Article: HOLIDAYS WITH THE VOW FACTOR ; As the average cost of a wedding here hitsPounds 20,000, it's easy to see why couples are going abroad to wed. By Sarah Marshall

Foreign weddings used to be the reserve of selfish -- or arguably sensible -- couples opting for a stress-free escape from seating arrangements and interfering relatives. In a way, exotic beach nuptials were just a sunnier version of eloping to Gretna Green.

But with the cost of UK weddings escalating each year -- current figures suggest the average ceremony costs around Pounds 20,000 -- a foreign wedding can be a cost-effective way of saying 'I do'.

According to a recent report from market research firm Mintel, the average cost of an overseas wedding is Pounds 6,000 -- leaving couples a spare Pounds 14,000 to fritter away on swimsuits, suntan lotion and building castles in the sand.

Savvy ...

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