Aussie Bride Bree Winkler, 28, the co-owner of fine art photography brand, Duo Arthouse, decided to have a destination wedding in Italy rather than having it in Australia.
And she’s not alone — more and more Aussie brides are opting for destination weddings rather than having their weddings on home soil.
A recent study conducted by leading global travel app, Skyscanner, revealed that nearly three in five Australians, so 58 per cent, are either considering or have already opted for a destination wedding.
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Skyscanner was founded in 2003 and helps travellers plan and book their trips with ease and confidence.
The global travel app connects millions of travellers in 52 countries and 32 languages to more than 1200 trusted travel planners so they can find the best flight, hotel or car hire options.
This destination wedding trend is particularly strong among younger generations, with 70 per cent of Gen Zs and 55 per cent of Millennials leaning towards saying, ‘I do,’ overseas.
Skyscanner travel expert, Jarrod Kris says: “It’s amazing to see Aussie creativity coming to play with couples combining their big day plans with a travel experience to make it both memorable and affordable.
“My partner and I always knew a destination wedding was the right choice for us, especially somewhere in Europe,” Bree tells Best Picks.
Bree explains that travel is such an important part of her and her partner’s lives and is even the central part of her business, so choosing Italy as their wedding destination felt, “the most meaningful”.
The couple visited Sicily, a few months before becoming engaged and stumbled across a venue that left a lasting impression on the both of them.
What stood out to them was the venue’s unique history, culture and natural beauty, and they “knew they wouldn’t find anywhere else, especially in Australia”.
“We’ve always loved how Italy repurposes its historic sites into stunning wedding-hotel venues,” Bree explains.
The couple’s wedding venue, Tonnara di Scopello, was once a tuna fishing village with a history that gave an authentic and rustic charm.
The minute the couple saw the coastal views and on-site museum, they immediately saw themselves getting married there.
While Bree says that in terms of cost, her wedding was fairly similar to what they would have spent in Australia but says “the value and experience were on a completely different level”.
“The quality of the food, wine, and entertainment in Italy was far beyond anything we could have achieved at home for the same investment,” she explains.
“With the smaller guest list too, the entire day felt even more special and allowed us to focus on what really mattered.”
Like Bree, a staggering 77 per cent of Aussies cite cost as a major factor for having an overseas wedding as they can come with a more attractive price tag.
Many Aussie couples opting for destination weddings like to combine their wedding and honeymoon to make it more budget friendly.
Bree and her husband extended their wedding trip into a honeymoon and travelled throughout Italy and Greece.
And they say being in Europe already made it so much easier to slip into honeymoon mode and was the perfect way to unwind after the wedding while keeping the celebration going.
While destination weddings are on the rise, it can be more of an expense for wedding guests, having to cover costs such as airplane tickets and overseas accommodation.
Most of the couple’s guests travelled from Australia, but they also had friends travel from the US, Spain, and England.
“It turned into this incredible reunion with people we hadn’t seen in a long time. In total, we had just under 70 guests, which felt like the perfect number — intimate, but still lively enough to feel like a celebration,” Bree says.
The couple says that due to the pandemic many of their guests hadn’t travelled in ages and took their wedding as a reason to take a holiday for themselves.
Bree acknowledges that while a destination wedding is definitely a luxury and not an option for everyone, she says having her wedding abroad made it “feel incredibly special”.
“Bringing everyone together in such a stunning and remote location felt unique — almost like a nostalgic family holiday we don’t get to experience anymore. It truly became an unforgettable event, one we wouldn’t have had the chance to create otherwise,” Bree says.
Bree would definitely recommend a destination wedding to other couples if it’s an option.
“Not only do you get to celebrate in a beautiful, memorable location, but it also becomes more than just a one-day event — it turns into a full experience for you and your guests.”
“You create a mini vacation for everyone, which makes the celebration feel even more special and meaningful for the memory book.”