When you used to ask someone about their idea of a wedding, the image most used to conjure up was the traditional English big white wedding – the beautiful church, the big meringue dress with a 5ft train, the bridesmaids, sit down meal and all the other etiquette associated with the traditional English wedding but whilst this idea is still the dream that a lot of women have for their special day since their childhood, over the years, as more and more options have become available, more and more bride-to-bes are jetting off to sunnier climes to take their vows abroad in a beach style ceremony.

I think whilst some women from the day they get engaged, relish organising every little tiny detail of their big day, spending weeks finding the perfect venue, the perfect dress etc for some women the idea of escaping to the sun is much more appealing. I think especially now as we all know that women’s lives have become so full, having so many things to juggle, careers, families, social lives! when it comes to their wedding they want the day to be just as special but don’t want all the organising that the traditional big white wedding involves, along with, of course, the inevitable who do we invite who don’t we scenario. With a wedding abroad you feel much less inclined to invite everybody you’ve ever known!

There are so many beautiful locations all over the world that cater for all tastes and styles, from those who want complete seclusion and tranquillity to those who want something a bit more fun. Top destinations for those couples wanting to jet off include the Seychelles, the Maldives and Koh Samui, where you can have everything from a ceremony on the white sands of the Indian Ocean to a wedding breakfast on a table set in the shore with stingray and tropical fish at your feet – maybe not the best idea for anyone who has fish phobias! I have a friend who did this, and remembers it as one of the most magical experiences of her life!

My fiancée and I have been engaged for a couple of years but had never got round to setting a date as like a lot of couples we weren’t quite sure what we wanted, but having travelled to Cuba a couple of years ago, we were absolutely blown away by the resort where we were staying, after our walk around the resort when we first arrived, the Jacuzzi overlooking the crystal white sands of the private beach and the turquoise water, the pretty white gazebo, we pretty much decided then and there, that that was where we wanted to get married.

We kind of assumed the cost would be extortionate but were very pleasantly surprised. I think that is probably another draw for those looking to tie the knot abroad. The traditional big white wedding as with all weddings is beautiful but by the time you’ve finished, you’ve spent a small mortgage. For some people it is worth every penny but for others the smaller price tag is very appealing.

With this in mind below you will see the beach wedding invitation I want for my dream wedding.

A recent survery has shown the average cost of a wedding to your guests to be £620.00.  Costs such as travel, accommodation, drinks, stag or hen parties as well as the cost of a gift whether it be monetary or otherwise can make costs soar.

Beach weddings cost much more but your guests do have the added advantage of a holiday too!

A quarter of people surveryed by the Halifax stated they turn down wedding invitations because of the cost – remember to bear in mind how far your guests have to travel when deciding whether to invite them to the wedding or evening reception – if guests have a long way to travel and will need overnight accommodation, a day invitation may be more fitting than an evening invite and may be more likely to receive a ‘yes’.

The Card Gallery offers a wide range of wedding invitations and beach wedding invitations for your special occasion.