Far From Home
- ThePlus Audio
Please click here to listen to this article
Three couples, one question – why go abroad to get married? The answers are more honest than you’d expect…
There’s a moment, early in most wedding plans, when someone says it out loud: “What if we just went abroad?” Sometimes it’s a joke, and sometimes it’s the first genuinely exciting idea in months. And sometimes, as the couples in this feature discovered, it’s the beginning of something that shapes the way you think about what the day is actually for.
Destination weddings have shifted. They’re no longer shorthand for barefoot ceremonies on hired beaches. Now, couples are choosing places that mean something – the Italian town they fell for on holiday or the island they’ve always wanted to share with the people they love most. They’re building celebrations that last days, not hours. And they’re making decisions that, one way or another, tell you a lot about who they are.
This isn’t a guide to going abroad. It’s an honest look at what it’s really like from the couples mid-plan and the ones already home, to the suppliers who’ve seen it all from the other side.
Chloe and Thomas
Planning their wedding in Sorrento, Italy
Chloe works in the wedding industry and has been to most venues in Scotland. So, when she and Thomas got engaged after 12 years together, a wedding at home was never really on the table. “We always said when the time came, it would be abroad,” she says. The destination, though, took care of itself. In 2022, they went to Sorrento for a holiday and on day one, they knew.
The planning has been easier than many might expect, partly because of the venue and partly because of Chloe’s own temperament. Italian wedding planning, she’s found, runs on a different timeline to Scotland. Venues here often ask for decisions two or three years out. In Italy, details like décor and menus come together in the months before. For a self-described relaxed bride, it suits her well.
“What will be will be,” she says. “I think if you’re a type A personality, putting your full trust into someone else from a distance is probably hard. But for me it’s been smooth sailing.”
There have been occasional language barriers but the venue has been, in her words, amazing. And the bigger picture (the one she comes back to when people ask why abroad, why Sorrento, why not just pick somewhere closer?) is clearer than any logistical concern: “I think it really shows you who’s there for you. I’d move heaven and earth for the people I love. And I know they feel the same.”
She’s most looking forward to the morning with her girls and her glam team, then walking down the aisle with her dad as Thomas watches on. And, later, showing everyone they love their favourite little corner of Italy.
Her advice to other couples is the same philosophy applied practically – do one thing for the wedding a week. If something causes you stress, let it go. And whatever you do, don’t compromise on your photographer. “It’s the one thing you can’t redo. Don’t let anything stop you from getting the person you want.”
Romy and Stewart
Married in Naxos, Greece, in September 2025
Romy knew her wedding day would fly by but it still caught her out. “People always say the day is a blur and it really was,” she explains. “I’d absolutely love to go back and relive every moment.”
Romy and Stewart always wanted an abroad wedding – the combination of celebration and holiday, of gathering their closest people somewhere worth travelling to. Looking back, neither would change a thing. But the moment that confirmed it wasn’t the ceremony itself. It was the week around it.
They’d organised a sunset dinner for everyone in the days before the wedding and it ended, as the best nights tend to, with people dancing on tables at a bar. “It was such a great night – and was exactly why we wanted to have an abroad wedding,” Romy smiles.
Destination weddings offer something that a single day at home rarely can – time. There’s less of the rushed, slightly anxious time of a wedding morning and more actual, stretched-out time with the people you love most, somewhere that feels like a gift to everyone who made the trip.
“It was the perfect balance of socialising and down time,” she says. “The greatest week of our lives.”
The couple who considered a destination wedding and chose not to
The original appeal of a destination wedding was partly practical for this bride. She and her partner wanted a small ceremony (immediate family only) and going abroad felt like the cleanest way to manage that without anyone feeling left out.
They also liked the idea of more time together with the people closest to them; somewhere worth the trip. And they’d been told it could work out cheaper. It made sense – on paper. But then came the engagement party. “It was so special and we had the best time with our friends. Suddenly we couldn’t imagine not having them there.”
When they’d floated the idea of going abroad to their closest friends, nobody said anything difficult – but she could tell. When they announced they’d changed their minds, the response was immediate. “They were so overjoyed. It just reassured us completely.”
There were practical considerations too. Their first choice destination didn’t allow legal marriages, which would have meant a separate ceremony at home regardless. Many packages abroad offered little room for personalisation and work schedules made the required lead times complicated – it all added up. “We still looked into it but it got complicated quickly.”
She’s clear this isn’t a warning, it’s just what was right for them. Her advice to couples weighing the same decision is simple – research both options properly, don’t let other people’s preferences drown out your own, and trust what you and your partner actually want.
“You’ll know between yourselves,” she says. “That’s all you need to focus on.”
Roni Hyslop, All Wrapped Up Scotland
“We’ve been helping couples get married in Scotland from overseas for nearly 20 years and one thing remains constant – the legal paperwork. Make time to deal with it. My other advice is to think like a guest. Consider the time of year, the location and what you’re asking people to spend. Being a wedding guest can be expensive before you factor in flights and hotels.
We have fond memories of all our weddings but one of our favourites has nothing to do with paperwork or logistics. In 2016, we helped plan a surprise wedding for Cecelie and Marc, based in Denmark. They invited 15 friends to pack a suitcase, bring their passports and meet them at Copenhagen Airport. That was all anyone knew. At the gate, Marc handed each of them a ticket to Edinburgh (and the men a package containing a kilt, shirt and bowtie).
On the wedding morning, a minibus took them to the harbour at South Queensferry. Eight Danes in matching kilts stepped off the bus followed by their partners, where a piper greeted them. They sailed to Inchcolm Island where the ceremony took place in the ruined abbey.”
James, Demetrios
“When choosing a gown for a destination wedding, let the setting lead the decision. Climate, location and atmosphere all influence how a dress looks and feels. Something light and effortless works beautifully for a beach; something more structured suits a city or villa.
Comfort is equally important. You’ll be moving throughout the day and need fabrics and construction that adapt to different conditions. Think practically about every detail, including how your gown travels. It needs to arrive in perfect condition. The goal is a look that feels true to you and complements the destination beautifully.”
Leigh, Makeup by Leigh Blaney
“My advice is consistent – take your glam team with you if you can. There’s no language barrier, no issues with having a trial before the day and sometimes a real difference in products and application style. Taking your home team means you know exactly what you’re going to look like and how confident you’ll feel.
For those booking locally or doing their own makeup abroad, preparation is everything. Products that work in Scotland don’t always perform the same way in heat and humidity. Build up light layers, keep a personalised top-up kit close and – if you’re doing your own – book a private lesson before you travel. You’ll arrive knowing exactly what you need and how to achieve it.
One of my brides, Ellis, invited me to join her in Spain after her intimate family celebration at home. The whole friendship group was there – six of them, all women I’d worked with over the years. I’ve been through all their special days, seen them grow and become mums. They were so excited to have me there. I had a queue!”
Kirsty, Kirsty MacPherson Hair and Makeup Artist
“I worked on a wedding in Chianti, Tuscany, in a converted village surrounded by vineyards. Many warmer climate weddings start at 4pm or 5pm to avoid the worst of the heat, and the light at that point is something else. When my bride walked out onto the veranda, I watched the sunlight catch her dress as she moved. That will stay with me.
For brides booking a hairdresser abroad, look carefully at their portfolio and show them clear reference images because language barriers work both ways. A trial at home before you travel means you arrive knowing exactly what you want and can communicate it clearly.
If humidity is a concern (and in most destination wedding locations, it will be) prep your hair with an anti-frizz product before styling. I’d recommend Moroccanoil Frizz Shield Spray, blowdried in, particularly for wavy or curly hair. It won’t eliminate humidity entirely but it buys you time.”
Mette, Freja Designer Dressmaking
“I once watched a bride walk across a Caribbean beach in a corseted dress with a long train and heels. The train pulled through the sand and the heels sank. It was a beautiful dress in the wrong place.
So, my advice for any destination bride is to embrace the environment. A light and floaty silk, chiffon or linen dress with bare feet on sand, for example. The same applies in the Scottish outdoors – suitable footwear and a cover-up built into the outfit from the start. You’ll look better and you’ll have a much better time.
Start by understanding how you want to feel on the day and what atmosphere you’re creating. Get that right and the dress follows.”
Trina, Baba-C Designs
“Don’t limit your accessories because you’re travelling. If you want drama in your accessories, there are ways to do it. If you want something understated, that can be equally striking.
Practically speaking, combs and pins travel well, take up minimal space and can be worn different ways if plans change on the day. Veils can be stored with the gown, removing the need for extra luggage.
And clear reference photos are worth more than any written description when working with an unfamiliar hairdresser. Show them exactly what you want and where you want it placed.
You are, after all, the bride.”
