42% of newlyweds wish they had married abroad

A new survey has shed light on why newlyweds wish they had tied the knot abroad and where they regret not doing it

As part of an ongoing study to discover British habits and attitudes to going abroad, flight comparison site JetCost.co.uk has revealed that two fifths of British newlyweds who married in the UK wish that they had a destination wedding.

More than 2,000 Britons took part in the survey, all of whom were at least 18 years old and had been married in a UK ceremony in the last 12 months.

While 58% of respondents didn't regret marrying on home soil, a staggering 42% wished they had ventured to sunnier climes. When asked why they wished they had married abroad, respondents stated ‘better weather’ (49%), ‘a smaller/more selective guest list’ (34%), ‘less stress and effort’ (29%) and ‘undesirable members of my/my partner’s family would not have attended’ (14%) as their top four reasons. 

Respondents were also asked where they would like to have exchanged vows, with the most desirable places for a destination wedding cited as:

1. Caribbean Islands – 48%
2. Las Vegas - 38%
3. Greek Islands - 25%
4. Maldives - 14%
5. Mauritius - 9%

Conversely, the least desirable places for a destination wedding were:

1. Paris – 28%
2. Marbella – 23%
3. Turkey – 20%
4. New York – 16%
5. Sydney – 14%

A spokesperson for JetCost.co.uk commented: “Some very iconic and popular locations have been listed in the least desirable wedding spots, surprisingly. Evidently, the showstopping lights of Vegas and beautiful shores of the Caribbean also take a lot of beating. It’s understandable that, with the world of choice, many Brits like the thought of venturing abroad to set the scene and make their wedding memories; but for those that stay closer to home, there’s always the honeymoon to make up for it."