FAQs | Perfect Weddings Abroad

Frequently Asked Questions

Name *	Type your message here	NOTE We will do our very best to contact you within 24 hours.
Email *
Telephone

I want to book a Wedding or Honeymoon Abroad, Where do I start?

The easiest way is to click on the "Contact Us" button on the top-right hand corner of our website; or make an enquiry on the page of your favourite wedding location. If it's during office hours and you'd like to speak to someone about your plans then please call us on 0844 770 8270. One of our experienced Weddings Abroad & Honeymoon Specialists will be delighted to discuss your plans with you. We have the UK's widest variety of overseas wedding locations, and as an independent travel company we are impartial and can advise of the best location for your wedding.

How far in advance do I need to book?

It is always best to allow as much time as possible for planning your wedding. We generally require a minimum of 12 weeks in advance due to legal paperwork (depending on the destination), but for peak holiday periods we recommend you book 12 months in advance to maximise the chance of getting the date you require. It really depends on the destinations that you are considering, if either partner has previously been married and if there is any other paperwork required.

We would like to invite family and friends, is this possible?

Yes, our experienced UK-based Wedding Coordinators can book travel arrangements for your family and guests – we act as retail agents for ABTA and ATOL-bonded suppliers, covering you in the event of supplier failure. We also offer neighbouring accommodation for guests whose budget doesn't quite match that of the wedding couple. For further information and prices please mention your requirements to your UK wedding coordinator at the time of enquiry. If we have groups of 10 adults or more then we can generally offer group booking discounts. This may depend on if you are travelling together, for the same duration; but if you think you'll have more than 10 guests coming please let us know and we'll work on the prices for you.

I would like to book my whole wedding group at the time we book our wedding, is this OK?

Absolutely, we will not go ahead and confirm the holiday and travel arranagements until we have your wedding confirmed, as this is of utmost importance. Once this is taken care of we can book yourselves and your wedding guests. For large groups (10 adults or more) we will offer group booking discounts where possible, please ask if this is an option at the time of booking.

It's just the two of us travelling, is this too small for you?

Certainly not, we offer wedding and holiday services to simply the couple, up to groups of over 100. Each wedding party is unique and we treat equally, regardless of the size. Plus we have some fabulous intimate locations for small weddings.

Do you operate a gift list service?

We certainly do - to help stop you receiving 10 toasters or yet more bales of towels! Your wedding guests can contribute a donation towards your wedding and honeymoon costs as you prefer. They may wish to pay for excursions or spa treatments, special meals etc. We can send you details of how our service operates so that you can send this to all your guests with their wedding invitation. We also work closely with a number of other gift list services, including charities, so if you'd prefer something different please talk to us about the options available.

Can we invite guests to our wedding?

Of course you can invite your guests but please advise of how many guests will be present, as some wedding locations/reception venues may be too small for your Wedding Party due to the security/health & safety reasons. And also there may be additional charges for your guests.

Guests aren't obliged to book with us, however we recommend that all wedding guests book with us in case there are last minute changes to your plans (particularly in areas prone to adverse weather conditions). Also to ensure that the hotel can accommodate your party on the day. We cannot be held responsible for hotels turning away wedding guests who have not booked with us, due to hotel occupancy rates and insufficient dining facilities being available.

What is included in a Perfect Weddings Abroad wedding package?

Each resort's packages vary, but generally speaking you receive expert advice in choosing your wedding location from our experienced UK-based coordinators. This is honest advice and we will advise you of what we feel is the best location for you and your party, however large or small. All of the air-inclusive holidays are covered by ABTA and ATOL bonding for your full peace of mind. Once in resort you will have the support of one of our local in-resort wedding coordinators or hotel-wedding coordinators; these people are not simply holiday reps, they are professional people and used to dealing with the last minute stresses and strains! So don’t worry... you are in safe hands!

Do I receive a Wedding Confirmation Pack when I have booked my wedding?

If you have booked a Perfect Weddings Abroad wedding package then you will be sent a Wedding Confirmation Pack, usually around 4 - 6 weeks after you have paid your wedding deposit. Sometimes we may reissue Wedding Confirmation Packs in the year of your departure with amended or further information enclosed, this will supercede any previous Wedding Confirmation Packs that you have received.

The Wedding Confirmation Pack is in important document, as it outlines what you can expect in the lead up to your wedding abroad, and also what the legal documentation process is. Upon receipt of this we will ask you to confirm via your online Wedding Profile that you have received and understand your Wedding Confirmation Pack.

If you have booked with our travel agency 'Perfect Weddings & Honeymoons' we may have booked your wedding through a UK tour operator, or alternative supplier. If that is the case then you will receive a wedding confirmation pack from that tour operator or supplier. These may often be sent out up to 12 weeks after you've made the booking, or in some cases not until the year of your departure.

Do I need to tell you my guest numbers?

Yes please! At the time of booking we will ask you to give us an approximate idea of your wedding guest numbers. We appreciate that the numbers change over time for many different reasons. All we ask is that you keep us up to date should your numbers change by more than around 5 to 10 people (either less or more). We will then ask you to reconfirm your wedding guest numbers shortly before you depart the UK for your overseas wedding.

It's important that you keep us up to date if your numbers change, as it may mean that the wedding venue or wedding reception venue may be unsuitable. Please remember that most venues have maximum numbers of guests, and some have minimum number requirements in order for your ceremony or reception to be able to take place.

What is the payment structure?

If you are booking a Perfect Weddings Abroad wedding package then at the time of booking we take a wedding deposit to secure your wedding date and to confirm your wedding arrangements. Your wedding deposit is either £200 or 30% of your chosen wedding package (whichever is greater) per couple.

If you are booking your holiday arrangements with our travel agency Perfect Weddings & Honeymoons, then we will take your travel deposits at this stage too, on behalf of the applicable tour operator/s and/or supplier/s. These deposits vary, and will be confirmed to you at the time of booking.

In some cases a venue may ask for a deposit to secure a particular wedding or reception location. If this is applicable to you we will advise you and ask you to complete an overseas payment authorisation form, which will be passed over to the relevant venue. This payment is taken in local currency and constitutes a contract being made between yourself and that venue directly.

In the lead up to your wedding you are welcome to pay off your wedding package and holiday costs in stages if you prefer.

The final balance for your wedding package is due no later than 12 weeks before your wedding date. The balance for any holiday/travel arrangements that we have booked for you will vary, depending on the supplier's terms and conditions.

Any costs that are given to you in local currency are then paid directly in resort to the relevant supplier; for example food and beverage, marriage licence fees, wedding extras (flowers/photos etc. in addition to the wedding package that you've booked with us).

Please note that if your wedding and holiday is booked with an alternative tour operator/supplier then the payment structure will differ, but is generally a deposit at the time of booking and the balance in GBP Pounds Sterling due around 12 - 16 weeks before your departure from the UK.

If you book a wedding within the next 12 weeks then full payment for your wedding package and holiday/travel arrangements will be required at the time of booking.

Do you book flights and hotels too?

Yes we do, our travel agency Perfect Weddings and Honeymoons is a trading division of Hays Travel Ltd. We act as a retail agent for ATOL protected tour operators.

We are a same-sex couple, is everything the same for us?

Perfect Weddings & Honeymoons Ltd is a gay-friendly travel company and the services that we offer are for both same-sex and mixed-sex couples - for more information you should visit our http://PerfectGayHoneymoons.co.uk/ website. Unfortunately some countries around the world aren't as welcoming to gay and lesbian couples as the UK generally is, so certain locations aren't suitable for same-sex honeymooners and many countries don't offer same-sex wedding or commitment ceremony options. Speaking to a specialist at Perfect Gay Honeymoons will put your mind at rest and talk you through the various options available to you.

How many days prior to my wedding must I be in resort?

We highly recommend at least 3 clear working days in-resort before your wedding day. If you do not have this minimum required time in-resort before your wedding day and you have a problem (such as not having time to schedule your pre-wedding meeting, difficulty contacting your in-resort wedding coordinator), we will accept no responsibility whatsoever for issues or problems that not having the recommended minimum number of days in-resort may cause. Please note that in some destinations legal requirements are in excess of 3 working days.

Do my guests have to stay at the same hotel as the bride and groom?

This depends on the hotel's own individual policies and you should discuss this with your travel agent / UK-based wedding coordinator before you place your booking. Some couples prefer the guests to stay at other hotels so that they can have peace and quiet! whilst other parties prefer to all stay together in one hotel. Generally speaking most hotels would prefer it if all of the guests stayed at their hotel, however bear in mind there may be some restrictions, such as those hotels which are 'adults only' for example.

A handful of hotels stipulate that all of the guests must stay together in the hotel for you to be permitted to have your wedding and/or reception there (for example the Sport Hotel Kristall, Kaprun, Austria) - please check our website or speak to your travel agent / UK-based wedding coordinator before you book. Other hotels stipulate that you must have a percentage of your guests stay in the hotel for you to be allowed to get married there, often more than 80%. This is more common in the Caribbean and Mexico than other parts of the world, and often applies to hotel chains such as RIU and Iberostar - you should always check before your guests book their travel arrangements; as this can cause problems at a later date. Trying to break these rules can lead to a hotel refusing your wedding booking.

Do you offer a wedding gift list service?

We offer a wedding gift list service for those couples that have booked their wedding and travel arrangements with us. It means that you, or your guests can either pay off your wedding/honeymoon in stages in the lead up to your balance being due (around 12 - 16 weeks before your departure from the UK); or the guests can purchase gifts and upgrades to make your honeymoon even more special - such as champagne, excursions and even room upgrades.

Do all of my guests have to book together?

We don't say that all of your guests must book together at the same time. However, through experience we strongly recommend that you all book your travel arrangements with the same travel agent. Whether you are booking with our travel agency Perfect Weddings & Honeymoons, or whether you have booked with an alternative travel agency, we urge you to book all of your guests with the same travel agency.

Not only is it easier to coordinate all of the arrangements, and deal with the hotel. It can help you get more upgrades and added extras. It also has big advantages when there are external factors, such as weather problems, or airline failures as your travel agent has more control over the bookings and can help sort everyone out.

Perfect Weddings Abroad, nor your travel agent will take any responsibility for any problems caused by wedding guests being booked through alternative means (other travel agents/tour operators online or on the high street). Some examples encountered in the past include: guests being moved to a hotel on the other side of an island; guests being moved to an alternative airline and arrangements affected by adverse weather conditions.

What is the difference between booking a Perfect Weddings Abroad wedding package and a tour operator wedding package?

If your wedding is booked as a Perfect Weddings Abroad wedding package then your wedding will be arranged by one of our in-resort wedding coordinators, or a coordinator based within the hotel in which you are staying.

If your wedding is booked through a tour operator then your wedding arrangements will be organised by one of their in-resort representatives or a hotel-based coordinator.

We are trying to keep our wedding a secret do we need to advise you?

Yes, if you want to keep your wedding a secret you should make this clear to your UK-based wedding coordinator at the time of enquiry, who will make a note on your file. We also recommend you provide us with a contact number and email address that is personal to you.

Please note however that the documents that are sent from our office usually include a company logo, which clearly states wedding and/or honeymoon on it; so it may be best to give us an address which we can send post to that won't cause a problem.

Also we have had situations in the past when families and friends have organised surprise UK receptions for wedding couples, so it's best to speak to your closest friends and family and advise them if you don't want a UK reception so there are no unwanted surprises upon your return to the UK!

All of our guests have booked with you but we don’t want the hassle of coordinating their payments - Can you handle this for me?

Yes, no problem at all. Simply provide us with the contact details of your wedding guests or get them to call us and then we can do the rest. Even if it's a group booking we can invoice the guests and handle their payments and tickets individually.

Do we need Travel Insurance?

As everybody knows, this is VERY, VERY important and travel insurance must be taken at the time of booking and advised to our office. You should also take out adequate wedding insurance at the time of booking for extra peace of mind, again this is compulsory, and is your responsibility to ensure that it covers your overseas wedding and the premiums cover your items sufficiently. *Note for couples travelling to EU destinations - the E111 Health Card is not sufficient, you must still take out a comprehensive travel insurance policy to cover you and your partner.

Will our insurance cover our guests too?

It depends on the travel and/or wedding insurance policy you have taken out. All our hotels have a basic insurance policy to cover guests in the hotel, however outside the hotel is a different matter. All guests should ensure that they are insured either individually or as a group. Having a travel insurance policy through your bank does not always offer the same benefits as a travel insurance policy that you purchase specifically for a trip. For example if a member of your party is taken ill whilst you're overseas, having two different policies may mean that you're not covered to stay and look after the ill party member.

I need my birth certificate, how do I know it's the right one?

To get married overseas you are required to be in possession of a Full Length Birth Certificate for each partner. The full length birth certificate shows both of your parents names on them. Short version birth certificates are not sufficient and having these instead of the long versions will mean that you will not be able to be legally married. If you're not already in possession of your full length birth certificates at the time of booking then you should arrange to get certified copies of these immediately (sometimes they can take up to 2 months to be issued, so don't leave them until the last minute). This is your responsibility to ensure that you have your full length birth certificates, and you should be ready to produce them at any time, as required by us, to fulfil the legal documentation process.

I need a certificate of non-impediment, where do I get this from?

You get your certificate of non-impediment from your local registry office here in the UK. This is not required for weddings in all-locations, but if it is required then it will be advised to you at the time of booking (or in your Wedding Confirmation Pack); Austria and Italy are just two examples of locations where certificates of non-impediment are required. The certificates should not be issued more than 'x' number of weeks before your wedding date, this varies depending on location, and again will be confirmed in your Wedding Confirmation Pack. There is conflicting information on internet websites about legal document requirements and when they need to be done; you should ignore all other sources of information and strictly follow what is advised in your Wedding Confirmation Pack by us.

I have booked a Catholic wedding abroad, what do I need to do now?

With Catholic weddings abroad they are always booked on a 'special request' basis. If you'd like a catholic ceremony you must advise us before booking, and you must ensure that you understand the following in order for you to be able to have a catholic wedding: Neither bride nor groom may be divorced, you must be regular church-goers, at least one partner must have been christened a catholic (for some locations both partners must have been christened), you must have spoken to your local priest to ensure that he/she is happy for you to have a catholic ceremony abroad.

Your catholic priest is required to write to the priest overseas to confirm that he/she is happy for you to have a catholic wedding abroad. The paperwork is then done between your catholic priest here in the UK and the one overseas. We do not get involved with the paperwork that is done within the church, you must take responsibility for this and ensure that your catholic priest is doing the appropriate paperwork within the required timescales.

Are my flight times confirmed at the time of booking?

This really depends on how close to departure you have booked with us. Generally speaking, if you have booked your wedding more than 11 months in advance of your wedding date then your flight times will be 'provisional flight timings'. If you have booked your wedding within 11 months before your wedding date then the flight times confirmed on your invoice are usually quite accurate. However, it is worth remembering that all flight timings are subject to change without notice.

As flight schedules are prepared and changed at various times you may find that what is showing as a morning flight at the time of booking, becomes an afternoon flight; similarly afternoon flights may be moved to evenings.

Your flight timings will be confirmed on your paper tickets, should you be sent them - around 2 weeks before your departure. If you are flying on a ticketless airline it's well worth checking with the airline around 48 hours before your flight to reconfirm the flights.

Will my chosen wedding package change before my wedding day?

If you have booked a Perfect Weddings Abroad wedding package we try our best to keep the wedding package inclusions the same year-on-year. However due to changes in suppliers, currency fluctuations and costs we reserve the right to change wedding packages without notice.

If the wedding package you have booked is a hotel or venue's wedding package then they may change their wedding package inclusions before your arrival. Usually if there are any changes, they are made and reconfirmed at the beginning of the calendar year or season before you travel.

If you have booked a tour operator's wedding package then you are bound by their terms and conditions regarding changes in wedding packages.

When there is a change to a wedding package in any of the above cases we will contact you either by post, or via your personal online wedding profile.

I am not British is that OK?

The information supplied on our website and provided to you in subsequent follow-up information (either by email, post or telephone) is relevant for British Citizen's that hold British-issued birth certificates and full 10 year British passports.

If you, or your partner are not British, do not hold a full-length British birth certificate (showing both parents names) or British passport; then you must contact your wedding coordinator within 7 days of receiving your wedding confirmation pack for further guidance. Failure to do so (if you have not already informed us) will mean that we will not be able to guide or help you with the legal process any further.

Please note that if you are British, but have a birth certificate, passport, or other legal document issued in the Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales there may be different paperwork (or different timescales) that is required than of those people that have documents that were issued on mainland England. Therefore the information may vary slightly to what is included in our wedding confirmation pack.

I would like to visit my wedding location in advance of my actual wedding holiday, is this possible?

Absolutely, we can arrange an appointment with our in-resort wedding coordinator, or hotel wedding coordinator, depending on the venue and where you're considering getting married. There is usually a charge for the time and expenses that our coordinator incurs for your meeting. Please contact us for further information and any potential charges.

Unfortunately I need to cancel my wedding arrangements, what charges will I incur?

If you have booked a Perfect Weddings Abroad wedding package and you cancel your wedding 12 weeks or more before your wedding date, then you will lose your non-refundable wedding deposit, which you had paid to us to secure your wedding arrangements. Also bear in mind that any deposits that you've paid directly to suppliers or venues (eg, a hotel to secure your reception venue) will also be lost. In some cases there may also be additional cancellation charges that you will be liable for that you will be advised about at the time of cancellation (this may be the case if for example you have booked a reception venue date at a hotel that has not taken a deposit from you, they may levy a cancellation charge for the loss of business).

If you cancel your Perfect Weddings Abroad wedding package inside the last 12 weeks before your wedding date then our standard cancellation policy and charges will apply (please see our terms and conditions - printed on the back of your Perfect Weddings Abroad wedding invoice).

If your wedding is booked through a tour operator/supplier then you are bound by their terms and conditions, and cancellation charges; and you should check your relevant paperwork and speak to the travel agent that booked your wedding and holiday for you.

I've already booked but I'm now thinking about changing my wedding date, is this ok?

We ask you to request your preferred wedding date before you pay your wedding deposit and confirm your booking with us. We will then come back and confirm your wedding date (either the day you requested, or as close as possible to this date). If you then wish to make an amendment to this wedding date then amendment charges will apply; as per our terms and conditions - £50 per couple is the amendment charge per change. In addition to this there may be further charges levied by suppliers or venues for amendments to wedding dates; these will be advised to you should you request a date change.

During times of extraordinary circumstances, such as the volcanic ash shutdown, or weather-related flight problems we will do everything we can to rearrange your wedding date, where possible, to accommodate you and your wedding group's wishes - during these periods we have a 24-hour emergency telephone line which is available to couples in-resort and imminent departures. Couples due to travel imminently (within 48 hours) or those due to travel beyond that time should subscribe to our Facebook Page and Twitter Feed to be kept up to date with the latest information and guidance.

I have booked a Perfect Weddings Abroad wedding package with your low deposit offer, but may need to cancel; do I need to do anything further?

From time to time we run low-deposit offers, which apply to particular dates, locations and hotels. This includes our popular 'Don't be late, save the date' low-deposit offer.

First of all if you want to cancel then you must put this in writing to us, or if you have booked with a travel agent, then in writing to your travel agent.

If you are cancelling and have paid a low-deposit then you are liable for, and will be required to pay the outstanding amount to make up the low-deposit. For example if our standard deposit on the package that you have booked is £200, and you have paid a low-deposit of £75; then in order to cancel you are required to pay the remaining deposit of £125. In most cases we will have asked you to fill in a low-deposit indemnity form in advance of your booking; and the credit card number that you supplied us with will be charged for any outstanding deposit.

My flight booking is with a no frills scheduled airline but I may not make my outbound flight, can I have a full refund?

If you have booked with a no frills scheduled flight, such as easyJet or Ryanair; then often these tickets are issued as 'singles' and two separate references are given for both the outbound and the inbound journeys. Therefore as this is not booked as a return ticket (as most charter or package holiday fares are booked) then if you miss your outbound flight - for any reason; even due to inclement weather; then you stand to lose the cost of the inbound flight. This is a worst case scenario, but is worth being prepared for if you are booking a no frills scheduled flight.

Will you announce our wedding anywhere?

We don't announce your wedding in advance of your big day. As excited as we are that you've booked with is, it's really due to security concerns. We would always recommend that you exercise caution when promoting your wedding abroad or honeymoon particularly on social networking sites, about when you will be away from home and that your house or flat will be empty - you certainly don't want any nasty surprises when you return from honeymoon!

Following your wedding abroad we'll be happy to publish your wedding photos to the photo gallery of our website and/or our company Facebook page. Also from time to time we make Anniversary announcments on our Facebook and Twitter pages to congratulate couples that have got married with us in the past.

Where does the wedding ceremony take place?

Ceremonies will take place in the grounds of the hotel/villa where you are staying, town hall, beach or even on top of mountain! In some locations you can pre-book your preferred wedding location, but in many areas, the resort's (or hotel's) Wedding Coordinator will show you the possible locations and help you pick the one that is perfect for you.

Can I choose the time of my ceremony?

Yes, in most cases you can, and often we will confirm the time in advance. However, you will be advised at the time of booking if this is not possible - in this case, your wedding ceremony time will be requested; and then confirmed when you arrive in resort. From time to time last minute changes have to be made to wedding times; although this is rare, please bear in mind that this change may occur, even upon your arrival in resort.

Who will perform our ceremony?

Our weddings are conducted by a marriage officer whose title varies depending upon the resort and your requests. It may be a Celebrant, Registrar, Priest, Minister or Reverend. It usually depends on the type of ceremony that you are having; for example in Cyprus for a Civil Ceremony it would be Registrar that performs your wedding. If you were having a religious wedding in Cyprus it would be a priest that would perform your service. Whilst if you were having a non-legal blessing (perhaps a renewal of vows or if you're forming a Civil Partnership here in the UK before you travel) then it's usually a Celebrant or a Minister that will perform your ceremony. In the case of a non-legal ceremony it may be your in-resort wedding coordinator that performs the ceremony, even if this is advertised as a Celebrant or Minister.

Will our marriage be legally recognised in the UK?

Absolutely!... provided that you've completed the all-important legal paperwork process fully. When you choose to have a legal wedding ceremony, it is registered in the country where the ceremony takes place and legally recognised in the UK. Blessings, Renewal of Vows or Commitment Ceremonies are not legally recognised in the host country or in the UK. If you aren't British, however, we recommend you contact your relevant Consulate or Embassy to establish the requirements of your marriage abroad. If you are planning a Civil Partnership, particularly in new destinations which have added a civil union or gay marriage bill you should consult the British Civil Partnership Act, the relevant government department or a solicitor that specialises in this area for guidance on if your overseas ceremony will be legally recognised here in the UK.

What documents do I need to take?

The required documents vary between countries and these will be explained to you at the time of booking (via your confirmation wedding pack). Sometimes we need to send paperwork to resort in advance of your arrival, in other locations you must take this with you; it really does depend on your chosen location. Generally you will need to take your passport (10 year and valid for at least 6 months after your return to the UK) and birth certificate (Full length birth certificates, showing both your parents full names are required). If you have previously been married you will also need to provide legal evidence of your single status, such as a decree absolute (sometimes you are required to provide your previous marriage certificate too). We will guide you through the process of what you need to do with these documents. However it is ultimately the couple's responsibility to ensure that all paperwork is fully prepared within the correct timescales.

What day of the week will our wedding take place?

The majority of resorts require a 3 working day residency period before the ceremony can take place (Once again, please reconfirm this at the time of booking as each country varies). Most wedding ceremonies take place Monday to Friday (excluding Public Holidays). Saturdays are usually kept for 'local weddings'; and in most locations Sundays are classed as a day of rest and weddings are not possible. Once the date of your wedding ceremony has been confirmed by the resort, we will then confirm this to you in writing. In very exceptional circumstances, the date of your wedding may have to be rescheduled – this is beyond our control and we cannot be held responsible for amendments to wedding times and dates. Generally speaking this is down to registrar or venue changes. Changes may even take place as late as following your arrival in resort; although very rare, this is beyond our control.

What should we wear for our wedding?

If you're heading for the sun, we recommend clothes to keep you cool! During mid-afternoon, when the sun is at its hottest, traditional UK dress may be unbearable, so brides may want to opt for a light, cotton-weight dress instead. For grooms, a lightweight, light-coloured suit is ideal.

However, if you're heading for a Winter wedding in one of our ski or snow locations you may want to plan accordingly! We've had feedback from our winter brides and grooms that recommend you wear a warm stole, and remember to pack some thermal socks! ...some couples even choose skiwear for skiing back down the slopes when having a mountain-top blessing.

Do we have any additional baggage allowance for our wedding clothes?

Generally speaking, no unfortunately - airline baggage limits remain the same for wedding couples and are the same as all other travellers. Many airlines stipulate that wedding attire must be carried as part of your hold baggage allowance. A handful of airlines offer a 'free suitcase' for wedding attire; if this is an applicable offer for you it will be mentioned to you at the time of booking.

We will check baggage allowance with the airline you will be travelling with. Please note that airlines are forbidden from hanging garments in the cabin as the CAA state that this would impede an emergency exit.

For brides who wish to carry their dress onboard the aircraft for piece of mind, why not check out DressInABox.co.uk and buy a wedding dress travel case. Once again the sizes vary and depend on which airline you're flying with, so remember to check this before you travel.

Are hair and beauty services available?

Hair and beauty services will be available at your hotel, in a neighbouring hotel or local beauty salon. Some of our packages already include those services. To avoid disappointment though, book your appointment as soon as possible after arrival. In some locations mobile-salons will even come and visit you at your hotel. Your in-resort wedding coordinator will be able to arrange this for you. It can even be arranged for your bridesmaids, and guests if you like.

Can you help with our wedding flowers?

Local flowers for the bridal bouquet and groom's buttonhole vary from season to season. Where possible, we suggest you make your choice in-resort. If more elaborate styles and content are required, you could always send us the details in advance to find out if we can provide those.

You should always bear in mind that indigenous flowers in your wedding destination are not usually the same as we have here in the UK. So sometimes the colours may not be the same as you'd expect here in the UK; for example "pure white flowers", may be interpreted/delivered as "cream or ivory" overseas. Also if flowers have to be flown in from other countries especially for your wedding these will have to be pre-ordered well in advance, and additional charges will be levied by the florist.

Can you help with music for our wedding?

We can help you with music, if you wish to have a live band (such as a DJ, steel band, Greek music...). However if you want to bring your favourite tunes along to commemorate your special day please do so as most hotels hire CD players or have access to facilities for i-pods and USB memory sticks – if you have something in particular you must check with us in advance, and we recommend that you take a copy of the song with you.

You should always consider your playlist in advance of your arrival, as this may be requested at your pre-wedding meeting, either by your wedding coordinator, or the venue where your wedding is taking place. Also if you are taking music on a CD, please ensure that this is an 'original version' of a CD, not a copy. Perfect Weddings Abroad will not be held responsible for any music that is not available in-resort.

Can you help with photographs and DVD?

Many of our packages already include photographs and videos. We have worked closely with our photographers for many years and whilst they work to the highest standards, it is worth bearing in mind that their equipment and facilities may not compare to UK standards. After all the cost of a photography package here in the UK can be more expensive than a whole overseas wedding package!

Generally speaking if photography is included in a wedding package then it's fair to assume that the photographer will spend up to 1 hour with you in total. Usually this comprises of around 20 mins before your ceremony, 20 mins during your ceremony and 20 mins immediately after your ceremony. If you require more photos, such as the bride and groom getting ready, sunset photos, or evening reception photos; then this is all possible at an additional charge, which you will agree with the relevant photographer.

If a photography package has more than 1 hour set aside for it then it will be clearly displayed in your wedding package as a '3 hour photography package'.

The photography packages are all based on the photographer being in the same place taking all of the photos. So for example if you are marrying in a hotel and then going on to a yacht for a reception, the photographer is booked for up to 1 hour to take photos at the hotel only. If you would like them to take photos onboard the yacht too, then they will be happy to do so, at an additional fee to cover the cost of their time and travel expenses.

Can you provide me with details of a special insurance policy that will cover my wedding?

Yes, certainly, we can give you details of a number of wedding insurance policies. Please visit the Wedding Related Products page of our website for more information - http://www.perfectweddingsabroad.co.uk/d/Wedding-Related-Products You should always ensure that the policy cover is sufficient for your specific arrangements (eg, cancellation cover limits, cost of your wedding attire). Wedding insurance must always be taken in addition to a comprehensive travel insurance policy and it is your responsibility to ensure that your wedding insurance policy is adequate.

Will we need to do any paperwork in resort?

You will indeed, so allow at least half a day prior to your wedding day to deal with legal stuff. In most of the resorts, you will meet our in-resort wedding coordinator who will explain all of the different stages to you. Although our wedding coordinator will advise you of the procedures and where you need to go to organise the appropriate licences, any taxi journeys will be at your own expense.

Are they any in-resort fees that I have pay?

This varies depending on the location and package that you have chosen. Some packages include marriage licence fees, and/or registrars fees; others are not included in the package and these will need to be paid in local currency in-resort. If the fees are included in your package then they will be clearly stated in the applicable wedding package. In all other cases you will be required to pay any applicable fees in resort directly to the relevant supplier or authority.

Can I get married on a weekend?

This varies depending on location. As a general rule, weddings for British couples marrying overseas take place on Weekdays. Weddings on weekends are generally for 'local couples' who are tieing the knot. Also bear in mind that depending on the culture or the national holidays of each country it may not be possible to marry on certain days of the year, or on a weekend; for example for religious reasons. Bank holidays and religious holidays (for example Easter - Greece & Cyprus / Thanksgiving - USA) may fall on different dates to our British Calendar and therefore it may not be possible to marry on certain dates.

Even in locations where weddings don't usually take place on a weekend exceptions may be made, on a request basis, for popular dates such as Valentines Day or numerically significant dates (such as the popular 10/10/10, 11/11/11, 12/12/12).

If you have a particular date in mind then please advise us, if you have not already done so in order for us to request your preferred date.

Do you charge any wedding coordination fees?

We do not charge any wedding coordination or service fees.

The cost of your Perfect Weddings Abroad wedding package includes the confirmation of the date and time of your wedding (in locations where this is permitted), the setting up and ongoing use of your personal online wedding profile, and your in-resort wedding coordinator; along with the other things listed in your applicable package.

If we have booked your wedding or holiday with a tour operator and/or other supplier, then you will be bound by the terms and conditions of their contract with you. We do not charge any service fees for booking your travel services (or wedding arrangements) with a tour operator and/or other supplier.

We aim to offer the highest levels of service from the moment of your enquiry, choosing your venue, the booking and confirmation of your wedding, right through to your big day. If at any stage in the process you feel that you have received a high level of service from our team you are welcome to make an optional gratuity payment to that particular member of staff. This can be done via an email link provided by us, or following the link from the "Wedding Related Products" page on our website.

Do you have an order of service?

Weddings overseas are generally more laid back and relaxed than more traditional rigid UK weddings. Therefore an order of service is not usually required or provided for weddings abroad. If this is something that you would like to put together this can be done by asking your overseas wedding coordinator via your personal online wedding profile.

Do you have sample vows?

From time to time we receive sample vows from resort, so we may hold some on file; depending on your location. Generally speaking Civil Ceremonies are short and very 'matter of fact'. The wording of the vows for civil ceremonies cannot be amended, as by the law of the country you are marrying in, the exact phrasing is required. If you are having a religious blessing/ceremony the priest/vicar/celebrant will usually run through the wording of the vows with you at your pre-wedding meeting with them.

The wording of the vows can change, due to changes in the law in the relevant destination, so any sample vows that we supply you are for guidance only; and you should not rely on these samples as being the exact wording that you will be asked to use in resort.

Can readings be incorporated in to my ceremony?

Some couples like to 'pad out' / 'extend' the ceremony by adding in additional vows or readings. In most cases this is fine, however some registrars do not permit this, or will not allow this to take place in their presence (due to time restrictions, work commitments or other factors); so please do not be offended if the registrar has to leave before you can do this, or please be prepared that the additional vows/readings may not be possible at all. This often does not come down to the country or resort that you are marrying in; it's often down to the individual registrar on the day, even perhaps the mood that the registrar is in on the day! So we highly recommend that you don't plan to add-in additional vows/readings; perhaps try to incorporate these elsewhere in to your celebrations, such as your wedding reception.

Will my ceremony be conducted in English?

This is dependent upon the legalities of the destination in which you are getting married in. For example it's typical that in countries such as Cyprus and the USA the ceremony is conducted completely in English. In places such as Greece and Italy, in order for your wedding to be legally recognised the law requires the registrar to perform the ceremony in the native language (eg Greek and Italian); this will then be spoken in English by a translator for you to understand.

If a ceremony must be performed in the local language you cannot change this, as it would invalidate your marriage. However if you are marrying in a country where the ceremony takes place in English but English is not the native language and you wish to incorporate some of the native language in your ceremony this may be possible (for example speaking Greek during a Cypriot wedding ceremony may be possible, with the registar's prior consent).

I am the bride, what name do I travel in?

You will travel in your maiden name on your outbound flight (before you are married) and on any subsequent flights throughout your holiday, and inbound flight home. You don't need to worry as the main thing is that the name on your passport that you travel with is the same name that's on your flight tickets.

Please also bear this in mind if you are booking a following honeymoon in the weeks or months after your return to the UK from your overseas wedding - it may well be booking these following trips in your maiden name too. This is because it is the name that will still be on your passport, and also in case there are any delays with receiving your marriage certificate which could mean that you will not have any supporting documentation to show a name change. If you have booked any following trips in your future married name, but your passport is still in your maiden name, it is now no longer accepted by most airlines and immigration officials that you can produce a copy of your marriage certificate as proof of name change.

We'd like to keep in with traditions and have a separate room for the bride and groom the night before the wedding, is this possible?

This is always subject to availability at the hotel in which you are staying at upon arrival. Please bear in mind that if the hotel has availability then you will be asked to pay for the additional room for the night before your wedding. An alternative to this is to swop rooms with other members of your party, often the bride will share with their mum or one of their bridesmaids the night before the wedding.

I would like to get my wedding date printed or engraved on something before I travel, is this advisable?

Although we will request your preferred wedding date, and often confirm your wedding date and time; they are always subject to change without prior notice. Although a rare occurance, when you are marrying overseas there are many factors which come in to play, including hurricanes in the destination, snow and cancelled flights in the UK; and many other unforseen circumstances; which may lead to your wedding date needing to be changed, right up until the last minute. This may even be at your request (for example if you have arrived in resort and your family is in the UK unable to travel due to weather conditions, or an airline failure), in these cases we will do everything we possibly can to rearrange the wedding for an alternative date. Therefore please do not have anything printed or engraved with your wedding date on until after the event has taken place. We cannot be held liable or responsible for anything that you may have printed, or given as a gift that has a date printed that is incorrect.

I have a wedding cake included in my package, what will it be like?

If you have a wedding cake included in your wedding package, then you can expect it to be a small cake, that is just large enough for you to pose for your photos - 'cutting the cake'; and will not normally feed more than 10 people maximum. The type of cake that's included will be the cultural norm of the country in which you are getting married in; so please expect the cake to be different from what you may expect to have here in the UK.

If you would like a cake for 10 people or more, or would like a particular type of cake (sponge, coffee, chocolate etc.) then these can be arranged at an additional charge depending on your requirements. This can often be arranged once you are in-resort.

In some of our Perfect Weddings Abroad wedding packages, particularly in hotter locations, we don't include cakes. This is due to the weather often melting the icing on the journey from the bakery, and also some hotels now offer a free cake as a wedding gift to the couple - a free cake given to you as a present from a hotel is not something you should rely on receiving, but at the same time please don't be offended if a cake is offered to you as a free gift and you've already purchased one yourself. Enjoy the gift where offered!

Some hotels, particularly 5* establishments stipulate that for health and safety reasons you must purchase your wedding cake from the hotel, and external cakes may not be brought in to the hotel. Therefore it's advisable for you to consider this and to bear in mind that 5* hotels often charge upwards of £150 for their standard 1-tier wedding cakes.

Can I see photos of other weddings, flowers, cakes, favours etc that couples have had when they've got married abroad?

Absolutely, it's the best way to be inspired and to get ideas for your wedding abroad. We have a growing number of photo albums that are perfect for this on our company Facebook Page; and these pages are being updated with new photos constantly. To check out the photos visit our Facebook Page at: http://www.facebook.com/PerfectWeddingsAbroad

What footwear do you recommend for my wedding day?

We're sure that you want to look your elegant best on your wedding day, but please bear in mind the location in which you are getting married. If you're marrying on a beach then high heels may not be too easy to walk down the aisle in! Similarly if you're having a mountain-top blessing, then perhaps some stylish wellies will be more appropriate to make your way through the snow than traditional wedding shoes. In beach locations many couples that we've had get married previously have worn sandals, and some have even taken the plunge in barefeet.

Will I get any documentation to take with me?

You will. You will be sent a final Wedding Voucher around 3 - 4 weeks before your wedding date, either by post or email. If you have booked with a travel agent then this document will be sent to you via your travel agent.

Your final Wedding Voucher reconfirms your final details and also will give you the contact telephone number for your in-resort wedding coordinator. This is a very important document and you must carry this with you overseas and present it at your pre-wedding meeting (if you have one included in your wedding package).

If your wedding is booked through a tour operator/supplier then you may not receive any further documentation, and you should instead carry your original confirmation invoice with you.

Now that I have booked how do I finalise my wedding arrangements?

Congratulations on booking your wedding with us. Now that you have confirmed your wedding arrangements you will be set up with a login for your personal Online Wedding Profile. Here you will be able to manage all of your wedding arrangements in the lead up to your departure from the UK, and your big day.

Once your Online Wedding Profile is set up all of the planning, arrangements, questions and queries must be sent through your profile; not to our office or UK coordinators, by email, telephone, in person or any other means.

Using your online wedding profile will help give you control over your arrangements and keep everything in one place. It also ensures that nothing is missed and that our in-resort coordinators and your reception venue/suppliers are kept up to date with everything throughout the whole process. In addition to this we use the system to prompt you for all legal documentation, updates, extras and information - so you must check your profile at least once a month in the lead-up to your wedding.

Depending on what you have booked and how (a PWA wedding package, or through a tour operator/supplier) your profile will be set up for you to be able to speak directly to our overseas coordinator (for wedding queries), our UK office (for travel/holiday booking queries), your wedding reception venue (for food and beverage queries - if this is not being taken care of by our overseas wedding coordinator).

Will there be other weddings going on at the same time as mine?

This will depend on the location or the hotel that you have booked. It's fair to expect that at busy times in certain locations there are many weddings taking place (eg May, June, September & October for Cyprus, January for Lapland/Iceland, December through to March for Austria; and so on).

Some hotels offer a 'one wedding per day' policy, which will mean that your wedding will be the only one taking place on that day. Sometimes this will be the actual wedding ceremony and reception venue that you have booked (ie the hotel may have weddings taking place in other areas around the resort), or it may mean that your wedding is the only one taking place in the whole resort on that day. Please bear in mind that although the hotels in this case try their very best to ensure this policy is upheld, there are extreme cases where the one wedding per day may not be possible - for example Valentines Day, or if resorts have been affected by hurricanes/snow/bad weather; airline/tour operator failures and other reasons. It may be that the resort has no choice but to move other wedding couples wedding days to accommodate them and to ensure they can still get married during their holiday as planned.

Also the other thing to bear in mind is that although the hotel may only have one wedding ceremony taking place in their property on that day, there may be other wedding receptions being hosted there; or there may be couples marrying in 'out of hotel' locations; that may be mingling in the hotel areas, which is beyond the hotel's control.

We have a strict company policy that if a hotel is doing too many weddings, and becoming 'a wedding factory' as some people have described them then we will remove them from our website, so for this reason we rely on the experience and feedback from our customers, as well as our UK and overseas team.

Will I have a wedding coordinator?

You will have a wedding coordinator in-resort if you have booked a Perfect Weddings Abroad wedding package and one is included in your wedding package. Either a representative of Perfect Weddings Abroad, or it may be a coordinator based at the hotel in which you are staying / getting married in.

If you have booked a tour operator/supplier wedding package they will have their own representation that will help you in resort.

Who deals with the weddings in the hotel/resort and how quickly do we meet or see them?

This will depend on the hotel which you have booked, but usually there are two ways that it will work in-resort. You will either have a Perfect Weddings Abroad in-resort wedding coordinator, and a Food and Beverage representative of the hotel that you will meet. Or in some cases your wedding coordinator will be based in the hotel on a full or part-time basis.

Usually they will make initial contact with you within the first 24 / 48 hours after your arrival in resort, and arrange an appointment for a later date.

Are sunset photos included in my standard wedding package?

Sunset Photos are not included in any of our standard wedding packages. Sunset Photos are above and beyond, and are in addition to any wedding photography packages or photographer that is already booked. Please bear in mind that often the sunset takes place hours after your wedding ceremony or reception, and it's a case of the photographer coming back or a different photographer travelling to your venue to take the sunset photos.

The additional cost of sunset photography will be paid directly to the photographer in-resort. Please bear in mind that even if you book sunset photography in advance of your departure from the UK, this is subject to appropriate weather conditions in resort. We have had occassions in the past where sunset photos have not been possible due to the haze, which would have spoiled the photography.

I'm booking a UK wedding reception for my return to the UK, how soon after my planned arrival time back to the UK should I book my reception for?

We recommend that you allow at least 7 working days after your scheduled arrival day back in to the UK before you have a UK wedding reception.

As you are marrying overseas please bear in mind that there are many factors which come in to play, including flight cancellations, delay, changes of dates and inclement weather; which could affect the date of your arrival back in to the UK. Please note that we cannot and will not be held responsible for any UK wedding reception, or other UK arrangements that are affected due to your travel plans being changed at any stage. This includes any costs or loss of money that you incur, due to not being back in the country in time - this is completely at the risk of the wedding couple.

If I have booked an all-inclusive hotel does that mean that I can use the facilities and eat in the restaurants of other properties within the same hotel chain or brand in the area or country that I'm staying in?

This is not usually the case. If there are inter-dining options available between hotels then this is always clearly stated in a tour operator's/supplier's brochure or on their website. In all other cases please assume that you are only a resident of the hotel that you are staying in and the facilities available and restaurants that you can eat/drink in are only the ones in the hotel in which you are booked in to and staying in. If you wish to visit another hotel, for a day, perhaps as a guest of another wedding then a day pass rate will usually be charged for an all-inclusive property, and any food or drink consumed for a drinks reception, or dinner reception will be charged at the usual 'non-resident' rate as you are not a resident of that particular hotel.

Does the legal documentation process change?

Although this is rare, government departments, local councils and ministers can change their rules; and fees at anytime without notice. So unfortunately, yes, the legal documentation process may change without notice, after you have received your Wedding Confirmation Pack. We will do our best to notify you either by post, email, or where possible via your personal Online Wedding Profile; as soon as we are notified of any changes. However please bear in mind this may be a last minute change. If it is a change to the legal documentation process our Legal Documents department will do their utmost to help and guide you through the changes, but we need your help and urgency at times such as this to ensure that any additional documents that we require are done as quickly as possible. If not, it can put your whole wedding plans in jeopardy.

I'm booking a honeymoon departing from the UK after we arrive back from our wedding abroad, how soon after our return should we book this?

We recommend that you allow at least 7 working days after your scheduled arrival day back in to the UK before you book to depart on a honeymoon from the UK.

As you are marrying overseas please bear in mind that there are many factors which come in to play, including flight cancellations, delay, changes of dates and inclement weather; which could affect the date of your arrival back in to the UK. Please note that we cannot and will not be held responsible for any other holiday arrangements that are affected due to your travel plans being changed at any stage. This includes any costs or loss of money that you incur, due to not being back in the country in time - this is completely at the risk of the wedding couple.

From past experience we recommend that you book your following honeymoon with the same travel agent that you booked your wedding abroad with. This will help if there are cases in which flights need to be amended as the agent will be able to negotiate with hotels/airlines on your behalf, as well as having the full knowledge and details about all of your arrangements. Better still we recommend booking a twin or multi-centre wedding abroad/honeymoon holiday. So flying on to your honeymoon location directly from the country in which you get married in. Your travel agent will be able to help you with this. The main benefit is that usually the holiday/flights are booked on the same reference and therefore if there are issues with weather or other factors you are not putting at risk another holiday, but making amendments to an existing holiday.

How can I manage my wedding once I've booked?

Once you have booked you will be set up with a profile on our Online Wedding Management System. The login details will be sent to you with your Wedding Confirmation Pack, or posted to you separately if you have booked through a tour operator or alternative supplier. You can then visit our website and click on the "Your Wedding Login" link; from here you are able to take care of and plan all of your wedding arrangements. You will then be able to ask any questions or queries to our UK office regarding your holiday, your overseas wedding coordinator regarding your wedding and the food and beverage manager of the venue in which you are holding your overseas reception (if you have booked one).

I have a good rapport with my UK-based wedding coordinator can I plan everything through them?

Our UK-based wedding coordinators are trained and specialists in sourcing, advising and discussing with you the vast array of options available when planning a wedding abroad; they are also trained in working in the travel industry and can take care of all of your holiday arrangements. We invest in to our team in the UK in order to help them be prepared to give you the best options to match your own individual plans and needs before you book.

The in-resort wedding coordinators we have based overseas have extensive local knowledge and specialise in the more intricate details of the actual resort in which you're going to get married in; and after all in most cases you will meet your in-resort coordinator when you get out to resort. Your in-resort wedding coordinator can advise you of the costs of wedding extras, give you ideas for reception venues and talk to you about the finer details in the lead-up to your big day.

So for this reason we have developed our online system so that you can login and correspond with your overseas coordinator well in advance of your arrival in-resort. You'll then have the best of both worlds, with honest answers and the weighing up of all of the options here in the UK; to the more in-depth specialist knowledge of your wedding location from our in-resort coordinators.

How can I keep up to date with things in the lead up to my wedding?

We highly recommend that you join our Facebook Page and also follow us on Twitter. We now use both of these means to keep you up to date with the latest news and information; for example if there are airport closures or problems overseas due to weather, airport strikes and other external factors. Please subscribe to our Facebook and Twitter pages by visiting the following links:

http://www.Facebook.com/PerfectWeddingsAbroad

http://www.Twitter.com/PWAbroad

I want to change my name on various documents, when can I do this?

We highly recommend that you do not make name changes to any documents until after your wedding has taken place and you have a marriage certificate. Examples include, but are not limited to, deed poll certificates, passports, bank / utility bills, future flight or holiday bookings etc. If you are planning on booking a future holiday before your wedding takes place, it will be safer to book this in your maiden (current) name, rather than taking a change and booking it in your future married name - as this way your passport will match (provided it is still in date). Perfect Weddings Abroad will not be held responsible or liable for any problems encountered which arise from you having changed your name, or used your married name on any future document or booking.

Can we have our wedding outfits pressed?

Usually this is not a problem and your hotel will be happy to oblige. There is normally a charge for this locally. Some hotels prefer not to bear the responsibility of steaming wedding outfits, and will instead advise you of a specialist company nearby that will be able to press the outfits for you.

What about the sun?

However strong the temptation may be, try not to burn yourself pre-wedding (or after for that matter!). Use a high-factor sun cream and if you plan to wear an off-the-shoulder number, choose a swimming costume with removable straps to avoid white lines in your photos.

When will we receive our marriage certificate?

In some resorts your marriage certificate is issued straight away and you may travel home with it. In others, it could take up to 2 years (or even longer) to be processed and mailed to you. Please be aware that as marriage certificates are issued by government departments, the time that this takes is completely beyond our control; and we can not be held responsible for the amount of time that it takes for you to receive your marriage certificate. So if you are planning a marriage blessing when you get back to the UK, please bear this in mind. If you want more than 1 certificate, request this in resort or your solicitor can duplicate a copy when you return to the UK. We always recommend sending and receiving all legal documents by trackable post/courier service, so if you'd like your documents sent this way then additional charges will apply.

Do I have to be a resident of the country for so many days?

This varies depending on the location in which you are getting married in. Legally in some locations you can turn up and pretty much get married there and then, in others you have to be a resident for a minimum number of days in order to be able to get married legally.

In any case we strongly recommend that you have at least 3 clear working days after arriving in your wedding destination before your wedding takes place (except in locations which you must legally be a resident for more than 3 days, in which case this scenario takes over). If you decide to book your wedding with us, and holiday (either with us or independently) and don't allow at least 3 clear working days before your wedding we accept no responsibility whatsoever if you do not have time to finalise your plans with our in-resort coordinator, suppliers or venue; or encounter other associated problems with a short-stay.

We class 3 clear working days in-resort as being the actual resort in which your wedding is taking place. So for example if you are marrying in Las Vegas, USA; your resort is Las Vegas itself, not the United States. So having 3 days in New York and then only 1 day in Las Vegas does not constitute having had the minimum requirement of 3 clear working days before your wedding day.

Am I expected to do anything in-resort?

As much as we want you to enjoy your holiday and relax whilst you are away, please bear in mind that you are going abroad to get married! and yes, there are a number of things that you will be required to do in resort. What is required of you in-resort will vary depending upon your wedding destination, but in general we recommend that in the lead-up to your wedding you keep aside time for your pre-wedding meeting with your in-resort wedding coordinator, meeting with the venue Food & Beverage representative, marriage application at the town hall - all in all this can take up to 2 full days of your time. After the wedding you may be required to meet with your wedding coordinator again, and possibly the photographer to choose your preferred photographs. Please note that the above information is a very brief overview, and does depend on which country you are getting married in, as for some locations you will have more paperwork to take care of in resort than others.

Do I need to take a mobile telephone with me?

We highly recommend that you take a mobile telephone with you when getting married abroad. Your mobile telephone number will be passed on to our in-resort wedding coordinator in order for them to contact you where required (by calling or texting). Please remember to speak to your telecommunications provider here in the UK before you travel to enable roaming abroad on your phone, otherwise your wedding coordinator will not be able to reach you!

If you are staying in a hotel, your wedding coordinator may leave a message behind reception for you, or an answerphone message in your hotel room. If you are staying in a villa please remember that these are often remote, and without mobile phone signal. In order to help this process please occassionally check your mobile phone reception, and if you are struggling to pick up a signal then move to a location with signal in order to check to see if your wedding coordinator has tried to call or text you.

Do I get the telephone number of my in-resort wedding coordinator?

You will receive a telephone number for your in-resort wedding coordinator. If they are based in a hotel then you will be given a landline number (and maybe also a mobile number), if they are based locally then you will be given a mobile telephone number to contact them on.

Your coordinator will usually try to arrange an appointment with you and may call you to arrange. In some locations (mainly US locations) our wedding package does not include a wedding coordinator, and instead simply a telephone call with our in-resort coordinator. In either case it's ultimately your responsibility to make contact with your in-resort wedding coordinator. If you have not heard from your in-resort wedding coordinator within the first 24 hours of you being in your wedding destination then you must contact your wedding coordinator by telephone.

Will my wedding coordinator contact me when I arrive in resort?

Usually your wedding coordinator will attempt to make contact with you within the first 24 hours of your scheduled arrival time in resort. This may be in the form of a letter behind your hotel reception, in your room or perhaps a telephone call or text message to your mobile or hotel room telephone number.

If you have not heard from your coordinator after the first 24 hours of being your wedding destination then you must call them on the number that is printed on your final wedding voucher (which we send to you 2 - 4 weeks before you are due to depart from the UK).

Are there any meetings I have to have in-resort?

There are a number of meetings that you need to set time aside for. In most locations this will include, a meeting with your in-resort wedding coordinator, a meeting with the Food and Beverage representative at the venue where your wedding reception will take place, a meeting with the registrar/administration clerk at the town hall. In certain locations (depending on where and what you have booked), you may also be required to have meetings with the local priest/vicar (if you're having a religious blessing), minister/celebrant (if a commitment or non-denominational ceremony), photographer, florist, band etc.

Please bear in mind that although your wedding coordinator will endeavour to meet you at your hotel, it may not always be possible (particularly if you are not marrying in the hotel). Most other meetings will take place at the office/lobby of the venue or supplier that you are going to meet. Therefore please bear in mind that you may need to keep aside some cash for taxis/transport for the various meetings; all of which is to be paid for by yourselves in-resort.

Will I take my wedding photographs home with me?

In some locations you will bring your photos home with you - either in album or CD format, depending on the package that you have booked. In other countries the photographer can take up to 4 - 6 months to produce the final version and will offer you the option to have the photos couried to you directly in the UK, at an additional charge.

In the locations in which we can usually arrange for you to return home with your photos please bear in mind this is assuming that you are not returning home to the UK, or moving on to another resort for at least 3 days after your wedding date, otherwise our wedding coordinator or the photographer may not have time to get the photos to you. If this is the case they will offer you the option to have your photos couried to you in the UK.

If you are planning on displaying photos at a UK wedding reception shortly after your return to the UK, we recommend having some family or friends take some photos on your big day in digital format that you have as a back-up should you not be able to take your professional photos home with you.

How will my in-resort wedding coordinator contact me?

You will be able to liaise with your in-resort wedding coordinator in advance of your wedding via your personal Online Wedding Profile. You will then speak to your coordinator in the first 24 - 48 hours upon your arrival in-resort. Please ensure that if you've supplied a mobile telephone number for your in-resort coordinator to call you, that you have enable overseas roaming with your telecommunications supplier before you travel.

Do any of the venues you recommend do a tasting or sampler menu?

For an overseas wedding this isn't as normal as it may be here in the UK. However for an additional charge some restaurants, tavernas, and hotel reception venues will offer a tasting or sampler menu for you to try before your big day. Due to time restraints and other commitments on the hotel's part this is not always possible to arrange before your wedding day.

Can we try the wine to make sure it is what we want?

You will need to speak to the hotel or venue in which you are hosting your reception to see if they will be able to arrange this service. There is usually a small charge for the drinks consumed.

How do I give you feedback on my wedding abroad?

We welcome all feedback on our services and the weddings that we organise overseas. All of the feedback that we receive is taken seriously and we use this to shape future innovations and changes to our services.

If there is a particular member of our team that you would like to thank, or to praise, then you are able to do this via a feedback link that can be accessed on the Wedding Related Products page of our website - this can be done whenever and as many times as you like, from the moment that you enquire up until your return home to the UK.

For feedback on your wedding experience we will provide you with a Feedback Questionnaire, which is sent out with your final Wedding Voucher (around 3 to 4 weeks before your wedding day). You can also request additional copies of this from your in-resort wedding coordinator. Your in-resort wedding coordinator may request a copy of this before you leave your resort for your onward journey, or return to the UK.

I have booked a photography package and I notice that on the a la carte extras list I can purchase a CD, can I have this instead of the album?

If photography and an album is included in your Perfect Weddings Abroad wedding package then factored in to this cost is the time and expense of the photographer coming to your wedding, as well as the production of the album stated in the package. As you have already paid for the time of the photographer; on the a la carte list they supply you with in resort this list is cheaper than if you had not already paid for the photographer's time. Therefore it's not a case of being able to simply switch an album with perhaps 24 photos; for a CD with 200+ images on. However, if you'd like to purchase the CD of images, either the photographer, or your in-resort wedding coordinator will be able to assist with this.

How do I get my marriage certificate translated in to English?

In some locations you will be issued with a marriage certificate in the local language - not English. This is common in places such as the Greek Islands. When you return to the UK if you would like to have your marriage certificate translated in to English then please contact our UK office and we will be happy to recommend a certified translator for you to speak to. You will then pay them directly to have your certificate translated in to English.

How do I pay for my wedding extras in-resort?

Wedding extras that are paid to your in-resort coordinator are usually to be paid in cash at your pre-wedding meeting. So please ensure that you carry enough cash with you when you depart from the UK, or can withdraw the cash from an ATM in preparation for your pre-wedding meeting.

It's usual that hotels will allow you to pay for your food and beverage by debit or credit card and that tavernas / restaurants will want cash payments, but may accept card payments. Normally the money for wedding reception payments is to be paid in advance of your wedding day, after you have arrived in resort. Please check with your specific venue as each location varies.

I will be using my card overseas is there anything further I should do?

Always advise the bank that your cards are registered to before you travel that you intend to use your cards overseas. Simply call your bank or visit your local branch around a week before you're due to depart the UK and they will usually make a note of your travel details and dates to ensure that you don't have any problems when paying for things overseas.

If I am not marrying and having a reception at the same venue is there anything else I should consider?

Always bear in mind that if you are getting married or having a reception somewhere outside of the hotel in which you are staying then you will need to arrange transport. You should bear in mind in your budget that you will need to arrange wedding transport for yourselves and your brides maids, close family and friends etc. and then perhaps a minibus or coach transport for your wedding guests.

Any transportation that is required is in addition to your wedding package and you will need to pay for this in-resort. You can discuss with your wedding coordinator / venue when you are in-resort what transport will be required, whether it's a return transfer to a reception venue or perhaps a number of one-way transfers to the venue. You can also consider booking a taxi as some hotels have special arrangements with taxi firms.

Do I need a mobile phone in-resort?

We always recommend that you take a mobile telephone to resort with you. Your phone should be switched on when you land in your destination and kept switched on and with you as much as possible, as your wedding coordinator may call you on this number. We would provide your wedding coordinator with the mobile telephone number provided to us at the time of your booking. So if you change your mobile number before you travel, or will be using an alternative number in-resort then it's your responsibility to advise us before you depart the UK.

If you don't have a mobile telephone with you in-resort then your wedding coordinator will usually fax, email, call or leave a letter at the hotel in which you are staying. If you are staying in a villa you must provide us with a mobile telephone number in order to contact you during your stay.

How long will my pre-wedding meeting be?

If you have booked a wedding package which includes an in-resort wedding coordinator with a pre-wedding meeting (not all packages include in-resort wedding coordinators, some may simply be a telephone call) then there are certain expectations you can have of your pre-wedding meeting.

Your pre-wedding meeting is scheduled to last for up to 1 hour (unless otherwise specified in your wedding package). This is what is included in the cost of the wedding package that you have booked. If your pre-wedding meeting goes on for longer than 1 hour then this is beyond what is expected and the wedding coordinator may charge an hourly rate for additional time spent with you (the actual charge will vary depending on the location).

Your in-resort wedding coordinator at the pre-wedding meeting will usually cover, an introduction, checking of legal documentation, discuss with you the ceremony, wedding extras and reception arrangements. They will also be able to answer any queries or worries that you have. In addition to this you will be provided with a contact telephone number for your in-resort wedding coordinator to contact during your stay with any last minute questions that you may have.

How much time can I expect my in-resort wedding coordinator to spend with me?

Unless stated otherwise in your wedding package, you can expect your in-resort wedding coordinator (if you have booked a package that includes an in-resort coordinator) to leave a welcome letter at the hotel reception or be available by telephone within the first 48 hours of you being in-resort. They will then meet you for your pre-wedding meeting at a suitable location (usually the hotel in which you are staying/marrying in, unless you are marrying or having a reception outside of the hotel). The pre-wedding meeting is scheduled to last for up to 1 hour. They will then be available, for a reasonable amount of time, throughout usual day time working hours (when not at pre-wedding meetings, appointments or weddings for you to contact them on their mobile telephone). They will be in attendance on your wedding day, usually arriving around 20 - 30 mins before your wedding and leaving once the photographs have been taken. You may not see them again after the wedding day, but they will be available by telephone for any questions that you may have for the duration of your stay in resort.

When will my flowers arrive on my wedding day?

Your wedding coordinator is scheduled to arrive around 20 - 30 mins before your wedding is due to start. It is company policy that when a wedding coordinator is arranging flowers for you that they bring your flowers to the ceremony with them. We do not allow wedding coordinators to arrange for flowers to be dropped off at wedding venues or hotels early on a morning, or left behind the hotel reception. This can lead to flowers being damaged, lost or in hot countries they may wilt and become discoloured. Therefore please do not worry, if you have booked flowers, or have them included in your package your wedding coordinator will have this under control; and they will hand them to you around 15 mins before the ceremony is due to start.

I would like to purchase a CD of wedding images, is this possible?

In most locations this is possible. Unless otherwise stated in your wedding package then a CD/DVD of images is not included, and would need to be paid for as a wedding extra in-resort. The actual number of images on the CD/DVD varies wedding by wedding and therefore the photographer will usually prefer to speak to you when you are in-resort to arrange an appropriate price. Usually the CD/DVD of images will need to be paid for in cash directly to the photographer. To give you an idea of what to budget for, we would recommend that you bear in mind a cost of around £300 to £500 for a CD of images, although this varies greatly depending on your wedding location.

Please note that if you have a wedding package that includes photography and/or a wedding photo package/album then you cannot substitute these for a CD of images. The photography that is included in our packages is at a specially contracted and discounted rate that you benefit from due to the volume of weddings we do each year. Therefore the CD/DVD of images, or any other photography is to be paid for as per the prices that the photographer quotes to you in-resort.

In my package it stated photos and an album is included, what can I expect?

Many of our packages state "Photos with an Album" or "Photos in an Album" or "Photos and an Album". The actual wording may vary depending on your wedding location and what your wedding coordinator refers to it as. Please bear in mind that in some locations the photos are physically put in to the album before it's delivered to you, whereas in other locations the photos may come separate to the album for you to put in the photos yourselves. If you have a specific request about how the photos should be presented please speak to your in-resort coordinator at your pre-wedding meeting and they will let you know if it's possible for your request to be accommodated.

What can I expect of the responses sent via my Online Wedding Profile?

Our team will always endeavour to fully satisfy your requests and questions to the best of their knowledge and ability. Often we will have to make the best use of our contacts to find out questions that we don't already have the answer to.

Please bear in mind that our team, in the UK and in-resort are dealing with many varying requirements from wedding couples and so will respond to your messages as efficiently as they can. We also often have to question things with venues and suppliers, so may take time to come back to you. We always aim to respond to you within 7 working days of you sending your message, but at busy times it can be longer than this, so please don't worry if you haven't had a response within the usual 7 day time period.

The average wedding couple exchanges around 15 messages per wedding via their profile. This is more than sufficient to arrange all of the details for you to organise your perfect wedding abroad. We understand that every wedding is different and individual, but we just wanted to give you a rough idea as to what you should be prepared for.

Will I have my legal documents returned to me?

It is common if you are getting married overseas for the marriage issuing authority to keep all of your legal paperwork. Therefore please bear in mind that once your documents have been submitted, either in advance by post, or in person that you will not receive them back. Therefore we recommend that when you are going through the legal process that you arrange to get certified copies of documents sent to you for future reference, such as long-version birth certificates, divorce decrees, previous marriage certifictes, deed poll certificates etc. In Greece for example the Greek authorities will keep your documents, and in many other countries they will also keep your documents.

Perfect Weddings Abroad is not liable or responsible for legal documentation that is submitted overseas to authorities. We will not be held responsible or liable for any documents that are submitted overseas, either by us or by you, and are subsequently not returned at a later date. Therefore if you require copies of documents then you should contact the relevant government department directly to request this informtion. In all cases we recommend that you prepare for not having your documents returned after your wedding takes place.

Can I have my wedding dress steamed in-resort?

It's common that in most locations that wedding dress steaming facilities are available. This may be provided by your in-resort wedding coordinator, a hotel or an external provider. If we provide you with any guidance or contact details regarding this it is purely for you to have the option and you can decide to have your dress steamed elsewhere. By Perfect Weddings Abroad providing you with such information it's up to you to decide and to make arrangements directly with the appropriate vendor, we are not liable and will not be held responsible if your wedding dress (or other garments) or returned destroyed or in a condition other than what was handed over.

I have seen a specific offer do I get access to it?

Each hotel has wedding offers available, which may be advertised online, in a tour operators brochure or elsewhere. The offers may only apply for a limited period of time and be specific to the way that the wedding is booked. Therefore if there is a specific offer that you are interested in you must request this before booking in order for us to see if the relevant offer applies and we can add it to your booking. Any offers which are not added at the time of booking cannot be added at a later date and will not apply to your wedding booking.

Are taxi's included in my wedding package?

Taxi's or other forms of transport are not included in your wedding package (unless clearly stated in the package itself). Therefore in locations such as Cyprus where you are required to visit the town hall to apply for the Special Marriage Licence, the cost of transport is at your own cost and you must arrange for transport to take you to the town hall where your in-resort wedding coordinator will meet you.

What can I expect from a 'Buffet Reception'?

If we have advised you that a 'Buffet' option is available at your chosen reception location this is usually a cold meat and salad buffet. Each venue has different inclusions in their buffet, and often a 'BBQ Buffet' is different to a 'Buffet'. We may advise you that you have a choice of buffet options available, if this is the case then there is normally an additional charge depending on the type of buffet that you eventually choose.

I have booked a wedding reception will my wedding coordinator be in attendance then too?

Your in-resort wedding coordinator will stay with you throughout the ceremony and then once your reception (drink or dinner) is ready to start they will wave you goodbye and let you enjoy the rest of your evening with your family and friends. At this point your in-resort wedding coordinator will hand over to the food and beverage representative / reception coordinator at the hotel or venue in which your reception is taking place and they will be able to assist with anything related to your reception.

Can I have a Civil Wedding in a Chapel?

Everyone has different religious beliefs and varying expectations. Some couples like the idea of getting married in a chapel but may not be religious. There are a handful of locations around the world where a Chapel may host a civil wedding ceremony and advertise that they offer civil weddings within their chapel. The content of the wording of the ceremony, and the extent as to how religious the ceremony is varies greatly, chapel by chapel, depending on who is performing the ceremony. Our recommendation would be that if you would like a civil wedding ceremony then you should not book a chapel location and instead you should choose an alternative location where the wedding is performed by a registrar. If you book a chapel location, even if it is advertised as a civil wedding, you should expect that the service will include at least mild references to religion, god and so on; but the extent of this could be much deeper.

I am keen to get prices of my wedding extras, how soon can I have these?

We understand that you are getting married abroad and want to budget accordingly. However as prices generally vary season by season and suppliers, such as florists, photographers etc. change their prices at the end of each season. The confirmed wedding extras prices will not be available until the start of the season in which you are getting married. Therefore if you are marrying from November to April then your extras prices will be available to request from November onwards. For summer weddings from May to October then the extras prices will be available to request from May onwards. If you contact us to request wedding extras prices before these dates please don't be offended if we ask you to wait until closer to the time when the prices are available. We would prefer not to offer you out of date or incorrect information. Due to currency fluctuations, taxes etc. even quoting prices from the season or year before may not be very accurate, so appreciate your patience and understanding in this matter.

There may also be changes to wedding extras prices without notice, even after you have been quoted the latest prices from the season in which your wedding is taking place. These are beyond our control and we will always aim to advise you of any price changes (increase or decrease) before your wedding takes place.

Award Winning UK Weddings Abroad Specialists

0844 770 8270

Destinations