Anguilla Weddings
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Anguilla Weddings
Anguilla is a British territory and is part of the British West Indies. Anguilla is a favorite Caribbean location to be married for couples because of the romantic atmosphere and the ease of the process to get married. With no residency requirements, no blood tests, and no restrictions on where and who can marry you, Anguilla is a bride and groom's dream.
Why Anguilla?
For US brides, no language barriers, relatively affordable airfare and with 33 of the worlds most pristine beaches Anguilla offers the bride looking for a beach wedding with a lot of options including stretches of deserted sparkling white sand beaches.
Marriage License Requirements
Couples may be married by special license on Anguilla which takes about 48 hours to process before you can actually get married. You can get the application from the Judicial Department on the island.
The documents required to be married on Anguilla are minimal compared to some places, and are as follows.
- A current passport or a certified or original copy of your birth certificates along with current photo ID from the state you live in. Although having your current passport is easier and will fulfill proof of who you are requirements.
- If either of you are divorced or have been widowed then you will need to provide either a certified or original copy of the divorce decree or death certificate whichever is applicable. Photocopies will not be accepted so make sure if you don't have a certified copy or the original that you send away for these enough ahead of time so as to allow for any possible red tape you may have to get through before getting your certified copy back from the Vital Statistics office in your state.
- Proof of residency.
- All of your documents must be in English. If they are not then you will need to have them translated into English and notarized.
If one of you is there for at least fifteen days then the cost for the marriage license is only US$40. However, if neither of you has resided on the island for at least fifteen days then the cost goes up to US$284 which includes a stamp duty.
Civil Ceremonies
One of the advantages to getting married on Anguilla is that you can be married anywhere you like whether that be on a cay, on a boat, on the beach, at sunset, in a church, in a restaurant, on the grounds of a resort, in a private villa or anywhere else for that matter, these are only a few of the possible choices of location. Unlike some islands and countries you are not bound to being married in a registry office, or church. No matter where you decide to be married, you will need at least two witnesses at your ceremony.
Religious Ceremonies
If you want to be married in the Catholic church then there are further requirements. If you are divorced and were married in the Catholic church for your first marriage then you will need to have annullment papers from the Catholic church and papers from your civil divorce as well in order to be married again in the Catholic church because the Catholic church does not recognize divorce. In addition you will need to provide three to six months advance notice, participation in a pre-cana course, and submit to the Catholic church you want to be married in baptismal certificates, confirmation papers, and freedom to marry papers. Without these things it is not possible to be married in a Catholic church on Anguilla.
How to Get There
American Eagle [1], Continental [2]and Delta service Anguilla, however there are no direct flights from the mainland US. American connects through San Juan Puerto Rico. You can also fly Caribbean Star/TransAnguilla[3] or Windward Islands Airways (Winair)[4].
Insider Tips
Best Time to Go
The best time to plan a wedding is from November through March when the weather is not quite as hot, and the chances of a tropical storm quite low. The summer months can be quite hot so if you are planning on wearing a full gown or have elderly relatives the summer may not be the best time to go. Hurrican season starts in June and runs through October.
Planning
Ceremony Sites
Religious Sites
Civil Sites
Beach Wedding Little Bay Backed by sheer cliffs, the only access to this beach is via boat or climbing down by ropes. A boat ride is a little safer and takes about five minutes. Gray sand beach makes for interesting photographs.
Shoal Bay Often named the best beach in Anguilla, Shoal Bay has powder white coral sand and is framed by coconut trees. The east end is quieter with excellent snorkeling and a cave filled with petroglyphs and tribal artifacts. Shoal Bay is known for it’s beautiful sunsets.
Rendezvous Bay One and a half miles (2½ km) of pearly white sand beach, calm water with views of St. Martin and the mountains make this a favorite beach for brides to be. The beach is large enough to accommodate large weddings and is home to three resorts.
Shoal Bay West One mile long and lined with mangroves, restaurants, and resorts Shoal Bay West Beach is another great choice for a beach wedding. For the truly adventurous bride, coral reefs are not too far from shore.