Getting married abroad: the expert guide to planning your destination wedding

There's something wonderfully freeing about saying "I do" somewhere that means the world to you, surrounded by the people who matter the most. To help you with everything from choosing a destination to setting up your wedding gift list, we spoke to Jasmine White, our brand partner and founder of The White Edit, a design-led venue directory curating some of the most striking places to marry across Europe and beyond. With more than 300 weddings behind her and a background in wedding planning, Jasmine created The White Edit to simplify the early stages of destination wedding planning, exactly the guidance you want when marrying abroad.

This guide covers where to go and when, what it costs, the legal essentials, and how to make a destination wedding gift list feel like a natural part of the celebration. Use the quick links below to head straight to the section you need:

For weddings in Europe, Jasmine points to May, June and September as the sweet spot, with warm weather, long evenings and a gentler pace than the height of summer. They're also the most sought-after months for venues, so it pays to book early. July and August bring long, sun-filled days, though Jasmine suggests a later ceremony in destinations such as Spain, Italy or Greece, once the light softens and everyone can relax. April and October are lovely too, especially further south.

"Outside Europe, the same thinking applies," Jasmine says. "Understanding regional weather patterns, whether that's hurricane season in the Caribbean or monsoon periods in parts of Asia, is essential for protecting both the guest experience and the budget."

Jasmine encourages couples to weigh how easy travel will be for most guests, whether accommodation spans a range of price points, how comfortable guests will be, given transfer times and ceremony timing in hotter climates.

"Destinations with strong flight connections and established wedding infrastructure tend to work best for UK couples," she adds. "Places that regularly host international weddings naturally come with suppliers who understand the logistics."

Ten destinations Jasmine White returns to again and again:

• Italy: rolling countryside, dramatic lakes and food that does a lot of the work for you. "Few places deliver atmosphere and experience quite like it," Jasmine reflects.
• Spain: sun-drenched fincas, easy UK flight links and a supplier scene well versed in long, relaxed celebrations.
• Portugal: cliffside venues, vineyard estates and the soft Atlantic light photographers love.
• France: Loire Valley châteaux and Provençal villas, built for timeless elegance.
• Greece: late dinners under the stars and venues designed entirely around the view. "It delivers real wow factor, with a deeply hospitable, laid-back culture," she says.
• Mexico: vibrant and coastal, with the infrastructure to make multi-day celebrations feel effortless.
• Morocco: riads and desert landscapes that feel transportive from the moment guests arrive.
• South Africa: vineyards, mountains and coastline in one trip, helped by a favourable exchange rate.
• Indonesia: lush and dramatic, with a well-established scene for high-impact celebrations.
• California: cool venues and desert backdrops, perfect for couples who fancy a road trip honeymoon, too.

Jasmine recommends giving yourselves 12 to 18 months to plan: 12 for flexible couples, 18 for more choice and an easier run-up if you have a popular venue or date in mind. "We're also seeing a rise in weekday and shoulder-season weddings," she notes. "They often offer stronger supplier availability, better value and a more relaxed atmosphere overall." As she puts it, "the best destination weddings feel spacious and unhurried," and building in that extra time is often how you get there.

In Jasmine's experience, wedding budgets for UK couples marrying abroad typically range from £30,000 to £70,000, depending on guest numbers, location and styling. That spend stretches across several days rather than the single afternoon of a traditional UK wedding. "It's more time together, more immersive celebrations and a greater overall experience," she explains.

Venue, planner fees, catering and drinks form the heart of the wedding budget, shaping both the atmosphere and the flow of the day. Here's how Jasmine typically sees a £30,000 to £50,000 budget divided:

""Ultimately, value isn't about spending less; it's about spending well in the areas that shape the experience most," White says. Destination packages can be a lovely shortcut, though check their flexibility and supplier choice first.

Every country sets its own rules, so check them early, ideally before settling on a venue and date. The UK government's guidance on getting married abroad sets out what your chosen country requires.

Most couples will need a valid passport and proof they're free to marry, such as a certificate of no impediment or marital status affirmation, plus birth, divorce or death certificates where relevant. These documents can have validity windows, so Jasmine recommends starting 9 to 12 months ahead. If your chosen country doesn't recognise the ceremony you're planning, a consular marriage at a British embassy or consulate may be worth exploring.

Plenty of couples choose to have a UK registry office wedding and then hold a symbolic celebration abroad, led by a celebrant. "Couples often love this option because it lets the destination wedding focus entirely on the experience, the setting and the people there," Jasmine notes. "Once you decide whether the legal element or the celebration itself is the priority, everything becomes much clearer." Either route works well, as long as it's the one that feels right for you both.

A destination wedding asks more of your guests than one closer to home. "The most reassuring thing guests can receive early on is clarity," Jasmine says. A confirmed location, nearest airport and a general sense of timing, shared through a wedding website alongside accommodation options and FAQs, help guests plan with confidence. She typically sees acceptance rates of 60 to 80% destination weddings, though she had full attendance at her own. "Which we absolutely hadn't accounted for!" she laughs.

Being upfront about travel and accommodation matters just as much. "Couples aren't expected to cover guest costs, but providing curated recommendations, room blocks or negotiated rates makes guests feel supported without pressure," Jasmine explains. A little guidance, offered warmly, tends to land better than any formal ask.

According to Jasmine White, for destination weddings, a wedding gift list often makes more sense than couples first realise. There can be a little hesitation, since guests are already travelling, but in reality, most people love the chance to contribute, whether that's towards a future home or a bigger item through group gifting.

"We're always recommending The Wedding Shop wedding gift list, especially for couples celebrating abroad," Jasmine tells us. "Beautifully chosen brands, the option to mix physical gifts with contributions or a honeymoon fund, and a format that feels intuitive for guests. It feels considered rather than transactional."

Getting the wedding gift list wording right matters too. White suggests a short, warm line goes further than anything formal:

"Your presence at our wedding is more than enough. If you would like to give a gift, however, we've created a registry below."

Or:

"We feel incredibly lucky to be celebrating with you abroad. If you'd like to contribute to our next chapter, you'll find our gift list here."

PRO TIP: If you're still deciding whether a list is right for your own celebration abroad, our guide on why you should have a wedding gift list if planning a destination wedding walks through exactly how to approach it.

Before anything else, Jasmine encourages couples to nail down what she calls "the first five": who, what, where, when and why."Once those foundations are solid," she says, "decisions feel intentional rather than overwhelming." Jasmine is just as clear on what matters most: "The three decisions that make the biggest positive difference are choosing the right venue, having experienced planning support, and thinking about the guest experience from the very start." A venue well used to international weddings already has the right systems in place, she adds, "which removes a huge amount of friction." Her wedding planning timeline breaks down into five clear stages.

18 to 12 months before: Settle your first five decisions and your budget, then secure your wedding venue and date. Take out wedding insurance as soon as you pay your first deposits, and bring your planner or in-house coordinator on board.

12 to 9 months before: This is when to send your save-the-dates and when to start your wedding registry. Launch your wedding website with travel and accommodation details, and begin gathering any legal documentation you'll need.

9 to 6 months before: Send invitations (a nice touch is including a link or QR code to your wedding gift list), confirm catering and flowers, and arrange weekend transport for guests. Plan ceremony timing around the climate, choosing a later start when the destination runs hot.

6 to 3 months before: Track RSVPs, build a detailed timeline with plenty of buffer, and put a weather contingency in place.

Final weeks: Settle final payments, confirm arrivals and transfers, and hand your full schedule to your planner, venue and suppliers so everyone's aligned.

"Think in terms of flow, not just moments," Jasmine advises. "Destination weddings work best when the entire experience feels considered, from welcome drinks to the morning after." A simple running order for each day, shared with guests beforehand, helps the whole weekend unfold at an easy pace.

One of Jasmine's favourite pieces of advice came from a supplier friend before her own wedding: step away together for 5 minutes during the day, no planner, no photographer, no guests. "We both stood silently for a few minutes, and my husband just said, 'Wow, look how loved we are.'" Destination weddings carry so much intention, and taking a moment to feel that is often what couples remember most.

"It's absolutely achievable, but it depends entirely on the country," Jasmine says. Gibraltar is a favourite for intimate legal ceremonies, with no residency requirement, and certain US states, including Nevada, are refreshingly simple too. You'll still need witnesses, though local planners and wedding chapels can usually provide them, leaving the moment entirely yours.

"When it's done correctly, it's actually pretty straightforward," Jasmine notes. As with any marriage abroad, a Las Vegas wedding is recognised in the UK as long as it's valid under Nevada law and you have the correct certified marriage certificate to bring home.

Anywhere with no residency requirement and a clear, well-documented process tends to be the smoothest option. Gibraltar is often regarded as one of the simplest within Europe. Clear government guidance, English-language paperwork and venues well used to international couples all make a destination feel straightforward.

Tone and timing make all the difference. Share why you've chosen the location and the experience you're inviting guests into, give plenty of notice, and be upfront about costs. "When couples are confident in their decision and communicate it warmly, most guests respond with excitement," Jasmine says. Shared this way, the invitation becomes part of the excitement.

There's no single right way to marry abroad, and no perfect guest count either. What makes a destination wedding truly special is intention: a celebration that reflects you, a legal plan settled early, and a gifting experience that feels just as thoughtful as the day itself. As Jasmine White puts it, "When couples are drawn to connection, good energy and the idea of turning their wedding into a shared escape, destination weddings lend themselves so beautifully to that."

We hope you enjoyed our guide to planning a destination wedding, and that it's helped you with your wedmin. For more help planning your wedding day, explore our other guides:

• Your questions about a Wedding Shop gift list answered

• Wedding stationery: your checklist for everything you need

• Wedding registry ideas — timeless gifts chosen by expert buyers

The Wedding Shop is the UK’s most trusted wedding registry provider. We offer a personalised wedding list service free of charge. Our dedicated team will help you create your dream registry full of items that you will love and use for a lifetime. Start your list today or book a complimentary appointment online or at The Townhouse.

Special thanks to Jasmine White, founder of The White Edit, for her expert advice. With more than 300 weddings behind her, having run a wedding venue and a planning company, Jasmine created The White Edit after planning her own destination wedding in Spain. Her design-led directory curates hand-picked venues across Europe and beyond. Discover them at thewhiteedit.com, or follow @thewhiteeditweddingvenues on Instagram.

All photos are courtesy of The White Edit, unless otherwise credited.