Getting married abroad Legal requirements
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This article, Getting married abroad, was last updated on 26 June 2008 and is now out of date and held in our online archive for reference. Explore our latest Money articles.
France requires a pre-wedding residency
The country you choose may depend on how long you're prepared to spend there. Want a quick trip with no fuss? Then head to Las Vegas, where you can fly in from the UK and get married the next day without needing your birth certificate. French law, meanwhile, requires a pre-wedding residency of 40 days.
For most places, you'll need to be there between two and five days beforehand. As well as a birth certificate, you will usually need to supply an affidavit stating that you are free to marry, and provide relevant documents if you have been divorced, widowed or adopted, or changed your name by deed poll.
All documents must be originals or copies certified by a notary or solicitor. For countries such as Greece, they will need to be translated from English and sent to the Consulate.
Wedding venues in many countries need to receive copies of documents up to 12 weeks before the wedding day. If you want to get married much sooner, consider places like the USA, Barbados or Jamaica.
Some countries have stricter demands than others. Mexico requires couples to take a blood test. Divorcees must wait nearly a year before re-marrying in Italy. Thai beach weddings still need to be formalised beforehand in person in Bangkok.
Tour operator wedding packages are legally recognised in the UK.
What if we just want to renew our vows?
Most major tour operators offer special ceremonies, whether it's for those who have recently got married in the UK and want a blessing abroad, or couples who just want to declare their commitment again.
What's on offer is usually similar to wedding packages. You may still have to satisfy minimum residency requirements and provide an original marriage certificate, even though the ceremony has no legal bearing.
Where to wed
Deciding where your ideal wedding should take place is important to get right. Here are just a few things you should consider before settling on a destination:
Do you want as many friends and family as possible to join you on your special day? Going for a short-haul destination with budget flight and accommodation options will probably attract more guests.
The time of year when you want to marry is a big factor. The Caribbean islands could be ideal if you want a hot spot in February, but risky in September during the hurricane season. If you're not wedded to the idea of a 'hot' wedding, perhaps you would like to exchange rings in December and be taken to a snow dome in Lapland by a reindeer sleigh.
Popular destinations with the major tour operators include the Caribbean, Florida, Mexico, Mauritius and Kenya. Cyprus - which permits weddings in churches and religious blessings in hotels - is a popular short-haul destination.
