How to Get Married in Aruba

Aruba has always made a great honeymoon destination, but for years it was tricky as a wedding destination. Civil ceremonies were not not legal unless one member of the couple was either a Dutch citizen or was born on Aruba. In 2002, though, that law changed.

A new marriage law permits couples to be married in Aruba at City Hall, Wednesday through Friday.

Applications and/or Documents Required: Paperwork needs to be submitted by a courier service. That paperwork includes an apostile from your country of citizenship that you are both single. You'll each need to send copies of your birth certificates with a raised seal. Divorce decree or death certificates are required in case of prior marriage.

You’ll each need to hold valid passports and send pages of those passports with your application. You’ll also need to send passport pages of your witnesses (although witnesses can be provided for a fee if the two of you are traveling alone.) Your paperwork is sent to:

Office of Civil Registry
Attn: Mr. Betto Christiaans
Schoolstraat 2
Oranjestad, Aruba
Tel: 011.297.834400
Fax: 011.297.839160

Church Weddings: Protestant weddings can be arranged for both Protestants and non-Protestants. You’ll first need to have a civil ceremony at home. Before your trip, contact Pastor Bastiaan Stigter, Bilderdijkstraat 7, Aruba (phone and fax 297.821435). Bring along your wedding certificate to Aruba. Your wedding ceremony can be held in a church, your hotel, a beach, or anywhere in Aruba. The cost of the ceremony is US$100.

For a Jewish wedding, a US marriage certification is required along with verification of Judaism from your home rabbi. Both of you must have verification of Judaism from your local Rabbi; Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Liberal, and Reconstructionist Jewish status certificates are accepted. If either of you has been married before in a Jewish ceremony, you must have a Jewish divorce certificate. You’ll need to submit a petition to the Aruba Jewish Community, Israelitische Gemeente-Beth Israel, Adriaan Lacle Blvd. 2, Box 655, Oranjastad, Aruba. Your ceremony can be held in the synagogue or in any open location. The Aruba synagogue is an independent Conservative/Reform Style congregation.

For more information on a Jewish ceremony, contact:

Cantor Irving N. Spenadel
P.O. Box 5397
Royal Plaza Aruba
Tel. 297.823272, Fax 297.88626
Email ledaneps@setarnet.aw

To be married in the Roman Catholic church, you and yours will have to have attended pre-wedding preparation at your local parish. Bring along a permit from your local priest to get married in Aruba. You’ll also need to bring along an official form stating that neither of you has ever been married in a church. Finally, you’ll need to be married at home by civil law and bring that wedding certificate with you to Aruba.

Catholic weddings must be held in the Catholic church. Donations of at least US$20 are requested. You’ll need to begin plans at least four months before the date.
Before your trip to Aruba, contact one of the following to arrange your Catholic wedding:

• Father Ray Nares, c/o Parokia San Francisco, Irausquinplein 3, Oranjestad, Aruba (297.821434)
  
• Santa Anna Parish, Noord 16, Oranjestad, Aruba (297.871409, Fax 297.878554)

Waiting Period: documents should be submitted one month before the wedding date.

Witnesses: 2 witness are required.

For more information: See the official Antigua website, http://www.aruba.com/pages/weddingmoon.htm or, from the US, call 1-800-TO-ARUBA.

Related Pages:

• wedding regulations in other destinations

Note: Lovetripper.com provides the above information for guidance purposes only. Couples should verify all information with the consulate from their respective countries and with the local offices before making any plans.