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Things To Know
Below is a checklist of legal requirements for respective countries.
In addition, all countries require you to produce a vaild 10-year passport and Birth Certificate.
Country |
Required days in |
Affadavit / |
Decree Absolute |
Death & marriage certificate |
Adoption certificate |
Proof of
|
Parental Consent |
Translation |
Documents Legalised by Foreign Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
What's This? What's an Affadavit?This document should detail information that is only relevant to you and covers the needs of the local authorities of your resort destination. It should explain that you are free to marry whilst there and confirms you marital status. the solicitors office will have to sign and stamp the affidavit. |
What's This? What's a Decree Absolute?This is the official documentary evidence of the dissolution or annulment of a marriage, the document is sent by the court once the divorce is made final, the official document will bear a red or embossed court seal. Copies of the document can be obtained from the court where the decree was issued. |
What's This? Document Legalisation?Legalisation of all required documents in the country of residence by the appropriate organisation or authorities. (In the UK the Foreign Office undertakes this task; please see the Foreign Office's web site for details about obtaining this service - Foreign Office ). |
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0 |
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Barbados |
3 |
||||||||
3 |
|||||||||
2 |
U21 |
||||||||
Mauritius |
3 |
||||||||
5 |
|||||||||
3 |
Additional Requirements
Mexico
- All documents must be translated into Spanish on arrival in resort.
- Blood tests are mandatory in Cancun and are performed in resort and must be performed within 7 days before the proposed wedding date.
- If previously married, you must be divorced for at least a year before you can marry in Mexico.
Jamaica
- All photocopies are required to be stamped by a Notary or solicitor and then written in red or blue ink. The Notary must confirm that they are true and accurate copies of the original and sign and date each copy. The solicitor's stamp must state that they are, in fact, a solicitor.
Dominican Republic
- If the bride is divorced, 10 months must have passed since the Decree Absolute was granted. Single status affadavit must have been stamped, signed and dated by a solicitor no more than 3 months before the return date.
Mauritius
- A mandatory pregnancy test will be required if you have been divorced for less than 300 days
- Application to Marry form will be sent to the couple by The Weddings Department and must be completed and signed by both bride and groom.
Sandals Resorts
- Failure to provide the correct documentation 12 weeks before travel will result in a charge of $150 being imposed by Sandals for documentation administration. This is paid locally in resort. If these documents are not received before departure, Sandals reserve the right to cancel the wedding.
* Important *
Whilst every effort to ensure that the above information is correct, it may be subject to change at any time.
Please always check with the official authorities before proceeding. If you notice some outdated information please let us know.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my wedding be legal?
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Yes! All ceremonies are performed in accordance with British Law and legally recognised as binding. You do not have to register it when you get back to the UK
What if we are not British Citizens?
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This may affect your ability to be married; we recommend you contact your relevant Consulate or Embassy to establish the requirements of your marriage abroad.
What documents do we need?
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This will depend on the destination you choose and your current legal status.
We also recommend that you regularly check with the foreign & commonwealth office for changes to current legislation. (Details below)
Be reassured that there is nothing to worry about, our wedding specialists will be with you every step of the way to answer questions on documentation and advise on details required.
(Blue Bay Travel can take no responsibility for failure to complete documentation correctly, we urge you to check carefully).
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
Legalisation Department
Old Admiralty Building
Whitehall
London
SW1A 2LG
Telephone 0207 008 1111
http://www.fco.gov.uk/legalisation
Some of my documents are not in English, is this a problem?
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Most resorts require documents to be in English. If they aren't, an acceptable, certified translation is required, but leave time for this, it can be a lengthy process. However, some documentation for weddings held in Mexico and the Dominican Republic needs to be translated into Spanish. Please call your wedding co-ordinator for further information
What type of ceremony is it?
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Most weddings will be non-denominational services, conducted by a Notary, Justice of the Peace, Minister or Registrar.
What is the difference between a civil and symbolic ceremony?
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A civil ceremony is legally binding and requires you to take documentation with you to resort. A symbolic ceremony is not legal and is usually carried out for a renewal of vows. A symbolic ceremony requires no documentation to be taken to resort
Can I marry abroad if I have previously been divorced?
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Yes you can but some countries require a minimum period of time to have elasped after the divorce before you are free to marry again.
What Language will the ceremony be in?
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Most ceremonies are conducted in English if this is not possible there will be interpreters who will translate the service as you go along.
Where will our wedding take place?
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Generally, your ceremony will take place in the hotel grounds or on the beach. The hotel wedding coordinator will show you the locations, there may also be a wedding gazebo at the hotel, you can often have photos taken on the beach after your ceremony
What is the residency period of the country we want to get married in?
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The duration of residency before a wedding can take place is usually 2- 5 days. This can vary and will be confirmed at the time of enquiry. Most wedding ceremonies take place Monday to Friday (excluding Public Holidays).
What names should reservations be made in?
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Women should travel in there maiden name for both the outward and return flight and then apply for a new passport when they return to the UK
Do I need immunisations to travel?
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As we are not medically trained we cannot advise on immunisations. Please contact your doctor or local health centre who will advise you on the latest requirements.
Will we receive our marriage certificate before we leave to come home?
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In most case you will receive your certificate before you return home. Although in some destinations it can take between 1 and 6 months to process the paperwork. If this is the case the certificate will be mailed to you in the UK. If more than one copy is required a solicitor can provide certified duplicates upon arrival in the UK.
What administrations will we have to complete in resort?
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The hotel wedding co-ordinator will arrange a meeting with you and take you through plans for your big day. It will be necessary to complete some administration before the ceremony, and in some cases this may be away from the hotel. Transfers can be arranged locally to the relevant offices (there may be a local charge for this) She will also show you the areas that the wedding can take place e.g beach or gazebo etc. At this stage it is advisable to let her know if you need any extras that are not included in your wedding package, such as photographer/video, live music etc.It is also advisable to pre-book any hair & makeup appointments.
How do I book the wedding/Honeymoon?
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Our wedding co-ordinators will help you to choose the perfect destination for your wedding & honeymoon, once this is booked, the co-ordinator will request a wedding date (and time) and this will be forwarded to the wedding co-ordinator at the hotel or to the tour operator concerned. Confirmation of the date usually comes back within a week. If the date is not available she will advise of an alternative. The wedding day and time is subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed. We will of course do everything possible to confirm the date and time of your choice. Once the date of your wedding ceremony has been confirmed by the resort, we will contact you to confirm this. Should the date or time of your wedding be rescheduled we cannot be held liable for any associated costs if your family or friends are planning to attend the wedding or produce stationery or gifts showing your wedding date or if you are having jewellery engraved.
How much does the wedding cost?
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This depends on your chosen hotel. Many hotels offer a FREE wedding so please contact our wedding co-ordinators.
What will the wedding package Include?
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This varies from hotel to hotel. Our wedding co-ordinators will be able to advise you. The wedding package prices and inclusions are displayed on this site in good faith. On rare occasions, resorts may withdraw or change their wedding package inclusions. Such instances are regrettably beyond our control. We will endeavour to advise our couples of any such changes at the earliest possible opportunity.
Do we need witnesses?
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Yes. These can be friends/family who are travelling with you or if it is just the two of you it can be people that you meet in the resort or members of the hotel staff. Witnesses travelling with you may also have to abide by the same residency period as yourselves, please check this with your wedding co-ordinator at the time of booking.
What about the colour of my Bouquet?
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For Bridal flowers, headdresses and grooms buttonholes we advise you wait until you are in resort to choose the colour of the flowers as these will vary from season to season. If more elaborate styles are required, you may need to pay a supplement.
What about music for the ceremony?
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Most hotels hire CD players or cassettes, you may wish to bring a few of your favourite songs along to play before/during or after the ceremony.
Most hotels offer live music at an extra cost, please ask your wedding co-ordinator for details.
What about photo’s and videos?
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Photographs and video will usually be taken by a local photographer, and whilst they work to the highest standards, their equipment and facilities may not compare to UK standards. In some cases the wedding video will need to be converted to play in the UK. You should always check your photos and videos before leaving your resort.
How long does the ceremony last?
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Most ceremonies are uusually about 15-20 mins long. You may be able to request that your own vows or specila readings be read, ask your wedding co-ordinator for details. After this there is the signing of the register, a toast to the bride and groom and photographs.
Can we arrange a reception dinner for our guests?
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Yes, many hotels provide set packages for guests of varying numbers or they may reserve an area of a restaurant for you to have the a la carte menu. If it is just the two of you, a romantic dinner on the beach is available in may hotels. (Additional Fees may apply).
Can we have our wedding outfits pressed?
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This is usually not a problem, the hotel will arrange this for you.
Can we invite Guests?
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You can invite family and friends to your wedding. It is usually better to get your confirmed number of travellers together rather than keep adding people to your booking, as this will enable us to source a better group discount. If guests stay at a different hotel to you, they can purchase a day pass to enable them to enter your hotel and use its facilities. There may be an additional charge for guests. If you are staying at an Adults only property, children will NOT be permitted to attend the ceremony.
How do we transport our wedding outfits?
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Our advice is to pack your wedding outfits in tissue paper and place them in a hard suitcase or something sturdy enough to protect your clothes, as they will be placed in the hold of an aircraft. Airlines now preclude from hanging garments in the cabin as the CAA state that this would impede an emergency exit .Some airlines will at there discretion allow you additional baggage allowance for your wedding attire, however you will need to request this before you travel, please speak to your wedding co-ordinator for details. Although what you choose to wear for your wedding is of course a personal choice, please bear in mind that some destinations such as Thailand may require appropriate attire which conforms to local customs.
