What are the legal requirements when getting married out of the country?
Hidden contentEvery country has different legal requirements for weddings. Most require some form of ID (like your passports and birth certificates) and a marriage license application. Our Certified Destination Wedding Specialists are happy to help you work through the legalities, as they have extensive knowledge of the requirements at your destination of choice.
How much does a destination wedding cost?
On top of the benefit of having an extra unique experience with your loved one(s), choosing to have a destination wedding allows you to have the celebration of your dreams while still keeping within your wedding budget. The average cost of a destination wedding for our couples has remained under $10,000 for over five years.* Be sure to check out our cost savings page to receive expert tips on how to save money when planning a destination wedding.
How do I get a destination wedding marriage license?
Depending on where you are getting married, destination wedding marriage licenses can be obtained in different ways. First, decide if you’re having a legal or symbolic ceremony. Many couples choose to have a simple, symbolic ceremony away, and make it legal either before or after the destination wedding, in your home state. This helps avoid more paperwork and potentially chaotic travel plans. Check with your Certified Destination Wedding Specialist to ensure you are following the proper protocol of having a legal destination wedding in your chosen locale. For more information on destination wedding marriage requirements and required travel documents around the world, click here. If you are a Canadian resident, click here.
What percentage of guests actually attend a destination wedding?
Building a guest list for a destination wedding can seem overwhelming at first; how many people do you invite? who makes the cut and who doesn’t? Destination wedding guest lists are notorious for being smaller than traditional wedding guest lists, and also tend to consist more of the couples’ closest friends and family members as opposed to a twice-removed cousin and favorite high school teacher. But how many guests will actually attend? There’s the steadfast and overarching 80% rule, which applies to most events and states to assume 80% of guests will attend any given event. With a destination wedding, however, it’s harder to gauge due to the travel requirements and financial commitment. We suggest surveying your guest list ahead of time to gauge how invested each guest is in attending the celebration. And, of course, we always recommend giving your guests ample time’s notice to plan for the festivities. The average number of guests at a destination wedding is currently 40.
How do I ensure my guests can afford to attend our destination wedding?
Traditionally, the best way to help ensure that your guests can afford to attend your destination wedding is to plan in advance so they have ample time to plan and budget accordingly. It’s also important to consider the resort, destination, and time of year you’d like to marry. For example, if you live in Florida, a Caribbean wedding will likely be more accessible for your guests than one in Hawaii. Or if you live on the west coast, Mexico may be a great option. Our hotels and resorts around the globe are well-versed in working with budgets of all sizes, and we also have an “Easy Payment Plan” to help spread out payments for your wedding guests. And, it’s easy to lock in affordable rates with low deposit amounts for your guests by creating a group room block ahead of time!
What are the benefits of having a destination wedding?
Nowadays, many couples opt to forgo traditional (and expensive) weddings in favor of a more intimate gathering at a destination they love. Destination weddings allow couples to extend their celebration from four hours to four days (or however long you see fit), while creating a lifetime of memories with their close friends and family. Because they are often more intimate than traditional weddings, destination weddings can also be more affordable for couples.
What is the difference between legal (civil), religious and symbolic ceremonies?
In the Dominican Republic a civil ceremony is performed by a judge and religious ceremony is performed by a Catholic priest (please note that Catholic ceremonies cannot be performed on the beach). The required paperwork will need to be arranged directly with the priest. Both are legally recognized. Symbolic ceremonies and renewal of vows are performed by the wedding coordinator and have no legal bearing.
Does resorts offer weddings on New Year’s Eve?
No, they do not. New Year’s Eve is a blackout date across all resorts.
