Tips, Tools & Advice
Whether you're planning an intimate wedding for two or researching destination weddings, Beverly's free Wedding Tips will help. Get wedding tips on everything from packing to the honeymoon, and you can even download and print them easily.
Make it Legal
Whether you have your heart set on Cancun, Fiji or Las Vegas, it's essential to know the official wedding procedures at your destination before making the travel arrangements. Here's your guide to marriage laws in North America, Mexico, the Caribbean and South Pacific. Note that many resorts and hotels can assist you with the necessary paperwork.
| Country | Identification | Marriage License | Residency | Witnesses | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North America | |||||
| Canada | Photo Ids and passports. Most Canadian states ask for birth certificates, and divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable. | Apply with the county clerk in the city of wedding. Waiting period: Varies | Varies | Varies | Canadian Embassy |
| United States | Photo IDs or passports. Some states require social security numbers, birth certificates and divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable. | Apply with the county clerk in the city of wedding. Waiting period: Varies | Varies | Varies | Travel U.S. |
| Country | Identification | Marriage License | Residency | Witnesses | More Info |
| Caribbean | |||||
| Anguilla | Passports, birth certificates and proof of citizenship in resident country. Divorce decrees, death certificates or deed polls, if applicable. Documents must be in English and notarized. | Apply with registrar. Waiting period: 48 hours | None | 2 | Anguilla |
| Antigua & Barbuda | Passports and divorce decrees, death certificates or deed polls, if applicable. | Apply at Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs in St. John's. Waiting period: None | None | 2 | Antigua and Barbuda |
| Aruba | Valid passports and copies of pages showing relevant details. Apostille documentation verifying single status. Copies of birth certificates with raised seals; divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable. Copies of witnesses. passport pages. | Send documents (by courier) to Aruba civil hall one month prior to ceremony. Waiting period: 1 month | None | 2 | Aruba |
| Bahamas | Passports or birth certificates and photo IDs. Proof of arrival in the Bahamas and of single status by the U.S. Consul. Divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable. | Apply at the American embassy in Nassau, or with a Bahamas notary public. Waiting period: 1 day | None | 2 | Bahamas |
| Barbados | Passports, airline tickets and original birth certificates; divorce decrees, copies of previous marriage certificates or death certificates, if applicable. | Apply with ministry of home affairs. Waiting period: None | None | 2 | Barbados |
| Bermuda | Passports or original birth certificates and photo Ids; divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable. | File a Notice of Intended Marriage with registrar general two weeks prior to wedding. Waiting period: None | None | None | Burmuda |
| British Virgin Islands | Passports, birth certificates and divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable. | Apply at attorney general's office in Tortola on day of arrival. Waiting Period: 3 days | None | 2 | British Virgin Islands |
| Bonaire | Passports, birth certificates, plus proof of arrival date, intended stay and single status. Also, passport photos of the couple and witnesses, plus copies of witnesses. passports. | Two months in advance, write the governor of Bonaire requesting temporary residency and permission to marry. Waiting Period: 1 week | None | 2 | Bonaire |
| Cayman Islands | Passports or birth certificates plus divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable; proof of legal entry into the Cayman Islands. | Arrange for a Cayman Islands marriage officer to preside over the ceremony. A list of officers is available at the chief secretary.s office in george town, grand Cayman, where you also apply for the license. Waiting Period: None | None | 2 | Cayman Island |
| Curacao | Passports and original copies of birth certificates; divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable. International declaration of single status from the civil registration in couple's hometown and an apostle/legalization from the Netherlands embassy in the country of residence | Write to Curacao's civil registry. Waiting Period: up to 2 months | 3 days | None | Caracoa |
| Dominican Republic | Passports for couple and any foreign witnesses. Affidavit stating marriage status. original copies and photocopies of birth certificates, and adoption certificate, name deeds, death certificates and decree absolutes, if applicable. Spanish translations of English documents by the dominican consulate or embassy in the U.S. | Send written request for permission to marry to the American consulate in Santo Domingo. Waiting Period: Varies | None | 2 (non-family members) | Dominican Republic |
| Jamaica | Photo IDs and certified copies of birth certificates that includes father's name. divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable. | Apply for marriage certificate with Ministry of National Security in Kingston. | 24 hours before ceremony | None | Jamaica |
| Puerto Rico | Photo IDs or passports, original birth certificates and original divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable. Also needed, VDRL blood tests given at least 10 days prior to wedding. | Apply at the town hall in city of wedding. Waiting Period: 3 weeks | None | None | Puerto Rico |
| St. Barths | Original birth certificates with raised seal and certificates of good conduct, including single status. Residency cards and certificates with blood test results issued within three months of wedding date. French translation of English documents. | Apply at city court or write to dept. of Health in Santurce. Waiting Period: None (with proof of blood test) | One of partners must be a resident for 30 days. | None | St. Barths |
| St. Kitts & Nevis | Passports, original birth certificates and divorce decrees, death certificates or deed polls, if applicable. | Application forms must be obtained at St Kitts government headquarters, Basseterre, or in Nevis Legal office, Charlestown. Waiting Period: 2 days | None | None | St. Kitts & Nevis |
| St. Lucia | Passports, birth certificates and divorce decrees, death certificates or deed polls, if applicable. | Apply with attorney general through a local solicitor. Waiting Period: 2 days | 2 days | None | St. Lucia |
| St. Martin | Birth certificates (or copies with raised seal) and certificates of good conduct, including single status. Medical certificates issued within three months of event and blood test. French translation of all English documents. | Apply with the civil registry at least 14 days prior to ceremony. Waiting Period: None | One of partners must be a resident for 30 days | None | St. Martin |
| St. Vincent & The Grenadines | Passports, birth certificates and divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable. All documents must be notarized and in English. | Apply with solicitor general in St. Vincent; bring approval from the ministry of justice or registrar. Waiting Period: 3 days | 3 days | None | St. Vincent & The Grenadines |
| Trinidad & Tobago | Passports or driver's licenses, proof of single status, proof of entry and intended stay, and notarized copies of affidavit. Divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable. | Apply with registrar. Waiting Period: 16 days, or apply for a President's License with registrar once the 7-day residency is established. | 7 days | None | Trinidad & Tobago |
| Turks and Caicos | Birth certificates, photo Ids, proof of single status and notarized copies of affidavit; divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable. | Apply with registrar in Grand Turk. Waiting Period: 2-3 days to marry | 24 hours to apply for license | None | Turks and Caicos |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | Passports and divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable. | Write or call to request a marriage license with the territorial court of the U.S.V.I. in St. thomas, St. John or St. Croix. Waiting Period: 8 days (from receipt of notarized application. Couples need not be on-island) | None | None | U.S. Virgin Islands |
| Country | Identification | Marriage License | Residency | Witnesses | More Info |
| Latin America | |||||
| Costa Rica | Passports, certified copies of birth certificates and police records, and affidavits of single status. Divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable | Send all personal information to civil registry at least one month before wedding date. Waiting Period: None, unless previously married | None | 2 (nonfamily members) | Costa Rica |
| Mexico | Passports and birth certificates, copies of tourist cards/visas. Divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable. Blood tests are required and must be performed in Mexico. Names, ages, nationalities and tourist card numbers of all witnesses. | Apply with the civil registry in the city of wedding. Waiting Period: 2-4 days | 2 days (no minimum stay for Cozumel) | 2 (18 or older) | Mexico |
| Country | Identification | Marriage License | Residency | Witnesses | More Info |
| Hawaii & The South Pacific | |||||
| Hawaii | Valid photo Ids or driver's licenses, divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable. | Apply with county clerk for a license valid throughout the State of Hawaii, or visithawaii.gov. Waiting Period: None | None | 1 | Go Hawaii |
| Fiji | Birth certificates and passports. If applicable, decree absolutes with court stamp, death certificates, adoption certificates and legally stamped deed polls; this also applies if a married woman has reverted back to her maiden name. | Apply at the registry office in Suva, Nadi or Lautoka. When marrying on Vanua Levu, register in Savusavu, and for the island of taveuni or outer northeastern islands, register in Taveuni. Waiting Period: 1 day | None | 2 | Fiji |
| French Polynesia / Tahiti | Weddings in Tahiti are legally nonbinding for most foreigners. Couples can marry legally at home and then exchange vows on one of the islands. | Tahiti | |||