Over A Fifth Of Brits Are Getting Married Abroad – Many To Dodge Unwanted Guests
A national survey of 1,000 British adults who were married between 2019 and 2024, has revealed that over a fifth (21%) got married abroad, with 12% – approximately 114,033 Brits – admitting they chose a destination wedding to avoid inviting unwanted guests.
Image Photo by Asdrubal luna on Unsplash
The research looked to provide insights into the latest wedding preferences of Brits.
The younger generation is leading the charge as over a quarter (26%) of Gen Z are opting for destination weddings, with many wanting to get married outside of the UK to have a small wedding (15%).
Over a fifth (23%) of Brits cite affordability as their reason for a wedding abroad, with recent data confirming that destination weddings are actually more cost-effective. As of 2024, the average wedding in the UK costs £20,775, compared to £17,572 for weddings held overseas, saving couples about £3,000.
Other common reasons for getting hitched abroad as stated by Brits, include; getting married in your partner’s home country (24%), sentimental value of the location (21%), a desire to avoid traditional weddings (15%), and wanting a small wedding (14%).
Las Vegas, USA is a popular choice for a wedding, with approximately 19,005 Brits (2%), having tied the knot there in the past five years. Moreover, 10% of newlywed couples shared that they regret not getting married in Las Vegas, with this sentiment more pronounced among men (12%) compared to women (7%).
Although a quarter (28%) of Brits surveyed confirmed they would never consider getting married in Las Vegas, many others would have liked to but had reasons for avoiding it. Top reasons include; wanting to invite family who wouldn’t be able to travel (20%), preferring a traditional wedding over a Vegas ceremony (15%), partner's reluctance (9%), and concerns about other people's opinions (8%).
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When analysing separation rates, the survey revealed that couples who got married abroad are more likely to split, with one in ten (11%) of these couples divorcing or separating in the last five years since their nuptials, compared to one in twenty (5%) of those who got married in the UK.
For comprehensive results of the survey, visit VegasSlotsOnline.com here.
A spokesperson from VegasSlotsOnline.com commented: “It seems that more and more people are attending weddings abroad, so we wanted to dive into the numbers to understand the reasons behind this trend – and the results were surprising. It’s clear that younger generations are opting for destination weddings therefore as more Gen Z choose to get married abroad we can expect the trend of getting married overseas to continue.
“One of the most prominent findings is that Brits will go to great lengths to avoid confrontation, with 115,000 choosing to hold their ceremonies outside the UK to avoid dealing with unwanted guests. Interestingly, almost a quarter of Brits surveyed said they got married abroad because it was more affordable, which is supported by recent data, in contrast with the common belief that overseas weddings are more expensive.
“While only 2% of Brits got married in Vegas, it was notable that many Brits regret not tying the knot in Sin City, with men especially wishing they had wed at the iconic location rather than opting for the traditional route. However couples decide to tie the knot, these insights highlight how people's wedding choices differ due to personal preferences and practical reasons.”
• The research was conducted by the online gaming platform VegasSlotsOnline.com
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