Getting married in St Lucia
Wednesday, 14 Dec 2005 11:30
St Lucia: a place to get married and then honeymoon
Getting married and honeymooning in the same place does not seem all that appealing when it comes to the UK.
But when it comes to a tropical destination such as St Lucia in the Caribbean it is an altogether different prospect.
By September, a total of 2,700 couples had already said 'I do' in St Lucia, and this number is expected to increase in 2006.
The island offers couples a growing number of locations to get married aside from the traditional church wedding, including the base of a waterfall, under the rainforest canopy, in botanical gardens or on the beachfront.
Most hotels in St Lucia have a wedding co-ordinator and provide tailored services including venue decoration, the bridal bouquet and even if the best man if need be.
And after the big day, there is no need to rush off and catch a flight. Along with sandy beaches and beautiful weather, the island's attractions include the striking twin Pitons mountains, sulphur springs and miles of lush tropical rainforest.
Practicalities
To get married in St Lucia couples can either apply for an ordinary marriage license or a special marriage license to the government of St Lucia.
Ordinary marriage license
This needs to be lodged at least seven days before the date of the marriage, and documents can be faxed in advance. The following documents need to be presented on arrival, all of which need to be originals:
Passport.
Birth certificate.
Decree absolute or similar legal document as proof of divorce.
If you are a widow or widower a death certificate of first spouse and an original marriage certificate is required.
A deed poll is required if a name has been changed.
If one of the parties is under the age of 18, evidence of consent of parents is required in the form of a sworn affidavit stamped by a notary public.
Special marriage license
This can be lodged less than seven days before the date of the marriage, but at a greater cost than an ordinary license. It can be applied for on the same day as the marriage provided all the above documentation is available.