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How to save money when planning a wedding as an expat

Your wedding day should be the best day of your life. Whether you’re young and getting married to your childhood sweetheart, or you’ve eloped to a life in the sun and want to make your relationship official, there are lots of things that you need to take into consideration.

Weddings may be magical, but they’re also stressful - and expensive. Latest data suggests the average Briton spends £27,161 on their wedding day - and it’s a similar situation around the world, with US couples spending $35,329, and the Spanish spending €20,000. Once you’ve taken into account a venue, wedding dress, food, entertainment and accommodation, it’s easy to blow your life savings on a single day - but it doesn’t have to be that expensive.

As an expat, you’ll likely always be looking for ways to save money and get the most out of your life - and your wedding day shouldn’t be any different. Below, we’ve rounded up some great tips for expats looking to get married in their new country, without breaking the bank…

 

Decide on a location

One of the first things that you should do when planning an expat wedding is decide where you want to get married. You may prefer to go back to your home country so that you can spend time with family and friends, or you might decide that you’re settled in a new country and want your loved ones to come to you. Weigh up the pros and cons of each location - and calculate which is cheaper for everyone involved - before making your final decision.

Many couples choose to marry in the city where they first met, so you may want to go abroad and marry somewhere else, but remember that there are increased costs associated with overseas weddings - not only will you have to worry about your own travel, but your friends and family will have to spend hundreds on paying for their own flights and accommodation.

 

Get to grips with local laws and regulations

To help save time and money, you should get to grips with local laws and regulations as soon as possible. Whether you’ve been expatting for ten years or ten weeks, it’s important to understand how marriage - and a wedding - works in your new country, so speak to your local registry office, church or authority for information on the proceedings.

In some countries, like Italy, for example, there is a music tax levied on weddings (the Società Italiana degli Autori ed Editori means couples must pay between €100 to €350 to play music during their wedding), which could make you think twice about where you want to organise your wedding day. Other countries require a minimum residency before couples are allowed to have a wedding ceremony, so it’s worth checking with an expert before booking.

There’s also the issue of law: finding out whether your marriage will be legally recognised in other countries is important, especially if you plan to move back to your native country in the future. In Muslim countries, for example, you'll have a ‘ceremony’ or a ‘blessing’ rather than a full wedding, whereas, in France, you can only get married through a civil ceremony held at the council office, or the mairie, and so prior planning is critical before you can be married.

In some countries, like in Mexico, you’ll need to take a blood test before you can be married. The blood test must be certified by a doctor in Mexico on the day of your wedding, in order to determine your blood type, and HIV and STD status. Under Mexican Law, couples who test positive for an STD or HIV cannot get married in Mexico. Tests cost around $250 per couple, another expense you should take into consideration when deciding where to get married.

 

Invite loved ones early

If you live on the other side of the world to your loved ones, be realistic and don’t expect everyone to be able to get time off of work to attend your wedding. Be considerate of their finances, too - travelling abroad for a wedding can be expensive; taking into account the cost of flights, accommodation, an outfit and a gift, it’s too much to cough up for some people.

To ensure as many of your loved ones can attend as possible, invite them as early as you can (years in advance, if you can) and suggest that they tie your wedding into an extended holiday in your new country. To help them save some money, you could even put them up in your house, or rent out a large property close to your home so everyone can be together.

 

Avoid the summer

Summer weddings are always good fun, but if you live in a popular tourist destination, the chances are that flights and accommodation will be more expensive. If you’re planning on inviting lots of guests, then this can quickly add up and make your wedding more expensive than it needs to be. Planning ahead and being strategic will pay off in the long-run.

A flight to Spain can be as expensive as £500 in the summer months, compared to less than £50 over the winter; a flight to Dubai, on the other hand, can be more expensive during cultural events, like Dubai Jazz Festival and Omega Dubai Desert Classic. In fact, the summer months, when temperatures can reach 40 to 50 degrees, flights to Dubai are often at their cheapest, but ask yourself whether you really want to get married in scorching heat.

 

Scrap the Hen and Stag parties

Hen Dos and Stag Parties can be great fun, but they’re an unnecessary expense, especially if you want to get married on a budget. If you’re lucky enough to have guests come to your country for your wedding, then consider cooking everyone a meal in your home so you can have a good catch-up, or go to a local restaurant instead. You don’t have to spend hundreds to have a great night - and waking up without a headache, you’ll be glad you kept it low-key!

 

Marry at a local hotel

If you want to save money and have the perfect expat wedding, then consider marrying at a local hotel rather than a traditional wedding venue. Many hotels offer free wedding services if you book a certain number of guests into the hotel, or offer discounts on food, entertainment or alcohol. You can also save money on your wedding venue by booking during a quiet period - Christmas and school holidays are often the most expensive, so get out your diary and work with a wedding planner or hotelier to find a date that works for everyone involved.

 

Think about translations

If you decide to stick to a church wedding, then you should seek permission from a relevant church authority and hire an interpreter for your wedding day, who can translate the event into English. Better yet, if you can, hire an English marriage officiant to run proceedings.

 

Plan early

It’s perhaps the most obvious point on our list, but it’s worth mentioning nonetheless. If you want to save money and get the most out of your wedding day, then you should plan early. From finding a dress to securing a venue, and from sending out invitations to booking your entertainment, the earlier you can plan, the better a deal you’ll get when it comes to the big day. Some popular wedding venues take bookings for years in advance and having the time to find the right food, wine, fizz, and decorations will help you secure a bargain. Look to places like local supermarkets and vineyards, rather than relying on your wedding revenue.

 

Do it on your own

If you want to keep costs down, then plan a DIY wedding. We’re certainly not saying that planning a wedding is easy or straightforward, but if you’re organised and strategic, you’ll be able to get everything just the way you want it. Wedding planners are expensive and charge thousands of pounds for their services. Booking a wedding venue, restaurant, entertainment, photographer and makeup artist will help you negotiate the best deals and plan a dream day.

For things that you can’t do, like making a wedding cake or organising floral displays, then outsource them to local businesses. Carry out ‘test runs’ where you can try out your cake and three-course meal before the big day to ensure everything is just as you’d want it, and you’ll be confident that your day will go off without a hitch - and without wasting your money.

 

Wrapping up

Nobody said that planning a wedding would be easy, but with the right strategy and some hard work, you can get there - and save thousands in the process. Don’t settle for the first venue, don’t hand over the responsibility to somebody else, and don’t stop looking until you find what you need at a suitable price. Congratulations, and the best of luck on your big day!

 

Tags: saving money wedding planning

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