More and more couples are getting married abroad – after all, what could be more romantic than a gorgeous wedding on a sun-drenched tropical beach? With the number of couples flying overseas to tie the knot increasing year after year, it’s important to keep in mind a number of things that you’ll definitely need to do prior to flying out for your nuptials. If you’ve recently gotten engaged and plan to marry the love of your life in an exotic, hot country, here are five things that you’ll need to put on the priority list for doing beforehand.
Wedding Attire Plans
When you’re flying to another country in order to get married, making sure that you have the right clothing available once you’re there is vital. Since wedding clothing such as dresses and formal morning suits can’t usually be folded up and packed into your suitcase with the rest of your regular clothes, you may need to contact the airline directly before you leave in order to make special arrangements. Or, as an alternative, you could purchase your wedding clothing online and have them delivered to your accommodation abroad – or purchase wedding clothing from a store in the country where you’re planning to wed, once you’re there.
Checking Currencies
Before you set off, it’s crucial to check and compare currencies. It’s a good idea to keep your eye on currency exchange rates for a while before you’re set to leave, so that you can exchange money and get the best value for what you pay. If you’re paying a wedding provider or planner abroad, the best way to save money is to secure quotes from a range of reputable Forex companies in order to make sure that you obtain the best rates to exchange money. Don’t forget that rates will probably vary, depending on the amount of money which you are transferring.
Sending Invites
If you’re planning to get married abroad, it’s vital to send out ‘save the date’ cards and invites to the big day extremely well in advance. If you expect guests to need to fork out a large amount of cash in flights and accommodation when attending your wedding, it’s definitely fair and polite to give them a lot of notice – at least six months to a year depending on how much you expect it to cost. This will give your family and friends more time to save up for your big day and you’ll be in with a better chance of getting a good turnout.
Arranging the Paperwork
Don’t forget to make sure that you leave plenty of time in order to get the marriage paperwork fully finalised. Depending on the country in which you are planning to be wed, your marriage paperwork could take between three to six months to complete, or even longer in certain cases. Getting started on the paperwork as early as possible will ensure that everything runs smoothly.
Travelling abroad is one of the best ways to spend the first, most memorable day of your married life!
Written by Jacqueline Chambers
Jacqueline Chambers is the founder of TGIFguide. She uses her innate skills as a natural “connector” to serve businesses, brands and individuals in the LA area and beyond.
