeing a growing trend in destination weddings. Whether, it’s a couple returning to their hometown or having their day somewhere completely different, destination weddings can provide a fun change of scenery and whole new atmosphere to your big day.
One amazing story we’ve recently heard about is from Royal College of Surgeons, London who helped a couple who were 9,420 miles (yes really!) away in Australia from their wedding venue. Emma, one of the coordinators at Royal College of Surgeons who met with Mr and Mrs Burson Thomas back in July 2012, had an instant connection with them. Emma understood that there may be a lot of difficulties planning a wedding from the other side of the world, but she also mentioned that her and her events team “were unfazed by the process, but excited”.
When planning a wedding abroad, Hayley, Royal College of Surgeon’s Event Manager mentioned:
“Getting married abroad doesn’t have to be difficult, however you do need to consider if you want it recognised in the UK. It is the same process if you were getting married at home, the first step is to contact the local authorities in the country where you want to get married to find out what you need to do. The local government website has a good step by step guide depending on the country, https://www.gov.uk/marriage-abroad. It does mean paperwork but as long as you know that and check the requirements within that country before booking everything you will not be disappointed.”
Emma, Lizzie and James had a fantastic connection online and regularly met via Skype sessions. One meeting was arranged so Lizzie and James could feel more comfortable with the flow of the day, having already gone through the day throughly.
When discussing wedding planning, Emma mentioned: “It was an absolute pleasure assisting with Lizzie and James wedding. There guests were all lovely and very complimentary about the venue. Mr Burson Thomas on the day was promoting our services to member of the public attending the museum. They were a beautiful couple and we are so delighted they had a great wedding day, and were confident to trust our venue and services from such a distance”.
The location of a destination wedding came from the fact that Lizzie works for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in Melbourne. Lizzie’s Dad had pointed it out, thinking it would be a lovely connection! When Lizzie’s parent’s came to view the venue, they were even more certain of how suitable it was for the couple – “as they were able to offer everything under one roof. The ceremony, the reception and even accommodation! The central London location was also brilliant as we had guests coming from around the UK and from abroad. The accommodation was also brilliant for our guests – the rooms and breakfast was lovely as well as the staff, they were so accommodating!”
There are definite pros and cons to getting married abroad, Hayley also discloses, but the main thing that couples need to be prepared for is managing stress levels as there can be Less control. “It won’t be possible to organise everything yourself. You’ll need to place a lot of trust in the venue or a local wedding planner, plus their suppliers, to ensure everything is under control when you arrive. You’ll need to compromise more than you would at home. That is why it is key to build a good relationship and make sure you are clear on your needs.”
She also notes to consider your own time with your partner. “The only other thing to think about is private time: Guests may have travelled to be with you, but won’t know the lay of the land so think about how you’ll get some alone time with your new spouse after the big day. Consider asking your venue if they have any activities there for guests to explore or if they can offer advice about the local amenities.
So remember…
- Ask your wedding planner, venue plenty of questions and get everything in writing.
- Regardless of how sunny your destination is, make sure whatever location you choose has the capacity to cater for your guests indoors.
- Not all your friends and family will be able to make the journey so think about how you can included them, video or Skype could be a good option.
