Almost three quarters (73%) of travel agents are seeing increased demand for beach wedding locations, research published today (Friday) shows.
Cyprus was the number one overseas wedding destination over the last 12 months and it is predicted this will continue over the next year.
The international weddings market is set to grow, with 58% expecting budgets for overseas weddings to increase by an average of 12% this year.
The Caribbean is the second most popular destination for overseas weddings followed by Greece, Italy and Mexico, the findings from Post Office International Payments reveal.
The research involved telephone interviews with 115 travel agents.
Although beach locations were the type of destination showing the biggest growth in popularity, one in three agents (34%) reported growth in demand for countryside locations, and 28% for city locations.
Others reported increased demand for getting married near historical monuments, in mountain or jungle locations, or on cruise ships.
Almost half of agents (46%) reported an increase in grooms getting more involved with the wedding organisation process compared to three years ago.
As many as 12% reported an increase in interest in holding the stag or hen do on same trip as the wedding itself.
Rob Scott, Post Office MoneyGram manager, said: “The prospect of guaranteed sunshine sees many couples looking abroad for their wedding destination.
“With the risk of rain ruining wedding photos in the UK, it is easy to see the attraction of getting married on a beach in the sun.
“It is no longer a case of eloping abroad, with cheap flights and hotels people increasingly hold the full scale celebrations for large numbers of guests overseas.”