St Maarten Weddings Caribbean in Focus

Located at the northern end of the Lesser Antilles, St. Maarten/St. Martin is the smallest island in the world to be shared by two nations, the Netherlands and France, creating a European-influenced vibe with a Caribbean flair. St. Maarten, the Dutch half of the island, is known as the culinary capital of the Caribbean with an eclectic array of elegantly perfected culinary fusion that keeps “food lovers” returning each year. Accommodations are varied with many designed to exceed the expectations of even the most discerning traveller.

Top properties: Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino, Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino,Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa, The Cliff at Cupecoy Beach, Pasanggrahan Royal Guest House, and Holland House Beach Hotel.

Hot spot to watch: Ocean’s Edge Resort.

Landscape: Relatively flat on the west side but hilly in most parts of the island with Atlantic and Caribbean coastlines.

Activities: Horseback riding, diving and parasailing are commonly enjoyed in addition to the delectable cuisine and duty-free shopping for which St. Maarten is known.

Marriage Requirements: Requests for marriages must be submitted to the Civil Registrar at least 14 days prior to date of ceremony.

Residency Requirement: One week.
Documents Required: Essential documents, plus a full abridged birth certificate for the bride and groom submitted to the Registrar. Valid passports as well as declaration of marital status not older than 3 months are required. 18 is the minimum legal age without parental consent. If widowed, a death certificate is required, and if divorced, a divorce certificate or a final judgment decree. All documents must be in English or Dutch.

Fees: US$410 (includes civil ceremony, marriage book, stamps and certificate).
Witnesses: Six witnesses if the marriage is performed outside of the Marriage Hall and two witnesses if the ceremony takes place in the Marriage Hall.

Weddings in St Maarten visit:
Source: Information kindly supplied by Caribbean Tourism Organisation: http://www.caribbean.co.uk/content/files/CaribbeanWeddingGuide2011.pdf