Aruba is the perfect wedding destination for you and your guests when in port. Let our on-island experts know what you are envisioning for your wedding, and when you arrive on your cruise, the wedding details have been all taken care of!
Go to www.weddings.arubamarriott.com to plan your wedding today!

Cruise weddings take place while the ship is in port, and couples can choose to have their wedding while the ship is docked in the Port of Oranjestad.

Marriage Regulations For Non-Aruban Citizens

As of January 2002, civil marriages are possible in Aruba. Couples can still arrange religious wedding ceremonies after they have been legally married either civilly in Aruba or by a civil authority such as a justice of peace or a municipal judge in their home state. Should the couple choose to be married civilly in their home state, they must bring their marriage certificate with them and the proper Aruba officials must be informed in advance. The following are the guidelines for the various ceremonies.

Civil Ceremonies

Requirements:

• Couple must obtain a document from the bureau of vital statistics or civil registry from their home state as proof that by their records they are both presently unmarried and are therefore free to be married to each other.
• Each person must submit copies of their birth certificate with a raised seal. The local civil authorities will keep these copies.
• Items 1 and 2 must be taken to the office of the secretary of state of your home state for an "apostil" seal that verifies the signatures on these documents.
• If either party has been divorced they must submit a copy of their degree nisi.
• If either party has been widowed, they must submit a copy of the death certificate.
• Couple must be holders of valid passports and submit with their application, copies of the pages showing all relevant details.
• Copies of the passport pages of their witnesses must also be submitted (if couple does not have any witnesses, we will provide them at an additional fee).
• All documents must be submitted by courier (i.e. Fedex) at least one (1) month prior to desire wedding date.

Conditions:

• All civil ceremonies must take place at the Bureau Burgerlijke Stand (Civil Town House) in Oranjestad.
• Ceremonies are performed monday through saturday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m

Roman Catholic Church (all applications must be made directly to the Catholic Church):

At present the local Catholic Diocese is not permitting non- residents to be married here on Aruba. We have been in contact with them and they will be looking again at the legalities of non-residents being married here when their council meets in January 2002. As soon as we have word on their decision, we will update our information accordingly.

Protestant/Episcopalian/Methodist Churches:

Wedding ceremony can be affiliated in the local protestant / episcopalian or methodist churches or anywhere else the couple desires.

• Copy of wedding certificate showing that they have been legally married in their home country must be presented to the church official prior to the ceremony on island.
• Proper attire is required for all "religious blessings" i.E.: No swimsuits and wraps are accepted as wear for the bride. Shorts are acceptable for the groom.

Roman Catholic Church (all applications must be made directly to the Catholic Church):

• Both partners must submit a verification of judaism from the rabbi of their hometown.
• The aruba cantor accepts jewish status certificates from valid orthodox, conservative, reform, liberal and re-constructionist authorities.
• A formal petition needs to be submitted to the aruba jewish community.
• The wedding ceremony may take place either in the synagogue or any other venue of choice.
• The synagogue of aruba is an independent conservative-reform style congregation.

Civil Ceremonies For Dutch Citizens

Requirements:

• Notarized copies of birth certificates of both parties.
• Copies of passports of both parties.
• Notarized declarations from both parties of never being married.
• Notarized declaration of divorce, if any one of the parties has been married before.
• Notarized declarations of not being remarried, if one of the parties did marry after a divorce.
• Notarized declaration from either party if one is widowed.
• Copies of passports of witnesses if any.

Conditions:

All civil ceremonies must take place at the Bureau Burgerlijke stand (civil town house) in Oranjestad. Ceremonies are performed Monday through Friday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. By special request ceremonies can be performed on Saturday between the hours of 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

At sea:

A boat captain is not authorized to officiate a wedding according to Dutch laws. This applies for international waters as well as in port. The only exception to this rule is if has he has been given authority by the country under whose flag the ship is registered.