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Everything You Need to Know About Getting Married Abroad with Aimee from Snap Happy Travel · Travel Mug Podcast

• 0:00
  Hey everyone and welcome back to the Travel Mug Podcast.
• 0:04
  This week we are so excited to be joined by Aimee from Snap Happy Travel to chat about getting married abroad.
• 0:14
  So, I don't know if this is something that all travel lovers do.
• 0:17
  It's definitely something I considered when I was getting married.
• 0:21
  Uh, and you too Meggan?
• 0:22
  Yeah.
• 0:24
  Uh, so Aimee got married abroad a few years ago.
• 0:27
  I'm gonna keep the location secret for a minute, but we will talk about it, I promise.
• 0:32
  So she's done this herself.
• 0:33
  Aimee knows what it takes to plan a destination wedding.
• 0:37
  So welcome to the show, Aimee.
• 0:40
  It's lovely to be here and I'm excited to, um, chat all things getting married abroad.
• 0:45
  Yeah.
• 0:45
  Get to relive all the nice memories and, um.
• 0:49
  Yeah.
• 0:51
  Yeah.
• 0:52
  Yeah.
• 0:53
  So how did you decide to get married abroad?
• 0:56
  Like were there pros and cons you considered before you made the final decision to do it?
• 1:02
  Yes, we it all, I always did when I dreamt of my wedding, I always did imagine it being abroad.
• 1:11
  I live in Ireland, so I always wanted a sunny wedding and I know that is kind of difficult in Ireland.
• 1:20
  so, and also my husband is from England, so I'm from Ireland.
• 1:24
  My husband is England.
• 1:25
  It kind of made sense to do it on neutral ground.
• 1:29
  That was one of the big, I guess, pros for us and what we said from the get-go.
• 1:34
  Uh, also at the time.
• 1:36
  We were living in New Zealand.
• 1:38
  Hmm.
• 1:40
  we at the time of our wedding, we had probably been living abroad for 10 years.
• 1:46
  we thought getting married abroad will be like a big vacation for both of our families.
• 1:52
  Everyone would be quite relaxed.
• 1:53
  In a holiday mode.
• 1:54
  And we could also do, um, like the evening before, even the day before and then the day after.
• 2:01
  So it was all almost like a three, four day, event.
• 2:04
  And, um, people were yeah, relaxed, everyone had fun.
• 2:09
  Um, and also I suppose all of our family were from Europe, so, um, getting married in Italy made sense because in Europe you can get, you know, if you're on a budget, you can get cheap lights with Ryan Air, easy Jet.
• 2:23
  Um, so, you know, 'cause we were like, oh my God, you were living in New Zealand.
• 2:27
  Um, why didn't you get married there?
• 2:28
  But, I just don't think it was feasible for as beautiful Everyone.
• 2:32
  is.
• 2:32
  It just, it's so far, you know, it's 27 hours plus of traveling and um, yeah, it just was a bit expensive.
• 2:39
  I think that's more of a, maybe an elopement destination for someone like us, um, being from so far away from Europe.
• 2:47
  So, uh, but we did obviously broach it with family, close family before we definitely set on the decision to get married abroad that were, were both of our parents who, you know, we really wanted there, were they willing to do that?
• 2:59
  And um, yeah, there.
• 3:01
  All for us.
• 3:02
  They, they, yeah, they wanted a holiday too.
• 3:05
  And where we picked, um, obviously we'll get into that day.
• 3:08
  I don't think anybody, at our wedding had been there.
• 3:11
  They had all known of it.
• 3:12
  So, um, yeah, it was excitement for us and excitement for everyone else as well.
• 3:17
  Yeah, really well into the next question too.
• 3:19
  Sorry, Jenn, did you wanna add to that?
• 3:21
  go right in, Meggan.
• 3:22
  All right.
• 3:24
  Um, so, so you've alluded Italy, I hope I picked up on that correctly.
• 3:28
  Um, how did you decide where you would get married?
• 3:31
  So.
• 3:32
  It was the Cinque Terre in Italy, which you may know are, um, five, coastal villages.
• 3:38
  They're almost built on like rocks and they're like pastel colored.
• 3:41
  They're all connected to one another.
• 3:44
  Um, but it's a very Instagram, Instagram worthy.
• 3:47
  I suppose you, you might not know the name, but I bet when you see a photo of the area you will recognize it.
• 3:54
  'cause a lot of the time it's actually, comes up as a photo, you know, like on your HP laptop, you know, when the, the, that background image.
• 4:02
  So that's where I first saw it actually.
• 4:04
  So when I was in my later years in high school on our first, um, PC computer at home, the Cinque Terre was one of our was a background image and I kept it there 'cause I thought it, it was Manarola, so that's one of the villages in, in the Cinque Terre.
• 4:21
  And I thought, oh wow, that looks like heaven.
• 4:24
  It looks amazing.
• 4:25
  But I guess I never, I kind of guessed it probably was Italy, but I never done research into where in Italy, it actually was.
• 4:34
  I just thought, this is a beautiful place.
• 4:35
  I'm gonna keep it, keep it as my background image.
• 4:39
  And then me and my husband were planning to do a backpacking trip around Italy, he loves to research.
• 4:46
  So he researches all the destinations.
• 4:48
  And one evening he said, oh, look at this place.
• 4:50
  We should go there.
• 4:52
  and I said, oh my God, that's the place that was on the background background of my computer.
• 4:58
  I'd love to go there.
• 4:59
  Where is it?
• 4:59
  And um, then he said it was the Cinque Terre, which is quite close to Pisa.
• 5:05
  Uh, we wanted to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
• 5:07
  So, um, I guess that's yeah, that, that name was in my head when we wanted to get married.
• 5:15
  It was between Italy and Greece, which I think is probably both quite common countries, to get married abroad in.
• 5:22
  And we were open to both.
• 5:24
  We actually considered Lake Como as well in Italy.
• 5:27
  But I think that is just from the research we've done and we did reach out to a few wedding planners.
• 5:32
  It just is a little bit more high end on the, the pricing range, um, in Como.
• 5:38
  So, um, yeah, we had our mindset on guess the Cinque Terre and, yeah, that.
• 5:46
  I suppose that we wanted, we didn't know if possible or not yet.
• 5:51
  but Yeah.
• 5:53
  Yeah, yeah.
• 5:55
  So I think we will go back to when you were deciding to get married.
• 5:58
  So a barrier for some couples is, um, you know, everyone that they want at their wedding might not be, be able to attend.
• 6:06
  That actually, it might be a pro or a con, depending on, on what you want.
• 6:11
  Um, so was that something that you considered?
• 6:13
  Did you kind of talk to everybody before you made the decision to make sure that everyone you wanted there could be there?
• 6:19
  Yeah.
• 6:20
  Yeah, so we, we knew that most people would be able to make it besides my, um.
• 6:26
  granny and granddad.
• 6:27
  So, um, they would've been in their eighties, so we, as much as they would love, love to, you know, they, they loved going on vacation.
• 6:34
  They just wouldn't have been comfortable with traveling outside of Ireland, I guess with their age and their health.
• 6:40
  They weren't sure if anything would happen to them, but, we actually had two weddings.
• 6:47
  So we had, um, which I guess is the question further down also, but we had the wedding in Italy, but we legally got married in Ireland for a number of reasons, mainly because I wanted my granny and granddad to be present at some type of wedding event, but also because, it might be something that people don't think of so I'm Catholic, um, being Irish and my husband is Protestant or Church of England.
• 7:17
  Um, Italy is obviously like Ireland, a very heavily Catholic country.
• 7:21
  So for us to, um, get married in Italy, in a church, which is what I would've wanted to do there 'cause the churches are so beautiful.
• 7:30
  Um, he would've had to do, uh, like a course with the Catholic church.
• 7:37
  And I don't think you need to essentially convert to Catholicism, but, he would basically be saying that he would, marriage would be in the Catholic faith, if, if that makes sense.
• 7:49
  So, um, yeah, those were, I guess two of the main reasons that we did end up doing the two, um, events.
• 7:56
  So when we got married in Italy, because it was before the Irish wedding, we weren't actually legally married even though we were, but just.
• 8:05
  And as I said, I suppose we were also living in New Zealand, so him being able to do, um, the course in Italy, et cetera, just um, would've been that much more complicated.
• 8:16
  Yeah, yeah, for sure.
• 8:18
  So, um, I didn't get married abroad, but my best friend did and I, um, traveled to her.
• 8:24
  So we live in Nova Scotia in Canada, and, um, her and her husband got married on the Isle of Skye in Scotland.
• 8:31
  Um, so, you know, it's, it's a pretty significant journey really.
• 8:36
  Which is what she wanted because she wanted to keep it really small.
• 8:40
  So it ended up just being, um, her mom and dad, her husband's, mom and stepdad, and then me and my husband.
• 8:48
  So it led to a really, really, um, I. Unique day where it wasn't a, a normal wedding day, but yes, you know, there were obviously many members of both of their extended families that that could not come.
• 9:04
  Uh, and, and I'm sure that they were disappointed in that, but I think that you have to make the decision that's right for you and your partner and, uh, and not just give in to what everybody else wants.
• 9:16
  Yeah, for sure.
• 9:17
  No.
• 9:17
  Yeah, I think that, yeah, ultimately it needs to be, it's your wedding, so it does need to be, I guess, your decision and, and what you want.
• 9:25
  Yeah.
• 9:25
  yeah, that was kind of our thinking as well.
• 9:27
  But obviously we were mindful of, um, that we would be inviting.
• 9:31
  Yeah.
• 9:32
  we did get to keep it small because in Ireland the weddings are huge, like you're inviting your mom's work mate and her daughter and, you know, it's, it's quite a big event.
• 9:44
  I think I traditionally, I think now more and more people, 'cause they're quite expensive, are doing it smaller.
• 9:51
  But, um, you would be kind of pushed to inviting everyone, you know, it's, come on, let's, it's, it's a big party.
• 9:59
  It's a big celebration.
• 10:00
  So most Irish, I'd say every Irish wedding I've been to has been about 300 people in attendance, um, at an average.
• 10:09
  So yeah, and when we got married in Italy, it was maybe 55, I think was our Okay.
• 10:15
  Yeah.
• 10:16
  so Yeah.
• 10:17
  Yeah.
• 10:17
  of, yeah, you, you, you, you have to, you counted 300 people traveling to Italy.
• 10:22
  You can, but I mean, sure.
• 10:24
  Some people a.
• 10:25
  probably do.
• 10:25
  Yeah.
• 10:27
  Amazing.
• 10:28
  So how long did it take you to plan your wedding from kind of deciding what you were going to do to to wedding day?
• 10:37
  We actually went to visit the venue and our wedding planner or our potential wedding planner at that stage in June, the year before.
• 10:46
  And we had gotten married then in August, um, that year after.
• 10:50
  So I suppose over a year you you can of course do it shorter, but because we were, we were living in New Zealand, so, um, we needed, I guess that time, for responding phone calls, the time difference.
• 11:03
  Yeah, so I, it took us, yeah, a year and two months.
• 11:07
  Um, and we.
• 11:09
  June, we went to View, there was three different venues that we had in mind in the Cinque Terre, and we went to view them all and we are glad that we did because the one that we thought would be our preference.
• 11:22
  Um, when we viewed it, it was quite far from the town, so everybody would've been having to get taxis.
• 11:28
  You couldn't walk into the town.
• 11:30
  It had a, an amazing swimming pool out the front, which looked beautiful.
• 11:35
  But then we thought, you know, in the evening it, there was no barrier around it in the evening, you know, people.
• 11:41
  A few wines, you know, there might be people that you have to keep an eye on.
• 11:45
  So, um, yeah, we, we, yeah, we're glad that we did because we, we our venue and we, we saw it and it just was everything that we had, um, wanted and hoped for.
• 12:00
  And so through your wedding planner did, I'm assuming they then hooked you up with the vendors and everything like that.
• 12:05
  I'm assuming it was all a package.
• 12:08
  Yes.
• 12:08
  Yeah, correct.
• 12:09
  So, , our wedding planners were, um, Cinque Terre Weddings, um, pretty easy to, um.
• 12:17
  , The lady Melina, she is Australian, but her mom, or I think maybe both her parents were from the Cinque Terre and then she had moved back there and married a local.
• 12:28
  And then was able to organize it all, which we found helpful that she was obviously fluent in both languages.
• 12:36
  Um, for us there was no language barrier.
• 12:38
  And she knew that it's, um, it's a very touristic place, but also a very small place too.
• 12:46
  So the celebrant was actually her husband, and the wedding venue that we ended up choosing, and she didn't persuade us in any way to pick this, but was owned by her husband's auntie.
• 13:00
  Um, and I think, you know, everyone was connected.
• 13:03
  The barman was her husband's friends, and it just was quite lovely and quite Irish as well, because, I don't know, it's funny, um, if you ever meet someone from Ireland abroad, they'll say, oh, do you know Declan Murphy?
• 13:20
  He's also from Cork.
• 13:21
  And actually a lot of the time you're like, oh, no way.
• 13:23
  I don't, oh.
• 13:24
  Actually I do, I actually do know that, man.
• 13:27
  So it's kind of, um, it's a small world and we just thought that that was quite funny that Yeah.
• 13:34
  Everybody knew each other.
• 13:35
  Um, it was, yeah.
• 13:38
  Yeah.
• 13:38
  Yeah, I do.
• 13:39
  I love that too.
• 13:40
  Yeah.
• 13:41
  Um, so what sort of like logistics do you think a couple should consider when they're planning a destination wedding, when they're picking venues and picking, um, picking wedding planners for example?
• 13:57
  So I think for us, we, as much as we wanted to get married in the Cinque Terre, if it would've been too difficult for people to get to, then it probably would've been ruled out.
• 14:08
  , So we looked at, I'm from a city called Cork in Ireland that our guests would've been able to fly from Cork to an air airport close by to, , the Cinque Terre.
• 14:20
  Um, so it did the, it could fly to Pisa at the time, which was about 50 minutes on a train.
• 14:27
  You could also fly to, um.
• 14:31
  It's called Bergamo, , which is near Milan, which is a little bit longer on a train, but I think you can get a fast train, um, under two hours, an hour and a half to two hours.
• 14:40
  My husband's family are from London, so, um, I think no matter where we picked in Italy, there probably was a flight going there.
• 14:47
  But we did purposely look up, oh wait a, wait a second.
• 14:51
  Can you actually get there easily from Cork or would our guest been having to drive three hours to Dublin, which is a bigger airport and flying from there.
• 15:00
  And I think that might have added into maybe some people being a little bit more hesitant 'cause it's extra cost and it's, and it's extra time.
• 15:08
  And, and some of our guests were older as well, so we didn't wanna, I guess put too much pressure on them.
• 15:13
  So we did, we did look at that.
• 15:15
  So also the, a lot of our guests were teachers, so we kind of had to get married in the school the summer holidays, which is Ireland is June, July and August, but in the UK they only get six weeks.
• 15:30
  So from the end of July, um, until the end of August, around that timeframe.
• 15:35
  So we chose August 3rd.
• 15:37
  Keeping that in mind, which is obviously warmer, but, um, we kind of made sure we, we kind of put all that information.
• 15:45
  We didn't make a wedding website, but I put a section on my own travel website, just because it was already there and it was just easier to add the information in, with, how people could get there.
• 15:57
  Um, different hotels that we recommended that they book that maybe we had stayed in when we visited in June, the year before, or when we were backpacking.
• 16:05
  Um, and then just information on trains and you know, how to get from Pisa airport or how to get from, um.
• 16:13
  Another airport there just to make it as easy as possible, because a lot of our guests, I guess, weren't as used to, um, traveling as, as maybe we were.
• 16:22
  Yeah, that's all really great points.
• 16:24
  Try to make it as easy on your guess as you can.
• 16:26
  Yes.
• 16:27
  Yeah.
• 16:30
  Oh yeah, for sure.
• 16:31
  So you did mention that, , you did not get legally married, in Italy.
• 16:36
  Um, was the decision made because of the, church like course that your husband would've had to take or did?
• 16:46
  Was there other factors in that decision?
• 16:48
  I think more that as well, but also because we wanted, I did want.
• 16:54
  Did want my, um, granny and grandad Right.
• 16:57
  of the day and they said from the get go, you know, we always knew that you would probably get married abroad, but unfortunately at our age we just, we just can't do it.
• 17:04
  So I think that kind of made it nice that had two events and the wedding in Ireland was very small.
• 17:11
  It was just a registry office, and then we all went for dinner afterwards.
• 17:16
  And, um, but yeah, it, it's definitely possible and you can get married in a registry office in italy, I believe.
• 17:23
  But there is some paperwork involved in, in doing that.
• 17:27
  And I think the registry office as well would be in the, the major cities.
• 17:31
  So we maybe would've had to go to Florence or um, one of those cities as well.
• 17:35
  So kind of was a little bit of extra hassle Yeah.
• 17:40
  be done, but we kind of were quite happy with their choice to, to have, um, that kind of made everyone happy, I suppose, in our eyes.
• 17:48
  Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 17:50
  So my friend that got married in Scotland, they also chose to, um, have a symbolic ceremony in Scotland.
• 17:56
  They got legally married in Ontario before they left on their trip.
• 18:02
  And, uh, part of that decision was, um, like logistics when you try to register your marriage, like with your government, when you come home, like the certificate or the information that's provided in another country might not be accepted.
• 18:18
  Um, obviously with Scotland we wouldn't have had the issue of translation, but with somewhere like Italy or, um, a lot of people I know get married maybe down south in like a. Spanish speaking country, you have that issue where paperwork that you get if you get legally married there is not in the correct language and doesn't have all of the information that your government needs.
• 18:40
  So I think that it's something for people to consider that it's probably just easier to get legally married in your home country and have your lovely, amazing, um, wedding anywhere, um, in the world.
• 18:57
  Yeah.
• 18:57
  Yeah, I agree.
• 18:58
  I think that it was already, I guess, hard enough.
• 19:00
  It was lovely planning a wedding, but it is a lot of extra factors that maybe you don't think about and, um, getting everything together can take a lot of time.
• 19:12
  It's a lot of emails back and forth because again, um, we weren't obviously in Italy to just go and meet with the wedding planner.
• 19:20
  Um, so it was, yeah.
• 19:22
  know?
• 19:23
  Yeah, keep it as easy as you possibly can.
• 19:27
  That's, that's good advice unto itself.
• 19:29
  And I think one of the barriers for people can definitely be budget.
• 19:33
  So I, I think we'd like to understand what your experience was with that in terms of, was your wedding cheaper in your experience than you think you could have had in Ireland?
• 19:43
  And, and talk to us about maybe unexpected costs that might have come up, that sort of, uh, if there were any.
• 19:50
  We kind of understood from the get go that it would be cheaper for us to get married abroad, because of the number of people we probably would've had to invite if we were to get married in Ireland.
• 20:01
  also, a lot, a lot of the venues in Ireland are per head, you are paying maybe 100-150 Euro per head for a seat again, essentially, and that, you know, that would include their meal.
• 20:16
  no, no open bar, drinks, et cetera, everyone would, would pay for.
• 20:21
  But in Italy what we found is that you're paying for a package.
• 20:25
  Everything is kind of included in that.
• 20:28
  So our package.
• 20:29
  Now, keep in mind this was, what did I say, seven years ago?
• 20:32
  Yes.
• 20:33
  Six, seven years ago.
• 20:35
  basic package was 12,500 Euro.
• 20:38
  That was for the venue, which was a vineyard, which included, um, accommodation for two nights for about 12 people.
• 20:47
  There was like three separate little apartments.
• 20:50
  , It included a three course meal, aperitivo and an open bar of just beer and, uh, local wine.
• 21:00
  The extras then w the wedding planner, the flowers, the band.
• 21:09
  I think that's it.
• 21:11
  Yeah, the celebrant was included in the 12,500.
• 21:14
  And then there's obviously, um, you know, some bands are more expensive than others and different flower packages.
• 21:20
  She probably showed us, you know, 10 to 15 different types that you, you could choose.
• 21:26
  And our, we, I think it included our wedding cake, the original package.
• 21:29
  So that to us was very, very reasonable.
• 21:33
  But obviously you have to add all the extras on.
• 21:36
  Um, so I think all in, um, like including my dress and the bridesmaids dresses was about 25,000 euro.
• 21:46
  Which I don't even know is, is good anymore.
• 21:48
  But for us, from the prices that we were seeing from Ireland or Yeah.
• 21:52
  was probably half, half of what.
• 21:57
  and it's all relative.
• 21:59
  Like if that's good for you, that's good for you.
• 22:01
  That's Yeah.
• 22:02
  Yeah.
• 22:02
  Yeah.
• 22:02
  That's the thing.
• 22:03
  It's kind of, it's so, it's so hard to know what, yeah, what, what is even good and not anymore.
• 22:10
  But we kind of had I, I guess, a figure in our mind, and we were happy.
• 22:16
  To, yeah.
• 22:18
  for that.
• 22:18
  And there was, yeah, you could have ch you could have chosen, um, a cheaper venue.
• 22:22
  You could have had a smaller wedding.
• 22:24
  You could have, um, like we added on extras that people could maybe have, , cocktails, , instead of just the beer and the wine.
• 22:31
  Um, yeah.
• 22:33
  So it was, yeah.
• 22:35
  But I think about 25,000 euro, um, all in.
• 22:39
  So yeah, that was, we, we were.
• 22:42
  happy with that, but Yeah.
• 22:44
  of.
• 22:44
  Sounds to me, Aimee, like I'm sad I missed it.
• 22:46
  Really.
• 22:49
  I wish I could have been there.
• 22:50
  Yeah.
• 22:50
  Yeah, I know.
• 22:51
  It was great.
• 22:53
  Now everyone else we're like, you must get married abroad.
• 22:56
  My cousin is, um, actually getting married in nca, in Spain, in September next year.
• 23:02
  So, um, Fun.
• 23:04
  she didn't come to my wedding 'cause she was living abroad at the time, but I think her mom, my auntie was very, you, you need to get married abroad.
• 23:10
  You need to get married abroad, we need to have a holiday.
• 23:12
  Yeah.
• 23:13
  know, it's all about, you know, the big, um.. big holiday and everyone knows then all the Irish are in town because they um, they're very loud.
• 23:24
  They're very loud family.
• 23:26
  They, um, yeah.
• 23:27
  Yeah, it was a, it was a lot of fun.
• 23:29
  Yeah.
• 23:29
  great.
• 23:29
  I think everybody was a little bit, more free and Yeah.
• 23:33
  you know, fun and, Yeah.
• 23:35
  when they're, you know, you're in a beautiful place.
• 23:37
  The weather is good.
• 23:39
  It's somewhere different.
• 23:40
  Everybody is all together.
• 23:42
  Um, so yeah, it was, um, it was really good and it was nice for both families to, to be together in that Hmm.
• 23:48
  because obviously my husband, being from England, a lot of them, they would've met my, both parents would've met, but you know, the extended family wouldn't have met each other.
• 23:57
  So it was nice.
• 23:58
  And, um, they all got on very well.
• 24:00
  Um, yeah, they're, they're a lot quieter.
• 24:03
  but it was fun.
• 24:04
  Yeah, they had a lot of fun.
• 24:05
  They were just.
• 24:07
  I'm just used to, I'm just used to the Irish by Yes.
• 24:11
  But yeah, it.
• 24:14
  Excellent.
• 24:15
  Is there anything, um, in your package that you wish you had included or something that you included that you would not have included if you were doing it again?
• 24:27
  So, I think so what I, I, um, My bridesmaids were laughing at me, but I didn't book any makeup artist.
• 24:34
  I just had like done my makeup myself and had my bridesmaids, um, help me because I thought, it's in the sun.
• 24:40
  You don't wanna be wearing a whole mountain of makeup or makeup that maybe your skin isn't used to.
• 24:45
  And also I didn't have a hairdresser.
• 24:48
  We all just went to like a local little hairdresser, like in the village and got our hair done and then just walked back up the hill to the venue, which is very, uh, like casual.
• 24:57
  Like my, my bridesmaid was whoa, like, like that.
• 25:02
  I couldn't, like, what are you doing?
• 25:03
  Like, how could you be so casual about it?
• 25:05
  But I just thought like, I guess it wasn't a priority, I suppose.
• 25:10
  Um, for me, um, maybe now I probably would have spent a little bit extra and just had them come to me in the, in the house as opposed to, you know, us walking up and down.
• 25:20
  I didn't really think about that or factor that in.
• 25:24
  Uh, yeah, so I suppose that would be the one thing that just might have made things easier.
• 25:29
  'cause you're probably rushing a little bit more trying to get down and then, you know, it's one after the other, everyone waiting and, um.
• 25:37
  Heading back up the hill to put on the dress.
• 25:40
  yeah.
• 25:41
  But yeah, I think that would be the only thing.
• 25:43
  Everything else, was, was, was perfect.
• 25:47
  So let's talk about your, your actual wedding day.
• 25:50
  Tell us about the day.
• 25:51
  What are some of maybe your most memorable moments, and how do you think that the fact that it was a destination wedding, like added to the overall experience?
• 26:01
  So our wedding was later in the day because of the heat, our wedding planner did suggest that from the get-go.
• 26:09
  I think that probably is the case if you're getting married anywhere in mainland Europe in the summer months, um, that the wedding probably starts at the earliest four.
• 26:20
  Um, or in our case, I think the ceremony didn't start until 5:00 PM.
• 26:25
  So our ceremony was in, um, an area just above the vineyard, but it had, um, like, it was like cobblestones, just almost like a viewpoint.
• 26:35
  But they had it set up beautifully and then the backdrop of the ocean behind.
• 26:40
  and then the ceremony was lovely.
• 26:42
  We had a live band and they sang.
• 26:45
  Um, really wanted the song, you know, where Ed Sheeran and Andrea Bocelli, um, sing together.
• 26:52
  , So that was my wedding song that I wanted.
• 26:55
  So they sang that as I was walking up the aisle.
• 26:59
  and I had my, my dad walk me up, but also my nephew, 'cause he is the only, um, boy in our, in our family.
• 27:07
  Like of the, of the grandchildren, there is, um.
• 27:10
  11 girls and 1 boy.
• 27:12
  Wow.
• 27:12
  Yeah.
• 27:13
  Wow.
• 27:14
  Um, I always say he's like my, my son because he, um, is 17 now, so he kind of, you know what I mean?
• 27:21
  He grew up with us.
• 27:22
  So, um, that was really nice, a really special moment.
• 27:26
  after the ceremony, the tradition and the Cinque Terre is that, um, the bride and groom and the wedding party walk down into, into the village, the locals have been alerted by the wedding planner to kind of stand outside their homes and they throw confetti, um, and then they meet you in the town square and they kind of like, are almost like encircling you and like dancing and clapping.
• 27:48
  Um, and there was a few characters, like a, a local man who drives a bike and he was dancing with us in, in the square.
• 27:56
  So, um, it.
• 27:57
  It was just a tradition that they do there.
• 27:59
  They all wanna see, I suppose, the bride and groom and the party and welcome them.
• 28:04
  So we all walked down, um, almost like the pipe piper us at the front and everyone behind, but it was quite sweet.
• 28:10
  Um, and then we went and got our photos taken.
• 28:14
  So that was really nice, uh, a moment away from, from it for just me and my husband.
• 28:20
  and we went to some really nice areas like, um, out on the rocks with the backdrop of the ocean and um, like, kind of like hidden little steps in areas and in the town away from people.
• 28:32
  Um, and at that time aperitivo was going on up at venue., so, um.
• 28:38
  The food at that probably was the best, I think.
• 28:41
  But I really, we really like that type of, um, you know, cured meats and different cheeses and olives and, yeah, lots of little bits like that.
• 28:51
  And there was a band playing and, lots of drinks.
• 28:55
  The weather was obviously, it wasn't dark yet, so it was just that perfect time of the evening, just before sunset where it's still, you know, quite warm and, um yeah, everyone of us, it's a very relaxed environment, you know, it's not formal.
• 29:08
  People are just sitting where they like.
• 29:10
  And then we obviously came back up after having our photos taken.
• 29:14
  I didn't want the photos to take too long 'cause I didn't want to be away from the day for, for too long, because I know sometimes, um, like photos sessions, people can be Yeah.
• 29:25
  hours or two and a half hours away and I just thought if we don't get the right shot, we can just do it another day.
• 29:32
  You know, it wasn't that important.
• 29:35
  We're already in a beautiful place, so I'm sure we had amazing photos anyway, but I just didn't wanna, I didn't wanna miss out on anything really.
• 29:41
  So we probably only had like an hour maximum, away.
• 29:46
  And then we got back and then.
• 29:49
  The dinner kind of starts as a gets dark'cause they want to have the atmosphere of, you know, the lights and the candles.
• 29:57
  and yeah, we had speeches.
• 29:59
  We probably did too many speeches thinking I didn't really know the protocol of who, like, who speaks, you know.
• 30:04
  I just thought, oh, I want this person speaking and I want, um, so it was like father of the bride, like father of the groom.
• 30:10
  I'd done a speech, my bridesmaids done a speech.
• 30:14
  There was a lot of talking, but it kind of broke up the meal.
• 30:18
  Because it was the, I think four or maybe five courses.
• 30:22
  So, um, it was, yeah.
• 30:25
  Um, it was lovely.
• 30:26
  And then the dancing started.
• 30:29
  It probably finished, I'm not sure what time, but I think the, the license probably only goes to a certain time.
• 30:36
  Right.
• 30:36
  So I think maybe 1: 30/2, um, it was an open bar because a lot of the packages, kind of, I guess their license only allows for that.
• 30:45
  So I think maybe 1: Like, not that they're not allowed not a bar, it's just a venue.
• 30:50
  So I think maybe 1: They're not allowed to sell drink, you know what I mean?
• 30:52
  So I think maybe 1: Oh, here's a beer.
• 30:53
  So I think maybe 1: It's, it's three euro.
• 30:54
  So I think maybe 1: Um, it kind of had to be all included in the package, which was handy.
• 30:58
  So I think maybe 1: But yeah, there probably was a lot of more wasted drinks, I suppose when it's an open bar, right?
• 31:04
  So I think maybe 1: People are like, oh, cool, I'll try this cocktail.
• 31:06
  So I think maybe 1: Or, I Why not?
• 31:07
  So I think maybe 1: it, I'll just pop it down, you know, I'll have a wine Yeah.
• 31:11
  So I think maybe 1: Yeah.
• 31:11
  So I think maybe 1: it down.
• 31:12
  So I think maybe 1: But I think they, they're used to that because that's obviously what they do all the time at the, at the weddings Mm-hmm.
• 31:18
  So I think maybe 1: um, yeah, with local beers and local wines, and I think we had two signature cocktails and mojito one like a lemon vodka, um, type drink just to kind of keep it, it simple and keep the, the barman's lives a little bit easier as well.
• 31:33
  So I think maybe 1: Yeah, no, that makes sense.
• 31:35
  So I think maybe 1: And in terms of like guests, so did you get any feedback from them?
• 31:39
  So I think maybe 1: Like how do you think their experience was being at, it's your wedding, but what was it like for them?
• 31:45
  So I think maybe 1: Did you hear from anybody on that part?
• 31:48
  So I think maybe 1: Yeah, everybody spoke really, uh, positively about it and that I don't think many people would've been to a destination wedding before at, at.
• 31:57
  So I think maybe 1: At our wedding.
• 31:59
  So I think maybe 1: Uh, but they all just, yeah, everyone had an amazing time.
• 32:03
  So I think maybe 1: That's what they're saying to me anyway.
• 32:04
  So I think maybe 1: Of course, of course.
• 32:05
  So I think maybe 1: yeah, I hope that's the case.
• 32:08
  So I think maybe 1: But yeah, they, I think everybody was, um, just, everybody was in good spirits, um, the entire time and it was nice for them to see an area that they hadn't seen.
• 32:18
  So I think maybe 1: It was quite nice that.
• 32:20
  So I think maybe 1: We did see people out exploring the different villages and not the day after, um, because I think everybody was tired.
• 32:27
  So I think maybe 1: But the day after that we kind of said, you know, whoever wants to come with us, um, let's do a little tour of the villages.
• 32:35
  So I think maybe 1: And, you know, um, for some people who may be nervous, getting on and off the train and they're not sure where they should get off.
• 32:42
  So I think maybe 1: And, um, things like that just come with us and we'll go to all the five villages.
• 32:46
  So I think maybe 1: And then at the end we got, um, like the ferry back.
• 32:50
  So I think maybe 1: so we didn't have to get all the trains back, but the ferry from point A all the way back to, to point E. Or whichever.
• 32:57
  So I think maybe 1: And that was, that was really nice.
• 32:58
  So I think maybe 1: Everybody got to, you know, see all the different areas and, do it all together.
• 33:04
  So I think maybe 1: And they had somebody to follow, I suppose, you Right.
• 33:07
  So I think maybe 1: um, I think some of the older guests were, you know, nervous to, in case they got lost.
• 33:12
  So I think maybe 1: Oh, it sounds like such a magical wedding day.
• 33:15
  So I think maybe 1: Yeah, yeah.
• 33:17
  So I think maybe 1: Yeah.
• 33:17
  So I think maybe 1: Amazing.
• 33:17
  So I think maybe 1: So thank you so much for sharing this experience with us.
• 33:21
  So I think maybe 1: I think that this will really help anyone who's starting to plan a destination wedding to kind of think about all of these different things that you might not consider when you first decide, like, I wanna get married abroad.
• 33:32
  So I think maybe 1: So, um, where can our listeners find you online if they wanna learn more about you and your travels?
• 33:40
  So I think maybe 1: Um, so I have a travel blog.
• 33:43
  So I think maybe 1: It's snap happy travel com.
• 33:44
  So I think maybe 1: So I've got heaps of information on there about all the places we've been and also have a section on our wedding, um, that might help people thinking about getting married in Italy or maybe thinking about a destination wedding.
• 33:57
  So I think maybe 1: And, um, I guess all the points that we've, um, talked through here were all things that are very important and things that we considered before our destination wedding, because it's a big deal, right?
• 34:09
  So I think maybe 1: Your wedding, you want to make sure you're making the right decision.
• 34:12
  So I think maybe 1: And I suppose.
• 34:15
  So I think maybe 1: Deciding on where you get married is, is probably one of the most Yeah.
• 34:19
  So I think maybe 1: aspects of that.
• 34:20
  So I think maybe 1: You know, it's a lot of thought and, for us it took us a while to, to make our decision, um, because, you know, you're.
• 34:28
  So I think maybe 1: Always thinking, are you doing the right thing?
• 34:30
  So I think maybe 1: But ultimately it comes down to, well, what's your gut telling you?
• 34:34
  So I think maybe 1: What's your heart telling you your, you know, it's your wedding.
• 34:36
  So I think maybe 1: Where, where do you want it to be?
• 34:39
  So I think maybe 1: Kind of stopped so much thinking about everyone else and just, you know, go with your heart.
• 34:45
  So I think maybe 1: And, that's what we did and it worked out amazingly for us.
• 34:48
  So I think maybe 1: So we are really happy that we Yeah, did, and I hope, um, yeah, I hope other people, um, might get some inspiration, I suppose.
• 34:56
  So I think maybe 1: definitely.
• 34:57
  So I think maybe 1: And I love, honestly, going back to, and I meant to mention this earlier, but that was what a full circle moment was, is that background on your computer and then you loved that and then that ended up being where you got married.
• 35:08
  So I think maybe 1: Like that's pretty cool.
• 35:09
  So I think maybe 1: yeah.
• 35:10
  So I think maybe 1: That, yeah, that's what I, I, I'm very, um, like, what's the word into like fate, you know what I mean?
• 35:18
  So I think maybe 1: Like that kind of, when something feels right like that, that, Yeah, it was, it was Destiny.
• 35:25
  So I think maybe 1: me all those years ago.
• 35:26
  So I think maybe 1: Yeah.
• 35:27
  So I think maybe 1: Yeah.
• 35:27
  So I think maybe 1: Yeah, exactly.
• 35:28
  So I think maybe 1: Um, and that we were able to do it as well.
• 35:31
  So I think maybe 1: Yes.
• 35:32
  So I think maybe 1: that we were able to, um, get married, yeah.
• 35:35
  So I think maybe 1: In a place that Meant so Yeah.
• 35:38
  So I think maybe 1: to us.
• 35:39
  So I think maybe 1: Yeah.
• 35:39
  So I think maybe 1: I love that story.
• 35:40
  So I think maybe 1: Well, thank you, um, again, Aimee for joining us and for us.
• 35:44
  So I think maybe 1: As always, you can find us on social media, including YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram at Travel Mug Podcast.
• 35:50
  So I think maybe 1: You can find us on our website for more information on all of our episodes at travelmugpodcast.com.
• 35:55
  So I think maybe 1: You can support the show monetarily through bias of coffee.
• 35:57
  So I think maybe 1: The link is in our show notes or leave us a review.
• 36:00
  So I think maybe 1: Why wouldn't you wanna say something nice about us?
• 36:02
  So I think maybe 1: Come on guys.
• 36:03
  So I think maybe 1: Um, and until next time, thanks for joining.
• 36:05
  So I think maybe 1: Bye everyone.
• 36:06
  So I think maybe 1: Bye.