Wedding dresses: Brides on the beach

Given the right royal ruckus that surrounded Lord Freddie Windsor and Sophie Winkleman’s wedding on Saturday, one could have forgiven the couple for wishing they had said a firm ‘No’ to Princess Pushy and run away to a desert island to get married.

Sparkling waters, golden sands, brilliant (and guaranteed) sunshine - and an absolute minimum of guests! It is hard to imagine a more romantic setting, or one further removed from the hubble-bubble of close to 500 guests at Hampton Court swigging at a dwindling supply of champagne.

The beach or hot destination wedding continues to be a celebrity choice, as well as a chiconomic option when money is tight.

The Brazilian supermodel, Gisele Bundchen, and her footballer beau, Tom Hardy, chose the Virgin Islands for their wedding in April. The same month, Denise Van Outen and Lee Mears were married in The Seychelles. Heidi Klum and Seal renewed their vows in Malibu in May, four years after their original wedding in the seaside paradise of Mexico’s Puerto Vallarta, while Gary Lineker and Danielle Bux stole away to Portofino on the Italian Riviera for their secret September wedding.

According to a survey carried out recently by You & Your Wedding magazine, 15% of weddings these days happen abroad, with the Caribbean the favourite setting, ahead of Italy in second place. More...