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Thinking about getting married overseas? Whether exchanging vows on a beach in Fiji, sealing the deal in the rice terraces of Bali, or saying “I do” at a sunset ceremony in Hawaii, a destination wedding can be a magical experience – for couples as well as their guests.
An overseas wedding comes with its own set of challenges, however, so a little knowhow and a lot of planning will ensure your big day is everything you hope it will be.
Why consider a destination wedding?
A destination wedding can be more than just a ceremony – it’s an adventure, a holiday, and a chance to create lifelong memories in a stunning location. Whether you're dreaming of an intimate affair or a big soiree, a destination wedding offers a unique way to celebrate your love while sharing a meaningful experience with the people closest to you.
When Jennifer and Andrew got engaged, after meeting four months before and travelling to Sweden and Finland together (where Andrew got down on one knee in the snow and proposed), they quickly decided on a destination wedding.
“Our proposal had been such a fairytale and the best trip that either of us had ever taken, so we wanted our marriage to be an adventure too,” Jennifer says. “We wanted our guests to share not only our marriage ceremony but also a glance into our life and how we are as a couple. It was also a nice way for the most important people in our lives to get to know each other and have a bit of a holiday too.”
Wanting to get married somewhere tropical, in a safe country with good energy and strong cultural beliefs, they chose Bali. They hired a planner from Global Weddings to help them organise their big day.
“It was so amazing to see everything come to life,” Jennifer says. She advises other couples thinking about getting married overseas to use images to communicate their wedding vision clearly to vendors. “Pinterest will be your best friend,” she says.
The flowers she wanted for her bouquet, for example, are called different names in different countries but it was important that the bouquet match her dress. “Without a picture it would have been very difficult to replicate.”
Are destination weddings less expensive?
They can be. Destination weddings make it easier to have an intimate gathering with those who matter most to you, rather than feeling obliged to invite every family member and friend. While costs do depend on the ceremony and reception location, and flights and accommodation add to the expense, smaller guest lists and all-inclusive packages often balance out the costs.
Pros and cons
Destination weddings turn a one-day event that flies by into a week-long celebration with your favourite people in a picturesque setting. Your wedding can also double as your honeymoon, eliminating the need for additional travel.
The downside is that if you want a big wedding overseas, it can get expensive. Plus, not everyone on your guest list will be able to attend due to travel expenses or scheduling conflicts. Organising a wedding from afar can also be more challenging if you want to control every detail of the big day and you may need to rely heavily on resort wedding planners to guide your choices, or hire an expert based closer to home.
How to choose a destination wedding location
For Australians, distance often comes into play when considering where to get married. The closer to home the wedding, the less expensive it often is for guests to get there, and the less time they’ll need to take off work to attend. Luckily, some incredible wedding locations are practically on our doorstep. Fiji, Thailand, and Bali are popular destinations for Australians not wanting to travel far.
Consider your guests
Choosing a wedding destination can also come down to where the majority of guests are coming from. My friends Donna and Alex, for example, chose Hawaii because the bride was from the US and the groom was Australian – Hawaii was right in the middle. As a bridesmaid at that wedding, I loved spending a few days in Maui before the wedding getting to know the other guests. We climbed a volcano, had a bonfire on the beach, went out for dinner, and hung out in our shared condos before the big day.
The wedding day itself was magical, with cocktails and canapes on the lawn at sunset followed by dinner and dancing under the stars (and the relaxed island vibe made slipping off my uncomfortable bridesmaid’s heels mid-way through the night perfectly acceptable!).
Other couples will choose a destination because they fell in love there or fell in love with the place itself. Italy, Portugal, Greece and Paris are romantic wedding destinations with stunning historical or waterfront settings. Hire a local wedding planner if the language barrier is likely to cause stress or confusion.
Plan activities around the destination
When Joe and Veronnica chose Maui as their wedding destination, their Makena Weddings planner helped them find the perfect venue. Kukahiko Estate offered their small group the seclusion and breathtaking ocean views they were looking for. With just 10 guests to accommodate, the couple tailored activities to the group – even asking them ahead of time what they wanted to do and if there were places they wanted to visit during their stay.
The couple incorporated a traditional Hawaiian lei exchange into their wedding ceremony and organised a Hawaiian Lūʻau experience the following day.
While planned activities are often appreciated, keep in mind that it’s a holiday for your guests too – giving them the option of joining in or having some time to themselves can give them the freedom to holiday their way.
Planning an affordable destination wedding
If you are on a tight budget, you can still create an incredible destination wedding. If you’d like to work with a wedding planner, keep in mind that some like to be involved every step of the way while others allow more flexibility if you want to organise parts of the wedding yourself (saving money in the process).
Tyla and Callum chose Plantation Island Resort in Fiji as their wedding destination because of its affordable wedding packages and Fiji’s natural beauty. With the venue booked, they turned to Fiji wedding directory Bula Bride to find a local photographer.
To reduce costs, Tyla and her two bridesmaids did their own hair and makeup and sourced their own decorations, including faux florals, white umbrellas, fans and confetti. “We were very DIY,” Tyla says. “We envisioned a vibrant celebration filled with bright colours and we provided our guests with a specific colour palette to follow, aiming for a beautifully coordinated and fun atmosphere for our wedding day.”
To reduce costs for your guests, provide a list of accommodation options or negotiate a group rate at a hotel. Choosing to be married out of peak tourist season can also be far less expensive but take the weather into account. A rainshower is one thing, but relentless monsoonal downpours quite another.
Create a website for invitations and wedding details rather than spending up big on stationery. And keep decor simple – it’s often just as nice to let the natural beauty of a destination shine than going overboard with decorations. Requesting guests’ presence without presents is also a considerate touch.
How much do destination weddings really cost?
According to Global Weddings, while resort packages can reduce the cost of a wedding, hiring a villa for your wedding can mean more affordable food and beverage options and the freedom to keep the party going into the wee hours. A resort wedding usually means being restricted to their menu and drink prices and all music being turned off by about 10pm.
For a villa wedding in Bali for 50 guests, Global Weddings co-owner Narelle Williams says a realistic starting price is $50,000.
“One of the most important aspects of planning a wedding is your overall budget,” Narelle says. Once a couple decides on a destination, she says the next step is for the wedding planner to prepare an itemised proposal. Changes can then be made to reduce costs. “We will also offer alternative suggestions when things start to become too expensive,” Narelle adds.
How to travel with a wedding dress
Melbourne bridal boutique Leah S Designs recommends calling your airline ahead of time to check if they can hang your dress in one of the cabin’s closets. Keep in mind that your dress will be counted as a carry-on item, and if you can’t hang it up you will need to carefully pack it into a box or carry-on suitcase – don’t risk checking it into the hold.
When folding the dress, Leah S recommends using rolled up tissue paper or something similarly cylindrical to place into the folds of the dress so a sharp crease won’t form in the fabric. Then place the folded dress in a waterproof garment bag before placing it in the box or luggage on its own. If you’re feeling stressed about it, you could always book an extra seat for your wedding dress – you wouldn’t be the first bride to take this precaution.
Plan ahead with your bridal shop to find out whether your dress can be pressed, steamed or ironed on arrival if necessary. Hanging it in a steamy bathroom during your shower can be enough to get rid of minor wrinkles, as long as it isn’t silk (this is another discussion you’ll want to have with your bridal shop before departure).
Take your shoes, wedding jewellery and veil on board with you in a separate bag and, when you organise your travel insurance, consider listing your wedding dress and rings as a specified item on your policy in case of loss or damage (shudder).
How to avoid destination wedding mishaps
Your wedding day is the one day when you want every little thing to go to plan. While some things will be out of your control (the weather, for example), it pays to do what you can to avoid disaster.
Make sure your marriage is legal
Do your homework to make sure your marriage is going to be recognised back in Australia. Wedding planners will be on top of this or do your own research. If in doubt, take the easy route and get married at a registry office before you go.
Be careful with what you eat and drink
No one wants to be dealing with Bali belly on their wedding day. To stay healthy, avoid ice in your drinks, clean your teeth with bottled water, wash your hands regularly, wear a mask on the plane – you know the drill.
Look after your wedding rings
It’s exciting to wear your wedding ring for the first time, but not so exciting when you lose it the day after the nuptials. Insuring wedding rings is a good idea but Rachel Beth Jewellery founder Rachel Lake also advises removing rings before hitting the water. “Activities like swimming, jet skiing, surfing, or paddle boarding can all increase the risk of losing your ring in the water.”
Travel insurance
We all know that the good times can take a slight detour when travelling. When the going gets tough, Travel Insurance Direct policies aim to do the heavy lifting and may assist with travel insurance cover to help keep your trip moving in the right direction, so you can refocus on the fun.