Most lists of the best place to get married abroad rank countries by opinion. There is no honest way to do that, because the best country for a forty-guest summer wedding is not the best for an elopement in May. So this page compares the places we really plan weddings in on the things that decide it, using our own live prices, and leaves the ranking to the facts about your day.
Lowest starting price
Greece
Packages from £3,735
Most choice
Greece
16 packages to compare
Biggest guest lists
Greece
Packages for up to 800 guests
The destinations side by side
| Country | Packages | Prices from | Guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greece | 16 | £3,735 | up to 800 |
| Cyprus | 9 | £8,199 | 20 to 550 |
| Italy | 1 | £4,999 | 30 to 200 |
| Malta | 1 | £9,995 | 40 to 600 |
| Spain | 1 | £6,210 | 30 to 100 |
From-prices for our published packages, read live from our catalogue. Flights and accommodation are not in the package price, but we can arrange them for you and your guests.
What to know about each one
Getting married in Greece
Including Rhodes, Zakynthos, Crete, Mykonos
Getting there. Direct flights to many Greek islands run seasonally, so the island you choose and the month you marry can change the route your guests take. We check this before you commit to a venue.
When to go. Summers are hot and busy; many couples choose late spring or early autumn for easier temperatures and more choice of dates. Peak weekends go early, so book as far ahead as you can.
Getting married in Cyprus
Including Paphos, Ayia Napa
Getting there. Direct flights run from many UK airports to Paphos and Larnaca, in the region of four and a half hours. Larnaca and Paphos are on opposite sides of the island, so we plan transfers around your guests’ arrival airport.
When to go. The wedding season is long: couples marry from spring into autumn, and the busiest weekends book twelve to eighteen months ahead. If your date is fixed, start with the date; if it is flexible, shoulder months give you more choice of venue.
Getting married in Italy
Including Sicily
Getting there. Flights to Sicily are typically around three to four hours from the UK, with direct routes from several airports.
When to go. The season runs from late spring into autumn. Popular dates go early, and Italian paperwork needs time, so we recommend starting well ahead.
Getting married in Malta
Including Malta
Getting there. Malta is a flight of around three and a half hours from the UK, with direct flights from many airports.
When to go. Couples marry through spring, summer and autumn. As elsewhere, popular dates go early, so check your date first.
Getting married in Spain
Including Ibiza
Getting there. Direct flights run from many UK airports; flight times to the islands are typically around two and a half hours.
When to go. The season runs from spring to autumn. Peak summer weekends are busy and booked well in advance.
How to choose
Work through these in order. Each one rules countries out faster than any ranking will.
- Guest numbers first. They move the cost more than the country does, and each venue has a limit.
- Then your month. Summer is hottest and busiest; late spring and early autumn give more choice of dates.
- Then travel time for the guests who matter most to you, especially anyone who finds flying hard.
- Then paperwork. Some countries ask for more documents, and some need more lead time, so check before you fall for a venue.
- Last, the budget, using the real starting prices above and remembering flights and accommodation sit outside them (we can quote those alongside).
On a budget? See weddings abroad under £10,000, torn between the two biggest? Read Cyprus or Greece: which is cheaper, and you can have us quote the wedding with flights and accommodation. Costs are broken down on our wedding abroad cost page, the legal side on our legal requirements page, and if you are comparing planners, read how to choose a wedding planner abroad.
Choosing where to get married abroad: your questions
- What is the best place to get married abroad?
- There is no single best place, because it depends on your budget, your guest numbers, the month and how far you want your guests to travel. We plan weddings in Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Malta and Spain, and the comparison on this page shows how they differ on the things that decide it. If you give us your date and numbers we will tell you honestly which one fits.
- What is the cheapest place to get married abroad?
- Of the countries we plan weddings in, Greece has the lowest starting price today, with packages from £3,735. A starting price is the entry point, not the whole story: guest numbers move the total more than the country does, and flights and accommodation sit outside the package price, though we can arrange them for you and your guests. Our cost page sets out what is and is not included.
- What is the easiest country to get married in abroad?
- Cyprus and Malta are generally the more straightforward for UK couples, and Italy typically asks for the most paperwork. The rules differ by ceremony type and your own circumstances, and they can change, so we confirm exactly what applies to you, and by when, before you commit to a date.
- What is the best place to get married abroad for a small wedding?
- Any of them can work for a small party. If it is just the two of you, or you and a few guests, look at our elopement weddings; for a small guest list, every destination above has packages that suit it, and the guest range for each is in the table.
- When is the best time of year to get married abroad?
- In the Mediterranean the season runs from spring into autumn. Peak summer is the hottest and busiest, so many couples choose late spring or early autumn for easier temperatures and more choice of dates. Popular weekends are booked twelve to eighteen months ahead, so if your date is fixed, start with the date.
- Do I need a wedding planner to get married abroad?
- For most couples with a guest list, it helps a great deal, because the hardest parts, the local paperwork and the suppliers, are the ones that are difficult to run from home. Our guide to choosing a wedding planner abroad lists the ten questions to ask anyone you consider, including us.
Not sure which country fits?
Tell us your rough date and guest numbers and we will say honestly which of these suits you, with real prices.
Plan your wedding
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