The traditional British wedding is being replaced by brides and grooms exchanging vows on the beach, a report claims, with one in six marriages now taking place abroad.Put off by the thought of a service in a draughty church or an expensive reception in the local hotel, tens of thousands of couples are now choosing to get married in sunnier climes at a third of the cost.
The market for bikini weddings has expanded by 43 per cent in the past five years alone, research suggests, and is predicted to grow still further as Britain heads into recession.
"Getting married abroad has become an increasingly popular choice for couples looking to tie the knot," according to Tom Rees, senior travel analyst at the market research firm Mintel.
"As the credit crunch bites and recession looms, this could be the perfect cost-saving measure allowing couples to have the wedding day they have always dreamed of."
Official figures show that the number of marriages is lower than it has been for more than a century, as more and more people co-habit or live alone.
For the first time since records began, the number of married couples has dropped to fewer than half of the adult population.
Of those who still do get married, an increasing proportion are choosing to do so abroad, inspired by the lower costs, the higher temperatures and the allure of a more exotic location than the parish church.
Mintel estimates that as many as 51,300 British couples got married abroad this year, 16 per cent of the 320,000 total, up from 35,800 in 2003.
It predicts that as foreign weddings continue to gain in popularity while overall numbers fall, weddings abroad will account for 17.7 per cent of the market in a further five years' time.
The firm says the market is now worth £333million, with a further £566m being spent on honeymoons.
Yet it claims the average foreign wedding costs just £6,500 - compared with as much as £20,000 for a UK-based ceremony.
Cyprus is the most visited destination for British couples marrying overseas, with the Caribbean popular with those who have more money to spend.
However, Mintel says more unusual locations are now being chosen away from the beach, such as Austria, Lapland and Iceland.
Opposition from loved ones appears to be no bar to couples marrying abroad, with Mintel's research showing that only 28 per cent of 2,000 people questioned wanted to have their wedding at home in the presence of friends and family.
To avoid the red tape and legal requirements of foreign countries, Mintel says couples are increasingly having a small marriage ceremony in Britain followed by a larger "confirmation ceremony" abroad.
Mr Rees added: "The market is benefiting from a growing willingness amongst couples to break with social convention and experiment with new wedding styles. From beach ceremonies in the Caribbean to 'snow weddings' in Lapland, this special occasion has certainly become more niche and personalised."
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