A Guide to Marrying Abroad

Megan Johnstone

2.5k Reads

Updated: 15 Jan, 2023

Table of Contents

Choose a destination together and plan with patience to grow closer as you align your hopes and dreams for your day.
Talk openly about the logistics and let shared planning transform stress into teamwork, so you both feel seen and supported.
Incorporate meaningful traditions from your chosen destination to weave your own story, and celebrate every step as love grows.

It looks like more and more couples from the UK are opting to say ‘I do’ on foreign shores, as established by findings from a report by the travel firm Kuoni.

Some of the most popular getting married abroad choices for couples include Mauritius, Saint Lucia, the Maldives, and Antigua. The report also found that Santorini and the Malcesine Castle on Lake Garda were two of the most romantic places for couples to marry abroad.

With a whole globe to explore, the options are endless, and your special day can be exactly how you’ve always dreamed — not hindered by the UK’s lackluster weather.

Planning is essential when it comes to any wedding, at home, or marrying abroad. However, with a wedding abroad you need to put some extra considerations on a place. You must also be aware of getting married abroad legal requirements for a hassle-free wedding.

Angelic Diamonds have provided a useful getting married abroad guide on how to prepare for tying the knot in some of these top destinations!

So here are some tips on how to get married abroad on some of the most exquisite destinations.

Mauritius

It’s no surprise that Mauritius is such a popular option for couples who are chasing the sun for marrying abroad. Its idyllic stretches of sandy white beaches are picture-perfect.

While the climate is categorized as ‘mild tropical,’ temperatures are prone to change across different regions of the island.

As for picking the right month for marrying abroad in Mauritius, October tends to boast the most favorable ceremony weather forecast, with plenty of daylight hours and low rainfall.

November and December are peak summer months, so you can whisk your guests away to paradise just as winter takes its hold at home.

Once you’ve set a date, be prepared to research your venue in further detail. Some package options ask for a minimum stay in the lead up to your wedding, from one to seven days in most cases.

This does give you the optimum time to scout out the beauty spots for your wedding photography.

If you are traveling to a church for a blessing ceremony, then this is also a good opportunity to test your timings — the roads tend to be narrow, so the bride could end up being a bit more than ‘fashionably’ late!

The legalities of getting married in Mauritius are important to be aware of, as the long-haul nature of the destination means there’ll be no rushing back if your partner forgets a copy of their birth certificate on the day!

Both partners will need to provide certain documents, such as passport photographs, birth certificates, and any legal documentation that you may have relating to any previous marriages or name changes.

These should be supplied to your wedding hotel or resort at least eight weeks before your big day. Plus, you’ll need to have original versions with you at your ceremony.

It’s a legal requirement for you to sign affidavits before marrying abroad in Port Louis, hence why enjoying a few lazy days at your chosen resort beforehand can come in handy.

Pack plenty of SPF and prepare for marrying abroad in paradise if you make this your ceremony destination!

Recommended – Online Pre Marriage Course

Greece

Greece For traditional, crisp white church buildings and a shimmering emerald sea, take your wedding ceremony to Greece.

Include the best aspects of this breath-taking country when marrying abroad, from the traditional cuisine to the music and dancing that the country is renowned for.

Civil and religious ceremonies are permitted in Greece, so you can live your Mamma Mia! Dream of taking your nearest and dearest up a winding path to a hilltop church.

As with marrying abroad, you’ll need to allow for plenty of time — there is a waiting period for religious weddings, and depending on where you choose to apply to marry, you could have to wait anywhere between a week and a few months.

For civil weddings, there’s only a seven-day period to wait for most marriage applications. In Greece, it is also a requirement for couples to place their intent to marry in either a local newspaper or at the town hall at least eight days prior to your ceremony.

After you’ve supplied all of your necessary documentation to the town hall or the president of the community, you will be issued with a wedding license, which allows you to submit an application stating where and when you’d like to marry — save the date!

Stay on the right side of the law by applying for a marriage certificate within 40 days of your wedding, or you could incur some costs, and your marriage might not be legally valid!

Need some venue inspirations when marrying abroad in Greece?

Check out Navagio Beach, a stunning secluded cove which features its own shipwreck, Panigirakis Castle, a mythical site with surreal views, or even Corfu old town.

Are you tempted to add some local traditions into your ceremony? From sweet treats to make the marital bed, there are plenty of touches to add to your big day as a nod to Greek culture!

Serve up some koufeta (sugar-coated almonds) — they are usually wrapped in tuelle and handed to guests after the ceremony.

Encourage your guests to kick their shoes off and start a Sirtaki, which is a dance where everyone makes a circle, joined by hands.

When the end of the night is looming, participate in the Greek ritual whereby your friends and family make up the bed sheets — a sentimental symbol, but if a baby is rolled across the bed, then it is also a blessing of fertility!

Bali

Asia boasts some of the most panoramic views in the world, and when you set your heart on marrying abroad in Bali, looking back on your wedding photography will be a lifelong treatment.

The sheer beauty of the island will add to the romance of your day, and your guests will be transported to an exotic haven to watch you begin your married life together.

You can keep to a simple Western, blessing-style ceremony or, if you prefer, marry in true Bali style with traditional costumes and a local priest to oversee proceedings.

The best months for marrying abroad in the vibrant Asian island fall is anywhere from May to August, when locals revel in an abundance of low humidity, blue sky days.

If you want to capture the perfect sunset picture with your new husband, have your photographer with their camera at the ready around 6:15 pm to 7 pm, and you’ll be blown away by the outcome!

There are plenty of dedicated resorts for marrying abroad where you can hold your ceremony. If you’d prefer to have an official priest present, then you can request this in advance.

You could, of course, consult help from a wedding planner to ensure that your day runs smoothly, as with an increase in holiday weddings this service has become widely available.

One of the most important documents that you’ll need is a Letter of No Impediment to Marriage, obtained from your embassy or consulate.

You’ll receive your marriage certificate within 10 days of the ceremony, ensuring that your union is legally binding.

Traditional Balinese weddings are a real spectacle, full of bright colors, eclectic costumes, and rife with religious symbolism.

As Balinese weddings follow traditional Hinduism, they do have some interesting rituals rooted in historical, symbolic meanings.

One which is particularly significant for couples is Madengen-dengen, a ceremony which cleanses and purifies the couple, banishing any bad energy and blessing the couple with a prosperous future.
So, you’ve exchanged engagement rings, and now you’re beginning the planning process! Use this ultimate guide to getting married abroad and make the dream of marrying abroad a reality — we’re sure your big day will be perfect no matter where your chosen destination is!

Helpful?

Take Our Pre-Marriage Course

Continue exploring this topic

Hi, I'm your relationship guide. What's on your mind?

YOU COULD START WITH

Share this article on

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on Pintrest