A winter wedding, where the decorations are crystal icicles and tinsel, can be a fabulous experience, but not everyone is excited about snowdrifts and cold. That's why there are couples who consider winter wedding to celebrate abroad, where the sun and warmth never stop spoiling.

If you plan to hold a wedding abroad, take a look at: BRIDELIFESTYLE.COM

Why choose a wedding abroad?

Apart from the desire to be warm and enjoy summer in winter, there are other quite important reasons why a wedding abroad may be the best choice. International couples and couples who do not live in Latvia, as well as those who want a smaller and more intimate wedding - a special celebration just for themselves, choose weddings abroad most often. It can be like an exotic adventure, starting a new chapter in life. In addition, such a wedding can be perfectly combined with a honeymoon .

Despite the measurable distance, sometimes a wedding abroad can be even more financially beneficial than holding it in Latvia. Wedding photographer Linda Lauva most often captures weddings in Scandinavia, but has experience elsewhere as well. She says that price-benefit ratio is often important to Latvians, which helps when choosing a wedding destination. Wedding planner Alice Mihimana emphasizes that it is Southeast Asia, especially Bali , which is a favorite destination for many couples, that will be cheaper than many others.

Here, it is possible to use the luxury wedding service at a much lower price than it would be, for example, in Europe. A wedding abroad will be especially significant if the chosen country is special for both the engaged, is associated with important memories, or is a place where both have always wanted to go. The process of choosing a place should be thoughtful and based only on the wishes of the couple.

What to consider when planning a wedding abroad?

• Don't get caught up in pretty pictures

Wedding planning abroad often takes place remotely, which means - it will be possible to view the wedding venue, rooms and surroundings in person only shortly before the wedding. Alice emphasizes that the services of a wedding organizer are usually used for foreign weddings, but care must be taken to ensure that the chosen service providers are reliable and safe, as it is easy to stumble upon beautiful pictures on the Internet. You should also be prepared that the chosen country will surprise you if you have never been there.

• Cultural differences and place specificity

For wedding photographer Linda Lauva, it is important that the couple has researched the peculiarities, conditions and cultural specifics of the wedding destination. Not everywhere what is promised is done, and the mentality of the inhabitants of the given country can also be a surprise, especially in the south of Europe, where people perceive everything much more easily, do not rush too much and their tastes are different from Latvians.

• Weather and rainy season

Planning a wedding abroad can be a more stressful process than planning it here in Latvia. You need to find out the weather in the specific month, the humidity and the heat, which can also be difficult to bear, especially in tropical countries.

• Day length

When choosing a wedding time, you should also study the length of the day. Closer to the equator, twilight already occurs around 18:00 which may be unusual compared to our long and bright summer evenings and long sunsets. The sun sets here in a very short moment, so the sunset photo session will be very fast.

• Menu

The local menu and options should also be considered . If you want traditional French cuisine at your wedding, it will definitely be difficult to do in places where the available ingredients are completely different. There are countries whose food consists mainly of meat, which can be an important factor for a couple on a vegetarian diet. The understanding of a wedding cake can also be very different.

• Time and documents required for wedding planning

You should also think about the time allocated for the wedding, the more distant the destination - the more time it will take. Another important and important aspect is the necessary documents. This applies to both visas and documents required for wedding legalization. If only a symbolic ceremony is planned and all the official documents are arranged already in Latvia, it will certainly make all this much easier.

Italy

Wedding photographer Linda says that in her experience the favorite European country of Latvian couples is romantic Italy . It is a popular travel destination, so perhaps a more understandable, familiar place for us to host a wedding as well. Alice has observed the same trend and fully understands such a choice, as this country offers a great variety of opportunities. From beautiful coasts, lakes, to ancient fortresses, fields of grapes and olive trees. Particularly popular wedding locations are Tuscany, Positano, the Amalfi Coast, Como and Lake Garda, and Sicily.

A surprising pearl is the Apulia region, especially Lecce, where weddings can be held in wonderful villas and specialized, small resorts, each with its own special charm. There, the weather is favorable, which makes it possible to hold an outdoor wedding in a beautiful olive garden. It is important to find out the specifics of the specific location. Linda shares her experience with the Amalfi Coast, where there were major traffic jams that nearly missed the wedding ceremony.

Alice emphasizes that Italy, France, Greece and Malta are excellent countries for weddings from early spring to late autumn.

Bali

this charming Indonesian island has become a favorite wintering place among many Europeans. Alice has also wintered here for several years and fulfills the dreams of many couples about a wedding in Bali . the magic of this island lies in its diversity. There are both white and black sand, rocky, and small and hidden beaches. Views of volcanoes, rice fields, waterfalls, lush green jungles with palm trees and beautiful orchids. Here too, many resorts offer unique and wonderful wedding venues. Bali is chosen by couples who want an intimate and small wedding, sometimes with only a couple of guests or just the two of them. Alice does not recommend opting for the ready-made wedding packages offered by many hotels in Bali, as their options are often much more limited than what the island actually offers.

Maldives

This island nation in the Indian Ocean enjoys uniformly warm temperatures throughout the year. It should be remembered that here from May to November is the rainy season, while Latvian winter is the perfect time to go there and get married in a tropical paradise: palm trees gently swaying in the wind, crystal clear and incredibly blue water, pearly white sandy beaches, and the very characteristic bungalow-style houses over the water. Maldives resorts offer a wide variety of wedding options and high quality service.

French Polynesia

Another exotic group of islands that will certainly not disappoint tropical lovers is French Polynesia, which is an overseas territory of France and is located in Oceania. here the scenery will be similar to the Maldives, but unlike them, the best time to visit will be from May to October. Here, too, you will feel the feelings of a tropical paradise, a relaxing atmosphere and charming landscapes.

Mexico

Alice invites couples to also consider Latin American countries, which can be a great choice for a unique wedding. Mexico is definitely one of the best choices, like Tulum, which is a particularly unique wedding location. There are many hidden gems in Mexico - small villages, private resorts and unique architecture.

Linda says that Mexico is a party, an explosion of color and splendor. She encourages couples to consider less “touristy” places in Mexico that will be more affordable. It's worth looking for authentic villages, less popular beaches and places that don't appear in all the tourist guides, such as Holbox Island.

Thailand

Linda photographed weddings in Thailand and observed local hospitality and democratic prices. She emphasizes that the diversity and wealth of nature, lonely islands, waterfalls, jungles with temples and the country's exoticism, as well as delicious food, are certainly a good reason to hold a wedding here. However, it must be remembered that Thai tastes and understanding of beauty will definitely be completely different from Europeans, so Linda recommends that you carefully study the portfolio of decorators or hire a wedding planner from Europe. For a small elopement style wedding, you can not use decorations, but make nature the most beautiful background for wedding photos.

If you plan to hold a wedding abroad, take a look at: BRIDELIFESTYLE.COM

Author of the article: Elisa Rudzīte

Photo: Linda Lauva, Andrew Bayda, Dana Eherrmann, Lauren & Abby, We Wwdding Photography, Hannah Brii Photography

Wedding organizer: Alice Mihimana