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 Popular Destination Advice
Aruba Weddings - Weddings in Aruba
Aruba Wedding Overview
Aruba is an island in the Caribbean located about 15 miles from the coast of Venezuela. There are about 100,000 people who live on the island, and the main language spoken here is Dutch (the second official language is Papamiento), but there are often people who can speak English at the resorts and hotels. Aruba is highly focused on tourism, so there are many perks to having your wedding here versus some other destinations in the Caribbean; the water here is easily drinkable, the island is family friendly and they are now welcoming to people coming to their island to get married.
Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Aruba
Legally, getting married in Aruba is a bit tougher than some other wedding destinations. You will need to submit your legal documents to the Aruban officials at the office of Civil Registry at least one month before you're planning to get married. These documents have to include a copy of your birth certificates with raised seals, an “apostile”(a document that states that the both of you are legally able to be married), copies of your passports and copies of the passports of your witnesses. The fee to be married will be $80 on weekdays or $200 on weekends. This will allow you to have a civil ceremony at the City Hall (in Oranjestad), if you wish to have a religious blessing or other ceremony afterward, that can also be arranged.
Aruba Wedding Types
Aruba may be seen primarily as a beach wedding paradise, but this Dutch island has plenty of areas to host your wedding. As all legal weddings must take place at the City Hall in Oranjestad, you can choose from many areas on the island to have your religious blessing or romantic ceremony afterward. The beaches (all of which are public) make a great place to have a simple blessing or get together to share your vows, or you can choose to get married in a Catholic church (there are specific requirements for this) or other religious building. As over 80% of Aruba follows the Roman Catholic faith, there are a couple of choices of Catholic churches, but there is also a Protestant church and Jewish temple available for religious weddings.
Aruba Beach Weddings
Almost all of the hotels and resorts on Aruba are located directly on the water, making any of them a great choice for a beach wedding location. The beaches on Aruba are known for their beautiful white sand and the fact that they are public means that you can use any area you desire to have your blessing ceremony or romantic vow exchange. After you have your civil ceremony (either on Aruba in the City Hall, or in your home state or country) you can choose to show your love by reaffirming your commitment on the beach. Both Palm Beach and Eagle Beach, located adjacent to the hotel areas, would make perfect places to choose to hold your wedding ceremony, as would the private island beach of Renaissance Island (owned by the Renaissance Aruba Resort). DestinationWeddings.com can help you to choose the best beach for your ceremony type and budget.
Aruba Destination Wedding Honeymoons
If you're already in Aruba for your destination wedding, why not extend your stay and have your honeymoon here as well? Aruba has many different resorts, some with casinos on site, to accommodate many different styles and tastes. Most of the hotels and resorts are located along the Eagle and Palm Beaches, and you can spend your days sitting and relaxing on the beach. Two of the hotels that DestinationWeddings.com work with are the Renaissance Aruba Resort and Casino and the Wyndham Aruba Beach Resort and Casino, both of which offer so many activities and amenities, you can spend your whole honeymoon in one spot!
Aruba Wedding Receptions
Wedding receptions on Aruba can be as simple or as complex as you'd like to make them. If you choose to go with one of DestinationWeddings.com's wedding packages that include a reception, you may be set for all you need. Each of the packages' receptions includes a cake, champagne and setup to enjoy your intimate reception on the beach. If you're looking for something a bit larger or more lavish, one of Aruba's hotels or resorts can surely fit the bill, with their banquet halls and other large rooms, they can easily accommodate larger parties. For the truly unique (and more daring), why not try the Kukoo Kunuku? This party barhopping bus can take you around the island on a tour of the best night spots, making it a memorable reception for younger groups (but no one under 18).
Aruba Wedding Apparel
What to wear for your Aruba wedding is totally up to you. Aruba is a laid-back island, and many people choose to dress casually due to the warm climate and beach atmosphere. There is, however, a dress code for those who wish to have a religious blessing after their civil ceremony. The women must wear “proper attire”, meaning no bathing suits, bikini tops, wraps or anything worn on the beach. The groom can wear shorts, however. Of course, you can choose to go all out and wear your tux and wedding gown to your Aruba wedding, but you'll probably want to bring those clothes with you, as finding exactly what you're looking for in formal wear on a small island can be tough.
Aruba Wedding Activities
There are many different activities that you and your guests can enjoy while staying on the island of Aruba. The beaches of Aruba are great for sun bathing and water sports, such as snorkeling and diving. Baby Beach, at the southeastern end of the island, is known for being children and family friendly, as the water here is calmer than at other beaches. You might also want to see the beautiful stone California Lighthouse, named for the wreck of the ship the California that happened here. If you're into history, there are great archeological finds at the Historic Gold Mills, where there are remnants of the buildings that explorers from the 1400's and 1500's built when in search of wealth.
Aruba Wedding Guests
Getting your guests to Aruba can be tough. If you go through DestinationWeddings.com, you can be sure that you'll get the best rates available for your group of guests. They'll be able to get rooms and flights at good prices, as well as coordination that will make everyone feel more comfortable. You'll also want to make sure that you have sent a “Save the Date” card (or invitation) to your guests four to six months in advance of your wedding date, so that you'll be sure to have as many people as possible be able to come to your event. Choose a hotel that is family friendly, such as the Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club, and you'll be able to get the widest range of family and friends to come to your event.
Please Remember:
Destination weddings take considerable planning and research, and the best properties & accommodations often book far in advance of the wedding date.
The earlier you begin planning your wedding, the greater the likelihood you will be able to book the perfect property for you and your guests.
Start Planning your Destination Wedding Today.
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