Destination Wedding Requirements
Destination weddings offer you the chance to celebrate your marriage as well as enjoy a wonderful vacation. With careful planning and observance of the special requirements for a destination wedding, your wedding experience can be a dream come true. While the exact requirements for your destination wedding depend upon your specific wedding location, there are general requirements common to all foreign locations.
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License Waiting Period and Fee
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Couples are permitted to marry under the authority of a special license, which generally takes from one day to process, such as that required in the Bahamas, to one month, such as that required in the French West Indies. License fees usually range from $50 to a few hundred dollars. In many destinations, the longer you have been present in the location, the lower the cost of the license is as only a minimal stamp duty will be assessed.
Proof of Eligibility to Marry
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Nearly all destinations require proof of your eligibility to marry. This may include a sworn affidavit or letter from a clergyman, lawyer or registry attesting that neither you nor your fiancé(e) has previously been married. If either you or your fiancé(e) are divorced or widowed, then you must alternatively have an official divorce decree or death certificate.
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Witnesses and Solemnization
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In most foreign destinations, your wedding ceremony must be solemnized by a registrar or marriage officer who is entitled to the payment of reasonable traveling expenses if the marriage takes place away from the marriage officer's usual place of business. Two witnesses must also be present at your ceremony, with the witnesses provided either by you or the marriage officer for a fee.
Identification and Proof of Age
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Proper identification is needed for both you and your fiancé(e), including a passport or birth certificate and an additional photo identification, such as a driver's license. It is essential that all documents presented are original or certified as original by the issuing departments or offices. Ensure that all documents are in your legal name, and provide affidavits in cases where you are known by another name. For those under the age of 18, or 21 in many destinations, a parent's written consent is also required.
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References
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