How to Get Married in Bermuda

Getting married is by far one of the largest investments you can ever make in your whole life.  That would be a big decision to make, thus it should be planned and decided as early and as sure as possible.  But, what if you decided to get married in Bermuda?  Well if that´s the case, then the more you need to have it well-planned earlier than usual.

Bermuda is deemed throughout the world as a perfect destination for wedding.  It is in fact rated by certain magazines as one of the top 10 wedding destinations on earth that hundreds of couples choose to travel to the island and say their “I dos’ every year.

But the question now is why is Bermuda considered as a perfect destination for wedding, and even for honeymoon?   Well, let´s find out the answer to that question just right here.

Why is Bermuda Ideal for Wedding?

There are a number of reasons that many couples decide to tie the knot in Bermuda.  Most of their reasons are pretty personal though, but the idea of the place being a paradise worth visiting and dwelling does contribute a greater part on it.   The possible reasons for such growing preference may include the following:

Bermuda provides the most romantic setting coupled with the breathtaking sceneries around, plus the renowned soft pink sand beaches where couples can enjoy.  To mention but a few, there are the old historic churches, cliff tops at sunsets, pink sand coves that are secluded, lush flowering gardens, and even the magical stone moon gates that are shaped like a large wedding ring, making the place truly ideal for couples.

More than a hundred places where you can exchange your vows are out there in the island ready to give you space.  Churches, beaches, hotels, and other possible wedding hubs are available for you to choose from.

If you prefer to marry in a natural setting, Bermuda has a nearly endless of lovely outdoor locations, and many of them are overlooking the beautiful Atlantic Ocean.

Bermuda has a rich culture and wedding tradition that could add charm and beauty to your ceremony.  One of the most well-known wedding rituals in Bermuda is that the bride and groom need to have their own cakes during the ceremony.  And, before they celebrate their wedding, they must take a just-married walk through at least one moon gate for good luck.

Getting married in Bermuda is very much easy and simple.  No blood tests or certificates are required.  Only the Notice of Intended Marriage is needed.

Only few legal formalities are needed and Bermuda has a close proximity to the United States.

Professional wedding planners are available throughout Bermuda to help you plan create that dream wedding ceremony of your life.  Along with this, other well developed infrastructures are available, including florists, photographers, hair stylists and beauticians, entertainers, caterers, tuxedo hire companies, and a lot more.

Bermudians are friendly people who will always greet you with a smile on their face.

Indeed, there are a lot of wonderful things in Bermuda that could provide charm to your wedding day.  Perhaps the best part of it is the fact that you can easily find your spot in just a matter of minutes to say “I do’ and there´ll be no need for you to hop on a place just to find a perfect location for your honeymoon.  Bermuda already has it.  All you need to do is to decide.

Steps to Take for a Successful Bermuda Wedding

So you´ve decided to get married in Bermuda.  Well, the next best step you can do now is to be ready for it and plan everything that you´ll need for that wonderful wedding.  Plan in advance and ask for the experts´ advice if you can.  And, know everything that is needed to make that forthcoming wedding ceremony of yours worth remembering.  

Here are some of the helpful steps you can take to make that wonderful Bermuda wedding possible:

Step #1:  Obtain a Marriage License

Just like in any other places, a marriage license is required for wedding in Bermuda.   So if you have plans to take or exchange vows in Bermuda, the first and foremost step you can make is to obtain that license.  

The marriage license for a Bermuda wedding is available for residents and non residents of the island.  It comes in a form of Notice of Intended Marriage which can be obtained from the Registrar General´s office and is published in the Bermuda newspapers three times.  Once obtained, the couples are required to fill out the form and the name and residential addresses of both parties must always be shown in full.   The form must be sent back to the Registrar General together with the correct payment.

For the divorce couples, the Bermuda government required the couples to submit copies of final divorce decrees together with the Notice of Intended Marriage.  No blood tests or any other health certificates are needed just to make this request.  This is also true even for the first-timers.

It is further important to note that in Bermuda, once the Notice of Intended Marriage is published in two of the local newspapers, a period of about 14 days must pass by from the date of receipt of the notice prior to the issuance of the license to marry.  Speaking of issuance, the marriage license can actually be issued by the Registrar General on or after the 15th day provided that or formal objection or whatsoever has been raised to the planned marriage.  The license will be issued within three months and its validity will remain for about three months since the date of issue.

Note that no couples age 16 and below are allowed to obtain the license and marry in Bermuda.

Step #2:  Plan Your Budget

As mentioned earlier, a wedding in Bermuda is one of the biggest investments you can ever make.  Given this fact, it is then necessary for every couple to plan how much they can afford for their wedding.  The point here is to set the budget as early as possible.

If you are nonresidents of Bermuda, it is necessary for you to think how much you and your fiancée are willing to spend on your stay in the island.  Consider first the possible rates for the airfare, as well as the accommodations.  Ask yourself where you can possibly stay in Bermuda.  Do you prefer to stay in the hotel or beach resort?  How many days and nights you are planning to stay?  You´re also considering Bermuda for your honeymoon, right?  Well, settle these matters.  If possible, try to talk to your prospective guests and know exactly how much they´re willing to pay to travel to Bermuda just to witness your wedding.  But, if you plan to take the possible expenses of your guests, including the travel costs, then be sure to factor that in on your budget.

If you are the type who wants to leave everything in the hands of the experts, then be sure that you have the budget to pay them in.  Note the possible costs for your wedding planners and coordinators.  Simply make sure that everything you planned is within your budget.

Step #3:  Find an Appropriate Setting for Your Ceremony

So you´ve got the license and the budget.  The next move to take now is to find that appropriate setting for your ceremony.  Of course, you´ve got Bermuda as your wedding destination.  But the question now is where exactly in Bermuda you wish to say your “I dos’?  So think about that and be sure to choose a location that is memorable enough for you to consider.  To find them, read some reviews of the possible wedding destinations in Bermuda.  Look for hotel and resort reviews, including church descriptions.   And, to make everything easy for you, try to ask for recommendations from the people you know.  Contact a wedding coordinator or planner if possible so to help you decide on where to take your vows.  Note that Bermuda features a number of sites perfect for wedding ceremonies.  For instance, there is the spectacular beach at the Astwood Park in Warwick Parish, as well as the charming gazebo in the Lovely Victoria Park of Hamilton.   There are some cliff top hubs out there in Bermuda that overlook the Atlantic Ocean.  A number of hotels, inns and cottages are even available to give you the best space for your wedding.

If you want to marry in Bermudian church, then look for the perfect place.  Bermuda, as you may know, does not only have one church.   There is many, in fact.  So make sure that you´ve picked up your best option.  However, there are certain considerations that you must note if you decide to say your “I dos’ in the church.  One of those is the fact that in Bermuda, the divorced couples are not allowed to be married in church, particularly in the Catholic churches.  There are also certain fees that you must consider, and these fees are subject to increase.  Plus, the catholic priests in Bermuda do not perform wedding ceremonies outdoor.

Think about your wedding reception.  This too will highly matter.  Ask yourself what you really want from a wedding location?  Do you want luxury, elegance or a sense of romance?  Decide on that based on what you really want.

Step #4:  Grace Your Ceremony with Bermuda´s Charming Wedding Traditions

Bermuda is a place blessed with charming wedding traditions that may add beauty and charm to your wedding ceremony.  So why don´t you consider at least few of these local customs and make your wedding in Bermuda truly memorable?  Yes, this is indeed a good idea to plan your wedding.

So what sample traditions you can consider for your wedding?

In the first place, the Bermudians have this belief about obtaining a lifetime good luck from the moon gates.  The moon gates are actually large stones that are shaped like a ring.  The locals believe that when the couple walks through these gates, they will get a wedding good luck that will last for a lifetime.  So if you are new to this belief and you are planning to exchange your vows in this wonderful paradise, I bet there´s nothing wrong with following such tradition.  It is even exciting to do that.

Aside from that, the local people of Bermuda have this tradition of preparing wedding cakes for both the groom and the bride.  So this makes two cakes for the wedding: one for the groom and one for the bride.

The traditional groom´s cake is basically a plain pound cake that is accented with gold leaf which for some local a symbol of wealth.  It is also a customary in Bermuda to place whatever the groom´s favorite activity is on top of the cake.

The bride´s cake, on the other hand, is a fruitcake symbolizing fruitfulness in the marriage.  It is covered with a silver lead, representing purity.  On top of it is a small vase that contains a cedar branch.  It is this object that represents Bermuda.  Aside from that, it is also common for the bride´s cake to present a potted cedar beside the cake´s table.  It is after the wedding that the bride and groom are requested to plant the tree on that potted cedar.  This is highly considered in accordance to the people belief that as the cedar grows; the marriage will flourish with strength and happiness.

For the romantics, you can consider and experience how it feels to be carried by a traditional Bermudian horse-and-carriage ride to your honeymoon destination.  This too is one of the highly valued customs for wedding in Bermuda.

So those are just a few of the interesting historic wedding traditions in Bermuda that you´ll want to make your own during your wedding day and for the rest of your married life.

Step #5:  Decide When to Book

So everything is settled, from the license, to the budget and all the way to the perfect destination and other possible matters involved.  Well, now proceed by thinking and deciding when to book your trip to the island.

Many of the wedding experts these days suggest that when thinking about wedding in Bermuda, it is best to book as early as possible, about ten months before the departure.  In the first place, this may seem too early, but to tell you honestly, Bermuda is such a popular destination for weddings.  As such, there´s a great possibility that even within just six months before your departure, the resorts and hotels will start to fill.  The rooms and facility selection will then become limited.  

So if you want to surely obtain your desired rooms and facilities, it is better to reserve it ten months prior to your trip.  This will also help you to estimate the number of your guests, including the length of their stay, then giving you idea on how much of your budget you will need.  To secure your rooms and lock in your wedding date, you can even put down a refundable deposit.   The total rate, however, will depend on the hotel or resort you´re dealing with.

A wedding in Bermuda is really an exciting venture you can decide on.  Men and women are warmly welcomed when they come to the island to say their “I dos’, but it is important to make sure that everything under the law is followed.   Perhaps one of the most important things to note here is that Bermuda, although it is a territory of the United Kingdom, does not have UK laws on marriage and divorce.  It has maintained its own laws, so those who are planning to get married in this island, whether residents or nonresidents should do so under the established marriage laws.  Once everything is followed, you´ll be guaranteed to have a wonderful wedding that is made in heaven.

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