EXOTIC WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS IN MAURITIUS

Introduction

The population of Mauritius, over a million, is a mixture of European, African, Chinese and Indian, each ethnical group having influenced its culture by various ways through history, resulting in a special blend that makes Mauritius so unique and attractive. Besides being one of the most picturesque destinations in the world, and already one of the most popular destinations for honeymooners, Mauritius is now gaining popularity as a wedding destination – romantic Mauritius having so much to offer! Its coastline of nearly 100 Kilometres of soft white sandy beaches fringed with casuarinas and palm trees surrounded by crystal-clear waters well-known as a paradise for divers. High class hotels and a large number of beachfront private villas are idyllic settings for wedding ceremonies that could be held in a hotel or in its gardens, but what makes Mauritius so special is that wedding ceremonies may take place on the beach, on a catamaran, or on a desert dream island. Mauritius is one of the few countries offering such a variety of settings for exotic wedding ceremonies.

Procedures

Procedures for weddings in Mauritius are quite simple, although being slightly more complex for non-resident couples, but our specialised staff will organise everything for the couple, thus taking all the hassles away from them. We will advise them about the documents that must be sent to us at least 6 weeks before their arrival (We have posted that list below so that you may know about them well before the time to sent them to us). We shall inform them about the conditions imposed by the local authorities for their wedding to take place in Mauritius. For example, both the bride and groom need to be over 18 years old, and stay at least 3 days in Mauritius before the wedding day. After inviting the couple to put forward their ideas, we would share our experience with them, planning and organising the whole wedding from scratch, covering pre-wedding hen and stag events, prenuptial spa treatment, catering, wedding cake, flowers, photographer and music… everything!

The list of documents that must reach us at least 6 weeks prior to your wedding date is as follows:

• 3 copies of the first 3 pages of your passports
• 3 copies of your birth certificates. International birth certificates are accepted.
• The dates when you will arrive on the island and the date you desire to get married.
• 3 copies of your divorce papers in English or French if one or both of you have been divorced.
• It should be noted that divorced women, intending to marry in Mauritius within 10 months of the divorce pronouncement, will need a local doctor’s certificate of non-pregnancy.

We will then write a letter on your behalf to the civil status office on Mauritius stating the date of arrival and the desired date for the marriage and send it together with all the documents to the main civil status office in Port Louis at the least 6 weeks before the ceremony.

The Ceremony

The couple may choose from several wedding formulae. The ceremony may be imposing, taking place with all the family and friends around, or very informal in a quiet setting with just the couple.
Whatever be the couple’s choice, our team would pick them up from their hotel or private villa and transfer them to the chosen location where the wedding ceremony would be taking place. After the welcoming cocktail drink, they would be offered a bridal bouquet and a button-hole. The Civil Status officer would start conducting the ceremony, while a professional photographer would already be taking photos right from the arrival of the couple, during the ceremony and also during the wedding cake and sparkling wine session that would follow.

The day after the wedding ceremony, the marriage certificate is normally delivered to the married couple together with their complimentary wedding album already set with the photos taken during the ceremony

WEDDING FORMULAE

Simple Paradise Wedding

Weddings may take place in a variety of surroundings in Mauritius; the simplest one is to have it organised at the couple’s villa or hotel (most hotels have elaborate arrangements for wedding ceremonies). The choice is of course the couple’s.
We also offer a variety of venues – at a Hunting club house, located right on hunting grounds, on a deserted tropical beach, on a secluded dream island, or on a catamaran.

• Soon after your arrival in Mauritius, we will take you to visit the main civil status office in Port Louis.
• After this, we will go to the court where you will swear an affidavit that you are single.
• We will then visit the local civil status office and the wedding official who will marry you.
• On your wedding day: The officer will come to you and conduct the ceremony and we could act as witnesses for the event if you have no witnesses.
• After the wedding, we will take the marriage certificate to the Prime Minister's office to have it validated, so that it will be immediately valid when you return home.

Optional extras

• Transfer in VIP car to the place you will marry.
• Photos made by a professional photographer.
• A video of the ceremony
• Bridal Bouquet and button

Our Simple Paradise Wedding Package: £445 or 565 € per couple

Beach Wedding

More romance for the couple choosing the ceremony taking place right on a private desert beach.  After enjoying the welcoming cocktail drink, they would be hand in hand, barefooted on the beach with the sun shining in the blue sky, casuarinas and palm trees swaying over their head, and the warm water gently lapping at their feet … A delicious moment when one would love to stop time and let it be for ever!

The Package includes the following:

• All legal formalities to be organised by us
• Welcome of the couple with a cocktail drink
• Civil ceremony conducted by a Civil Status officer
• Professional photographer with 50 beautiful photos
• Bridal Bouquet and Button-hole for the couple
• Wedding cake and sparkling wine
• Well decorated beach location with flowers, bouquet and exotic fruits
• Assistance with registration and certification of the marriage

Our Beach Wedding Package: £770 or 975 € per couple

Dream Island Wedding Package

More romance for the couple choosing the ceremony taking place right on a private desert beach.  After enjoying the welcoming cocktail drink, they would be hand in hand, barefooted on the beach with the sun shining in the blue sky, casuarinas and palm trees swaying over their head, and the warm water gently lapping at their feet … A delicious moment when one would love to stop time and let it be for ever!

The Package includes the following:-

• All legal formalities to be organised by us
• Pick up at the hotel or villa and transfer to the west coast
• Transfer in a boat to the island of “Ile aux Benitiers” (30 mins transfer)
• Welcome of the couple with a cocktail drink on the island
• Set up of a table and chairs with floral decoration and exotic fruits
• 2 witnesses for the wedding
• Civil ceremony conducted by a Civil Status officer
• Professional photographer with 50 beautiful photos
• Bridal Bouquet and Button-hole for the couple
• Wedding cake and sparkling wine
• Assistance with registration and certification of the marriage

Our Dream Island Wedding Package: £1,418 or 1800 € per couple

Optional - Premium Island Wedding

In addition to the above, you and your own witnesses will cruise to the relevant island in a small catamaran with cabin thus offering a more elegant experience....

... and after the ceremony you will be offered a mini-cruise with canapés and a celebration glass of champagne!

Supplement to above Package: £395 or 500 €

Catamaran Wedding Package

Another romantic venue for the ceremony would be on a catamaran on which a specific place would have been well decorated for the ceremony prior to the arrival of the couple - bridal bouquet on the table set for the ceremony. After the ritual welcoming cocktail drink, the catamaran would set sails before sunset, and the whole ceremony would take place right on the catamaran sailing gently in the lagoon. Those choosing the west coast would be gratified with the usually fantastic and magical sunset, characteristic of the west coast of Mauritius. The twinkling stars above would gradually stand out, shining in the evening twilight. After the wedding cake and sparkling wine session, snacks and drinks would be offered to the guests. The whole ceremony would be completed during the 2½ hours trip.

The Package includes the following:-

• All legal formalities to be organised by us
• Pick up at the hotel or villa and transfer by car to the jetty from where the catamaran will leave (East coast: Oceane. West coast: Aquarelle
• Hire the private catamaran for 2½ hours for the ceremony
• Welcome of the bride and groom on the catamaran with a welcome cocktail.
• Well-decorated place on the catamaran to hold the ceremony
• Civil ceremony held by a civil status officer on the catamaran.
• Professional photographer for 50 beautiful photos
• Wedding cake and sparkling wine for the ceremony
• Bridal Bouquet and Button-hole for the couple
• Drinks and snacks for the guests (up to 6 people)
• Romantic sunset photos of the couple after the ceremony on the catamaran
• 2 Witnesses for the ceremony

Our Catamaran Wedding Package: 1950 € per couple

Religious Wedding - Catholic or Anglican

We also offer facilities to those couples who wish to have a religious wedding in Mauritius. We shall help them for the choice of the appropriate church, and advise them concerning the conditions put forward by the Mauritian Catholic or Anglican Church.

The couple will have to visit the chosen church at least once (but it would be better twice) prior to the wedding day for a chat with the priest and for rehearsal of the ceremony.

A translator is also needed if the couple is not fluent in French or English.

The ceremony cannot be performed on Saturdays and Sundays or during the lent period of fasting prior to Easter.

Both the bride and groom should be of Catholic faith, although Catholic/Anglican is acceptable.

The ceremony takes about one hour.

A few extra options include a musical choir, Video of the ceremony and transfer to and from the church in a decorated VIP car.

A professional photographer will attend the ceremony to take photos, and the next day, a complimentary wedding album already set with the photos taken during the ceremony will be offered to the couple.

The requirements of both the Catholic Church and Anglican Church

• Birth certificate (3 copies).
• Certificate of confirmation (baptism) from your local priest in your home country (3 copies).
• Certificate from your home town hall that you are not already married.
• Copy of the wedding certificate (civil wedding) performed prior to the Catholic ceremony. Your civil wedding may be performed in Mauritius or in your home country before departure.

On top of the above, the Catholic Church will also require the following documents:

• Divorced papers (3 copies).
• An authorisation letter from your local priest testifying your request for getting married in Mauritius.

All the documents, including the documents for the civil wedding, should be sent to us at least 6 weeks before you arrive in Mauritius. Tthe Mauritius Catholic Diocese will contact you as soon as they receive the documents.

Our Catholic or Anglican Wedding Package: 560 €