Each year, thousands of people decide to tie the knot outside of the UK. It might be because they want to do so in sunnier climes, or perhaps so relatives in another country can also be a part of the happy couple’s big day.

You’re probably reading this today because you and your significant other plan on getting married abroad. But, you want to make sure that you fully prepare for the big day in advance and not forget anything that could jeopardise your wedding.

With that in mind, here’s what you need to know:

Transporting Your Guests

You’ve undoubtedly got people from the UK that want to attend your wedding. However, there’s the question of how they will all get transported to your chosen country. There’s no etiquette as such for who pays for costs like airfares.

However, paying for close family members like parents and siblings is a kind gesture to make, especially in today’s austere times. If you’ve got hundreds of guests flying over, it might work out cheaper to charter a plane than flying with a commercial airline.

Getting Married Abroad: What You Need to Know

Getting the Right Visa

You and your future spouse may each need to get a visa, depending on the country you are visiting or the future circumstances of your visit. If you are getting married in the United States, visitors don’t need a visa if their stay is 90 days or less.

However, if your spouse-to-be is American and you plan on staying in the USA, you can apply for a K1 visa, also known as a fiancé(e) visa. Make sure you check the entry requirements of your chosen country of marriage well in advance of the big day.

Organising the Venue

The Internet makes it easy to seek out the best wedding venues. You can find out about the facilities a venue offers, and you can also check online reviews to learn more about people’s past experiences.

Thankfully, you can organise the wedding venue from the UK via email, telephone, and video chat. If you or your significant other have relatives or friends living in the country where you want to get married, you can ask them to check potential venues in person on your behalf.

Many venues will also take care of things like catering, seating arrangements, and even your wedding cake. Otherwise, it might make sense to contact a reputable wedding planner local to your chosen venue for assistance.

Organising Accommodation

You will need to organise accommodation for you and your spouse-to-be, and potentially your close family members, well before your big day. The good news is you can seek out the best accommodation deals online just as you would for a holiday.

Once you’ve got married, you will want to have some privacy with your new spouse, so it makes sense to avoid staying with a friend or relative near your wedding venue before you jet off again for your honeymoon.

Conclusion

Getting married abroad is very exciting, and even the build-up to the main event can be just as exhilarating. Keeping in mind the above points will help you prepare for your big day well in advance, so nothing gets left to chance.