RUN AWAY FROM EVERYONE OR WEDDING OUTSIDE LATVIA!

Pack a suitcase, buy plane tickets to your dream destination, grab the rings, run away from everyone and your YES! say a word to each other already outside the borders of Latvia. About whether it is really as simple as sounds, and what should be expected when deciding to get married in another country, we asked event agency CaramelEvents Riga manager and wedding organizer Jūlija Pumpe.

TO GO OR NOT TO GO?

Julija Pumpe states that one of the main motivators,

why couples choose to celebrate the new beginning of their life in another country is the desire to combine the wedding celebration with honeymoon trip.

"For those who live in Latvia and are thirsty for the sun, another factor is no less important - excellent weather and the sun. If the ceremony is planned by the sea or ocean, it means that the water will be blue and clear, as well as warm. Because of the unpredictable weather in Latvia, most couples choose to get married in warm countries," says Jūlija. Another no less important aspect - couples want an unusual background for their wedding photos, that's why for weddings outside The photographer hired by the couple also often goes to Latvia.

Mountains, ocean, jungle or medieval architecture - all this inspires and allows the couple to be different from for traditional crop field pictures.

kazas arpus latvijas — Photo: JĀNIS RATNIEKS

In addition, exotic nature and breathtaking views of nature can serve as a background not only during a photo session, but also as wedding centerpieces. When asked which couples most choose to get married outside of Latvia, Jūlija Pumpe indicates that these are couples who are most often from the same country and want to have a wedding abroad to change the usual environment and get new and romantic emotions.

THE MOST POPULAR DESTINATIONS - WARM LANDS

If, however, you are one of those couples who want to get married outside of Latvia, then you have to take into account several practical aspects. Julija Pumpe indicates that

first you need to understand whether the couple wants to hold an official or only symbolic ceremony abroad.

If, however, it will be an official ceremony, then you must find out the legislation of the specific country - what documents must be submitted, must be translated and legalized. It is also necessary to find out what procedures should be carried out after the wedding in Latvia in order for the marriage to be official recognized here as well. CaramelEvents Riga manager states that especially bureaucratic countries for marriage ceremonies being Germany and France.

The most popular destinations for weddings outside of Latvia are Italy, France, Greece, especially the island of Santorini, Dominica and Thailand.

"I know that a few years ago there was a trend to get married in Iceland. But now, because of the very high costs, it can be afforded only very wealthy people," says Júlija Pumpe.

WITH OR WITHOUT GUESTS?

If you have decided to get married outside of Latvia, you must answer the question whether you want to do it only as a couple or in the presence of friends and relatives. "If it is Europe, then the couple often chooses to invite their closest friends and relatives. Here, however, you have to look at the costs - there are cases when a couple pays for living expenses, but for the flight guests pay themselves.

A couple often travels to exotic countries only as a couple or with a driver, because it requires a much larger budget," said Manager of CaramelEvents Riga . If you still want your closest people to be present at the special event, but the wedding budget does not allow it, you can also simply arrange with a company of friends that you will all spend the vacation together, during which the wedding ceremony and dinner will also take place.

Couples often choose to take a photographer with them, because undoubtedly beautiful wedding pictures are one of the must have for weddings outside Latvia.

DIFFERENT MENTALITIES

The mentality of the local population of the given country must also be taken into account. “Italians, Greeks, Filipinos are people who are never in a hurry. Therefore, for example, in Italy it is quite difficult to organize wedding parties process precisely because of the different mentality. There is a special cult of food. For example, it is customary to serve sweet wine for dessert, and when one of the guests asked for sweet wine to be poured for him at the beginning of the dinner, the restaurant manager was shocked. He asked if there really wasn't anything mixed up and if we were sure that it should be done because everyone was will think he is distracted. Also, another question is about table service. Abroad, it is accepted that food is served in order - cold appetizer, hot appetizer, hot dish and dessert and nothing else on the table before that there isn't. On the other hand, in Latvia, salads and cold snacks are often put on the tables at the very beginning, but hot ones food is served after an hour. If customers are used to this type of service, then, for example, a wedding in Italy the organizer must be patient, because it will not be easy to explain to the restaurant management that it will be necessary to work differently," Julija Pumpe shares her experience.

CHANGING WEATHER

If the wedding is planned in even more distant lands, then additional challenges must be expected. Julija Pumpe has organized a small wedding in the Philippines, on the island of Boracay and faced various challenges. For example, flowers were very expensive, because they had to be brought from the capital Manila and their quality was not great either. Besides, the Filipinos have their own understanding of beauty and had to follow every move for the result to be satisfactory. Likewise in Asia it is also not customary to rush and get excited. There may be a situation where the guests arrive already after half an hour, but the tables not assembled yet. "If the wedding takes place on the beach, you should always look not only at the weather and wind forecast, but also at the water level, because it happens that the tables have to be moved in the middle of dinner because the water is suddenly too close to the shore. In the Philippines, it was necessary postpone the wedding due to bad weather, as there was a gust of wind and rain on the chosen date. Hence also in warm countries there is no guarantee that there will be sun in the season. The weather is unpredictable in every country," shares Julija's experience Pump.