Studies Reveal 6.7 Million Brits Say ‘I do’ To Destination Weddings

4 July 2025

The traditional British wedding is getting a passport stamp, as new research conducted by Booking.com reveals a surge in overseas ceremonies – with 6.7 million Brits* attending a destination wedding this year.

That figure climbs sharply among younger generations, with nearly a quarter of Gen Z (24%) and 22% of Millennials planning to pack their bags for celebrations overseas.

Brits aren’t afraid to go the distance – as 42% of Brits would travel anywhere in the world to celebrate a loved one’s big day, with the average guest** happy to fly up to six hours to attend.

Putting love before annual leave, wedding guests are set to use around three days of holiday to attend the celebrations, with one in 10 saying they’ll take five days or more. For many, it’s more than a quick getaway – 28% of those who have attended say weddings abroad often become their main holiday of the year.

While the average spend for a guest attending a wedding overseas hits £858, it’s a price people are happy to pay. A third (30%) say they’re more than willing to splash out for destination weddings, while over a quarter of Brits (26%) wish they were invited to more.

Weddings abroad are more than just a ceremony, they’re a chance to explore. Over half (55%) say attending one has enabled them to visit places they would not have gone otherwise, while 54% say they like to turn a destination wedding into a full holiday.

When it comes to destination weddings, Malta (18%), Norway (14%) and Japan (13%) are top of the ‘dream’ travel wish list, followed by Thailand (12%) and Iceland (12%).

While the most popular destinations for those who have attended a destination wedding include the US (20%), Italy (17%) and France (16%).

Brits destination wedding ‘wish list’