More Brits choosing to wed abroad

It seems that more and more British couples are choosing to have their wedding abroad, partly because of the rising cost of weddings. While the average price of a wedding in the UK is now around £25,000 the average cost of a wedding overseas is just a third of that price.

What with the rising cost of weddings combined with two poor summers in a row, it is no wonder that a recent Mintel survey found that one in six couples choose to jet off into the sun for their special day. Why spend thousands on a rainy day in England, for family you rarely see, when you could enjoy your special day overlooking the sea, in the sunshine with just your closest family and friends?

However it seems trends are changing, where as before a wedding abroad would often mean just the couple and their immediate family, jetting off to a tropical beach, now short haul destinations are gaining in popularity. According to Ian Davis, general manager of long haul and weddings for First Choice, “Cyprus is the most popular destination overall for us, with Greece and Italy becoming more popular over the Caribbean and Indian Ocean destinations. After all the hype surrounding Positano in Italy last summer, following Colleen and Wayne’s wedding there, we have noticed Italy as a destination grow in popularity. As a result of this interest, First Choice will be offering Positano as a wedding destination for summer 2009.”

Couples travelling to Greece, Cyprus and Italy are able to choose really individual and special places to get married for a fraction of the price that they would pay in the UK. From vineyards and monasteries, to traditional chapels, tour operators are opening up more and more stunning locations for couples to marry in for just a few hundred pounds.

Recently engaged Hannah Burden, 27, from Dorset says, “For us looking at wedding locations in the UK was just depressing, as there was nothing that really struck me as perfect. Where as when I started looking into getting married in Italy there seemed to be so many more beautiful and affordable options to choose from. We have decided on getting married in the cloisters in Sorrento and having our reception at a private villa.”

Below, First Choice has put together a couple of top wedding ideas for couples looking to marry in Europe.

Budget Wedding

Rhodes
For a budget wedding that looks a million dollars, look no further then the stunning island of Rhodes. Getting married at sunset in front of a traditional Greek white wash Chapel, with sweeping views of a crystal blue bay behind needn’t cost the earth. In fact with First Choice couples can marry in a square complete with a chapel in front of St Paul’s bay from just £299.

All wedding packages include:
• Planning and administration
• Wedding Ceremony
• Venue
• Marriage Certificate and registrar fees
• As well as extras such as a bouquet and button hole, cake and other bits and bobs to make sure the day goes smoothly.

The great thing about going somewhere like Rhodes is that family and friends will be able to choose packages which best suit their budgets, whether they want to splash out somewhere flash or stay in a budget hotel. Here are two great packages both of which offer great value.

The 4 Sun Hotel Lindos Mare is a stylish choice built into the hillside with panoramic views and a spa. Stay 14 nights half-board at the 4 Sun Hotel Lindos Mare from just £849 per person based on 2 adults sharing, departing from London Gatwick on the 6th of May.

Lindos Gardens make a great budget choice with a friendly atmosphere and rooms set around the pool. Stay 14 nights self-catering at the 3 Sun Lindos Gardens from just £410 based on two sharing departing from London Gatwick on the 6th of May 2009.

The Glamorous Option

For A-list glamour getting married in Italy, along the Amalfi Coast is the top destination. With Capri nearby, huge yachts at every ports and striking views the whole way down the coast. The Amalfi Coast can certainly guarantee that wow factor. The San Francesco Cloisters is a beautiful choice with pretty gardens and stunning bay views the ceremony itself is performed in the atmospheric 13th century cloisters.

Wedding packages cost from £489 and include:
• Planning and administration
• Wedding Ceremony
• Venue
• Marriage Certificate and registrar fees
• As well as extras such as a bouquet and button hole, cake and other bits and bobs to make sure the day goes smoothly.

The Hotel Europa is a great choice for couples and their guests to stay. On the edge of a cliff with fabulous views, the Hotel Europa Palace’s lift takes you down to a private pool terrace, just above the Bay of Naples, which leads out to a bathing jetty. Stay 14 nights half-board at the 4 Sun Hotel Europa from £1329 per person based on two sharing departing from London Gatwick on the 4th of May.

For further information and bookings go to firstchoice.co.uk.