Gary and Danielle's quiet, bargain Italian wedding, could cost a fortune - after they fall into the overseas wedding trap
Filed under: Travel, Celebrity Pockets, Weddings
Getting married overseas is one of the more luxurious ways of having a wedding on the cheap. Just you and a handful of your closest friends and family jet out to a stunning location and tie the knot in style, and the whole thing (complete with honeymoon) comes in at a couple of thousand quid.When Gary Lineker and Danielle Bux got married in their small-scale wedding in Ravello on the Amalfi coast in Italy, there was a certain amount of shock that the pair had gone for a £400 ceremony. For a man reportedly worth £30 million it was quite impressively frugal.
But lying in wait for Mr and Mrs Lineker is the trap facing everyone who marries overseas, and it can cost a fortune.
Gary and Danielle eventually had two get-togethers both in Italy and and the UK to mark the occasion. The first of the bashes at the Hotel Caruso would have set them back a far bigger chunk of his fortune.
But even more typical couples end up with more than one big day. The problem is that everyone who doesn't make it to the wedding wants to celebrate, so in order to avoid putting noses out of joint you agree to have a big party in the UK when you get back.
Soon you are inviting 100 odd people to a venue, putting on food and entertainment and doing speeches. What does that sound like to you?
You end up paying for not one, but two weddings. A friend of mine got married in Vegas, and reckons the two parties and the travel set her back much more than one big wedding would have done.
So how do you avoid it?
If you want a big party, accept the fact, and consider getting married in the UK. You can still have a low key ceremony and invite everyone to the reception if that's what you want.
If you are just feeling guilt-tripped into the party, have a weekend 'at home' when you get back. throw open your doors for 48 hours, spend £100 on cake, and put the kettle on. Let people know they are free to bring a bottle if they fancy, and have a house party to remember.
Remember, if you want a quiet overseas wedding, that's exactly what you deserve to have.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-07-2009 @ 6:51AM
Dave said...
Hi just read your write up on weddings abroad and yes it sounds ideal for myself and fiance however you dont include any information on which companies offer these generous "cheap" prices you talk about. can you please forward any help or information you have as we are looking at marrying abroad but at the right price
thanks
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9-07-2009 @ 6:51AM
sarahedas said...
There are a few ways to organise a bargain overseas wedding.
Doing it yourself can be very cost-effective because you can hunt down the cheapest flights and hotels, and then book the wedding yourself separately. However, you need to be prepared for some work, because you need to make sure you get the legalities right as well as the logistics.
A half-way house if you don't want to do it on your own is to go somewhere with a very active tourist wedding industry, like the Caribbean or Vegas. Find the hotel you want, and get in touch with their wedding co-ordionator. They can advise you on every aspect of the wedding, and will come as part of a deal with the hotel. You can then source cheap flights yourself.
The other alternative is a wedding planner. There are tonnes who specialise in overseas weddings, and there's a list here as a useful start. http://www.easyweddingsearch.com/wedding/organisers-overseas-weddings. Tell them your budget, and see what they offer. They may be particularly useful for short-haul weddings, such as Cyprus, which can be very cost-effective.
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