The Turks and Caicos Islands are a British Protectorate in the Caribbean Sea. These islands have a population of 200,000 and receive around 2 million visitors a year. Although the islands are served by an international airport that is only an hour from Miami and offers direct flights from London, Toronto and New York, the white sandy beaches and beautiful blue seas are a world away from the hustle and bustle of the continent.
It’s easy to get married in the Turks and Caicos Islands: very little red tape is required. You’ll both need a passport and your original birth certificates, and (an obvious point) you’ll both need to be physically located in the Turks and Caicos Islands when you apply for your marriage license.
In fact, couples must wait 72 hours after arriving in the Turks and Caicos Islands before being eligible for a marriage license. The islands are sparsely populated, except for Provo, which is where it’s easiest to create a memorable wedding. Grace Bay is the spiritual and commercial heart of Provo, and is home to many excellent hotels and beachfront villas. Almost all hotels and resorts on the island have wedding planning services, which is a great help.
As a first step, you will need to apply for a permit from the Registrar of Marriages (most resort hotels will do this for you as part of a wedding package), and you have up to 3 days to use this license.
This license application must be made by an official marriage officer, and this is usually a minister of the church who has received the appropriate accreditation from the Registrar.
In addition to passports and birth certificates (which may need to be translated into English), those previously divorced will need to submit a notarized copy of a divorce decree. Widowers must submit a death certificate for their former spouse. If you are under the age of 21, you will need to show consent from both parents or your guardian.
No blood tests are required and the license fee is only $100 (US).
Once the paperwork is taken care of, you are ready for your tropical destination wedding.
In addition to helping with paperwork, local hotels plan excellent weddings. Charter a sailboat or motor yacht, or host your ceremony poolside at a beautiful hotel. Destination wedding services also help with wedding dresses and attire, not only for the bride and groom, but also for their guests. In addition to Grace Bay, popular areas on Provo Island include Sapodilla Bay, Copper Jack, Discovery Bay, Turtle Tail, and Long Bay. Chalk Sound is a popular cruise ship destination.
The best destination wedding services will also arrange accommodations and flights to and from a Turks and Caicos resort.
While there is more than just paperwork to complete when getting married on the islands, the effort is well worth it.
