Brits would consider a wedding abroad

The traditional ‘big white wedding’ is on the verge of dying out after it was revealed that Brits would rather jet off abroad to tie the knot on a sunny beach.

More than half of folk - 57 per cent - would consider getting married abroad, with the biggest reason being to try and stop family feuds on the big day.

And its not surprising people are shunning the UK in favour of the sun – as the average cost of a UK wedding is almost six times the cost of a wedding overseas.

Of the 2,571 people polled by First Choice Travel Shops and Holiday Hypermarkets, those who married abroad paid just £520 on average, compared with national statistics which say the average cost of a wedding in the UK is around £11,000.

As well as being more expensive, almost 80 per cent say they think a traditional white wedding is also more stressful to organise than nuptials in the Caribbean.

Cheryl Powell, Managing Director of First Choice Retail, said: “With the stress and money involved in planning a wedding nowadays it’s not really surprising that people are jetting off for a much smaller, more intimate affair under blue skies – I even did it myself this summer!

“The Great British weather can put a dampener on a wedding day but by getting married abroad, you almost guarantee sunshine (apart from if you choose somewhere like Lapland) and don’t have to worry about spoiling your lovely dress!”

Flying off to a foreign country could help remind people the real reasons why they are getting hitched as 88 per cent of Brits think couples get caught up in holding a lavish reception and forget why they are getting married.

Only two thirds of people said the ceremony and vows were the most important part of their wedding day.

Just one per cent said getting expensive presents was the best thing about their big day while one woman respondent even said her wedding dress was the most important bit.

Cheryl added: “Getting married is one of the biggest events in peoples’ lives and what is important to that person can vary so much.

“What we aim to do as a holiday company, which has a dedicated weddings team and many experts in our shops, is remove all the stress of arranging the big day and tailor it to suit the couple’s individual needs.”

It seems that the big wedding surrounded by hundreds of family and friends is also on the way out as the ideal number of guests according to respondents was just 36 people.

First Choice also discovered that the Irish are most likely to marry abroad with a staggering 70 per cent saying they would consider it.

But the Welsh would rather marry at home with only a third saying they would jet off abroad to tie the knot.

More than one in ten Scots have headed to a foreign country to get married.

Regions most likely to consider getting married abroad

1. Ireland
2. London
3. Midlands
4. South east
5. North east
6. North West
7. South West
8. Non UK
9. Scotland
10. Wales

Top 10 countries people have got married in.

1. Greece
2. Barbados
3. Huatulco, Mexico
4. Dominican Republic
5. Brazil
6. Bahamas
7. Cyprus
8. Margarita
9. Sri Lanka/Maldives
10. Costa Rica

Top 10 countries people would consider getting married in

1. Barbados
2. Bahamas
3. Sri Lanka/Maldives
4. Cyprus
5. Dominican Republic
6. Greece
7. Cuba
8. Huatulco, Mexico
9. Brazil
10. Turkey

For more information, visit firstchoice.co.uk.