*This is a paid guest post.

Apart from guests not arriving, forgetting the wedding ring, and messing up with the catering, bad weather on the big day is one of the number one wedding worries for soon-to-be brides and grooms. Maybe that’s why more couples than ever before have been seeking sunnier climates and choosing to get married abroad. 

You might already have your dream location in mind, but it’s important that you check the laws of the country before making a decision. Here’s everything you need to know about walking down the aisle overseas:

Spain is a firm favourite with British couples for both holidays and weddings. Most British couples will choose to have a civil ceremony at a registrar’s office in the UK, then travel to Spain and have their ceremony. Having all the necessary paperwork is a given, but you might be required to obtain proof that both parties are able to marry provided by your home country’s embassy. It could also be worthwhile to check how long the processing of documentation will take. If you are having a civil ceremony in Spain then there is an application process to account for and some Spanish registrar offices will require that you are in the country for as much as a month prior to your wedding day!

There are a few wedding conventions to account for in Spain, including having orange blossoms, the traditional flower which many Spanish brides choose as a symbol of fulfilment and happiness. Mantilla’s are also the headpiece of choice, a lace garment to consider adding to your outfit on the big day. Make sure you have enough room in your luggage for wedding favours, as it is customary for the new couple to greet guests after the ceremony with a little something to say thanks. Also, grooms heading off to marry in Spain shouldn’t be too precious with the tie they choose, as Spanish tradition dictates that the tie is a symbol of good luck and should be cut into pieces at the wedding reception, auctioned off to guests in the crowd. 

Also, make sure you have plenty of change handy — if you want to follow Spanish custom, then the husband will need to present his new wife with 13 gold coins, representing Jesus and his 12 apostles, but this also acts as a symbol of the promise of the groom to provide for the family.

You can only legally marry in France if it’s in a civil ceremony at the Mairie (or local council office). A religious ceremony can follow this afterwards but getting married in France can be difficult if you don’t have a clear connection to the country. The paperwork required for non-French nationals to marry in the country involves applying for a special dispensation, but without a clear connection to the country, this can be difficult to secure. Common requirements are that you or your partner have a link to the area by either living there or having a parent who lives there (since 2013). 

There’s also a 30-day minimum stay requirement before you can legally get married. You can’t avoid paperwork with weddings abroad, and in France you’ll need an Affidavit of Law, stating that you are able to marry and that the union will be recognised at home. At least 10 days before you wed, you’ll need to contact the Mairie and submit a marriage application, where documents will be supplied and stamped with an Apostille stamp. After the application passes, you’ll need to marry no less than 10 days and no more than 1 year after the application has qualified. Remember to apply to the Mairie again to receive your official wedding certificate! Alternatively, some couples choose to legally marry in their home country at a registrar’s office, then hold a religious or symbolic wedding in France at any venue. 

English-speaking priests are available in some French churches so that you don’t get mixed up during the vows. In terms of French custom, the tables turn in France and the groom walks his mother down the aisle before greeting his wife-to-be! There are also no bridesmaids or groomsmen in the French tradition, with only witnesses required. Keep the drinks flowing and opt to have a classic French champagne tower — we’re sure your guests will enjoy this! The French also have a way to help fend off that impending hangover, and the solution is by serving onion soup to your guests later in the night. 

Italy regularly makes an appearance at the top of destination wedding wish-lists – and it’s easy to see why.  The Italian countryside and guaranteed sunshine make for a magical and picturesque ceremony. The Amalfi Coast, Umbria and Venice are all popular choices for couples looking to add a quintessentially Italian charm to their special day.

Rules on religious and civil ceremonies are relaxed in Italy and symbolic or spiritual weddings are also allowed. Although Catholicism is the dominant religion in Italy, weddings of all faiths are acknowledged. In non-Catholic cases, a civil ceremony must be an element of the marriage ceremony in order to confirm legality. There are no residency requirements in Italy, but as per the required documentation is mandatory — the Affidavit is a standard requirement, stating that there is no legal impediment of your marriage in your home country. If your partner happens to be an Italian citizen, then you also won’t need to apply for a visa in order to get hitched. An Atto Notorio is required in Italy though, and this will need to be signed by two witnesses. 

You’ll also need to give plenty of notice at the local town hall and declare your intent to marry at least three weeks before the ceremony. After you have done so, you can officially set the date! Once again, an Apostille stamp will be used to verify your marriage license in law, and you can then relax and enjoy plenty of Italy’s finest produce — wine! In terms of traditions to follow, take heed of the Italian’s belief that Sunday is a day of good fortune, perfect for weddings! Pack a satin pouch and invite guests to exchange money for a dance with the star of the show, and then get everyone up and moving to the ‘tarantellla’ a notorious ‘dance of the spider’. Vase breaking is also a part of custom in Italy, as the number of pieces it breaks into are regarded as symbols of many happy years of marriage. 

Of course, there’s still a place for traditional country house weddings in the UK – but if you fancy something a little different it is entirely possible to fulfil your dream of getting married abroad. Just ensure that you’ve planned in advance — and if you want to feel like a local, then add a unique twist to your big day by following one of the traditions of the area!

 So, which country would you be interested in getting married in? or if you are already married where was the ceremony? Let me know in the comments below and while you are here why not check out some of my other travel-related posts?

 Maldives Honeymoon Guide

Top 3 Honeymoon Locations

*This is a paid guest post.

Summer is the peak season for road trips and rightfully so as it’s when the UK will be at its hottest point, with thousands of people taking to the roads to go on holiday. Every year during Summer the road is packed full of families on road trips, caravans being towed and sports cars taking advantage of the dry weather.

In this post, we’re going to talk about some great road trip cars to carry you across hundreds of thousands of miles in comfort and style. We’ve factored in reliability, comfort and useful integrated technology features that making driving stress-free.

The Audi Q3 is a mid-sized SUV capable of putting out some serious mileage daily without ever complaining. Audi has proven itself to be premium, elegant machines with high levels of sophistication and technology. Standard technology such as a sat nav, Bluetooth functionality, integrated smartphone interfaces, stop-start technology and parking sensors makes driving easy with this machine. The Audi Q3 has a spacious interior and boot size for a big family road trip and averages 30 – 50MPG.

The only issue with this car is that buying new generally isn’t great for buyers on a budget. Second-hand prices are better but there are better options in the market for less expensive cars. Let’s look at some more affordable options below.

Volkswagen is the parent company of Audi, so you know you are purchasing a reliable brand. Volkswagen offers many mid-size to large vehicles and so we could choose many in this category, but our favourite is the Tiguan. The Tiguan combines practicality with style, affordability and fun. Even the most standard model comes with a wide range of practical technologies such as a sat nav, parking sensors, rear view parking camera, parking assistance, cruise control and much more. Boasting a large interior for families and a large boot space for carrying your luggage, the Tiguan is perfect for long distance driving.

MPG returns are on average between 30 – 60MPG which is nothing to scoff at given the size and weight of the car. And unlike the Audi Q3, the Tiguan is far more affordable especially when buying used. Of course, you don’t have to outright buy a car as there are plenty of credit options that are affordable. You could lease a Volkswagen for as little as £190 per month nowadays.

The Nissan Qashqai has won many awards and is simply put an amazing car for everyday use. It’s spacious, has a refined interior that feels far more expensive than what it costs and has plenty of techno-gizmos integrated that making driving a doddle. The Qashqai is an affordable SUV with a low insurance group and a large MPG figure (40 – 70MPG) to help you conserve fuel costs. There are varying models which contain different features but you have a wide range of them to choose from based on your budget. The usual features can include Bluetooth, a rearview camera, smartphone interface, sat nav, parking sensors, parking assist blind spot warning, tyre pressure monitoring system and lots more. What most people love about this car is the size! The boot space is huge and you could easily fit in multiple people’s suitcases and camping gear.

What makes the Nissan Qashqai attractive is the pricing. Nowadays you can pick up a basic model for £19,000 and you can find good condition used ones for less than £10,000. Again, you can go down the credit route and lease a car which makes them far easier to afford, as you pay in monthly instalments rather than a large upfront price.

So far, we’ve only looked at medium to large sized cars. The Golf is a hatchback which is a smaller size car, but that doesn’t mean it has any less to offer compared to the others. It has received numerous awards and a 5-star rating from popular car reviewers WHATCAR. The Golf is actually fairly large inside with enough space for a family with the 5-door version. The boot space is enough to pack in some suitcases and still have some space left. The interior takes premium tips from other more expensive cars and when you sit inside you are pleasantly surprised by the comfort and materials used on the panels.

The price for a basic model stands at an attractive £17,000. But this £17,000 is money well spent as these cars have strong engines, enough to last 100,000+ miles easily. Some standard features on these cars are Bluetooth functionality, cruise control for longer journeys on motorways, parking sensors, smartphone interface and much more. It’s possible to get this car on credit for less than £200 a month, making it an affordable option for those who prefer to pay per month rather than all at once.

Skoda produces cars at attractive price points for bargain hunters. The Octavia is a large saloon capable of carrying the occupants around for hundreds of miles in comfort and style. With enough interior space to fit an entire family in a large amount of luggage, it’s perfect for road trips or driving to a holiday destination. The basic model comes with nice features sure as parking sensors, sat nav system, cruise control, dual zone air conditioning and LED daytime running lights.

The main attraction of this spacious car is the price. Skoda’s are known for being quite good for buyers on a budget and are priced accordingly. Reliability for these cars are generally quite respected given their prices and you’d find yourself regretting not purchasing a cheap used Octavia with low mileage!

And there you have it. Five very popular vehicles on UK roads that are perfect for long distance travelling. If you have any others you think are deserving of the title then please let us know in the comments section below!

While you are here why not check out more of my travel-related posts?

Maldives Honeymoon Guide