Dos and Don'ts of Destination Weddings?

Rochelle, Auckland

Tonia answers...

We asked Tonia of Bon Voyage Cruises and Travel to help us with this one. She is a fantastic wedding consultant who has helped many couples say "I do" offshore...

For couples marrying in Thailand, the marriage will only be legally recognised in your home country if you have followed Thai legal procedures. As part of this process, you are required to complete paperwork at the Thai embassy or consulate - usually in Bangkok - which can take 4 to 5 days. If you do not want to spend this time in Bangkok visiting embassies (of which you have to pay a visit to both the Thai and New Zealand offices), you could opt to fill out paperwork and have a low-key wedding in a registry office in your hometown. Once the marriage is legal and binding, you can then have a wedding blessing or ceremony in Thailand. It just serves to know in advance: any marriage in Thailand must be performed according to Thai law and although it might sound unromantic, in Thailand you are only legally married once the wedding has been registered at the District Office.

The three most popular wedding destinations for New Zealanders are Fiji, the Cook Islands and Vanuatu. With Fiji, you can arrive one day and be married the next. The only stipulation is that you arrive on a weekday so that you can apply for your license, which takes just an hour. With Rarotonga and Vanuatu, you generally have to reside in the country for 3 days, after which you can be married from the 4th day onwards. Although travel consultants can work around this for an extra fee, I suggest you arrive a few days prior to your wedding. It will give you time to meet with the resort wedding co-coordinator, to run through everything again, to tour the resort and see the various areas available for the ceremony and to generally relax and get into island way of life.

A lot of my brides are worried about the standard of photography in the islands; if this is a concern for you, it is always a good idea to take your own photographer from New Zealand. In saying this, in the 6 years I have been organising overseas weddings, my brides have been happy with the quality of photographs they receive on their special day. If they do not have their own, the resorts tend to have a couple of photographers that they use for all their weddings. When it comes down to it, it is in their best interest for these people to be reliable. There are various packages you can purchase depending on your budget and requirements, as some include both photography and videography services.

The tropical flower bouquets are just beautiful - from the simplest bunch of frangipanis to an exquisite trail of seasonal flowers.

Any type of wedding cake can be organised if you have a photograph of one that you would like copied. All you need to do is send the photograph to the resort, and it will be done. 

Another option that we have organised this year is to cruise to your South Pacific wedding.  This is unique, romantic and a great value for money. Ships sail from Auckland and visit either Fiji or Vanuatu. I work with a local wedding co-coordinator in Nadi or Vila who will then organise all the arrangements upon your arrival. Unfortunately, your wedding cannot be performed on the ship while at sea, as there is no law to cover marriage in international waters - so the ceremony will not be legal. However, the cruise is a fantastic start to an exotic island wedding experience. Cruise life is great for all ages and interests - relax and read by the pool or sip a cocktail with friends as you enjoy the nightly entertainment. It's essentially an all-inclusive floating resort, which means you are free to relax and enjoy your guests' company. Your ceremony could take place on land and the reception back on the ship, where a private room can be organised so you are not sharing the occasion with the other passengers.

A big "Do" is that you have all your guests traveling with you stay in the same resort. This helps with communication and any last minute pre- or post-wedding gatherings. It also saves you from having to coordinate transportation late in the evening. I usually spend some time with my brides beforehand to discuss both their budget and the budgets of their guests. I can then make the right suggestion to suit everyone, and no one will feel less superior for staying at an alternative accommodation spot.

I cannot point out enough to my brides who are considering a destination wedding that it really can be less stressful than organising a wedding in New Zealand. You have the undivided attention and services of the resort wedding co-coordinator, who will make sure everything runs smoothly.

The only negative side to a destination wedding is that the number of guests attending may be fewer than if you married in New Zealand...but then again, that can work to your advantage!

All the best,

Tonia