Can You Elope In Another Country? | How to elope abroad as a U.S. Citizen
You’ve probably seen the photos and videos all over social media…a couple jet-setting across the world with an elopement photographer to tie the knot in a fairy tale-like setting. It’s romantic, unique, thrilling, exotic, and unforgettable, all at once.
If you’re even considering doing the same, you’re probably wondering, can you elope in another country? The answer is usually, but because of widely differing laws, customs, and other guidelines all over the world, it’s not always black and white.
Don’t worry, though, because I did the heavy lifting and put together this guide on how to elope abroad. Whether you want to chase waterfalls in Costa Rica, celebrate your love somewhere romantic and historical like Europe, get off-grid for a few days in the mountains, or you have something completely wild in mind, keep reading to find out how to elope in another country.
Choose your destination
Realizing you’re not limited to eloping in America is a huge game changer. There are soooo many epic places to elope abroad (although, in all fairness, the US is incredible, too!). Start by asking yourself what type of scenery and experience you’re looking for, and factor in your wedding date. For example, if your dream is to elope in the rolling green hills of the UK, your window of time is limited to the summer months. Likewise, you should try to avoid hurricane season in the Caribbean.
For non-negotiable wedding dates, it should be easy to eliminate a few places right off the bat. If you’re eloping in February but want somewhere sunny and warm, you can cross off any mountainous destinations.
Torn between a couple of destinations, or having a difficult time narrowing down a long list? It might be a good idea to look into some of the legal requirements and logistics for each place. This could help you eliminate some countries, as well as decide whether you’ll get legally married abroad or stick to a symbolic wedding, then deal with the official paperwork in the US.
Decide on a religious or civil ceremony
Requirements vary significantly from country to country regarding religious versus civil ceremonies. For example, in Croatia and France, the only legally-recognized type of marriage is a civil ceremony. On the other hand, both religious and civil ceremonies are legal in Ireland, making it a popular country to get married abroad. Even in countries that permit and recognize both types of ceremonies, I recommend doing LOTS of research and contacting officials sooner rather than later (more on that below!) for exact requirements.
Where do you need to do your legal paperwork?
As I mentioned earlier, some couples opt to legally get married in the United States, but still “unofficially” elope abroad. The major benefit to this is that you completely eliminate the stress and hassle of figuring out paperwork in a foreign country. Your elopement will still be your dream wedding day (or weekend or even week!), but you handle the legal aspect of it at home before or after your trip.
In many cases, this is as simple as heading down to the local courthouse or county clerk’s office and signing your marriage license. And here’s a little secret: no one even has to know, if you want to keep it a secret from your family and friends! Another option is to elope in another country, and also have a small wedding later on at home with your loved ones.
Of course, some couples may have their hearts set on doing the whole shebang in another country, which is perfectly understandable! Several nations offer an easy path to start your journey into union through a destination elopement. View the easiest places to elope in the world to start getting ideas!
If you’re set on doing your legal paperwork abroad, here are some things to consider.
Research the marriage requirements in your country of choice. A good place to start is the country’s tourism board, or searching “[country] marriage requirements for US citizens.” At a minimum, expect similar requirements as those in the United States, including birth certificates, photo IDs, and a waiting period — however, be prepared to provide additional documents or jump through some hoops.
Seek help from U.S. officials. If you don’t find clear information on how to get married abroad in your chosen destination, reach out to the country’s US embassy or consulate. One of their literal job functions is “to assist American citizens who travel to or live in the host country,” so don’t hesitate to contact them!
Determine if there’s a residency requirement. Some countries do not allow non-citizens to legally get married. One major example is Switzerland. If this is the case in the country you have your set on, remember you can still “elope” there and take epic elopement photos, but you’ll need to make it official stateside.
Consider hiring a lawyer. This may sound a bit “extra,” but it could very well be worth it. If there’s a language barrier, lots of additional requirements, or any aspect of eloping abroad in a specific country is confusing, consider hiring a lawyer there to ensure that you do everything properly and legally.
Determine if you need to hire a translator. Again, I know this step may seem a little extreme, but think about this: if you’re required to be married by a celebrant (the same as an officiant in the US), there’s an excellent chance that he or she won’t speak English very well. Along the same lines, your marriage license (and all the associated application paperwork!) may be in a foreign language.
Obtain all required documents. On top of the standard photo ID/passport and birth certificate, you’ll likely have to produce several other documents to elope in another country. These may include blood tests, an official letter of intent to marry (which often needs to be sent in well in advance, such as a minimum of 29 days in the UK), or in some countries, like Norway, even a visa or residency permit. Give yourself PLENTY of time to gather these, and bring copies of everything!
Is a marriage in another country valid in the US?
Great news — the US generally does recognize marriages abroad. Regardless of what country you elope in, however, you will still need to officially register your marriage in the United States for legal purposes. Just like marriage laws, specific guidelines vary from state to state, so the best thing to do is contact your local county clerk to ask what you need to do or provide.
Have a Plan B…and maybe even C
Let’s be honest: whether you’re eloping just the two of you or inviting a select group of loved ones, planning any sort of wedding comes with plenty of logistics and, yes, some stress. Eloping in another country amplifies that even more, adding several layers of potential things that could go wrong. Don’t let that scare you, though! My best advice is to plan ahead and plan specifically for the “what ifs.”
Bring copies of every single required document (better yet, keep one set with each of you separately, in case something happens to one person’s luggage), identify points of contact including emergency situations before you leave home, and have backups in place for venues, hotels, and tours. You can’t plan for everything, but preparing well ahead of time will put you in a better position to make quick decisions.
Choose your witnesses & any potential guests
Many (most) countries require at least one witness, in addition to a celebrant. If you’re inviting guests, this won’t be a problem, but if you’re traveling with just the two of you, you’ll need to think ahead about who you can ask to bear witness to your marriage. Your elopement photographer may have some ideas, and if not, you can also ask at your accommodation or inquire when you speak to any officials. And speaking of guests, be sure to give them as much time as possible to account for the extra travel logistics and expense.
Choose & book your vendors
Along the same lines as guests and potential witnesses, you should book any vendors ASAP. If there’s a language barrier or currency conversions to deal with, or if something unexpected comes up, you’ll want to give yourself as much time as possible to work it out.
Every elopement is unique, but some of the most popular vendors for getting married abroad include:
Photographer
Florist
Hair and/or makeup artist
Local tour guide
Book your travel & lodging
This one should really go without saying, but it’s so important that it’s worth mentioning. All travel, including airfare, rental cars, train tickets, etc., plus your accommodation, should be booked as soon as you decide on a destination and date. In some especially popular elopement destinations like Greece, Bali, and Iceland, the best hotels book out months in advance and airfare spikes in peak season.
Choose your activities & create a timeline
Once the “bones” of your elopement abroad are in place (i.e.; your date, travel plans, accommodation, and of course, elopement photographer!), it’s time to focus on the details. How do you want to spend your time together? The sky really is the limit, so put together some of your bucket list experiences, along with some of the country’s must-see and must-do attractions. This could be anything from island-hopping in Cyprus to riding in a hot-air balloon over Tuscany to going on a safari in Australia. Once you have some ideas in mind, chat with your elopement photographer about creating a timeline to include as many of them as possible.
Finalize all details with vendors
A couple of weeks before your elopement, spend some time following up one last time with all your vendors. Make sure they don’t need anything else from you, double-check all payment details (are some of them expecting you to pay your remaining balance in cash upon delivery, and if so, will you need foreign currency?), and confirm the date and time of pickup or delivery.
Finally, be present & enjoy!
Above all else, remember that eloping abroad is your dream, and being fully present with one another and the experience is something you both deserve! Believe me, I know the logistics and planning leading up to it can be overwhelming, but keep your eyes on the prize: your completely one-of-a-kind, fairytale wedding!
Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or even ideas. I LOVE chatting about this stuff — plus, sometimes it’s super helpful to just bounce your ideas off someone else. Congratulations and best wishes, and I can’t wait to talk to you soon!