While choosing bedazzled table linens and lacy garters can be stimulating, wedding planning can also be pure misery. Every day I fantasize about telling my mother and future mother-in-law to take a hike so my fiancé and I can hightail it to Vegas, or even better, Paris, or some exotic, beachy location, but unfortunately, that isn’t in the stars for my impending nuptials.
Although saying, “I do” under the Eiffel Tower sounds incredibly romantic, countries like France, Egypt, and Bali have lengthy residency and documentation requirements for foreigners. To get married abroad, a passport, birth certificate, and if applicable, a divorce document, are generally required. Sometimes medical records and a blood test are necessary as well. But even all that un-romantic documentation didn’t stop me from dreaming; after countless late nights of investigation, I made a list of the most picturesque places with the least red tape to tie the knot. Now if only I can get the hubby-to-be on board …
1. Tamarindo, Costa Rica
As its name says, Costa Rica truly is a rich coast. Located on the Pacific coast, the sun shines in Tamarindo 365 days of the year. For lovers of adventure sport, eco-tourism, and the best Mother Nature has to offer, Tamarindo is the spot. Unlike other Central American destinations, Costa Rica is a relatively hassle-free wedding destination.
Red Tape: To get hitched in Costa Rica you need your passport, birth certificate, and two unrelated witnesses. You must register with a local attorney two months before heading to the altar. (In Costa Rica, notaries often act as attorneys and are simple to come across.) The Civil Registry will issue your marriage certificate four to seven weeks after your ceremony. Your marriage will be legally recognized in the U.S. when you or the lawyer who performed the ceremony submits your marriage certificate with the appropriate certifications to the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica.
2. Niagara Falls
In a helicopter above the falls or on a cliff overlooking them, Niagara Falls is an inimitable place to get married. Couples who’ve taken the plunge at the falls claim the negative ions from the water reduce fatigue and act as a natural aphrodisiac. Since it’s in the states (and Canada is an extremely friendly northern neighbor), Niagara Falls is a stress-free and memorable destination.
Red Tape: Head to any city clerk or town clerk’s office in New York to obtain a marriage license. Bring a birth certificate and your driver’s license. You must get married within sixty days from when the license is issued. (Similar laws apply if you get married on the Canadian side of the falls, except you must receive your license in Canada.)
3. Grenada, The Caribbean
Just north of Trinidad, Grenada is home to some of the most stunning shorelines in all the Caribbean. Its history of volcanic eruptions has created a distinctive landscape complete with mango swamps and rainforests. A rich blend of African, Indian, Caribbean, and French cultures, its simple marriage requirements and exotic scenery make it an idyllic place to elope.
Red Tape: You must be in Grenada three days before the wedding and apply for a marriage license in person at the Office of the Prime Minister. Bring your passport and birth certificate. You’ll need to provide a document saying that you’ve never been married before or additional proof in cases of divorce or widow.
4. Ice Hotel, Quebec
With rooms, bars, art galleries, and a chapel entirely made of ice, a wedding at the ice hotel is unforgettable—just don’t forget your winter coat. The hotel is usually only open from January through April because the buildings start to melt in the summer. Dog sled from your ceremony to a romantic dinner, then spend a once-in-a-lifetime night in your ice-made honeymoon suite.
Red Tape: There are no residency requirements. You need to apply in person with a passport and birth certificate at a registry agent in order to receive a license to present to your officiate before the ceremony.
