Tropical weather, warm people and affordable luxuries make the Dominican Republic the perfect setting for a romantic wedding destination. With miles of beautiful palm-lined beaches as well as dramatic mountains and landscapes, the country is ideal for weddings and honeymoons alike, allowing newlyweds to kick off their shoes and unwind in the sun. Extravagant or intimate, exciting or relaxed, the country offers an immense variety of accommodations and options to satisfy every style and budget.
Steps to Getting Married in the Dominican Republic
Location Suggestions
Religious Ceremonies
Steps to Getting Married in the Dominican Republic
I. Register to be married with the Oficialia del Estado Civil (City Clerk).
A fee of approximately $455 (USD) is required for registration. If a wedding is being planned through a hotel or resort, the fees may vary. The hotel or resort wedding coordinator can also assist with having paperwork submitted to the government.
The following paperwork must be submitted:
- Passports
- Original copies of birth certificates
- Single Status Affidavits that have been translated by an official translator into Spanish at the Dominican Consulate where the document was issued.
- If divorced, the person(s) will require Divorce Certificate(s) that have been translated by an official Translator into Spanish at the Dominican Consulate where the document was issued.
II. Contact the resort to reserve a judge.
The couple must inform the resort at least one month in advance, with a minimum of 15 days notice, in order to reserve the judge. It is recommended that all paperwork be submitted at least six months before the wedding date. In order to speed up the paperwork process, photocopies of these documents should be sent to the Oficialia del Estado Civil. The originals will be verified upon arrival.
III. Organize two witnesses to be present during the marriage.
Besides the person who will perform the ceremony, two witnesses over the age of 18 must be present during the marriage. If these witnesses are not Dominican Republic residents, they will require passports to verify their identity. If the witnesses are residents, they will require identification cards to verify their identity.
IV. Request Marriage Certificate.
After the ceremony, the bride and groom will be given a document that confirms the wedding took place. A Marriage Certificate must be requested from the local Justice of the Peace and will usually be ready a day or two after the ceremony. This document is legal and recognized everywhere in the world.
Location Suggestions
The Dominican Republic offers an array of fantastic locations for a wedding or honeymoon. Playa Dorada, on the country's North Coast, is the site of many resorts which offer beautiful settings for wedding ceremonies and impressive ballrooms for receptions. The quiet beaches of Bayahibe and La Romana on the Southeast Coast allow for a very private, romantic ceremony. On the easternmost tip of the country lies the tropical paradise of Punta Cana, a perfect wedding spot for the nature enthusiast.
Accommodations range from extravagant resorts to quiet inns. The majority of hotels and resorts in the Dominican Republic offer special wedding packages for the convenience of their guests. Utilizing one of these packages takes the planning of this major event out of the hands of the couple, allowing them to take pleasure in the relaxing atmosphere before and after the ceremony. Professional services such as video recording, photography and music are available at extra costs.
Religious Ceremonies
For those who like the idea of getting married in a tropical setting but still want a religious ceremony, it is possible to arrange a church wedding in the Dominican Republic. Since a church wedding needs more formalities than a civil service, the bride and groom must go slightly beyond the civil wedding requirements. Many hotels have experience with church weddings and a Dominican wedding specialist will be able to better assist the couple through these formalities.
If both the bride and groom are foreigners and want to marry in the Dominican Roman Catholic Church, an Archbishop from the home country may need to request permission from the Archbishop of the Diocese of the desired location.
Insider's Tip: The beautiful but quaint Roman Catholic San Estanislao Church at Altos de Chavon in La Romana is chosen by many foreign couples every year. Arrangements are costly but can be made through Casa de Campo, (809) 523-3333. The San Estanislao church priest will allow the couple to bring a priest of another denomination to participate in the ceremony.
Some Dominican parishes, San Estanislao included, may allow a foreign language-speaking priest to participate in the ceremony.
Church weddings for foreigners have been held at:
- San Estanislao Church in Altos de Chavon (La Romana)
- Basilica La Altagracia, Higuey, La Altagracia (Punta Cana)
- Cathedral of Puerto Plata
- Sosua Synagogue (Puerto Plata)
- Santo Domingo Synagogue
- Cathedral of Santo Domingo
- Cathedral of Santiago
A religious marriage has the same legal implications as a civil marriage. In a religious marriage, the parish priest sends a copy of the act of the celebration to the authorized Officer of the Civil State within three days after the marriage, so it can be registered. Even if a civil marriage has taken place before the canonical marriage, the parish priest must still send a copy of the act to the Official of the Civil State to be registered.
Jewish weddings can be held in the Dominican Republic with or without the presence of a rabbi. To locate a rabbi, call the Israeli Embassy in Santo Domingo: (809) 542-1635.