“There are a number of very good reasons why a cruise makes a perfect wedding venue. Many cruises offer a variety of services to help you plan a shipboard or shoreside ceremony, followed by a romantic cruise honeymoon. This enables couples to get married in a beautiful location without the immense hassle of wedding planning. A cruise wedding can also prove a cost-effective option, with prices starting from as little as £1,010, on top of the cost of the cruise.  In addition, family and friends can join you for just the ceremony, or the full cruise – so it makes an interesting experience for everyone.

“For anyone looking for a cruise wedding, there are a variety of ceremony options and price points. Here are four of some of the best:

By Naqiba Aslam

It’s already hard to be with someone when they’re from a different culture to yours. The question is, when you’ve gone through the hardship that surrounds being together, how on earth do you accommodate different cultures for your wedding?

Well, the first thing you might want to consider is if you’re happy to adopt their culture in to your own. If that’s a yes, fab! Now you need to research or even just ask your partner; what happens in their ceremony?

Being in a relationship is about giving and taking and that’s exactly how this should be. Want a white wedding? Go for it, just be sure to include your partners ceremonial steps. Here’s a few things which happen in other cultures weddings.

With its miles of white sand beaches, spectacular Indian Ocean views and forested backdrops, Mauritius is a beautiful and varied destination to celebrate a wedding or honeymoon. Whether guests would like to get married on the island or spend some post-wedmin time in Mauritius for a relaxing honeymoon, there are plenty of new offerings for couples and newlyweds to enjoy during their time on the paradise island.

Sarah’s & Paul’s Portuguese Destination Wedding 

We ways knew of each other as we grew up but never really spoke to one another. One night back in 2009 we were both out for a friends celebration drinks and ended up chatting. Paul had a bit of a reputation so I insisted it was going to lead to nothing and didn't think much of it. He was very persistent and three days later we went on our first date to Nandos and the cinema.

New discounted winter exclusive-let at Skye’s Romantic Michelin-starred Kinloch Lodge 

If you dream of hosting your winter wedding on a romantic, rambling Scottish estate but don’t have a limitless budget, or a distant relative with a gorgeous country pile, the new exclusive winter lets at Skye’s Kinloch Lodge could make your wedding wishes come true.  

This historic family-run hotel, formerly home to Lord & Lady Macdonald, is offering whole-house bookings from November 2017 to March 2018 for up to 38 guests, at hugely discounted rates. With prices from £7,500 per night, (that’s less than £200 per head and saves around £6,000*).

The Great Hall of Oakham Castle, built in 1180, is a beautiful and dramatic setting for your unique wedding.

The Hall can hold up to 120 people and is conveniently situated in Oakham town centre, yet sits in its own peaceful grounds. There’s some free parking on site, and easy walking access to other car parks, and a selection of excellent hotels, pubs and cafés perfect for either your reception or accommodation.

Wherever you are in the world, weddings are always a great day, full of love, laughter, and much celebration. While you will probably attended enough weddings to know what to expect from the day, there are some wonderful country-specific traditions that you may not be familiar with if you have only been to a wedding in the UK.

Whether you find yourself at a wedding somewhere else in the world, or are simply looking for wedding inspiration and want to incorporate some unique practices into your own, experts at language app Babbel (Babbel.com) have shared a list of marital traditions from eight countries around the world to give you some insider info.

Great lighting can really make a wedding by providing just the right level of ambience, butthere are a number of important elements that every bride and groom needs to have considered in order to get the lighting just right. Here are five illuminating tips for achieving lighting perfection on your big day.

1. Check the venue’s rules

Just like wedding dresses and flowers change with the season, the catering at weddings can also be affected by the latest trends. Leading UK caterers H+J are expert at spotting the everchanging wishes of soon-to-be-wed couples, holding their weddings at top London venues such as Dartmouth House, 41 Portland Place and Ironmongers Hall.

For those looking to get hitched without a hitch, the white sandy beaches and turquoise depths of the Indian Ocean surrounding the island of Mauritius is one of the few places on earth to rightfully claim the mantle of ‘‘paradise’’. With over 27 years’ experience in delivering bespoke fairy-tale weddings, the 5-star Maritim Resort & Spa Mauritius offers specialised multi-lingual staff to provide unparalleled facilities, experiences and service when saying ‘I do’.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year, so naturally, it’s one of the most magical times to tie the knot. However, there’s a fine line between decorating your big day like an enchanting winter wonderland and it resembling Santa’s grotto. But don’t fear; with Bubblegum Balloons’ top tips, your wonderful winter wedding will look super-stylish and chic, without a Santa in sight. 

All white

Are you dreaming of a white wedding? An all-white colour scheme is clean, classy and timeless – especially for a magical Christmas ‘do. Balloons like our Innocence Tassel Tail giant balloon in a choice of either white feather-filled, pearly white or sophisticated silver add a simple yet stunning look to festive proceedings.  

Let it snow  

Best Value Destinations 

Brides and grooms looking to escape the typical British weather on their big day could bag a bargain by choosing a wedding venue abroad, new research has revealed.  With the rising cost of weddings in the UK and no guarantee of sunshine on the big day, it is no surprise that more brides are choosing to tie the knot overseas. 

The research, carried out by The Money Shop, looked into a range of wedding packages, flights and the cost of a honeymoon at locations across the world, including Australia, Canada, Mexico and Fiji. 

Pledging your eternal troth on a yacht cruising off the cerulean blue waters of the Indian Ocean or promising to love and cherish whilst barefoot on a private island beach as gentle waves lap against pristine white sands…. Hurawalhi Island Resort wants to create the wedding of your dreams. Opening on December 1, 2016, this stunning private island destination is delighted to announce the launch of their wedding packages for those looking to celebrate love in a truly magical and once in a lifetime location. 

'Nowadays, almost anywhere can be considered a potential wedding venue for your magical day - from seafronts to tree houses, castles to aquariums, farmyard barns to school halls.

However, before you lay down the deposit and start sending out your invitations, you may wish to bear in mind some key factors before making your final decision on the wedding venue.'

When it comes to planning an wedding abroad, we’re all searching for a venue that reflects our taste and requirements, whilst providing a beautiful backdrop to your special day. 

Hiring a private villa is an ideal way to suit your needs when choosing a venue abroad. Not only do many have stunning landscapes and gardens, but you are also free to choose a location with space to accommodate the bride and groom as well as a selection of special guests, enabling you all to enjoy this magical time in an intimate setting. 

Whether you’re aiming for rustic charm or opulent luxury, if you’re searching for an elegant venue with space to sleep a few guests, then look no further than this selection from luxury villas specialist CV Villas.