“OOOOHH, we’re going to Barbados ...”

Tropical islands were traditionally the perfect honeymoon destination.

But hundreds of Irish people seeking a wedding in paradise are now jetting to the Caribbean or the Indian Ocean islands to find that fairytale setting.

The whole package can be arranged through specialised travel operators who reveal business is booming.

Mainland Europe and particularly Italy, however, remain a favourite for couples with a desire to get away from the traditional turkey-and-ham reception in the local hostelry.

“The perfect paradise wedding does not cost the earth,” Brian McCarthy, product manager with a major Irish tour operator, said.

“Picture the setting,” Mr McCarthy said, “warm blue waters, white sandy beaches, tropical flora and amazing sunsets.

“Certain rules and regulations have to be adhered to for civil or church weddings, but specialists, like ourselves, can complete the red-tape procedure within ten weeks,” he said.

His company, Cassidy Classic Resorts, is the principal Irish operator bringing holidaymakers, newlyweds and couples planning a new union to exotic southern hemisphere locations.

Since 1994, the Dublin-based company has finalised wedding and honeymoon plans for hundreds of Irish couples in destinations like Mauritius.

“We make the necessary arrangements,” he said, “allowing couples to relax and unwind before their big day.”

About 20,000 couples tie the knot in Ireland yearly, but State agencies concede there is no mechanism to gauge how many people marry overseas.

By law, couples are obliged to notify Revenue Commissioners of a change in their personal circumstances.

But a spokesperson said: “Revenue has no record of where anyone has got married and there’s no differential between being married here or abroad.”

A traditional wedding ceremony in romantic Italy matched every expectation for Sinead O’Riordan and Bryan Murphy.

They married this summer in a church in Posidino on the Amalfi coast after discovering the destination during a holiday to Tuscany last October.

“It’s a picturesque little village and we immediately fell in love with the place,” Sinead said.

“We considered both options, a wedding in Ireland or overseas, but we both wanted to do something different,” she said.

“Italy was always in the back of my mind and while a foreign destination would not suit everyone, we were fortunate to have our families and a lot of our closest friends there.

“We gave guests six months notice of our intentions so they could make adequate arrangements.

“Everyone was so enthusiastic about the idea and we were joined by upwards of 50 friends and family members.

“In the end, it was a fairytale wedding. The Italians are very romantic and they are big into weddings, making a huge fuss on the day.

“I would do it again in the morning and certainly recommend our experience to anyone.

“A wedding day is one of the best, if not the best, days of your life. In our case, our wedding day was, in every way, an absolutely special occasion.”

Unlike an Irish wedding reception, the Italian hotel served the various courses at intervals spread over hours.

“The meal and reception continued long into the night, with speeches and entertainment in between the various courses,” Sinead said.

“The Italian style certainly created a better atmosphere for guests to sit and enjoy the occasion.”

The Bishopstown, Co Cork-born couple, who live in Clane, Co Kildare, are graduates of UCC, where they met.

Brian works in the food sector and Sinead, who works in the telecommunications industry, said the cost of getting hitched abroad was about 24,000 euro.

They travelled to Italy a week before the wedding to finalise plans with the local priest, the hotel and the band.

“It was a hectic but beautiful week, as we tried to do in seven days what most couples would do several months in advance of a wedding,” Sinead said.