Getting married in the Carribean requires adhering to local laws.
Destination weddings allow couples to combine their honeymoon and wedding into one luxurious trip, while eliminating the obligation of inviting everyone in their address book. Tropical destinations, such as the Caribbean, offer warm weather and scenic vistas perfect memorable portraits of the special day. The United States honors all marriages that are held in accordance with the laws of the nation in which the wedding took place. Couples looking to get married in the Caribbean need to research what the qualifications for marriage are in the country they have selected.
Instructions
1. Select the Caribbean country in which you want to get married. There are over 30 islands in the Caribbean to choose from, and the legal requirements for marriage may vary in each country.
2. Contact the tourist information bureau of the country which you plan on getting married in to determine what that country requires to perform a legal marriage. Most countries have a residency requirement that you must meet prior to getting married. Couples must also determine if they need to bring birth certificates, divorce decrees, blood tests or a marriage license in addition to their passports to meet legal requirements.
3. Obtain an affidavit of eligibility to marry from the U.S. consulate or embassy in the country in which you are planning on getting married. Most Caribbean country governments run under a system of civil law, versus the U.S. system of common law, that requires legal proof of an individual's capacity to enter into a marriage contract. Some countries may also require a witness when executing the affidavit.
4. Schedule a local official or religious officer to perform your wedding service. As in the U.S., a wedding service must be presided over by an authorized individual in order for the marriage to become legally binding. U.S. policy prohibits marriages from taking place in American embassies or consulates, nor can they be officiated by American diplomats or consular officers.
Tags: country which, Caribbean country, getting married, legal requirements, wedding service
