Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our content.

Are you planning your dream destination wedding overseas?

Here’s how you can make your special day as affordable as possible with an international money transfer.

Tim Falk

Updated Apr 27, 2020

Fact checked

Your wedding is one of the most important, memorable, and special days of your life – and what could be more romantic or exciting than marrying the love of your life in a beautiful and exotic location overseas?

From Bali or Thailand to the Caribbean, Italy or even the City of Love, Paris, the list of dream destination wedding locations is seemingly endless. But if you’re planning to tie the knot overseas, the fact is that getting married abroad can be a logistical nightmare.

Planning an ordinary wedding can be expensive and stressful enough on its own, but any potential problems are magnified when the ceremony will be taking place on the other side of the world.

Send money internationally with CurrencyTransfer

Exclusive: Minimum transfer of $1,000 for Finder readers (normally $5,000).
For larger transfers, get no transaction fees and no maximum send limits.

Get the best foreign exchange rates available from this online marketplace
Fast 1-2 day delivery to bank accounts
Price-match guarantee if you find a better price elsewhere

Go to site
More Info

What's in this guide?

Jump to…

Take the stress out of your overseas wedding planner by speaking to an FX expert
What are the costs associated with an overseas wedding?
What are my options to pay for my overseas wedding?

Why could I use a specialist online transfer company to pay for my overseas wedding?
How do I compare money transfer providers?

Take the stress out of planning your overseas wedding by speaking to a FX expert

One of the main obstacles you will have to overcome is finding the most affordable and convenient way to pay for your wedding, which is where international money transfers come in.

What are the costs associated with an overseas wedding?

Very few aspects of a wedding are usually cheap. And when you’re organizing a wedding in an unfamiliar destination, the cost of the ceremony and reception can quickly add up.

First of all you need to book venues for the ceremony and reception, which could be several thousands of dollars. Then there’s the marriage officiant, entertainment for the reception, potentially seating and a PA system if you’re having an outdoor ceremony, table decorations, food and drink, the all-important wedding cake… the list goes on.

Add this to the cost of flights and accommodation at your destination, and even the most budget-conscious of couples can quickly run up a hefty bill. With this in mind you’ll be looking for any ways you can find to save money on your wedding – and you can enjoy significant savings if you pay for your big day using international money transfers.

What are my options to pay for my overseas wedding?

There are several options available when you need to pay for an overseas wedding, including:

Online money transfer companies. These companies specialize in sending fast and affordable international transfers, offering great exchange rates, and secure online transactions.
Bank to bank transfers. You can use online banking, phone banking, or visit a branch to send money from your bank account to a bank account overseas. However, banks charge high transfer fees and offer lower exchange rates than you can get from other transfer providers.
Credit card payments. Another option is to pay for overseas transfers using your credit card, which can be a handy option in emergencies. But the currency conversion fee, low exchange rate, and high interest rate that apply to your transfer mean this is often not the most cost-effective option.
Cash transfer companies. Companies such as Western Union and MoneyGram offer fast and convenient cash transfers to hundreds of thousands of agent locations around the world. However, high transfer fees can apply.

Tips to help you plan for your overseas wedding

Why could I use a specialist online transfer company to pay for my overseas wedding?

Although there are several options available when you need to send money overseas online money transfer companies represent the best choice in most cases. Some of the benefits of using specialist money transfer companies include:

Better exchange rates. Because they trade large volumes of foreign currency and have fewer overheads than the banks specialist online transfer companies can offer much better exchange rates on overseas transfers.
Lower fees. Specialist transfer companies also charge lower transfer fees when compared to the banks, while some even waive their fees altogether on large transfer amounts.
Convenient transfers. You can send an international transfer from anywhere and at any time. All you need to do is transfer the money from your bank account to your account with an online transfer provider, then specify where you would like the funds to be sent.
Secure transactions. Sending your money overseas using an online transfer company is completely safe and secure with the latest in encryption technology used to protect your money and personal details.
Flexible transfer options. Online money transfer companies also offer special transfer options to provide convenience, and a better deal. For example you could place a forward contract to lock in the current exchange rate for a future date, or you could schedule a recurring payment to transfer a regular sum of money.

Case Study: Wendy’s Wedding

Wendy and her fiancé Stephanie are planning a destination wedding in Paris in six months’ time. They’ve found the perfect venue for their wedding reception, and need to transfer €3,000 to Paris to book it for their big day. Wendy considers sending the money overseas from her bank account, but after learning of the low exchange rate offered by her bank she decides to compare the services of a specialist money transfer company to see if she can find a better deal.

	Bank	Money transfer company
Exchange rate	1 USD = 0.8995 EUR	1 USD = 0.9484 EUR
Transfer fee	$45	$0
Processing time	2 business days	1 business day
Cost to transfer €3,000 (in USD)	$3,380.10	$3,162.27

As you can see, not only can Wendy and Stephanie save $45 in transfer fees by sending via a money transfer company, but they can also save a further $218 thanks to the transfer company’s superior exchange rate.

How do I compare money transfer providers?

You’ll need to compare the following factors when weighing up the pros and cons of specialist money transfer providers:

Exchange rates. As the case study above shows, a variation of just a few cents in the exchange rate can have a huge effect on the cost of your transaction. Look for a company that regularly offers the best exchange rates, but keep an eye out for any high fees that may be attached.
Transfer fees. Fees can range from zero up to $50 or even more, so it pays to shop around to find a provider that charges minimal fees.
Transfer processing times. If you need the funds to arrive to your beneficiary within a specific timeframe, compare processing times to see which providers offer the quickest transfers.
Transfer options. Some companies offer flexible transfer options to help you get a better exchange rate, such as forward contracts and limit orders. The option to schedule a repeating transfer may also be appealing for some users.
Transfer methods and pickup options. Check to see how you can send a transfer – online, over the phone, in a branch – and how your recipient will be able to access the money you send.
Supported currencies and destinations. Not all transfer providers will be able to send to your particular country, so it’s important to check the provider’s list of supported countries and currencies.
Customer support. Make sure the provider offers prompt and helpful customer support should you ever have a problem with a transfer.

Compare money transfer options below

I want to send

Min. Transfer Amount	Transfer Speed	Online Transfer Fee	Rate	Amount Received	Description	CTA	Details
GBP 1,000	1 - 2 days	USD 0.00	0.834	EUR 4,172	Exclusive: Minimum transfer of $1,000 for Finder readers (normally $5,000). For larger transfers, get no transaction fees and no maximum send limits.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount GBP 1,000.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Chat Available currencies AED, AUD, CAD, CHF, CZK, DKK, EUR, GBP, HKD, HUF, ILS, JPY, MXN, NOK, NZD, PLN, RON, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, USD, ZAR Go to site Read the full review
$1	Same day	USD 0.00	0.839	EUR 4,195	XE offers fast transfers with no fees and a range of foreign currency tools.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Phone, Bank Account to Bank Account Transfer options One off payments, Market orders, Forward contracts Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, AFN, ALL, AMD, ANG, AOA, ARS, AUD, AWG, AZN, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BMD, BND, BOB, BRL, BSD, BTN, BWP, BZD, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CUC, CVE, CZK, DJF, DKK, DOP, DZD, EGP, ERN, ETB, EUR, FJD, FKP, GBP, GEL, GGP, GHS, GIP, GMD, GNF, GTQ, GYD, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, IMP, INR, IQD, IRR, ISK, JEP, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KPW, KRW, KWD, KYD, KZT, LAK, LBP, LKR, LRD, LSL, LYD, MAD, MDL, MGA, MKD, MMK, MNT, MOP, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PAB, PGK, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, QAR, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SAR, SBD, SCR, SDG, SEK, SGD, SHP, SLL, SOS, SPL, SRD, SVC, SYP, SZL, THB, TJS, TMT, TND, TOP, TRY, TTD, TVD, TWD, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, UZS, VEF, VND, VUV, WST, XAF, XCD, XDR, XOF, XPF, YER, ZAR, ZMW, ZWD, BYN Go to site Read the full review
$10	Within an hour	USD 1.99	0.826	EUR 4,128	Special offers like free transfers and better exchange rates available for new customers. Quick, affordable transfers around the world with both express and economy options.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount 10.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options N/A Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies ALL, AMD, ARS, AZN, BAM, BDT, BGN, BIF, BOB, BRL, BSD, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DOP, EGP, ETB, EUR, FJD, GEL, GHS, GMD, GNF, GTQ, GYD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JMD, JOD, JPY, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KZT, LKR, LRD, MAD, MDL, MGA, MKD, MMK, MWK, MXN, MYR, NGN, NIO, NPR, PAB, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RSD, RUB, RWF, SLL, SRD, SVC, THB, TJS, TND, TRY, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, UZS, VND, XAF, XOF, ZAR, ZMW, BYN Go to site Read the full review
$1	1 - 2 days	USD 40.00	0.843	EUR 4,181	Enjoy high maximum transfers into more than 20 currencies while saving up to 90% over local banks.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount 1.00 Transfer methods Online Transfer options Regular payments, One off payments Customer service Phone, Chat, Email Available currencies AED, ARS, AUD, BDT, BGN, BRL, BWP, CAD, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CZK, DKK, EGP, EUR, GBP, GEL, GHS, HKD, HRK, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, JPY, KES, KRW, LKR, MAD, MXN, MYR, NGN, NOK, NPR, NZD, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, RON, RUB, SEK, SGD, THB, TRY, TZS, UAH, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, XOF, ZAR, ZMW Go to site Read the full review
$1	Within an hour	USD 3.99	0.839	EUR 4,193	Use promo code 3FREE to send your first 3 transfers with no fee. Send to 110+ countries for bank-to-bank deposit, cash pickup or mobile top-up.	Go to site	Compare	Show details	Details Minimum transfer amount 1.00 Transfer methods Online, Bank Account to Bank Account, Cash Transfer Transfer options One off payments Customer service Phone, Email Available currencies AED, ALL, AMD, AOA, ARS, AUD, BAM, BBD, BDT, BGN, BHD, BIF, BOB, BRL, BWP, CAD, CDF, CHF, CLP, CNY, COP, CRC, CVE, CZK, DKK, DOP, EGP, ETB, EUR, FJD, GBP, GEL, GHS, GMD, GNF, GTQ, HKD, HNL, HRK, HTG, HUF, IDR, ILS, INR, ISK, JMD, JOD, KES, KGS, KHR, KMF, KRW, KWD, KYD, KZT, LAK, LKR, LRD, LSL, MAD, MDL, MGA, MRO, MUR, MVR, MWK, MXN, MYR, MZN, NAD, NGN, NIO, NOK, NPR, NZD, OMR, PAB, PEN, PHP, PKR, PLN, PYG, RON, RUB, RWF, SCR, SEK, SGD, SLL, SOS, SRD, THB, TJS, TND, TOP, TRY, TZS, UGX, USD, UYU, VND, WST, XAF, XCD, XOF, ZAR, ZMW, BYN Go to site Read the full review

Compare up to 4 providers

By doing a little research and comparing your options, you’ll be able to enjoy significant savings when you transfer money overseas for your international wedding.

Thank you for your feedback!

Tim Falk

Tim Falk is a freelance writer for Finder, writing across a diverse range of topics. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, Tim has reported on everything from travel and personal finance to pets and TV soap operas. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors.

How to transfer money internationally from a bank account Expats Transfer Guide: Competitive International Money Transfers

More guides on Finder

Review: TransferMate for your international business transfer
TransferMate can help your business send money across the globe. Read our review to find out about exchange rates, fees and safety.
Best places to exchange currency in Montreal
Compare services and find out tips and tricks to help you get the best deal on your next foreign currency exchange.
Compare top international banks
An international account can offer special features to make foreign transactions easier and more affordable. Here’s how it works.
How foreign transaction fees work
If you travel overseas or shop online at international stores, you could be paying up to four different fees. Find out when you get charged and how to save.
Compare savings accounts for residents on a temporary visa
Opening a US bank account on a temporary visa is easy. A number of banks will let you apply online so your finances are ready before you arrive.
Safe ways to transfer money internationally
Compare cashier’s checks, international money orders, money transfer services, and more.
Compare offshore accounts
These international accounts can provide tax and savings benefits to American investors — but only when chosen carefully.
Compare instant money transfers
Are you looking for a way to instantly transfer funds to friends and family overseas? Here’s what you need to know.
What’s the cost of an online money transfer fee?
Learn how much an online transfer fee costs with 8 international money transfer providers.
How to pay off an overseas debt
Using an international money transfer to pay off an overseas debt can lead to huge savings on interest charges and transaction fees.

Ask an Expert

Click here to cancel reply.

Display Name

Your Email (will not be published)

Your Question

Subscribe to the Finder newsletter for the latest money tips and tricks

I agree to the Privacy and Cookies Policy, finder.com Terms of Use and to receive emails from Finder. We need your consent to our privacy policy. Please tick the box if you wish to continue with newsletter subscription.

Finder.com provides guides and information on a range of products and services. Because our content is not financial advice, we suggest talking with a professional before you make any decision.

By submitting your comment or question, you agree to our Privacy and Cookies Policy and finder.com Terms of Use.

Questions and responses on finder.com are not provided, paid for or otherwise endorsed by any bank or brand. These banks and brands are not responsible for ensuring that comments are answered or accurate.

Card Finder: Get a personalized card recommendation with this free tool

Find the best personal loan offer

See how much you could save:

Find the best mortgage rates and offers

Are you planning your dream destination wedding overseas?

Here’s how you can make your special day as affordable as possible with an international money transfer.

Guides

Services

Send Money To

Exchange Rates