Destination weddings

1. destinationweddings
All abroad
Dreaming of a destination wedding? Nikki Haynes
finds out what you need to know before you go.
(Opposite and this page)
The magicial isle of
Santorini is a great location
for a destination wedding.
H
ave you ever dreamed says the trend for couples to wed
of getting married in overseas has grown astronomically in
a European castle? Or the past 10 years as couples combine
barefoot on a tropical their love of travel with their desire for
island under a palm a glamorous and unusual wedding.
tree? How about saying your vows in Traditionally, destination weddings
the midst of a snowstorm, or tying the were thought to be exclusive to the
knot Las Vegas-style with Elvis Presley Hollywood elite, but an overseas union
as a witness? If an adventure abroad is is often a less expensive alternative to
what you are after, then a destination the big white wedding, and is a great
wedding may just be in order. way to kick back and relax with your
For Melbourne-based couple Tennille family and friends before and after the
Wallace and Keenan McGrath, a stunning big day.
villa on the edge of Tuscany was the While the average Australian wedding
ideal location for their dream nuptials. costs about $50,000, Narelle says the
While the average Australian wedding
costs $50,000... a destination wedding
is between $15,000 and $35,000.
“We had been to plenty of weddings average cost of a destination wedding is
in Melbourne, but we really wanted to between $15,000 and $35,000 for 100
do something different and exciting,” people at some of the most amazing and
says Tennille. exotic locations in the world.
“There is something about Italy, the And destination weddings are
scenery, the romance and ambience. definitely on the rise. “We have almost
It just seemed life the perfect place to doubled the number of destination
(Top) DaviD folwer; (righT) cam mills
have a wedding.” weddings we organise,” says Narelle.
Tennille and Keenan are just one of “I think people are starting to under-
many couples choosing to tie the knot stand what their options are overseas.
overseas each year. It’s cheaper, and often more intimate
DaviD fowler
Narelle Williams, from destination because there are fewer people in
wedding specialists Global Weddings, attendance.”
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2. destinationweddings
destination
wedding
pLanners
Global Weddings:
www.globalweddings.com.au
Just Get Married:
www.justgetmarried.com
Marry Me Abroad:
www.marrymeabroad.com.au
Take Us to Thailand:
www.takeustothailand.com
LegaL eagLe you cut through the red tape and take ensure you have the right guidelines, don’t charge more for weddings than
While an overseas wedding is a great care of all the little details. directions and help so that the whole they do for other functions, you can
idea for couples looking for something Tennille says she decided to hire experience doesn’t become overwhelm- afford to have a five or six-star
a little less traditional, there is a lot of wedding planner Paola Bamonte from ing,” she says. wedding with brilliant food and an
organisation and forethought required Marry Me Abroad for her experience in And while some couples choose amazing setting for less than half the
if you plan to wed on foreign shores. organising European weddings. to organise destination weddings price of a wedding in Australia.
Some countries are more difficult “Paola was just brilliant, she themselves, Narelle stresses caution. Companies like Global Weddings,
than others when it comes to securing organised everything, all the paperwork “We only recommend a small Marry Me Abroad, Take Us To
permission and licences for marriage. and the little wedding details,” she says. number of resorts that we have been Thailand and Just Get Married work
For example, you have to be a resident “We’ve had other friends who also to and trust. They have great wedding with the resorts to make sure your
for at least 40 days before you can got married in Italy and they had such coordinators and are really well set-up dream day goes off without a hitch.
for weddings. You don’t want to get
somewhere and be disappointed or Location, Location
A specialised wedding planner is highly have things go wrong.” When it comes to destination weddings,
recommended to help you cut through Hiring a destination wedding planner the world is your oyster. Popular
red tape and take care of the details. is money well spent, as not only will
they take care of all the paperwork and
locations include Bali, Fiji, the Cook
Islands, Tahiti, Thailand, Hawaii, Las
recommend local suppliers but they can Vegas, Los Angeles, Italy, Greece and held events in some of the most beautiful Popular destinations
marry in France; and Spain, Greece trouble with all the legalities. We also manage you and your guests’ France. and luxurious hotels in Thailand, Bali include Bali, Thailand,
Greece, Italy, France,
and Malaysia are also known for their arrived a week and a half early to do travel arrangements, accommodation “For our clients, Paris, the Amalfi and Fiji, including Laguna Phuket, the
the Cook Islands, Los
lengthy and restrictive pre-marriage some travelling and sort out paper- and any post-wedding travel you may Coast and Tuscany are all popular Anantara Resort and Spa and Sonaisali Angeles, Hawaii and
paperwork. You also need to consider work, and Paola took care of the rest.” choose to do. choices,” says Paola, while Narelle’s Island Resort, while Paola recommends Las Vegas.
the language barrier – in Thailand you Paola says specialised planners who clients prefer more tropical locations Villa La Palagina in Tuscany and Villa
need to have all your documents are familiar with your country of gLamour and gLory such as Bali, the Maldives and the Cimbrone on the Amalfi coast.
(Top) DaviD fowler; (lefT) la vie; susan wrighT
translated into Thai and approved choice can make planning your A destination wedding is a great way Cook Islands. “Whatever your dream is – whether
Ed magnisi. Uscip
(Top) susan wrighT; (righT) cam mills
exero odolort incidunt prior to your wedding. In some wedding stress free. to combine luxury and glamour with “My tip is to plan early and give it be a wedding in a hot air balloon
lutpat, vullan etum countries you need to provide birth “You’ll get all sorts of information the exotic touches of your adopted guests as much time as possible drifting over Kenya, in an Ice Chapel
venis nonsecte certificates or blood tests before you from government offices and off nation. to make plans,” says Narelle, who in Sweden, bungee jumping in New
deliquat, si bla am do qualify for a marriage licence. websites which can be mind-boggling Because your guest numbers are recommends planning your destination Zealand, marrying in a Tuscan olive
odiam, veliquat, quisim
If you decide on an international and at times disheartening, making you limited – Narelle says the average wedding at least six months to a year in grove or on a Tahitian beach – a
doloborem verci enisl
ut dolore faccum affair, then a specialised wedding think that it’s all too hard. And that’s destination wedding has between 30 advance. destination wedding will make your
zzriusc ipsuscillam planner is highly recommended to help why having a planner is crucial to and 40 guests – and overseas locations Narelle says Global Weddings have big day truly memorable.” b
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