Brides and grooms are seeking more exotic locations to tie the knot these days and with a UK wedding costing an average 20,000, its no wonder that couples are heading overseas for a more affordable and tropical alternative.
According to reports destination weddings in 2012 are on the increase and popular spots for romantic nuptials include the Caribbean, Mexico, Cyprus, and Greece.
Favourite Caribbean wedding destinations include Jamaica with its luxurious resorts and beautiful beaches and mountains; the Bahamas with its stunning pink sand beaches; and the island of Antigua that has a beach for every day of the year and breathtaking coral reefs.
Aside from the obvious reasons, more couples are choosing destination weddings in 2012 because of the financial benefits. The cost of UK weddings is rising but if couples go abroad to say I Do, they can save themselves a considerable amount of money thanks to all inclusive wedding packages and smaller guest lists.
Caribbean weddings, for example, cost an average 6,000 and brides and grooms are be able to enjoy tailor-made packages, beachfront accommodation, intimate ceremonies and even a free honeymoon.
Caribbean hotels and resorts offer experienced wedding coordinators and advisors who are on hand to arrange all of the details, from the marriage licence and officiant, to the photographer, music, wedding cake and flowers.
Mexico is also a popular destination, with the Mexican Caribbean being the most coveted spot for weddings and Cancun weddings being among the favourites due to the areas spectacular natural scenery. There are many luxury hotels and resorts in Cancun to choose from and after the wedding celebrations, couples can continue their own with a romantic honeymoon in Cancun where they can go scuba diving, visit the ancient archaeological sites, hike through lush rainforests, or relax on pristine beaches.
Many couples getting married abroad in 2012 are also choosing Mediterranean islands such as Cyprus and Greece. Both of these countries offer beautiful landscapes, an array of deluxe hotels and resorts, cultural delights, and romantic settings for ceremonies, such as cliff-side vows, romantic I dos in quaint chapels or nuptials at sunset on a secluded beach.
Recent surveys have revealed that 26 per cent of couples in the UK have chosen weddings abroad in the last five years compared to 20 per cent in the 1990s, and this figure is expected to increase over the next few years.