Go weddings:Dream destinations to tie the knot in
St Lucia
The Caribbean island of St Lucia is well established as a honeymoon destination, but it is a perfect place to exchange vows too. No venue on the island is more stunning than Jade Mountain, voted the world's best new hotel last year.
It's not cheap - seven nights at the hotel on a BB basis, including flights, costs €8,177 in May, with Caribbean Collection.
To that you can add an agency fee of €1,699 per couple for a wedding package that includes church and legal fees, flowers, champagne, cake, and the services of a local wedding co-ordinator. www.caribbeancollection.ie.
Malaysia
Equally exotic is ultra-luxurious Pangkor Laut, a private island resort off the west coast of Malaysia. Only a tiny fraction of the 300-acre island has been developed, leaving the rest of it a lush, unspoiled, two-million-year-old rainforest.
Weddings take place at sunset, under a gazebo of fresh flowers, and are followed by a romantic dinner - also on the beach.
Co-ordinated wedding packages starts at €2,632, excluding accommodation. Sunway is currently running a promotion with seven nights for the price of six, on a room-only basis, including flights, from €1,950 per person. www.sunway.ie
Croatia
The five-star Hotel Dubrovnik Palace sits like a ship looking out over the Elaphite islands. It has also had more than its fair share of Irish weddings since it opened in 2004, many of them organised by Croatia specialists Concorde Travel.
The hotel is situated four kilometres from Dubrovnik's world-famous old town. A one-week package at the hotel in late May costs from €1,234 per person, including flights.
Wedding catering prices start at €75 per person, and the Concorde wedding fee, including document processing and registry fees, as well as the assistance of a local wedding co-ordinator, starts at €1,500. www.concordetravel.ie.
Italy
Italy is a favourite destination for Irish couples who want to get married abroad with minimum fuss.
In recent years the choice of venue has broadened out from Rome to some of the country's most spectacular coastal locations.
Among these is the five-star boutique hotel Capo La Gala, set on a cliff-side halfway between Pompeii and Sorrento, making it a good spot for honeymooning day trips to Positano, Amalfi and the romantic island of Capri.
Topflight is offering a week's stay at the hotel in May, costing €1,629 per person sharing, including flights.
On top of this, the company charges €1,000 for its wedding co-ordination package, which includes looking after all the legal documentation. www.topflight.ie
Malta
The pearl of the Mediterranean offers great value for weddings. Irish Weddings Abroad is currently organising a 30-person Maltese wedding in April for €7,000.
Adding to the attraction is the island's record of reliable sunshine, spectacular views, and 350 churches to choose from.
The five-star Westin Dragonara resort on St Julian's Bay boasts some of the best views on the island, and offers the possibility of a wedding reception on the panoramic terrace.
Double rooms start at €207 per night in May and Ryanair flies to Luga, a 40-minute transfer from the capital, Valetta, which is close to the hotel.
Irish Weddings Abroad, part of Driftaway Travel, charges a wedding co-ordination fee of €750. www.irishweddingsabroad.ie.
TOP DESTINATIONS
The top destinations for Irish citizens getting married abroad:
• Italy
• Spain
• Cyprus
• Scotland
• Philippines
• France
• Malta
• Turkey
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs
