Destination Wedding Dresses
What to Wear for Getting Married Abroad

Look cool on your big day with our tips for destination wedding dresses.

Over 16% of couples now choose to get married abroad.

Getting married overseas can cut your wedding costs substantially and not just because your guest list will be much smaller.

You can also save money on the one thing that brides don't like to scrimp on - your wedding dress!

Simple Wedding Dresses

• If you are getting married somewhere hot like the Caribbean, Hawaii, Florida or maybe an island like Cyprus, then you won't want a heavy beaded dress that will make you sweat or one with a great big "meringue" style skirt that will simply look out of place on the beach.

• Going for a dress made from cool, light, natural fabrics without many layers will be much cheaper.

• Floaty fabrics like chiffon are perfect for hot climates; they weigh little and also cost little in comparison to more expensive fabrics like silk.

• A hot climate will also call for a simpler style and short wedding dresses are highly popular. Short means less fabric which means less cost!

Beach Wedding Dresses

Informal weddings held on a beach do not require a traditional wedding gown which means the bride can shop just about ANYWHERE for a dress.

Check out the local discount fashion store for bargain tea length wedding dresses or go a little more upmarket to the evening wear section of your local department store to see what is available in white or more likely ivory.

If you are happy to consider wearing a colored wedding dress then you won't be restricted of course and can choose a dress that you LOVE and that you will feel great in, which is often more important than finding the absolute style of your dreams in white.

You can obviously have a dress tailor-made but why go to that expense when most brides can find something off the peg.

Unless of course you are looking for petite wedding dresses or perhaps you are restricted to only maternity wedding dresses.

It is a good idea, however, to visit a dressmaker or fabric store to ask for advice on fabrics for hot countries. Especially important is whether your chosen fabric will crease or not - see our tips on transporting your wedding dress for more information.

Tip: Consider buying your dress online. Sandals offer a stunning range of wedding dresses from only $499 in cool fabrics perfect for a beach wedding

Tips for a Beach Wedding

Apart from choosing cool floaty fabrics which are more comfortable and practical for a beach wedding dress. there are other hot weather issues to consider.

• Need a tan to go with destination wedding dresses? Do NOT apply fake tan on the day of your wedding. Most fake tan products wil stain your wedding dress and are impossible to fully remove.

• Wearing a strapless wedding dress? Make sure you remove your normal bra hours before the wedding otherwise you may end up with strap marks.

• Avoid a dress with beads, crystals or sequins as they may react with the heat and stain your beautiful dress you have strived so hard to keep looking perfect.

Tip: Make sure you apply suncream WELL before putting on your dress. Make sure you use a stain free cream or gel. P20 (available at most airports) is a good option as it forms a seal on the skin and is odorless and stainproof.