Wedding Abroad News

Where better to celebrate this Valentine’s Day with your loved one than the Eternal City? Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts has created the ultimate romantic gesture to bowl that someone special over and win the key to their hearts. For all starry-eyed couples visiting Rome Cavalieri this Valentine’s Day (or any other time of year for a romantic break), the hotel is offering a new package including the chance to take part in a popular ritual enjoyed by Italian couples: a visit to the Ponte Milvio, a bridge over the Tiber in the north of the city. Originally built in the era of the Roman Empire and the site of the famous Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312AD, Ponte Milvio began attracting couples, who used a lamppost on the bridge to hang padlocks as a sign of their love, in 2006. The ritual involved locking the padlock to the lamp post, before throwing the key into the Tiber and was invented by author Federico Moccia for his book and movie “I Want You”. Just a year l...

Gay weddings are growing in popularity, and Spain is one of the increasing number of countries which holds them. Our wedding planner Ido4love offers gay weddings in Barcelona and the Costa Brava, and with plenty of beautiful locations around there, you'll be spoilt for choice as to where you exchange vows! Ido4Love creates bespoke ceremonies to your specifications - so whatever you've been dreaming of, ask them and they'll do their best to make your dreams come true! See Ido4Love on our Gay weddings page here, and you can even watch one of their weddings!

2012 is a leap year, and Feb 29th is a "traditional" day when women propose to their man. So, ladies, if you're thinking of proposing this year, here are some great places in which to do so. Best for... The Wild Man Why not take your man on safari and propose on a game drive in real ‘man country’, surrounded by lion, leopard, elephant and all the big beasts of Africa? He’ll not be able to escape so there’s a chance he might even say yes! Africa Odyssey   offers a wealth of safaris to African hot spots in Kenya, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. Why not stay at the boutique and romantic Selous Safari Camp in southern Tanzania. It boasts 13 luxury tents, each with beautiful views across a private lake.   Best for...The Bad Boy Or city slickers could choose an exciting and clandestine proposal scene right out of a 1920’s black and white movie set – at one of New York’s ‘speakeasy’ bars? A throwback to the prohibition era when alcohol b...

With 2012 tipped (by NASA) to be the best year for the Aurora Borealis for 50 years, there’s been a surge in bookings for ‘Northern Lights Weddings’. The lack of light pollution up in Finnish Lapland, makes it one of the most spectacular places for witnessing the Lights – as well as an incredibly atmospheric place to tie the knot. The Winter Wedding Company is offering a wedding in Nellim in Finnish Lapland from £1,197 including a civil ceremony and all wedding co-ordination, planning, magistrate costs and paperwork. In addition, a three-night stay costs from £845 pp (two sharing – hopefully!) including flights (London), transfers, three nights’ half-board (hotel) and cold-weather clothing. Winter Weddings (01670 789 101 ). All of the wedding and honeymoon destinations used by Winter Weddings are located in Scandinavia’s Auroral Zone in Norway, Sweden and Finland, which increases the chances of witnessing the Lights.

Looking for a romantic location to spoil your loved one this year, well how about Mallorca? Boasting beautiful beaches, idyllic, unspoilt countryside and only a two-hour flight from a choice of UK airports, Mallorca is the perfect destination for couples looking to while away lazy, halcyon days in the Mediterranean sunshine. Situated in the island’s prettiest rural locations, Mallorca Farmhouses offers a great choice of intimate and secluded properties which are ideal for a honeymoon or a romantic holiday, including a new addition, Aljup de Son Amer. Set on the outskirts of the pretty village of Es Llombards, Aljup de Son Amer is a recently restored stone-clad cottage, conveniently located within walking distance of local tapas bars, a bakery, restaurants and shops. This cosy one-bedroom property is furnished to a high-spec with open-plan kitchen and an en suite double bedroom with stairs to a small mezzanine. Outside, its attractive gardens are speckled with olive trees wi...

Looking to escape this Valentine's Day? Well this perfect package from Pimalai Resort, Krabi, Thailand might just be what you're looking for. The Valentine's package includes accommodation, sparkling wine on arrival, daily breakfast buffet, round trip transfer from Krabi Airport to Pimalai, a 2 hour signature ‘’Koo Rak’’ spa package, a Thai set dinner and a memorable A La Carte dinner at the magnificent Seven Seas Restaurant. If you are unable to travel on February the 14th, then do not worry as the 2 nights / 3 days package is valid from the 14th February until 31st March 2012; so you can pick the best dates that suits you and your partner…yes, plenty time for you to please your loved one!! Limited Package: Available in Pool Villa One Bedroom Category only THB 32,750 (approx £670) per person, twin share. To book contact Pimalai directly via their website or call 01242 255 483. Or see wedding providers in Thailand here.

It's Valentine's day soon, and if you're planning a romantic getaway then take a look at the following offers, just waiting for you to book! LET THE CITY SEDUCE YOU THIS VALENTINE’S DAY – from just £61 Per Person, Per Night For those wanting to swap hearts and flowers for something a little more hot and frisky this Valentine’s Day, The Hotel @ Times Square in New York is offering a Naughty & Nice package throughout February, which includes one night’s accommodation , a box of not-too-sweet chilli chocolates and FREE entry into the famously risqué Museum Of Sex (worth $35). The first of its kind in the world, and despite its subject matter, the museum is revered by critics, holding a large archive of art, photography, clothing and historical objects. Situated in the heart of Manhattan, just minutes from Broadway and many central restaurants The Hotel @ Times Square is a chic and cheap hotel perfect for couples. What’s more, it offers compli...

Our new wedding planner is called Your Wedding Planner in Italy (YWPII), rather appropriate we think! Based in romantic Venice, YWPII arranges ceremonies throughout Italy and is proud to offer services for all sizes of budget. As much or as little help as you require - just ask YWPII's advice and get ready for the best day of your life!! Find YWPII on our Italy Weddings page here.

Africa is a stunning wedding destination, so we asked Claire Farley, sales and marketing director at southern and east Africa specialist 2by2 Holidays for her top tips for getting married in South Africa 1. Try to keep it simple and stress free. 2. Choose a destination that will give you a memorable backdrop for your wedding photos. 3. Your wedding dress should be in a light fabric (remember it will be hot) and avoid a long train (which will get dirty). 4. Wear appropriate footwear for your location. 5. For beach weddings, mornings are best (to avoid the glare of the mid-day sun and afternoon sea breezes). 6. For safari weddings, early morning or late afternoon is best (great lighting for your photos). 7. When planning your make-up, remember you will need to wear high factor sunblock, as you will be out in the sun for a considerable length of time. 8. Send photos of style of hair, make-up and flowers you want in advance, to ensure you get what you want. 9. Check out the ...

Our new wedding planner in Italy, Weddings&Co is based in timeless Rome but arranges wedding ceremonies throughout Italy. Their aim is to help busy couples save time, stress and money by taking care of all the arrangements for an absolutely beautiful wedding. Whether you are dreaming of a ceremony by the sea on the Amalfi Coast, exchanging vows amid the rolling hills of Tuscany, or becoming Mr & Mrs in a chic city wedding in eternal Rome, Weddings&Co can help. You can find them on our Italy weddings page , and get in touch directly to see how they can help make your Italy wedding dreams come true!

Getting married in Morocco is a very cost effective versus the UK and a big wow factor from the setting, entertainment, decor and weather. Rosena McKeown wedding planner at Boutique Souk says, “a big trend for 2012 is rustic chic weddings in unusual settings surrounded by nature. In Morocco we have venues in the Marrakech palm grove, coast and of course at the desert. Our tented camp overlooking the Lake Lalla Takerkoust close to Marrakech is a beautiful setting. A ceremony with the sun setting on the lake is stunning, followed by a berber tented reception and dancing under the stars surrounded by lanterns and open fires- an unforgettable wedding!” We regularly use camels in the ceremony, with grooms arriving by camel and brides carried in traditional Moroccan ‘Amari’ thrones or the couple ‘leaving’ the ceremony on 2 camels with a ‘just married’ sign on their rear – a great photo-opportunity! Photo: Joe Lasky Photography Find marriage legalities for Morocco here.

The perfect accessory for any bride… is the Virgin Holidays wedding dress carriage box. If brides are looking to pack their wedding dress in style, this really is perfect for them! The wedding carriage boxes are designed for easy, safe carriage of that all important dress. The boxes are big enough to store the dress but small enough to fit in the overhead locker on a Virgin Atlantic flight, giving brides the reassurance of having the dress to hand throughout the journey. The boxes are £39 each and can be purchased from our Weddings Team and customers must have a Virgin Holidays booking to be able to purchase a box. Or, if you haven't decided where to marry, search for a wedding location here .

Today's news includes a spectacular wedding package in the bush in South Africa in an exclusive lodge, and the option to plant a palm to celebrate your marriage in the Caribbean. Read our regularly updated wedding abroad news , or search for a wedding planner here .

If you became engaged over Christmas or New Year and are thinking of having a wedding abroad, then keep an eye on our news pages over the next few months. See what's happening in the world of weddings abroad and perhaps even find your own ideal location for your ceremony. Latest news today include, a refurbishment of the Maritim Hotel Mauritius into a 5 star venue , the ultimate Beach & Bush honeymoon experience in South Africa and the Seychelles , and marrying at The Reefs hotel in Bermuda.  Or to find a wedding planner, take a look here.

Happy New Year! And to celebrate, we're welcoming our new Spanish wedding planner Catalonia Weddings Boutique to the site - perfect for newly engaged couples! Christmas and New Year is a popular time to get engaged, so if you've just popped the question and are thinking about where you'd like to exchange vows, look no further - Catalonia Weddings Boutique is based in London and Barcelona, and designs absolutely gorgeous ceremonies. Take a look and get in touch if you'd like a quote.