Many couples consider getting married abroad instead of having a traditional wedding in the UK.

With so many parents being divorced the top table seating plan can be a problem. Who sits next to whom? And if you have family members who do not get on with each other you may be worried that after a few drinks there could be open warfare!

You both may have a lot of female relatives who all want to be bridesmaids and you may not want a dozen bridesmaids of varying sizes following you down the aisle. Also there is the added expense of buying all the dresses and finding styles that suit everyone. If you ask the bridesmaids to pay for their own dresses they will regards you are decidedly mean!

You may just fancy a quiet ceremony and know that if try to have that in the UK both sets of parents will object. The bride’s mother is almost certainly going to want a big ‘do’! If you opt for a ceremony abroad you can just invite close family and friends. This will also hopefully ensure that all the relatives you do not want to invite will not be there!

Once you have decided on the country in which you wish to marry and have your honeymoon you will need to ensure that the hotel you choose has a wedding arranger who knows what they are doing. If you book through an agency, which may be the safest way, ask how many other weddings they have arranged, Even ask if they can put you in touch with other couples who have married abroad.

Find out exactly where the wedding will take place. A car park beside the beach is not a very romantic place for you to make your vows but it has happened. Also ask how long the ceremony will last. How much time between your wedding and the next one? You do not want to feel that you are on a conveyor belt. This is your special day and no matter how beautiful the surroundings if your wedding is rushed it will spoil the memories you will have of the day.

If you opt for a hot country as a venue, and apart from the Ice Hotel weddings, almost everybody does, remember that you will be very warm if you choose a big dress. A silk dress with an a line skirt with a hooped petticoat to keep the fabric away from your legs is the best option. Silk is much lighter and cooler to wear than satin. The groom needs also to remember that if he wears a three piece suit he is going to suffer in the heat. A shirt and perhaps a waistcoat will be smart enough. I have seen photographs where the bride is lovely and cool in her light silk dress while the groom wearing a suit is the colour of a beetroot. Not a good look for the photos.

Travelling with your dress can be a problem. Ask the shop where you buy it to pack it in a large suitcase for you the day before you travel. They should be able to pack it using tissue to keep the bodice in shape and to prevent the skirt from becoming too crumpled. You should check that the hotel you are going to has the facility to steam out any creases in your dress before the wedding.

Unless you take a silk or crystal bouquet with you it is important to check out what flowers you are likely to get for your bouquet. I have seen photos of bouquets in clashing colours which looked absolutely awful. Make sure the wedding planner knows the colour of the flowers you want. Keep it simple and you have less chance of being disappointed.