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A wedding or a honeymoon in the Maldives are what dreams are made of. Sun-kissed beaches, azure waters of the Indian Ocean, seductive tropical weather, and the opportunity to transform your special day into an exotic experience, getting married in the Maldives is a magical love affair to remember.
An island nation packed with immaculate natural beauty, the Maldives has long been a premier beach wedding and honeymoon destination in the world. Adding to the charm of the location are numerous luxurious resorts that offer bespoke wedding and honeymoon packages, catering to every whim and wish of the romantic couple.
Enchanting possibilities aplenty, there is no reason to hold back from a Maldivian wedding dream vacation that comes packed with memorable moments and unmatched delights.
The legality of a Maldivian wedding
Getting married in the Maldives is about celebrating your love while discovering the many wonders that the island offers.
The wedding itself is not legal, and foreigners taking their vows will have to register their marriage officially in their home country.
However, the service is authentic in its character, and couples return home with a wedding certificate and plaque that they can keep as a memento of their extraordinary time on the island.
Spectacular locations to tie the knot
One of the primary reasons couples fly in from across the globe to get married in the Maldives is the sheer number of wedding locations on offer.
The beach is the most popular, creating an ambiance that is casual yet classy and definitely romantic. Many couples take a few steps further and prefer to get married in a lagoon, adding a fun feature to a regular beach wedding.
Amongst the more exotic options is having your ceremony on a sandbar, a tiny stretch of land in the water that makes for a genuinely atmospheric and spectacular setting. For a little larger group, you can book an uninhabited island for the day.
If opting for a more novel wedding, hire a local fishing boat called dhoni and head out into the Indian ocean where instead of walking the aisle, you get to walk the deck.
Most of the top resorts in the Maldives offer wedding packages that include the venue. From a pool-side garden to a banquet hall, these locations are ideal for larger wedding parties or when you want something more conventional.
The islands also offer happy couples a chance to add an element of drama by hosting a fairytalelike wedding underwater. There are five underwater restaurants in the Maldives for this purpose. However, the more adventurous twosomes prefer to scuba dive for an out of this world wedding event.
Wedding and honeymoon packages
Since most of the islands are on a lease with hotels, to have a headache-free and relaxing ceremony, it is best to choose one of the many wedding and honeymoon packages offered by the best resorts.
Typically, a Maldivian wedding package includes the venue, decorations, hair and makeup, a photographer, cake, and food. These are standard features you will find as a part of most deals.
Couples wanting to make their festivities exclusive can add services such as a massage, sunset cruise, candlelight dinner, champaign fountains, a designated wedding coordinator, or extra nights in a beachside villa with a private pool and butler service.
The cost of a Maldivian wedding
The Maldives is home to several expensive and lavish resorts. Still, getting married on one of its islands is a much cheaper option than you would imagine.
A simple beach wedding package can start for as little as $1,000, with the more exclusive events costing around $7,000. Even if you were to add the cost of flights into the expense, a wedding in the Maldives would cost you well under $10,000, much less than a regular marriage ceremony in New York, which can cost upwards of $70,000.
Moreover, a Maldivian wedding package typically includes all expenses, including your honeymoon, so you can continue to enjoy the local hospitality as you smoothly slip into the next phase of your life, this time as a “married couple”.
Why choose the Maldives to get married?
The Maldives brings together the very best in the wedding industry to create a personal occasion that is both intimate and unforgettable.
Couples planning to get married have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to indulge in a traditional Maldivian wedding. The ceremony includes wearing colorful Maldivian wedding attire, having a drum procession called Bodu Beru, and getting a local Gazi to conduct the service.
If you prefer to have a more conventional marriage, there is always the prospect of having a western-style ceremony. Else, you can also go for a fusion event that includes the Bodu Beru, but the actual nuptials are presided as per your preference.
The Maldives promises love-locked couples a fashionable, exciting, and economic escape, packed with extravagant moments that add to their festivities.
Warm and welcoming locals, stunning locations, breathtakingly gorgeous panoramas, and exceptional services, a wedding celebration in the Maldives will make you believe that it truly is heaven on Earth.
N.B.: all information is correct as of the post-publication date and prices are subject to change.
