Meaning ‘Ruby’ in Spanish, Aruba is aptly named for it is a beautiful natural resource and gem among the Caribbean islands, shining brightly against the light sands and clear seas. Many chapels offer a traditional Aruba wedding for those religious couples that want to keep the faith alive in their conservative Aruba wedding. It also allows for one to take in all the beauty of the habitat and the politeness and happy nature of its people. From the imaginative to the mundane venues, Aruba has a bit of everything: lighthouses, parks, town halls and beach villas are just a few of their offerings.

Your stay in Aruba will very exciting.   This island hosts night clubs and many sections for entertainment, as well as a history rich in flavor with many attractions that show off its past, present, and predict its future as a top destination wedding spot.  If that was not enough you are only around fifteen miles from the Venezuelan mainland which has everything you actually may not be able to find in Aruba.

Legally weddings have not been possible for outsiders under the past jurisdiction of Aruba’s law.  New territory can be unveiled in your destination Aruba wedding. However, because many honeymoons have been planned among the off white shores of Aruba it does offer many hotels and resorts to accompany you and you guests. Not everyone loves a hotel though and some may want to instead stay in a beautiful beach villa for their Aruba wedding and maybe beyond to their honeymoon.   Aruba is actually part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the official languages are Dutch and Papiamento.

Weather wise, Aruba hosts a landscape somewhere between the areas of tropical and desert, with cacti growing along side palm trees. Aruba does not get nearly the amount of annual rainfall of most of its surrounding Caribbean island neighbors. This makes it easier to predict an Aruba wedding day with out rain to ruin it. It also makes the heat less stifling and summer time Aruba weddings easier for guests to handle. So, come and make this little island your ruby in the rough for a dear and spellbinding Aruba wedding that is simply unforgettable.

MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS

The following are the legal requirements and further guidelines for the various ceremonies and religious preferences for getting married in Aruba:

• Couple must provide from their Country of Citizenship an “apostile” report (a statistics search from the Bureau of Vital Statistics) as proof that they are both indeed single and eligible to marry.
• Each person must submit copies of their official government issued birth certificate with a raised seal.
• If either party has been divorced they must submit a copy of their divorce decree.
• If either party has been widowed, they must submit a copy of the spouse’s 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, they will be provided at an additional fee).
• All civil ceremonies must take place inside the City Hall (Bureau Burgerlijke Stand) in Oranjestad.
• Ceremonies are performed Wednesdays through Saturdays. Times are from 10AM-11:30AM and 2PM- 6PM.
• All documents are to be faxed for review and then submitted by courier (i.e. FedEx or UPS) at least one (1) month prior to desired wedding date to the Office of Civil Registry.

If performing a CATHOLIC ceremony:

1. Proof that the prospective bride and groom have attended pre-marriage preparation.

2. Permission from their home priest to get married in Aruba.

3. An official declaration stating that neither party has been previously married in a Church is also required from their local priest.

4. Copy of Wedding Certificate showing that they have been legally married in their home country.

5. Baptismal and Confirmation certificates of both parties as well as copies of their passports or I.D. Cards.

6. The proposed wedding must take place inside the Church building.

7. All documents must be submitted 4 months prior to chosen wedding date.

If performing a PROTESTANT / EPISCOPALIAN / METHODIST ceremony:

1. Wedding ceremony can be affiliated in the local Protestant / Episcopalian or Methodist Churches or anywhere else the couple desires.

2. If married outside Aruba, copy of marriage certificate from their home country.

3. Proper attire is required for all religious blessings ( ie: No Swimsuits or Wraps for the Bride: Shorts are acceptable for the Groom.

If performing a JEWISH ceremony:

1. Both partners MUST be Jewish and need to submit a verification of Judaism from the Rabbi of their hometown.

2. The Aruban Cantor accepts Jewish status certificates from valid Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Liberal and Re-Constructionist Authorities.

3. A formal petition needs to be submitted to the Aruba Jewish Community.

4. The wedding ceremony may take place either in the synagogue or any other venue of choice.

5. The synagogue of Aruba is an independent Conservative-Reform style congregation.

If performing a ceremony 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 he has been given authority by the country under whose flag the ship is registered.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Office of Civil Registry
Schoolstraat 2
Oranjestad, Aruba
Tel: 011-297-5834400
Fax: 011-297-5839160
E-mail: pivaruba@setarnet.aw