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Planning a destination wedding is typically incomplete without at least a thought of tying the knot on the beach. Although there are several islands across the globe that promise scenic locations, few come close to the natural exquisiteness of the Maldives.
The islands of the Maldives offer an unmatched opportunity to indulge in a memorable romantic ceremony, enhanced further by the presence of friendly locals and the unlimited opulence of the resorts. Moreover, with swaying palm trees, lush green vegetation, and the Indian Ocean completing the backdrop, a Maldivian beach wedding promises a beautiful start to a new chapter in your life.
Now, beach wedding planning usually comes with plenty of ruckus and daily hassles. More so if it is in a location far away from your home. From choosing the right time and spot to guest arrangements, food, flowers, and wedding dress, things seem to pile up, taking away from the fun and romance of the moment.
However, having a beach wedding in the Maldives is a stress-free occurrence. No matter your budget, local guesthouses and resorts are forever happy to sort out every aspect of your special day, leaving you with the one job of creating unforgettable memories.
Note:
It is important to remember that the island nation doesn’t officially allow religious ceremonies unless one of the partners is a citizen of the Maldives. As a result, weddings between foreigners are not legally binding. While the couple does get a certificate, you will need to officiate the wedding in your home country.
Why is the Maldives perfect for a beach wedding?
A group of 1,192 coral islands, the Maldives is a tropical nation offering various benefits, from panoramic views to warm weather. Some features making the country an ideal beach wedding destination are:
Sunny weather
The country enjoys a pleasant climate throughout the year, with 28 C being the annual mean temperature. The high season in the Maldives lasts from December to March. You can enjoy plenty of rain-free days and maximum sunshine during this time.
Natural beauty
Beach wedding venues in the Maldives are spectacular, offering the right blend of flora and fauna. A tropical paradise, the islands have turquoise lagoons, giant coconut palms, breadfruit trees, and plenty of greenery. With so much untouched attractiveness, you can bet on stunning Insta-worthy photographs without effort or professional help.
Wedding and honeymoon destination
Across the archipelago, multiple resorts offer beachfront locations for wedding parties. Furthermore, after the big day, couples can stay behind and avail of honeymoon packages which include room upgrades, some of the best spa facilities in the world, and water activities like diving or snorkeling. Additionally, opting for a wedding and honeymoon package is an excellent chance to save money in the Maldives.
Luxury and budget facilities
A great part about planning a marriage ritual in the Maldives is that the island nation offers something for every budget. You can organize a simple beach wedding with only essential decorations and limited seating. Or else, go all-out and enjoy a grand event with gourmet food, elegant flower decorations, and more. Also, depending on the money you want to spend, resorts provide a range of services from pre-wedding photoshoots and bridal makeup to post-wedding theme dinners and local musicians during the ceremony.
Hassle-free planning
Maldivian resorts go out of their way to offer you an exotic stress-free marriage experience. As part of a beach wedding package, you can expect a personal wedding planner, invitations, photographer, food, decorations, and any other arrangements you may desire.
How to plan a Maldivian beach wedding?
Once you have finalized a beach themed wedding in the Maldives, it’s essential to try and plan out some of the main aspects of the event early on. Picking a venue, hiring a wedding planner, and getting to the nitty gritty of all arrangements help keep the ceremony organized without unwanted last-minute surprises.
Work with the resort
There is no shortage of budget or luxury resorts in the archipelago providing breathtaking seaside views and exceptional customer service. Most places have a range of wedding packages. Additional facilities like multiple beach wedding venues, photographers, floral decoration, catering, waiting staff, and guest suites are available based on the type of package chosen.
Hire a local wedding planner
Unlike other countries, retreats in the Maldives will provide a wedding planner for couples to design their big day per their preferences. Moreover, on public islands, a local wedding planner can help customize and make necessary arrangements for your beach wedding. From sourcing the choicest flowers to personalizing the venue decorations and ordering traditional Maldivian food, they can help provide an authentic experience.
Be spontaneous
If the wedding is a spontaneous thought, possibly even after you arrive at a resort, there is no need to worry. Most Maldivian private islands can arrange a beach wedding quickly. Since the retreats regularly host ceremonies, they can always offer a good selection of decorations, food, and honeymoon packages.
What to wear to a beach wedding in the Maldives?
Unlike a regular marriage ceremony, a beach wedding allows couples to show their eccentric personalities if they so like. The bride’s dress and that of the groom are significant aspects of any wedding. For your event by the sea, there are a few different clothing options available that range from the customary to the more contemporary.
- A white summer dress and a linen suit work best for a casual look. Not only does it look retro and cool, but the white shows up beautifully against the blues and greens of the surroundings.
- If you want something more formal, pack a gown and a tux or rent one by arranging with the wedding planner.
- Of course, nothing beats getting married in beachwear for couples wanting a chilled-out hipster vibe. So, keep it a simple beach wedding and wear shorts and a bikini with a kaftan for a quirky touch.
- A wedding in the Maldives is an excellent opportunity to indulge in the local culture. So, you can also go with traditional Maldivian clothing as your wedding dress.
Regardless of your final decision on what to wear to a beach wedding, remember that airy and light clothes work best due to the humid tropical climate in the Maldives. Additionally, when it comes to beach wedding shoes, skip them and go barefoot to enjoy the sand under your toes. However, if you must, opt for sandals or flip-flops instead of chic leather footwear or stilettos.
Additional tips for a beach wedding in Maldives
Beach wedding preparations never seem to end, quite literally. There’s much to be done, from finalizing the location to micro-controlling different aspects like food and decoration. Nonetheless, here are a few beach wedding ideas to make the arrangement more colorful and exciting.
Pick a theme
When it comes to decoration for beach themed weddings, the options are pretty vast. In the Maldives, you can work with the wedding organizer and try out different compositions like:
- Surfing: For people who like frolicking in the water and surfing big waves, picking a blue aquatic theme is a great choice. An ocean-inspired cake with a surfing design and surfboard decorations are some ways to make the event seem more thematic.
- Sunset: For couples who want to immerse themselves in the gorgeousness of the majestic Maldivian skies, a sunset beach wedding is an idea worth considering. Time the ceremony to start at least 30 minutes before the sunset with subtle decorations to complement the colors of the sky.
- Color-theme: Couples can also choose a monotone color palette for their wedding. From linens to bridesmaids’ dresses and floral decorations, all arrangements can have hues of the main color scheme.
Start planning early
During the high season, most resorts are pre-booked and have no extra occupancies. Therefore, it is always better to start planning a Maldivian beach themed wedding with plenty of time on hand.
Doing so lets the couple contact the wedding planners regularly and stay on top of all the arrangements. From customized decoration requests to menu changes, everything is more manageable when handled before time.
Keep a backup location ready
The Maldives is a tropical country, and thus the weather, even during the dry season, can be a little unpredictable. Short-lived showers can occur anytime, whereas the wind may pick up momentarily on any day.
Therefore, it is essential to plan for a backup location when booking a wedding package in the Maldives. If it is a simple beach wedding, you can always delay or postpone it to another time or day. However, if the arrangement requires special preparations, speak with your resort beforehand and have an alternate indoor location ready for unforeseen circumstances.
Extras for a beach themed wedding
Maldivian resorts exude a sense of sophistication and overindulgence one doesn’t find easily at most island holiday destinations. As such, retreats go over and beyond with beach wedding ideas, offering couples lavish arrangements to make their day special.
One can enjoy features like champagne showers, a decorated wedding buggy, bride and groom photo sessions, specialty cakes, and a candle-lit dinner. If the wedding party includes more people, you can opt for a sunset beach wedding followed by a cruise or a beach bonfire for everyone to celebrate the ceremony with dance and music.
Additionally, couples can choose to go for a western wedding or a traditional one that allows them to appreciate the local culture. For the latter, you can select a Boduberu dance recital wherein musicians in Maldivian clothing play local tunes as the newlyweds walk down the beach.
For more authenticity, go with a food menu that features local delicacies, from a variety of snacks called hedika to the freshest seafood.
Note:
When choosing a traditional setup, resorts can typically arrange a Qazi to conduct the ceremony in the local Dhivehi dialect. On the other hand, if selecting a western ritual, please speak with the resort beforehand to plan for someone to ordain the marriage.
Pros and cons of a beach themed wedding
A vacation in the Maldives might give you an abundance of beach wedding ideas that seem perfect to relish the islands’ romantic ambiance, privacy, and seclusion. However, before you plan to fly off to the Maldives to say ‘I do,’ here are a few pros and cons to note.
Pros
Getting married in the Maldives will be worth all the trouble and price due to various reasons like:
- Casual: The couple or guests don’t have to worry about suiting up in formals or wonder what to wear to a beach wedding. Additionally, the location creates a relaxed vibe, with the soothing sounds of the waves in the background accentuating the overall ambiance.
- Romantic: Not everyone feels comfortable celebrating their big day with hundreds of people while adhering to societal norms. In the Maldives, couples can pick a romantic wedding setup provided by the resort and later enjoy a honeymoon on the same island.
- Less costly: Depending on the resort chosen, there are plenty of beach wedding ideas available that are pocket-friendly. Firstly, the guest list goes significantly down for a destination wedding, and you don’t have to host multiple reception parties. Also, you can work with local planners and vendors to source food, music, decorations, and other arrangements at an affordable price.
- Pre-arranged wedding packages: Couples don’t need to look for a planner or book a DJ or photographer because resort wedding packages include everything.
- Private affair: For people avoiding the public eye or looking for more privacy, beach wedding venues can include a resort’s private beach or a sandbank
Cons
Planning to marry in a foreign nation like the Maldives also comes with a few challenges like:
- Unpredictable weather: There is always a possibility of the big day being overshadowed by unwanted weather conditions like rain or storms.
- Loss of privacy: Planning an event on an open beach means other tourists share the same space. If getting married on a public island, the organizer must first contact the local authorities and ensure the gathering doesn’t disobey any beach guidelines.
When to have your Maldivian beach wedding?
Avoid afternoon hours to prevent heat onset when planning a Maldivian beach wedding. Keep the main event reserved either for morning or evening hours to get spectacular photographs with a sunset in the background. Dawn is perfect for people wanting to tie the knot at an open beach with a minimal crowd.
How much does a Maldivian beach wedding cost?
The cost of the entire affair will depend on how luxurious the resort is or how many guests are in attendance.
The price range typically stays between $500 and $4,000. Furthermore, even after you add in travel expenses, the entire deal should remain under $10,000.
On a bonus note, many resorts are more than happy to include a honeymoon package as part of the wedding ceremony booking.
Beach wedding alternatives in the Maldives
Whether a simple beach wedding or a lavish one, getting married in the Maldives is the ultimate dream for many couples. Still, there are times when such as ceremony is not possible.
Worry not! The Maldives is an actual goldmine of unique wedding ideas.
- Underwater restaurant: Underwater restaurants in the Maldives provide luxury arrangements for tying the knot in a banquet of glass walls beneath the ocean. Surrounded by coral reefs and marine life on all sides, one can expect a range of facilities like personalized floral decorations and an intimate ceremony.
- Conference hall: Often, it is hard to look for a secondary location when the beachside venue gets canceled. The resort’s conference hall provides plenty of space and is ideal for assembling all the guests and continuing the ceremony.
- Dhoni: For a unique and exclusive touch, look into saying your vows on a dhoni. While sailing on a traditional Maldivian boat in the middle of the ocean, you can still enjoy arrangements like wedding photography, music and dance, and a gourmet diner.
- Deck in the middle of the ocean: Setting up the altar on a lagoon deck surrounded by water in all directions for a sunset beach wedding is another way to make your day memorable. Once the ceremony is over, you can sail back to the resort for the afterparty or hop on a dhoni for a dinner cruise.
N.B.: All the information in the article is correct as of the publication date. The prices mentioned, if any, are subject to change.
