Module 21 : Weddings
Abroad

 What your role is as a wedding planner when your couple is getting married abroad  Which tour operators are recommended in the UK for
arranging weddings abroad

 About Visas and other legal aspects

 Typical destinations for weddings abroad

In this module you will learn

 What your role is as a wedding planner when your couple is getting married abroad

Which tour operators are recommended for arranging weddings
abroad

How to make sure you read the small print closely
to help couples avoid hidden costs

About Visas and other legal aspects

About travel insurance

Typical destinations for weddings abroad

21.1  : Weddings Abroad

 Destination weddings
are starting to see a significant increase in

popularity with brides and grooms
wishing to tie the knot in an exotic location abroad.

If you are able to check up on the requirements and
rules relating to the specific country your couple
is looking to get married in, you are more likely to have a successful time and
avoid any issues at the last-minute.

Here
are several things that you can do to make certain a destination wedding is
successfully arranged:

 Liaise with another wedding planner in the
destination the couple is heading to: By doing this, you make sure you're aware of the different traditions and the
legal requirements. You'll also get
to know all about the local area, the best destinations for getting married,
and the price of using different services while there.

 In addition, you should find out whether the couple
needs to get married in a registry office at
home before or after the wedding. Not all location weddings are
officially recognised. Getting married
in Vegas, for example, sometimes requires an additional wedding at home to make
the proceedings legal.

 In the process of services, you want to make
certain that you use a service that is very clear on the features that are included within the package.
By taking the time to read the contract you should be able to get a full appreciation of the services
that are offered.
An all-inclusive package is
certain to be highly desirable and these should include everything required for
the big day. Certain
companies are hot on using
all-inclusive packages, such as Virgin.

 Look for resorts that offer wedding deals: If you
want to simplify the process of arranging a destination
wedding, you might want to look for the resorts that are able to offer specific wedding packages which will include all
the basics needed for the special day. In order to be eligible for these wedding packages, it is generally a
requirement of the resort or hotel that a certain
number of guests are in attendance.

21.2  : What is Your Role as a Wedding Planner When Your
Couple is Getting Married Abroad?

If you are liaising with another wedding planner at
your couple's chosen destination, you might be wondering what your role is here
at home.

Even when a couple gets married abroad, there's a lot that needs to be done in your home country

also. Some couples might want to have the wedding
formalised as soon as they get home, in which
case you'll need to liaise with the registry office.

In addition, there are all the other duties
required of a wedding planner. This includes finding dresses, arranging for discounts, making sure the transport is
just so, and maybe even choosing favors
and music. Your role continues to be that of someone who has inside knowledge,
as well as the ability to negotiate
on essential costs so that the couple doesn't spend too much.

Which tour operators are recommended for arranging weddings
abroad?

Generally, couples want something special
when it comes to their destination wedding.

If you want to work with a large company that's
going to take responsibility when something goes wrong, you may want to choose
a reputable one like Virgin, or Kuoni. Both these have great connections with luxurious hotels in a
variety of destinations, with Kuoni being particularly handy for weddings in
exotic locations.

In contrast, Virgin
is excellent for the Caribbean and the states,
whereas others can serve the needs
of those who feel like they'd enjoy staying in Europe.

21.3  : Making Sure You Read the Small Print Closely

Everything in life comes with small print and destination weddings
are no

different.

As a wedding planner, you might need to look out
for this small print to make sure the couple
doesn't find themselves lumbered with additional costs when the big day
is upon them.

If a package looks too good to be true, it probably
is. Low prices probably just focus on the wedding itself, not the flights and accommodation. In addition, you need to be mindful
of resort costs.

One common way couples get snagged into paying for
what seems like an attractive package is a 'free'
wedding for staying in a particular resort for a couple of weeks at a time.
While the wedding itself may be free,
the chances are the couple will find themselves facing local government fees, which can be as high as $300.

Typically, a basic
package involving just an officiate, the legal technicalities, and a basic
ceremony will cost $450 to $600 minimum. Packages
that cost more do have the potential
to save money.

However, this is only the case when said packages
contain elements that the couple simply cannot
miss out on when it comes to their wedding abroad.

21.4  : Visas

 When it comes to visas, couples will have to do a lot of the legwork

themselves.

However, you can help them make sure they have
everything that they need for the visa process. Some countries are particularly slow at processing visas. For
example, Ghana. In many other countries,
you can often get one online in an instant.

21.5  : Travel Insurance

While it may seem obvious to you as a wedding
planner that the couple will need specialist travel insurance for the dresses,
rings, and all the other expensive items that weddings come with, it might not
seem so obvious to them.

Look for travel insurance companies that can offer
them the best deals and then liaise with the
couple.

21.6  : Typical Destinations for Weddings Abroad

What makes an ideal destination wedding? The answer to that lies in what
the couple desires.

If all they want is a pretty chateau to say 'I do' in, then you won't need to go any further
than France. If, on the other
hand, they're seeking crisp white shores, you're going to need to look at
places like Barbados.

Destination weddings
in paradise

When a couple
comes to you and says they want to get married in paradise, where
do you send them? Your first thoughts may jump to the Caribbean. After
all, it has everything a temperate inland climate
doesn't: A steady sunny climate (spare the odd hurricane), sandy white shores,
as well as peace and quiet alongside
service with a smile.

As a wedding planner, you need to think outside the
box. Paradise can also come in the form of destinations
like Fiji, particularly Tokoriki Island Resort, which is known for being one of
the most romantic resorts in the world. Generally, Fiji is far flung, picture
perfect, and idyllic
for any couple wanting to get away from it all.

21.7  : Couples Looking
for Classic Romance

Classic romance
comes in all shapes and sizes.

Certain destinations are known for their romantic
reputation, such as Paris. However, when you step foot in such cities, you often find that they don't meet your
expectations, and the same is likely to be true
for the couple you're working with.

Two of the best destinations for a classically
romantic wedding are Italy and South Africa. While it may seem as though they're sharp contrasts (and you're certainly
right for thinking that), both have endlessly romantic
elements. Italy has its vineyards, winding streets, and naturally romantic
feel.

Africa has its dramatic
landscapes and safaris.

Other romantic destinations can include New
Orleans, Ireland, and even Scotland. The ones you choose and suggest depend on what the couple wants, as well as their budget.

21.8  : Weddings with a Religious
Element

Finding a destination wedding
that can also offer a religious element
is no

easy
task.

If you're going to give this a go, Cyprus is almost certainly your best bet. Otherwise, you may want