beat the brochure

According to recent figures released by market research firm Mintel, more and more British couples are escaping the unpredictable British summer weather and opting to get married abroad. One in five weddings now takes place abroad, up 27% since 2005. With all the benefits getting married abroad has over getting married in Blighty these figures are hardly surprising. Cyprus is a great holiday destination, but it’s also one of our favourite foreign wedding destinations. If you’re thinking about having your dream wedding abroad here’s a couple of reasons to consider a Cyprus wedding holiday package.

Sun, Sea and Sacrament
The most obvious reason is Cyprus’ stunning weather – Cyprus has 340 days of sunshine and a long summer, running from May to October. Although the island cools down for winter October through December, the sun still prevails and there is very little rainfall. This means an almost guaranteed sunny day for your wedding and no rain spoiling your wedding pictures.

Spend Less Money…
A major bonus to having your wedding in Cyprus is that it can be a lot cheaper than a wedding the UK. The average UK wedding costs around £20,000 whereas the average wedding abroad costs a mere £6585 which gives you a lot more money to spend on treating yourself to your dream wedding, the honeymoon of a lifetime or simply give you more spending money if you’re staying in one of the many five star hotels in Cyprus.

… and Even Less Time
Unlike many wedding destinations abroad, getting married in Cyprus couldn’t be simpler. Cyprus’ civil wedding laws are very modern and enable non-residents to get married with very little paperwork involved – all that is required is that the bride and groom stay on the island for two days before their nuptials. All weddings are carried out in English, as is the marriage certificate, which is recognised worldwide and available immediately after the ceremony so if you’ve chosen a honeymoon on the mainland or elsewhere there’s no need to wait before jetting off.

Forget the Church – Hit the Beach
Cyprus is known for being the birthplace of Aphrodite, the goddess of love in Greek mythology, and her influence over the island remains. In Paphos you can even participate in a tasteful recreation of the goddess’ rites if you want to add a bit of spice to your nuptials. If you’re looking for something more traditional, Cyprus’ many romantic vistas, ancient ruins overlooking the ocean, stunning architecture in the towns and beautiful beaches mean there is no shortage of stunning places to get married and take your wedding pictures.

Did you get married abroad? Did you stay at your wedding destination for your honeymoon? Share your experiences in the comments.