Destination Weddings in the Turks and Caicos Islands
What could be more romantic than getting married on an exotic tropical island? Your wedding is a very personal and special day. Your life’s adventure together can have a magical beginning. Times have changed from not long ago when the church or temple down the street was the choice of location. Today thousands of couples plan their wedding away from home combining the honeymoon on an exotic tropical island destination. Many couples tie the knot right on the beach at the waters edge. The wedding can be as formal or as casual as you like. The Turks and Caicos Islands is growing as a prime destination for just such a vacation.
Rachel Sinanan & Sebastian Tauz - 9 August 2008 - On the beach at Regent Palms. Photography by Tropical Imaging.
Your special day should be a day you need only think of each other. You can arrange the event with a destination Wedding Planner who will take care of the details well in advance of your arrival. A villa rental and accommodation for your wedding party and friends. The marriage license, wedding location, the minister, the flowers, the cake, catered dinners, reception location, champagne and limousine. Or arrangements can be as simple as making a reservation with a Resort that offers Wedding Packages including all the details.
Jennifer Tinch & William Gunn Jr. - 12 December 2008 - On the beach near Grace Bay Club. Photography by Tropical Imaging.
In order to legally wed your beloved in the TCI there are a few requirements and necessary documents. See “Making it Legal” below. After the ceremony has taken place, the marriage license is sent to Grand Turk. The Registrar of Weddings will complete a Marriage Certificate and mail it to your home or hotel, depending on the length of your stay here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Jill Janeczko & Andy Freedman - 31 May 2008 - On the beach at Club Med Turkoise. Photography by Tropical Imaging.
You will want a wedding location that takes advantage of the tropical splendour. Our beaches are rated among the top ten in the world, by Conde Nast, so by all means consider the shining white strands back dropped by our gin clear turquoise water. Or hire a sailboat for you and your party and join hands on deck, while anchored off yet another of our famous, deserted beaches. And yes, we have churches of many denominations for traditionalists.
Professional photographers, such as Tropical Imaging, videographers and musicians, not to mention caterers and restaurants are all available to you personally or they may be booked through your Wedding Planner. We are short on private banquet facilities but many restaurants will close to the public in order to entertain a large private party, if booked well in advance.
Whether you and your spouse take your vows with an audience of two or a party of 400, your wedding day in the Turks & Caicos Islands will create memories you will cherish forever.
Making it Legal in the Turks and Caicos Islands
Requirements for obtaining a marriage license in the Turks and Caicos Islands:
- Passport.
- Original Birth Certificate.
- Both parties must be in The Turks and Caicos Islands at the time of the application.
- Persons wishing to be married in the Turks and Caicos Islands may do so after one day (24 hours). Before an application for a Marriage License can be made to the Registrar in Grand Turk. The ceremony can then take place after a period of 2-3 days or at any time after the application has been granted.
- Proof of marital status - If single a sworn affidavit is required. If one of the parties is a divorcee, then a Divorce Decree is required, either the original or a notarized copy, sealed by a Court Clerk. In the case of a Widow/Widower a Death Certificate of the previous spouse is required. In the case of change of name by Deed Poll or Adoption, then proof is required.
- If either party is unmarried, being a citizen or resident of a country other than the U.S.A., a declaration certifying this fact must be sworn before a Notary Public or other person authorized to administer oaths in that country and must accompany the application for the Marriage License.
- If under the age of 21, then consent of one or both parents or guardian, in the form of an affidavit stamped by the Notary Public.
- The marriage parties must not be within the prohibited degree of relationships to each other. Include a letter stating both party’s occupations, marital status, age as of last birthday, present address of residence and fathers full name.
- For church weddings Ministers may require proof of membership.
- The parties must produce evidence of the date of their arrival in The Turks and Caicos Islands.
- No blood test is necessary.
- The fee for the license is $100.00.
Note: Marriage Licenses are issued at the office of the Registrar in Providenciales. This office is open to the public Monday to Friday between the hours of 9:30am - 4:30pm. Please be advised that any Passports or documentation written other than in English should be translated in advance and notarized by the applicable consulate.
NILA Destination Wedding Coordinator and Event Planner
We provide a complete service for a destination dream wedding. Personalized Wedding Coordination - Minister or Justice of the Peace - Legal Paperwork - Flowers and Wedding Decoration - Cake and Music - Photography and Video - Rehearsal Dinner & Wedding Reception Planning - Hotel and Villa Reservations - Honeymoon - Activities - and a lot more. To make wedding planning and coordinating truly easy, we design your complimentary personal wedding web page. Simply fill out our wedding planner online and we will send you all the information you need. We create weddings with loving attention to detail to make your wedding perfect.
