The unpredictable British weather and the recession are key factors in driving the weddings abroad market to a 27 per cent increase since 2005, according to a new analysis.

The study by Ionian Weddings, a specialist operator which fixes the ‘big day’ for couples across the Greek Islands, Cyprus, Malta and Italy, claims that as many as 20 per cent of UK-based couples could be getting married abroad.

Director Andreas Palikiras says: “With weddings abroad costing around a quarter of the price of UK weddings and promising almost guaranteed sunshine, tying the knot in another country becomes ever more popular.”

By collecting data from past and present customers, the company has identified these key reasons to tie the knot overseas: l Better weather: The company’s biggest-selling Mediterranean wedding ceremony locations are all outside – beaches, gardens, piers, islands – with beachfront tavernas in great demand for receptions.

To keep the numbers down: Palikiras says: “Many couples these days go to great lengths to avoid inviting distant relatives to their special day.

“Our couples, many of whom already have young children, simply don’t want big traditional UK weddings and love the idea of escaping with a few family and friends to enjoy a simple wedding in the sun.”

To keep costs down: With rising fuel bills, high mortgage deposits and soaring living costs, many couples need to marry fairly cheaply.

In the UK, it is easy to spend £20,000, while weddings abroad cost around a quarter of the price.

A civil wedding ceremony with a reception for 20 at a beachfront taverna on the Greek island of Rhodes costs from 3,000 euro/£2,500, which includes official paperwork, photography, flowers, hairdresser and transportation for the bride, a small cake, a three-course meal for 20 people, and local and UK-based wedding planners.

At the luxury end of the market, around 25,000 euro/£20,000 secures a private beach decked out with special carpets, sofas, tables, flowers, candles and lighting, plus champagne, snacks and a sumptuous dinner including lobster salad and fresh fish for 100 people.

Palikiras says: “”A luxury wedding abroad costs about the same as a standard wedding in the UK. If couples honeymoon in the same place, it saves the costs of travelling elsewhere.”

Emotional links: Many couples get engaged on holiday and ask wedding planners to create a little bit of heaven in locations holding a special part in their memories.

Couples also choose a location because they’ve seen other couples getting married there and want to do the same.

Meanwhile, long and short-haul destinations are joining the weddings abroad boom.

Malta specialist Belleair Holidays offers various packages – Bronze, Silver and Gold – with civil ceremonies either at the registry in Valletta or in a particular hotel, or Catholic ceremonies at a range of churches across Malta and the neighbouring island of Gozo, with transportation from classic open-top Rolls-Royces to a traditional Maltese bus.

Getting Married with Belleair Holidays starts at £399 – for ceremony, transportation, marriage certificate, button hole and wedding planner. Couples add the cost of their guests’ packages on top.

The Caribbean also provides superb settings for nuptials, and business is up year-on-year at all resorts in the Elite Island Resorts group, including Galley Bay, The Verandah Resort & Spa and St James’s Club, Antigua, and Palm Island in the Grenadines.

Booked through tour operator Kuoni, seven nights’ all-inclusive in a beachfront room, including BA flights from Gatwick with transfers, starts at £1,615 in September. Kuoni’s standard wedding package costs £718.

Depending on when you travel, with November to April generally seen as peak season, it’s possible to get a seven-night all-inclusive trip with wedding package included for around £1,500 per person. Weddings are free with a minimum 14-night stay at some of hotels, so shop around for good deals.

Couples can even say their vows underwater if they wish.

British Airways Holidays offers seven nights’ room-only accommodation in June at the three-star Flamboyant Hotel, Grenada, from £819.

The hotel is partnering Dive Grenada to launch Romance on the Reef, the Caribbean island’s first underwater wedding packages.

Packages for £500 per couple in the world’s first Underwater Sculpture Park, include all civil and religious arrangements; licence, priest or magistrate fees; services of event co-ordinator transportation to/from the registry; decorated location for ceremony on land and underwater; safety divers/witnesses and boat transfer to dive site.