Not just for honeymoons ... couples will soon be able to get married in French Polynesia.Credit: James Lyon/Lonely Planet
When it comes to saying "I do", it seems increasing numbers of people are adding "and I'll have a holiday while I'm at it".
While the tropical island wedding or wedding-slash-honeymoon is certainly nothing new, the concept is taking off like never before.
Accelerated by the financial crunch and the challenge of getting time off for a holiday – combined with the complications of modern families – destination weddings have become a huge business.
The editor of wedding website i-do.com.au, Victoria Van Brugge, says more than three-quarters of intending couples are using a civil celebrant rather than getting married in a church. And with the cost of a traditional wedding hitting the $40,000 to $50,000 mark, a destination wedding can become "an obvious choice".
"More brides are looking for venues away from their home towns, as it not only provides for a more interesting occasion, it can also be considerably cheaper," she says.
Van Brugge says while islands remain the number-one choice for destination weddings, many other regions and tourism products are now successfully marketing themselves to the wedding market.
The big news for those looking for a tropical destination is it will soon be legal to get married in French Polynesia, with legislation expected to go through by the end of this year.
French Polynesia, which includes the islands of Tahiti, Moorea and Bora Bora, has been a leading honeymoon destination for decades and it will finally be possible for couples to have a legal wedding ceremony there as well.
Tahiti and her island friends will join long-time island wedding destinations such as Bali and Fiji, which continue to grow at a rapid rate.
A spokesman for the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa says its wedding business grew by 18 per cent last financial year, despite political unrest and other dampening factors.
It is expected to grow 27 per cent this year, helped along by cheap air fares and a favourable exchange rate.
According to the spokesman, many of the guests attending weddings in Fiji are now attending at their own expense – a trend "no doubt brought on by the global financial crisis".
Holly Galbraith, of The Byron at Byron Resort in Byron Bay, says the resort has hosted many couples getting married on their own, with no guests at all.
"Often one of our staff members is a witness and even helps the bride get dressed," she says.
Figures from Voyages Hotels and Resorts reveal 50 per cent of weddings taking place at Ayers Rock Resort and 10 per cent of weddings on Brampton Island this year are couples eloping without guests.
Others are inviting guests but keeping the venue modest: the NRMA Darlington Beach Holiday Park has had a "sharp rise" in wedding bookings this year, with couples booking out multiple cabins and making their wedding a weekend with family and friends.
"Weddings are doubling as an excuse for family reunions," NRMA spokeswoman Lisa Kable says. "The brides to date have worn traditional white for the ceremony ... and then are cooking breakfast on the barbecue the next morning for their guests."
Targeting those who don't want to spend a lot on their wedding, Classic International Cruises recently introduced wedding packages starting at $250 (in addition to the cost of the cruise).
The $250 package includes use of the ship's chapel, hair and beauty treatments, pre-wedding drinks, music, champagne and canapes, wedding photos, wedding cake, flowers and more. The company also has renewal-of-vows packages from $125.
And while many are looking for cheaper wedding options, Australian couples are also being enticed by unusual wedding ceremonies.
Visit USA spokesman Mark Sheehan says one of the most popular options for Australian couples getting married in the US is a helicopter ride to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, where the marriage ceremony is performed on the banks of the Colorado River.
And back in Sydney, BridgeClimb has now hosted seven weddings on top of the Harbour Bridge.
The "wedding climb" is a private climb for the couple, celebrant and guests, taking about four hours.
Activities are not for everyone, though, with some couples opting for a more relaxed location.
David Beirman, of the Greece and Mediterranean Travel Centre, says he is seeing increased demand for weddings in places such as Santorini, which provide both a romantic venue and a cheaper wedding option.
A standard wedding package for Santorini costs about $3200 – a fraction of the cost of a traditional wedding at home.
And the distant location, he says, "enables couples to avoid the need to invite all the guests they would feel obliged to invite if the ceremony was held locally".
It is another sign of the times that an Australian company, Green Favours (greenfavours.com), is now selling carbon credits that a couple can give to their guests instead of traditional wedding favours.
Each guest receives a card (made of recycled cardboard, naturally) that explains that a carbon offset has been purchased on their behalf, to help offset the environmental impact of the wedding.
Nuptials to remember
1. Taking the "plunge" with a bungy-jump wedding in Cairns. See ajhackett.com.au.
2. Getting a "life sentence" at the old Adelaide Gaol, see adelaidegaol.org.au.
3. Taking your vows underground in Coober Pedy, South Australia. See oldtimersmine.com.
4. Being sealed by a traditional Aboriginal smoking ceremony in Tropical North Queensland. See tropicalaustralia.com.
5. Having your wedding photos taken with African wildlife at the Monarto Zoo in South Australia. See zoossa.com.au.
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