| The legal requirements for getting married in the | | | | wasting time at city hall! |
| Caribbean are extremely simple and for Caribbean | | | | Let's take St. Lucia as a typical example and review |
| Beach Weddings - This Simplicity is in the Legalities | | | | the requirements for your wedding on this beautiful little |
| A Caribbean Beach Wedding is such an exhilarating | | | | island that's a little harder to get to, but well worth the |
| experience at so many levels. Quite often it is just the | | | | effort: |
| two of you, bride and groom, or maybe just a few of | | | | 1. First of all you need a passport if you will be travelling |
| your closest family and friends. What this means is | | | | outside the US |
| that your wedding can be all about you and the | | | | 2. Your birth certificates |
| wonderful destination that you are jetting off to. | | | | 3. Your Decree Absolute if either party is divorced |
| One of the major contributors to this simplicity is the | | | | 4. A Deed Poll if either party has had a name change |
| legal requirements of most Caribbean Wedding | | | | 5. A widow or widower must produce a death |
| Destinations. While some islands may require you to be | | | | certificate of a deceased spouse |
| a resident for at least two weeks, there are others | | | | 6. Parental consent in the form of a sworn affidavit |
| where you can be legally wed as little as two days | | | | duly signed and sealed by a Notary Public if either |
| after your arrival. With others still, there is actually no | | | | party is less than 18 years old |
| residency period, thus pushing the envelope to the | | | | 7. Authenticated translations of any non-English |
| point where cruise ship passengers can arrive at | | | | documents |
| some ports in the morning and be married by the | | | | St. Lucia has no residency policy and a couple can |
| evening, sailing out of port as husband and wife! And in | | | | marry within hours of their arrival, making St. Lucia a |
| every instance here I am speaking of marriages that | | | | popular wedding destination for cruise ship passengers |
| will be legally recognized when you get back home. | | | | who are on the island for just a few hours. It's clear to |
| While the Caribbean can best be thought of as a slow | | | | see the tremendous benefits of a Caribbean |
| paced place not too far from you that is great for rest | | | | Destination Wedding...The islands are not far from |
| and relaxation, when it comes to weddings many of | | | | home, the legal requirements are not prohibitive and |
| the islands have strengthened their civil status | | | | your marriage will be legally recognized back home. |
| capabilities to best accommodate destination brides | | | | So there you have it - A fantastic vacation, getting |
| because they understand the importance of your | | | | married to the one you love, down in the Caribbean, |
| vacation time. And the savviest of governments | | | | one of the most beautiful places on earth...and in the |
| recognize that every bride would rather be sitting out | | | | process you would have saved a bundle...Can a gal |
| on a beach sipping exotic tropical cocktails rather than | | | | ask for more! |