Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions/Important information
Q Will our overseas marriage be legal in the UK? A Virgin Holidays overseas weddings are registered in the country where they take place, but are also legally recognised in the UK. If you do not live permanently in the UK please check with your own local authorities. Our wedding packages can only be booked as part of a complete Virgin Holidays package. For legal requirements for all the featured wedding destinations, please read page 67 in this brochure.
Q Can we invite guests to our wedding? A Definitely! This is a very popular way to get married overseas. Just let us know how many guests will be attending and our reservations team will assist in booking their holiday. If you are planning to invite guests to your wedding and they are staying in a separate resort, please check with the Weddings Department to see if it is possible for them to enter your hotel and use its facilities as this is not always possible. Some resorts allow visitors to come into the resort on day passes for an additional charge. However it is worth noting that resorts can and do limit visits from outside guests.
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Q What day of the week will our wedding take place? A The majority of resorts require a 3 working day residency period before the ceremony can take place. Most wedding ceremonies take place Mon-Fri (excluding public holidays). Once the date of your wedding ceremony has been confirmed by resort, we will then confirm this to you in writing. In very exceptional circumstances, the date of your wedding may have to be rescheduled. This point is worth remembering if you intend to print wedding invitations or have jewellery engraved. We cannot be held liable for any associated costs of such items should the wedding date change.
Q How do we book optional extras? A When you have booked your holiday we will send you details of your local wedding co-ordinator in your chosen resort who will be happy to liaise with you regarding any additional wedding ceremony options available for your location. These can be requested before you travel directly with the hotel and booked and paid for locally once you are in resort. Payment for any extras which are not included in the cost of your wedding should be made locally (prices are subject to change locally without notice).
Q Where will our wedding ceremony take place? A After consulting with the wedding co-ordinator, you can choose the location of your ceremony, usually in the hotel grounds or a gazebo. A beach ceremony is not always possible, but you can, if you like, head down to the sea afterwards for a celebratory glass or 2 of Champagne!
Q What’s included in a Virgin Holidays wedding? A At most resorts and venues we offer a choice of several wedding packages, as described in this weddings brochure. The package is for the bride and groom, unless otherwise stated. After choosing which package appeals to you, simply book it in conjunction with your Virgin holiday – it couldn’t be easier!
Q Who will conduct our ceremony? A The majority of our weddings are conducted by a marriage officer, their title may vary depending upon the resort e.g. Celebrant, Minister or Registrar. Where it is possible to be married by a Minister the ceremony will be non denominational unless otherwise stated.
Q When we will get our marriage certificate? A It could take up to 6 months to be processed and mailed to you. So if you are planning a marriage blessing when you get back to the UK, please bear this in mind. If you want more than one certificate, request this in resort or your solicitor can duplicate a copy when you return to the UK.
Q What are the Legal Requirements? A The exact legal documentation required for each destination is subject to change and is set by the respective country. Virgin Holidays’ weddings will endeavour to advise you of any changes to these requirements as soon as possible. Virgin Holidays cannot be held accountable for any changes in legislation or for any resulting fees payable by the wedding couple in order to comply with these legalities.
Q What is an Affidavit? A This can be obtained from a notary public (who is usually found through a solicitor’s office). The document should explain that you are free to marry whilst there and confirm your marital status. Costs can vary considerably from solicitor to solicitor. The solicitors office will need to sign and stamp the affidavit.
Q What is a Certificate of No Impediment? A This document is required for weddings in Bali, and it states that there is no known impediment to your proposed marriage. These certificates vary in their validity (sometimes just for a few months), so it is extremely important that you check the requirements which apply to your circumstances. Please also note that a Certificate of no impediment may be insufficient on its own to allow a marriage to take place in a foreign country. The certificate is prepared by the Superintendent Registrar at the Register Office in the area in which you live. The cost of the certificate is approx £45 per person. You will need to take identification documents with you to your appointment this will be explained to you by the receptionist. Subject to there being no
complications, the Certificate of no impediment will be issued to you between 17-23 days after your appointment.
Q Where will the wedding be registered? A When a marriage takes places abroad under foreign local law it cannot be registered in the UK, however, a record of the marriage can be lodged with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office via the General Register Office (telephone 0300 123 1837) by depositing an original marriage certificate, this only applies to certain countries and where it is possible a fee will be required. This means that in future a marriage certificate could be issued by the General Register Office here, should the need arise.
Q What is a Decree Absolute? A Proof is required if the parties have been divorced (or their marriage has been annulled) Documents to prove the dissolution or annulment must be provided. Once a divorce or annulment has been made final, the court will send you a decree absolute, which will bear a red or embossed court seal. This decree must bear the court stamp, as without it your wedding may not take place. In some countries couples who have divorced cannot re-marry until a full 12 months have passed since divorcing.
Q What is an Apostille? A An Apostille is an official confirmation that a signature, seal or stamp appearing on a document is genuine. It can be obtained at the legislation service of the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
Q What certified documents do I need to provide? A These can be provided by a solicitor who is legally granted to carry out this process. The original document must be supplied to the solicitor to copy for example an original birth certificate. This will be photocopied, stamped (which should include the name of the solicitor) and signed by a solicitor indicating that it is a true copy of an original document. In the event that you are required to provide certified copies, we would ask that any signatures obtained from your solicitor are given in red or blue ink. This will help the overseas authorities and ensure that certified copies are not mistaken for a photocopy.
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