Getting married has always been both an exciting, and slightly stressful, time for both the husband and wife to be. With all the planning surrounding the big day, as well as where to go on the honeymoon, many couples are now choosing to combine the two. Having your wedding abroad may seem like the ideal solution, but it is worth bearing in mind that it’s essential to stick to a budget.
Islands such as Bora Bora and the Maldives make beautiful wedding destinations, but if you want to get married somewhere that is known for its romance, you could get married in Paris.
In France, a marriage is only legally binding if you have a civil ceremony. You can still have a religious ceremony, but you must have a civil ceremony first if you want the marriage to be legal. One key thing to remember however, is that to get legally married in Paris, you have to provide a certain amount of documentation and have lived there for 40 days first.
If all this is sorted, there are a number of locations you can chose for your venue. Paris has many churches which are available for weddings, such as St. Michaels Church and The Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. It is not possible however, to get married at the top of the Eiffel Tower!
Paris is an ideal location to have a wedding as it is easier for guests to get there as opposed to other more distant locations. The use of a quick flight or the Euro Star will enable you to invite more people to your day, but remember to make sure that your venue can accommodate everyone.
Venice is a wonderful city to get married in due to its stunning architecture and the fact the city sits on water. The Palazzo Cavalli is great location for those looking for a civil ceremony as it stands in one of the most picturesque locations of Venice. If you want a more religious wedding, the Church of Santa Maria dei Miracoli and St. Mark’s Basilica, the Cathedral of Venice, are two exceptional locations to have your day at.
Although it may seem like a cliché, taking a ride on a gondola is something that should be done in Venice, and if you want to explore more unusual attractions, visit the Acqua Alta Bookshop or explore the Bovolo Staircase.
Costa Rica is another beautiful location to have a wedding. The Springs Resort and Spa can help you arrange your wedding and the Tabacon Grand Spa Thermal Resort also offers numerous wedding packages. The Love in Paradise package allows you to get married in your own private bungalow in the heart of Costa Rica’s rain forest.
Costa Rica is a beautiful place, and if you are combining your wedding and honeymoon there are numerous things to do here. Costa Rica is known for its volcanoes, so it’s worth taking a day or two to see a few of them. Irazu Volcano is the tallest in Costa Rica and is still active, last erupting in 1963.
It is important to remember that flights to Costa Rica are expensive, so it may be worth letting your guests know in advance so they have time to save!
There are a lot of positives for getting married abroad. The weather is generally better, you have the ease of allowing guests to book for themselves, it ties in with being a holiday and it also gives you a different cultural slant, but it’s important to remember that certain places do have legal requirements. Make sure you also look at how to pack your wedding dress and the groom’s suit in order to get them there as crease-free as possible; little things like this can make a big difference to your wedding day.
