Wedding abroad: 10 popular destinations

A clear understanding of why a wedding abroad is needed will help you choose a suitable country.

I don't want to worry about unstable weather. After all, somewhere there is always summer, sea, sun, beach and breathtaking landscapes.
Tired of traditional feasts, these endless “bitter” and stupid competitions.
It happens that in order to remarry, you want a completely different ceremony. Let nothing remind you of negative experiences.
It’s so romantic to get married secretly and just the two of you, without witnesses.
I would like to go on a honeymoon to this country, why not have a wedding there at the same time?
The marriage conveyor belt and queues at Russian registry offices are terrible. There is a lack of feeling of being chosen, of being special.
I want a light, beautiful and original wedding “not like everyone else’s.”

We have made a selection of countries where it is easy to fulfill these desires. Let's fly!

Cuba

The land of continuous summer. Tropical gardens, pristine beaches with clear lagoons, flamingos and pelicans walking everywhere. The Cuban islands, where you can organize a wedding, will truly be an excellent backdrop for bright and sunny photographs.

Oh yes. Cuba is another reason to get rid of your heavy wedding dress and suit and find something more frivolous and airy.

Flight from Moscow:

~12 hours

Ceremony:

both official and symbolic

Waiting for the official certificate:

3-4 months

Ceremony cost:

from 55 t.r. for symbolic and from 130 tr. for the official*

Flights Moscow ✈ Cuba from 74,500 rub.

Which outfits to choose

If you have decided on the wedding location and its format, it’s time to think about your images. If you decide to celebrate the occasion in Europe, in a castle or a luxurious garden, choose a princess dress and a prince suit. A classic white dress, lush or elegant, tailored to the figure, luxurious veil and/or train. The groom is in a formal suit, preferably in dark colors. In such images and luxurious interiors you will feel like true representatives of the European royal family.

You can choose more democratic images if you decide to hold a symbolic wedding at sea. In the tropics, wear a dress made from natural materials, long or short. Decorate your hair with local flowers or a wreath, or buy a floral necklace.

Skip the heels and opt for sandals. The groom is wearing a light suit, possibly without a jacket. Wear a bright shirt or a colorful bow tie. You can afford long shorts and a light hat. If you choose an extreme wedding, clothes should be appropriate for the occasion. Accessories can add a festive touch to your look.

Attention! For a wedding in the traditional style of a particular country, rent national costumes. After the ceremony and photo shoot, you can change into more casual outfits.

Maldives

A very hospitable country with a hot climate. A sea of fruit, cozy bungalows right next to the water, azure beaches, yacht trips, paths of candles on the sand - this is what newlyweds go to the Maldives for.

Wedding season is here all year round; there is no need to wait until spring or summer to get married. For the ceremony, you can choose a very small island (even uninhabited!) to protect yourself from curious vacationers on the beach.

Flight from Moscow:

~9 hours

Ceremony:

only symbolic

Ceremony cost:

from 60 t.r.

Flights Moscow ✈ Male from 30,100 rub.

Sri Lanka

For a wedding ceremony in Sri Lanka, you can rent a villa right on the shores of the Indian Ocean. For the ceremony, you can choose classic European outfits or dress in a sari and sarong and spend the day listening to national chants for a complete immersion in island life.

Here, as elsewhere, you will be offered a romantic dinner after the ceremony and relaxing SPA treatments. You can safely count on the exquisite design of the registration area, no matter where it is located. The highlight of Sri Lanka is its proximity to wildlife: here you can arrange a stunning photo shoot with elephants.

Flight from Moscow:

from 11 o'clock

Ceremony:

both official and symbolic

Waiting for the official certificate:

2 months

Ceremony cost:

from 55 t.r. for symbolic and from 75 tr. for the official

Flights Moscow ✈ Colombo from 26,200 rub.

Top 10 wedding agencies

Wedding agency BM Weddings & Events is a wedding agency that has been operating in this area for more than 10 years. There are no boundaries for the agency's activities; specialists will help make your holiday unique, regardless of your chosen location in the world. The main task is to fulfill all the wishes of clients, organize and monitor the process of the wedding ceremony at every stage.
Wedding agency "Two Oranges" - according to Wedding magazine, it is one of the ten most popular agencies of this type. It specializes in international and classic weddings, collaborating with the most reliable market representatives in this service sector. During its activity in this type of business, the agency organized about 160 weddings. The agency's staff, who have enormous experience, will make your wedding look like a fairy tale.
Wedding agency Honey Wedding was founded in 2009 in Prague. In a fairly short time, it has become one of the most popular in the European space. The agency’s specialists will organize and hold events at a decent level in Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France, as well as the Czech Republic. Impeccable service will satisfy the most demanding customers. The agency’s specialists, who have enormous creative potential, subtle taste, and responsibility in their work, are capable of implementing the most daring and creative projects.
Wedding agency Rosmarin Weddings & Events - this agency organizes wedding events in Greece, and more precisely on the islands of Corfu and Santorini. At the same time, the agency’s specialists find individual solutions in planning the celebration, paying attention to every little detail and detail, as well as realizing all the wishes of the lovers.
Employees follow the latest innovations in the field of decoration, as well as floral decoration of events, and are always ready to organize the most stylish options for customers. The agency is able to make both a small wedding event and a large-scale celebration exclusive. The organizers take upon themselves not only the main points, but also the small “anxieties” of the newlyweds.

Wedding agency “Italian Wedding” was created in 2011, the agency coordinator is a resident of Italy (fluent in Russian), therefore, if your dream is to hold a wedding ceremony in Italy, then contacting this agency is the right decision. Many couples took advantage and were very pleased. The company’s employees value their reputation very much and, accordingly, take a high-quality approach to solving all the tasks they face. The impeccable work of the team of professionals is so organized that it seems as if the preparation process is proceeding on its own. There is no doubt that all the ideas of the newlyweds will be brought to life and a wedding in Italy will become the most exciting event in your life.

Wedding agency Happy Travel – by using the services of this agency you can get rid of possible problems and worries. Experts will take care of everything and organize a fairy tale wedding (that is, a turnkey wedding) abroad, taking into account all your wishes. You can choose any country that you associate with the perception of happiness. And if you have not yet decided, the agency staff will advise, depending on the planned time of year, to choose the appropriate corner of the globe where you will feel cozy and comfortable. You will find the best options for a place for a romantic event in Happy Travel.
Wedding agency Marry Marry has been working abroad for about 10 years, offering new options and countries for wedding events. The cost depends directly on the destinations (it can be about 5 thousand euros, if it is, for example, a European country, or can reach up to a million rubles if you have chosen a luxury hotel in the Maldives). In any case, all your suggestions and wishes will be implemented with the help of experienced professionals.
Wedding agency A2 Wedding is a group of professionals who will make your dream come true and make your wedding an unforgettable event. All tasks are solved quickly and efficiently due to the fact that each specialist professionally performs his or her scope of work. The agency has been organizing weddings abroad for more than ten years. During this time, we have accumulated enormous experience in organizing weddings in more than 15 countries around the world (for example, France, Spain, Montenegro, Italy, Croatia, etc.). The agency can easily organize both a small event and a complex project that includes several days. The agency's work is assessed by both clients and wedding industry experts as high quality.
Wedding agency Brilliance Wedding - if you want to celebrate a wedding in Spain, on the island. Mallorca, then the right decision would be to use the services of Brilliance Wedding. The agency’s specialists organize the event at the highest level. Your wedding will be a real masterpiece!
Wedding agency ECOWedding will provide you with a unique opportunity to hold a wedding celebration in the eco-style that is fashionable today. All that remains is to decide on the choice of country (for example, exquisite France or magical Italy, or maybe alluring Greece?), all other concerns will be taken care of by a team of professionals. Your wedding will be a magical holiday that you will remember for the rest of your life.

Dominican Republic

This island has snow-white beaches and the whisper of palm trees all year round, like in a Bounty advertisement. Weddings here are most often held at the very edge of the ocean near a flower arch and accompanied by national songs of Dominican musicians.

After the ceremony, you will take a ride on a yacht, dine on fried lobsters with champagne and, if you want something exotic, go for a walk in the real jungle.

Flight from Moscow:

from 18 o'clock

Ceremony:

both official and symbolic

Waiting for the official certificate:

1-1.5 months

Ceremony cost:

from 45 t.r. for symbolic and from 125 tr. for the official

Flights Moscow ✈ Punta Cana from 40,500 rub.

Choice

Our organizers are considered the best in Moscow and the region, we received the title of wedding agency No. 1 in 2021 and have been improving the quality of services since then. The main advantages of the studio:

We fit within the planned budget - the minimum service tariff is not regulated, but all details are negotiated with our clients.
Having experience in holding wedding events abroad - detailed knowledge of the legislation and the best places for the celebration will help to avoid unnecessary troubles.

– the couple will not look for (and pay for) each specialist separately.
Organizing a holiday according to a unique scenario - your event will definitely not be “like everyone else’s”.

We conduct both official wedding ceremonies abroad and symbolic weddings after the exchange of rings in the Russian registry office. Thanks to the extensive experience of the staff, the choice of both the location for the holiday and the selection of dresses will be significantly simplified. During the entire celebration, you will be busy with each other, and “MHoliday WEDDING” will take care of all the worries.

Thailand

Not the most exotic place for a wedding, but it is reliable and proven by hundreds of newlyweds. Thailand is chosen for its diversity: here you will find ancient Buddhist temples, underwater weddings, windsurfing, Thai massage, and amazing islands, the most famous of which are Phuket and Samui. A country of constant summer, where even tropical rains do not occur immediately throughout the entire territory.

Flight from Moscow:

~8-9 hours

Ceremony:

only symbolic

Ceremony cost:

from 70 t.r.

Flights Moscow ✈ Bangkok from 24,900 rub.

The main stages of a beach wedding

A celebration on the seashore provides a lot of the most interesting, unique opportunities, from scuba diving to coral reefs and meeting sharks to a holiday in an antique style with all the necessary surroundings. You can even add mythical characters and develop a whole performance in the spirit of the legends and traditions of Ancient Greece. However, there are three stages that are necessarily present in any scenario:

the wedding ceremony itself. For a spectacular on-site registration, a magnificent ara made of flower garlands, openwork wickerwork, pseudo-columns made of plasterboard or foam plastic, glass and other materials is installed. Often the arch is illuminated with lanterns with live candle lights or electric, LED garlands. For beauty, the path and space under the wedding arch are covered with flower petals and whole buds. To add spectacle, the ceremony site is draped with light, flowing fabrics;
a romantic dinner or a noisy feast - whichever the newlyweds like best. If they prefer a quiet time, then you can set a small table with their favorite dishes and snacks, light wine and candles. Be sure to choose the most impressive view of the sun setting over the horizon, turning the sea and sky purple. If guests are invited to the wedding, you can rent an open terrace of a restaurant or a banquet hall, decorating them in a marine theme, in blue and white tones. When decorating, sea shells and corals, multi-colored pebbles, sponges and other characteristic elements are widely used. You can also arrange a pirate wedding by renting a sailing yacht or organizing appropriate decor and costumes on the shore;
photographs and videos taken on the shore of a warm sea have surprisingly strong energy. Against the backdrop of sea waves, tropical plants and the beach, the bride and groom look like deities descended to earth. An experienced photographer will have no trouble finding the most impressive backdrop against which to take stunning photographs. You can admire such shots endlessly. The photo shoot itself takes place in a fun, friendly atmosphere. You can even run barefoot along the surf line, or depict footage from your favorite movie, legends related to marine themes.

The rest of the program is planned at the discretion of the newlyweds.

Greece

Greece is an island state, and perhaps that is why it is so popular among those who want a wedding abroad. Stunning views, sunsets, mountains and sea, sea, sea all around. Separately, we note the island of Santorini (Thira), the architecture of which seems to have been created as a backdrop for a wedding celebration.

Flight from Moscow:

~3 hours

Ceremony:

both official and symbolic

Waiting for the official certificate:

about a month

Ceremony cost:

from 50 t.r. for symbolic and from 115 tr. for the official

Flights Moscow ✈ Athens from 16,400 rub.

Why is it worth holding a celebration in another country?

There are plenty of romantic cities abroad where you can exchange rings. The most popular are Prague, Paris, Milan. The very atmosphere reigning here is literally permeated with love energy. Old European cities still have narrow streets, ancient castles, and beautiful gardens.
Every time you find yourself abroad, you can find new places, as if specially created for couples in love to spend time here. But it’s one thing to simply stroll through romantic and picturesque lands, and another thing to drive through them in a wedding carriage drawn by white horses.
Foreign cities are literally strewn with attractions - old chapels and towers, ancient mansions, bridges and gardens, monuments and sculptural elements. The surrounding area is no less picturesque. There are countless castles and palaces that were once built here and still stand, practically untouched by time.
The organizer of an event in a foreign territory will take care not only of accommodating guests, but will also choose a place for a photo shoot. The wedding photographer will make sure that the pictures are heartfelt and memorable. An example of photography at a wedding abroad can be requested from the specialists of our agency.

Cyprus

From early spring to late autumn it is summer in Cyprus. This means that for 9 whole months the gentle Mediterranean climate favors those who want to register a marriage in another country, and at the same time spend a honeymoon here. And it doesn’t matter whether the wedding takes place on Cape Greco, on the slopes of Paphos or on the white cliffs of Aphrodite, the impressions of this indescribable beauty will remain in your hearts for many years.

Flight from Moscow:

~4 hours

Ceremony:

both official and symbolic

Waiting for the official certificate:

2-3 days

Ceremony cost:

from 50 t.r. for symbolic and from 70 tr. for the official

Flights Moscow ✈ Larnaca from 13,600 rub.

Procedure for registering a marriage abroad

Registration of a civil marriage is carried out abroad in stages.
Initially, it is worth clarifying the specifics of the laws of the selected country. After this, start preparing documentation and organizing the trip. Some countries require permission for the ceremony from the local municipality. After the wedding has taken place, the apostilization procedure is carried out. This will eliminate obstacles from each state.

Conditions for official registration of marriage abroad

Newlyweds who have chosen a foreign option for holding a wedding ceremony must take into account its conditions:

compliance with the legislative norms of the host country;
no violations under Art. SK;
mandatory legalization;
notarized translation of a foreign marriage certificate into the state language;
contacting the civil registry office at the place of registration to get a stamp.

Important! In the Russian Federation there are no sanctions for late legalization.

List of required documents for marriage

To hold a wedding ceremony abroad, the bride and groom must provide a package of documents. It includes:

birth certificates;
copies and originals of passports - foreign and domestic;
a statement indicating the absence of a marital relationship at present;
papers confirming the dissolution of a previous marriage;
death certificate of spouse (for widows and widowers);
an extract from the Russian registry office, which states that there are no legal obstacles.

Advice! Translate all documents into the language of the country of marriage, notarize and affix an apostille.

Cost of an official ceremony in other countries

When calculating, a marriage entered into by a couple of Russian citizens who choose a wedding abroad will be cheaper than a domestic one. Thus, a traditional ceremony with on-site registration for 50 people will cost an average of 450 thousand rubles. In St. Petersburg you will need to pay 850 thousand - 1.5 million rubles for it, in Perm - 300 thousand rubles.

When registering a marriage on the territory of another state, Russians will spend:

from 100 to 600 thousand rubles. for two without guests - this includes travel expenses, housing for 5-7 days, the ceremony itself;
during the peak tourist season - 20-30% more funds;
from 150 to 200 thousand rubles. - when organizing painting yourself;
plus 70-120 thousand rubles. - if you entrust matters to companies offering a “wedding package” (symbolic ceremony, payment of taxes, payments to registrars, decorators, lawyers for legalization of documents);
plus 45-50 euros for notarization of documents at the consulate.

Important! Prices do not include clothing, hairstyle, rings, photographer, cake and gala dinner.

How long will it take?

The duration depends on the place where the relationship of the future spouses is formalized:

Greece - permit is issued within 7 days. A wedding is possible only after the documents are certified by the consulate;
Las Vegas - you can get married and get divorced in one day;
Mauritius island - weddings for foreign citizens are held only on weekends, brides and grooms must arrive 3 days in advance;
France - Russians must live in any city for at least 10-40 days;
Switzerland, Austria, Germany - authorities will issue a permit in 2-6 months.

Change of surname and citizenship when registering a marriage with a foreign citizen

In Russia, in most cases, a girl takes her husband’s surname.
When registering a marriage in another state, the change of surname is not indicated. This can be done upon returning to the Russian Federation. There are exceptions in some countries. For example, in Austria, Slovenia and the Czech Republic, a woman will receive an official document with a different surname. The process of changing citizenship has a number of nuances:

replacing a Russian passport with a new one and obtaining a foreign passport with a different surname;
mandatory extract from the place of registration in the Russian Federation, consular registration in the country of residence;
complete replacement of bank cards, TIN, SNILS, medical policy;
obtaining citizenship of another state - after 3 years in the standard manner;
obtaining citizenship in a simplified manner - by residence on the basis of an official temporary permit.

On a note! Russian citizenship is not lost during this procedure.

Italy

Alpine lakes Como, Garda or Maggiore, trips to waterfalls in the heart of the country, walks through olive groves and vineyards, medieval cities of Tuscany or the water canals of Venice - Italy can satisfy any whims of lovers.

From May to October there is a high wedding season in Italy, and most often the newlyweds spend their honeymoon traveling around the towns of the Amalfi Coast or, on the contrary, going to tourist centers: Venice, Rome, Milan.

Flight from Moscow:

~4 hours

Ceremony:

both official and symbolic

Waiting for the official certificate:

3 weeks

Ceremony cost:

from 80 t.r. for symbolic and from 100 tr. for the official

Flights Moscow ✈ Rome from 14,300 rub.

Czech

Feeling like Cinderella marrying a handsome prince - that’s what a wedding in the Czech Republic is all about. Stunning architecture, legendary palaces and castles, domes, arches, pilasters, columns and balustrades, and even a real carriage instead of a tired limousine.

Flight from Moscow:

~2.5 hours

Ceremony:

both official and symbolic

Waiting for the official certificate:

2-3 weeks

Ceremony cost:

from 85 rub. both for symbolic and official

Flights Moscow ✈ Prague from 12,000 rub.

What difficulties may arise

Registration of a future marriage and holding a ceremony abroad is not so easy. Couples in love may face several obstacles:

in China, UAE, Thailand or Egypt, the certificate is not valid;
in Indonesia only Catholics, Buddhists, Protestants, Muslims, Hindus can sign;
a marriage license issued in Hawaii is certified by the Department of Health;
newlyweds who want to get married in Bali must profess the same religion;
you need to live in the Seychelles for 11 days, and in Sri Lanka - 4 days before the wedding;
in Austria or Germany you can only get married with permission;
in Puerto Rico, Egypt, and Taiwan, the marriageable age for the bride and groom is 20-21 years.

Portugal

Portugal is suitable for those who do not want resorts and routes traveled far and wide. The country is famous for its old castles, wine estates, cute streets and picturesque cliffs on the ocean. And the southern beaches of the Algarve, with their sea caves and impressive cliffs, are regularly included in the TOP of the best beaches in Europe.

Flight from Moscow:

from 6 hours

Ceremony:

both official and symbolic

Waiting for the official certificate:

2-3 months

Ceremony cost:

from 80 tr. for symbolic, and from 150 tr. for the official

Flights Moscow ✈ Lisbon from 21,300 rub.