Destination Weddings – The Ugly Truth

You’ve always dreamed of getting married on a beach in Tahiti, a top a mountain in Tibet, at the Pyramids in Egypt, at Stonehenge, at an ashram in India, in a canal in Italy or under the Eiffel Tower in Paris? Perhaps you want to experience the country of your ancestor. Or return to a place you visited as a couple. Or you just want something off the beaten path, extreme or exotic?

Destination weddings are a beautiful way to share your love with your family and friends while both you and they experience a sojourn in a country that is cherished by you.

But before you pack your bags, grab your passports and jet off there are somethings to consider.

Some basic rules:

United States embassy and Consulate personnel cannot perform marriages in foreign countries
A marriage performed outside of the U.S. are considered valid in the country where they are performed provided it was conducted in accordance with local law
Validity of the a marriage preformed abroad depends upon the laws of the place where the marriage is to be recognized

You need to research the country in which you are planning to get married. Procedures will vary depending on the country and some require lengthy preparation. Some examples are:

Residency requirement
Blood or other tests Age requirements
Parental consent
Documents certifying the end of any previous marriage be submitted, translated and authenticated
Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry

You should consult the embassy or tourist information bureau of the country you want to get married in to learn the specific requirements.

Will your overseas marriage be valid once you get home? There is a possibility you will need specialized documentation and go through a lengthy process to have your marriage recognized here. You should contact the Attorney General’s office in your state for exact requirements.

Reading this you are disheartened. This sounds like a lot of work. What if I think I do everything right but my marriage isn’t valid? That can have a lot of severe consequences down the road.

But don’t give up your dream yet. The simplest way to make your marriage valid here, is to get married here before you go to your destination.

But this is already expensive right? And you want something better than the courthouse basement?

Contact me and we can work out a reasonable fee to make sure your ceremony is where and how you want it to be before you jet off to your destination.

Don’t settle for less than you want in either of your ceremonies.