A new survey by consumer research group Mintel has revealed that 18% of Brits opted to get married abroad last year, which marks a significant increase in the popularity of getting married abroad, with the current figures showing a 27% increase in British holidaymakers marrying abroad between 2005 and 2010. But this number could soon increase, thanks to cheaper flights and the relative ease of organising a wedding abroad, say ulookubook.com.
Ian Raine of ulookubook.com, comments: “Mintel’s findings will come as no surprise to many people working in the travel industry, as arranging getting married aboard has become so much easier to do compared to five years ago. Many couples have also found that the cost of booking a holiday abroad is a lot less expensive than a traditional wedding in the UK, with the average wedding abroad costing £6,585, compared to just under £20,000 for a wedding at home in Britain.”
While the relatively cost of getting married abroad was seen as a deciding factor for many couples, 13% of respondents said that they wanted to get married aboard so they could “do something extraordinary”, a further 28% said they wanted to get married abroad so that they could “relax”. While it used to be difficult for British citizens planning to get married abroad, information on the topic is now readily available from the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office who can provide vital information to couples who wish to get married abroad, which can make the whole process much easier.
Raine continues: “Many people believe that getting married in another country will be less stressful than getting married in the UK, which can be very true, as guests were found to be less likely to go to a wedding abroad, with just 15% opting to travel in 2010, compared to 19% in 2008. This makes the wedding process much more personal and ensures that the wedding is much more intimate than a traditional family wedding with countless guests, and the pressure of choosing a menu. While the old cliché of eloping may be more or less redundant, it’s very heartening to see that more and more people are choosing to go abroad for their big day.”
