Here comes the bride! It seems that lately, more and more people are getting hitched overseas, as our Instagram feeds are inundated with beach ceremonies and vineyard nuptials. However, we’ve decided to find out if destination weddings are just a social media trend or something couples are opting for in 2024. We ran a survey asking UK couples who have got married in the last five years if they got married abroad, their reasons why, and if they are still together. Let’s dive into our findings!
Gen Z love a destination wedding
It appears that a wedding in the sun is especially popular among Gen Z couples, as the generation is increasingly choosing to tie the knot abroad. According to our survey, a fifth (21%) of Brits who got married in the last five years chose to do so abroad. Gen Z’s led the way as more than a quarter (26%) of Brits aged 18-24 have opted for destination weddings in the past five years.
a clever way to skip out on having to invite everyone you know
From our survey, destination weddings are popping up not just for their stunning settings, but also as a clever way to skip out on having to invite everyone you know. Interestingly, 12% – amounting to approximately 115,000 couples – chose to marry abroad specifically to sidestep inviting unwanted guests.
| Reason for Choosing an Overseas Wedding | Percentage of Respondents |
| I am/my partner is not from the UK originally so we chose a destination that was convenient for guests from my/my partner’s ‘home’ country | 24% |
| It was more affordable | 23% |
| I am/my partner is not from the UK originally and wanted to go ‘home’ to get married | 22% |
| We had family or friends living in the country we got married in | 22% |
| The location has sentimental value to myself and/or my partner | 21% |
| Wanted to ensure good weather on my wedding day | 17% |
| Wanted to combine the wedding and honeymoon | 15% |
| Wanted to have a ‘unique’ wedding | 15% |
| We didn’t want a ‘traditional’ wedding | 15% |
| It’s always been a dream of mine/my partner | 14% |
| We only wanted a small number of attendees | 14% |
| Didn’t want to get married in the UK | 12% |
| To avoid inviting people I didn’t want to attend/dislike, who we would have to invite if it were in the UK | 12% |
| Prefer wedding venues in other countries over UK wedding venues | 11% |
| It was the only way we could book a suitable venue for the dates we wanted | 5% |
For nearly a quarter (23%) of Brits, the primary appeal is cost-effectiveness. With the average wedding in the UK costing around £20,775 ($26,787), couples can save roughly £3,000 ($3,868) by marrying abroad, where the average is £17,572 ($22,657).
Viva Las Vegas
Las Vegas stands out as a go-to destination to tie the knot outside of the UK, with approximately 19,000 couples (2%) choosing it for their special day. Over a quarter (28%) say they’d never get married in Vegas, while, interestingly, one in ten (10%) wish they had picked Las Vegas for their big day. Some prefer more traditional weddings, and others mentioned their partner just wasn’t into the idea.
| Las Vegas Weddings Abroad: I would have liked to get married in Las Vegas but… | |
| My friends & family wouldn’t have been able to attend | 21% |
| Didn’t want my family & friends to have to travel there | 15% |
| I/we preferred to have a traditional wedding instead | 15% |
| I/we didn’t consider it prior to getting married, but now wish I did get married there | 11% |
| Regret not doing so | 10% |
| My partner didn’t like the idea | 9% |
| I/we were worried other people would think it’s distasteful | 8% |
| We chose a different venue in another country outside of the UK | 3% |
It’s also interesting to see that many Brits surveyed (8%) would have liked to tie the knot in Las Vegas, but were worried that others would think it was distasteful. Despite these concerns, the allure of a Sin City wedding remains strong, highlighting a divide between what people really want and the worry of what others may think of your big day.
The impact on relationships
The survey also sheds light on relationship longevity post-wedding, revealing a higher separation rate among those who married abroad as 11% of couples who tied the knot overseas have divorced or separated within five years, compared to just 5% of those who chose to get married in the UK. It seems as though it’s not all blue skies for those traveling the blue seas to get hitched.
Folks are prioritising what they want and what makes sense
As things change with society and money matters, more British couples are choosing destination weddings. It’s not just about those stunning backdrops, but also about keeping their guest lists tight. This shift towards tying the knot abroad shows a big change in wedding trends. Folks are prioritising what they want and what makes sense over sticking to old traditions.