The Complete Guide to Planning a Destination Wedding in Aruba

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While many couples dream of a Caribbean destination wedding, there are concerns about the sometimes unpredictable hurricane season. If that's the case for you, an Aruba destination wedding might be the ideal option. An Aruba wedding, which will take place on the island situated outside the Caribbean's hurricane belt, provides picture-perfect weather throughout the entire calendar year. And it's not just the weather that leaves couples raving, Aruba is one of the most popular destination wedding locations for hosting their big days (and for couple's vacations for years to come).

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Already considered one of the best Caribbean islands for leisure travel, Aruba's easy access from the United States, budget-friendliness and beautiful beaches will delight both couples and their guests. In fact, Aruba is the most revisited island in the Caribbean Sea, with half of all travelers returning year after year. The wide variety of Aruba all-inclusive resorts with all the trimming and trappings of a relaxing-and-fun getaway (yes, relaxing even if that getaway includes getting married).

If you're even slightly considering planning a destination wedding in Aruba, keep reading. We're covering everything you need to know to make your dream wedding a reality with a little help from the wedding planning pros.

Aruba Wedding Planning in this Article:

• Why Couples and Guests Love Aruba Weddings
• The Best Places to Get Married in Aruba
• The Top Aruba Wedding Venues and Resorts
• Aruba Wedding Legal Requirements
• Aruba Wedding Planning Tips

Why Couples and Guests Love Aruba Weddings

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As mentioned, the weather, budget-friendliness and easy access from the United States are all benefits working in Aruba's favor when it comes to attracting destination wedding planning couples. According to Tamara Lidbom at Anytime Travel Agency, though, couples might choose to plan an Aruba destination wedding or an Aruba honeymoon for an additional reason.

"The calming trade winds will keep you cool in the pleasant, 82-degree weather, year-round, and Aruba is famous for its white-sand beaches. [It's] picture-perfect for couples looking to have a beach wedding," she says. "Aruba is also ranked as one of the safest of the Caribbean Islands." In addition to island safety, her clients often comment on the warm hospitality found in Aruba. "Arubans are a mix of over 90 nationalities and the local culture and cuisine make this island undoubtedly unique," she adds.

Pro tip: Invite a destination wedding travel expert to join your vendor team. Browse travel agents near you on The Knot Marketplace for Aruba wedding expertise, group hotel blocks, flight arrangements and more.

The Best Places to Get Married in Aruba

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Beach weddings are a top pick, naturally, and they're not the only setting offered by Aruba. The geographical landscape creates a unique distinction between oceanfront or rugged island landscapes. See the best places to get married below.

Eagle Beach

Aruba is only 19 miles long and six miles wide, but that doesn't necessarily mean you'll be limited in your options for a wedding venue. Eagle Beach is a popular pick for destination weddings in Aruba. One of the top three beaches in the world according to TripAdvisor, the destination is also home to Aruba's often-photographed and famous Fofoti trees. Here, couples can find supremely stylish, low-rise boutique hotels for guest accommodations, along with pristine white sand steps away.

Palm Beach

Lidbom also recommends considering Palm Beach as a beach-set wedding alternative. As one of the top, family-friendly beaches in the world, Palm Beach provides a setting your guests will enjoy. Its seven miles are dotted with high-rise resorts and easy access to town, meaning you're within easy reach of other venues and attractions.

Oranjestad

If, however, you're not keen on a beach wedding, you can also find venues in Aruba's capital city of Oranjestad. Filled with colorful colonial architecture, nightlife, historic museums, galleries and high-end shopping, downtown Oranjestad will keep your guests busy and enchanted, even if you do decide to go with an inside, hotel or resort wedding.

Pro tip: As you consider Aruba wedding locations, don't forget about your newlywed vacation. Plan an amazing Aruba honeymoon, too, with our complete guide.

The Top Aruba Wedding Venues and Resorts

Photo courtesy of Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

Hosting a wedding in Aruba may sound like a dream. However, Aruba wedding venues — and there are some stunning ones — can turn your big day into a stunning real-life fairytale. Some offer Aruba wedding packages that streamline planning from afar. But don't mistake "package" for run-of-the-mill. Numerous options for ceremony and reception sites — like gardens, beaches and ballrooms — and menu customization ensure your wedding day will truly be your own. Plus, on-staff Aruba destination wedding planners help you tie all the details together so you can focus on tying the knot and celebrating.

Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino

Aruba Marriott Resort's oceanfront setting along Palm Beach is a postcard-ready location for memorable Caribbean nuptials. But the sand and the Atlantic aren't the only backdrops this modern-day paradise offers. Clink glasses during a welcome cocktail party at the H2Oasis Pool (a spot exclusively for adults). A Grand Ballroom really is just that — it fits more than 800 for a dance party (and can be adapted for smaller parties). Dinner is also on the menu, and couples can curate theirs with the help of a culinary team. Aruba destination wedding planners can help you create an unforgettable affair that fits your vision, budget and taste.

The Ritz-Carlton Aruba

A luxury hotel set in Palm Beach and not far from Oranjestad, The Ritz-Carlton Aruba upholds the tradition of the brand's name. The five-star resort boasts more than five dozen spacious suites with private balconies, ideal for taking in ocean breezes while getting ready with your wedding party. A big day can have a small guest list (as in, just you and yours) or a large one with thousands of family and friends if you fancy. The ceremony and reception can take place with toes in the sand or include parties by the pool, on a sprawling lawn with water vistas, in a dreamy ballroom and more. Packages include non-denominational ministers, some flowers, photographers and other perks, and the hotel has Aruba wedding planners ready to give you white-glove treatment from your first point of contact and even after your last dance.

Divi Aruba

A destination wedding at Divi Aruba, an all-inclusive resort near 18th-century-built Fort Zoutman, celebrates past, present and future. Professional planners and packages ensure that the "all-inclusive" nature of Divi Aruba also extends to weddings, with room discounts and ideas for making the most of your stay beyond your big day. Oceanfront settings include the famous Eagle Beach, where couples can host a ceremony, seated dinner reception or both. For a day with a few scene changes, opt for a ceremony at The Links at Divi Aruba, where swaying palm trees will look and feel refreshing.

Hilton Aruba Caribbean Beach Resort & Casino

You'll find Hilton Aruba Caribbean Beach Resort & Casino on a white-sand beach less than seven miles from Queen Beatrix International Airport, making travel a cinch for guests. Speaking of ease, a dedicated team of expert planners ensures a wedding at this Palm Beach resort in Aruba is just that. Ceremony and reception venues include a lush, tropical lawn, ballroom, poolside and beach (of course). An on-site spa is perfect for pre and post-wedding pampering, and easy access to the beach is another perk. A casino and numerous dining options make for more itinerary fodder.

Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba

For a truly exclusive feel, consider Renaissance Wind Creek Aruba — it's set on a private island. The resident flamingos make for uninvited yet welcome (and unique) guests. The scenery also includes sugary-soft white sands, palm trees and the glistening Caribbean Sea. Other perks and ways to spend time in these parts include a happening casino, eight restaurants and bars, a swimming lagoon right on the beach and a blissful spa. Wedding planners can ensure no small detail is forgotten, and to-be-weds can add on in-house decorating and photography for less stress. Exclusive room rates are available for parties of 10 rooms or more.

Aruba Wedding Legal Requirements

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Compared to other international destinations, the legal requirements for a wedding in Aruba are relatively straightforward. If you choose to get married with the help of a resort planner, they can also assist with any additional questions you and your spouse-to-be might have. For instance, the resort planner can walk you through all the steps of obtaining a marriage license in Aruba. In addition to the below information, you can find plenty of additional help by way of the Aruba Tourism Authority.

Legal Weddings vs. Symbolic Weddings

You can choose to have either a symbolic or a legal wedding in Aruba. A symbolic ceremony, Lidbom explains, is simply where couples legalize their marriage in their home state, and then host a symbolic ceremony with friends and family in their destination of choice. However, you can also hold a legally binding wedding in Aruba, with requirements differing according to the type of ceremony held. These differences primarily only apply if you're considering holding a religious wedding ceremony in a church, versus a secular ceremony.

Required Legal Documents

According to the Aruba Tourism Authority, if you're holding a legal wedding in Aruba, all couples are required to provide:

• Copies of long-form birth certificates for both individuals, with raised seals and state certification or an apostille (which is basically an additional authentication of a document before use in another country, as the U.S. Department of State explains)
• Passport picture pages or valid, state-issued picture IDs for both individuals (both individuals must be over 18 years of age)
• A witness's (18 years of age or older) passport picture page or valid, state-issued picture ID (you must have two witnesses at the wedding)
• A certificate of no impediment for both individuals (also referred to as a single status report and, in some states, called a negative statement of marriage); apostilles are required for a negative statement of marriage
• If either party has been divorced, a copy of the first and last pages of the divorce decree(s)
• If either party is a widow(er), a copy of the death certificate
• An Aruba Declaration of Marriage Intent form and an Aruba Declaration of Single Status form (both of which you can obtain via a wedding planner)

All legal ceremonies are held at the Historical City Hall, during designated days and times; dress codes also apply. For this reason, if you want more of a "traditional" wedding, in the place and at the time of your choosing, you may opt to only hold a symbolic wedding in Aruba.

Additional requirements apply if you're holding a religious wedding ceremony. For example, if you're holding a Catholic ceremony, you must show proof of permission from your priest to get married in Aruba. You can find full details on these religious requirements on the Aruba Tourism Authority's website.

Legal Marriage Timeline

Once you have all of your legal documents compiled, there's no residency requirement or waiting period in Aruba. However, you do have to fax or email all documents to the Aruban government for review ahead of time; after they're approved, you'll be required to mail them to the same government office at least one month ahead of your wedding date.

You'll also want to take into consideration the time required to pull all of your needed documents together. Obtaining an apostille for your birth certificates may take a few business days. Likewise, you'll want to keep in mind some religions also require wait periods ahead of your wedding, if you want a religious ceremony; the Catholic Church in Aruba, as an example, requires all your extra documents to be submitted to the local priest at least four months in advance of your wedding date.

Legal Marriage Cost

A marriage certificate from Historical City Hall costs about $9, while a declaration of marriage costs about $6. A legal wedding at the Historical City Hall is $100 to $150, depending on the day of the ceremony. A religious ceremony may also require an additional fee. For instance, Protestant weddings — which can take place wherever a couple chooses — cost $200 and include a marriage certificate.

Pro tip: Once you've decided on your Aruba wedding venue, send out destination wedding save-the-dates with important info so your guest can book the time off and start thinking about travel plans.

Aruba Wedding Planning Tips

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But once you have all of the legal requirements out of the way, it's time to get into the fun stuff: actually planning your destination wedding trip. Here are a few other things you'll need to know as you begin planning.

How to Get There

You can find an array of flight options between the United States and Aruba, from just about every city with an international airport. Flights are frequent from the US (under three hours from Miami and under five from New York) and it's often affordable. Once in Aruba, you'll find taxi, trolley and public bus services, all readily available and budget-friendly; however, for the greatest flexibility and privacy, we recommend a rental car.

Aruba Weather

The weather is nearly always pleasant in Aruba. It's why the locals say it's 82 degrees the entire year. You may find a bit of rain in the fall and winter months, October to January, but even then, it's not enough rain to really ruin your time, so long as you're flexible and willing to wait for the occasional shower to pass. If, though, you want to avoid any chances of rain whatsoever, plan your getaway for February or March. These are the most desirable months to travel to Aruba, weather-wise, Lidbom says. If, though, you'd like to save a little on room rates and airfare, travel between April and August.

Choosing Your Aruba Wedding Venue and Vendors

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"When you're considering a hotel for you, your guests and potentially your destination wedding, it is all going to come down to your travel preferences and wishlist. Most resorts offer dedicated wedding planners that will cater to your every need, to ensure your wedding day is flawless, from start to finish," Lidbom says.

Of course, for more information on pros who specialize in Aruba destination weddings, check out The Knot Marketplace for a comprehensive overview.

Aruba Wedding Cost and Budgeting Tips

It's not possible to give a precise number for the destination wedding cost in Aruba. Still, Lidbom calls rates for an Aruba destination wedding "relatively moderate." Most couples find they can plan an Aruba destination wedding for less than what they might spend in the US, especially when they book a resort's wedding package or stay in an all-inclusive resort. The cost is comparable to what you might experience in other, nearby Caribbean destinations. A pro tip is couples can save on their Aruba destination wedding budget by holding their nuptials from April to August.

Pro tip: Set up a free destination wedding website on The Knot with all the event details including your Aruba wedding itinerary, things to do, guest travel information, RSVPs and more.

BethAnn Mayer contributed to this article.