Where can we get married?
SUNSET offer you a wide choice of exotic locations for your wedding, including Mauritius, the Seychelles, St Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, Grenada, St Lucia, the Bahamas, Bali, Hawaii and Las Vegas. We can also arrange weddings in Sri Lanka (detail on request). In other countries there may be legal restrictions (the ceremony may not be recognised by British Law - e.g., the Maldives) or a period of residence is needed (the French Caribbean, French Polynesia and Reunion).

How do we arrange the dates?
When you have decided on the destination for your Wedding in Paradise enter your first and second choice of wedding date (to be a weekday and not a Public Holiday) on your Booking Form and send your Deposit/Payment (as appropriate), together with additional £100 Wedding Deposit per couple (£500). We will request these dates at the time of booking the hotel but cannot confirm them until the hotel/representation company receive clear photocopies of all necessary documents and a covering letter from SUNSET. Your wedding date will be confirmed by telephone as soon as possible after receipt of the documents and be printed on your Final Invoice.

It is vital that you send these documents to us as soon as possible after booking, and no less than eight weeks before travel. Sometimes weddings can be arranged at short notice, although a courier charge and special licence fee of £150 applies in such cases.

You should take the original documents on holiday with you, as they have to be presented to the Registrar/Civil Status Office before the ceremony. Documents needed are clear copies in English of:

• The last two pages of an EEC-type passport or first six pages of an 'original' British passport (showing place and date of issue, number, expiry date, name details and clear photograph)
• The completed SUNSET Wedding Questionnaire.
• Birth Certificates of Bride and Groom, and (where relevant) Decree Absolute if either person is divorced, Death Certificate of deceased spouse, Statutory Declaration of Name Change by Deed Poll, Adoption Certificate
• Any other document required by the relevant country (including for Grenada and Nevis recent copies of sworn affidavits stating that both parties are single and free to marry)

What is included in the Fee?
SUNSET can arrange your wedding in the following packages:

Standard Wedding Package: This includes the special licence, Registrar fees and the cost of transport to/from the legal offices.

Items NOT included in the 'Standard Wedding Package' fee OR SUNSET Wedding Package may be arranged on arrival with your hotel's Guest Relations officer or our local representative. The day after your arrival at your hotel they will explain the procedures of your wedding day and show you the available location(s) for the ceremony. You may then make any personal requests you have for 'extras', to be confirmed and paid for locally (e.g., video recording, photographer, snacks, musical accompaniment, etc.). If you wish to see a list of 'extras' offered by a hotel will be enclosed with your Confirmation Invoice. Should you wish to book any of these this should be done as early as possible before your travel date.

What should we do once we have requested a wedding date?
Prepare all wedding document photocopies and send them to SUNSET as soon as possible.

What deposit is necessary at the time of booking?
The normal SUNSET deposit of £100 per person + a £100 wedding deposit (£500 for the Bahamas) per couple.

What happens next?
SUNSET then send your documents to your destination for approval. Confirmation is received by SUNSET only when the relevant authorities have approved and released the licence - normally 2 weeks before departure.

What does the wedding package include?
SUNSET will send you a written confirmation with details of your prepaid wedding package, together with a list of optional extras that can be pre-requested for you (and which you pay locally after your arrival). SUNSET requires your requests to be sent to us in writing at least 5 weeks before your departure.

What happens if we forget to send the documents?
Our representatives require at least 4 weeks to arrange the legal paperwork. Documents not received by SUNSET until within 6 weeks of your departure date will therefore incur a courier charge and special licence fee of £150.

Do i need both decrees absolute if i have been divorced twice?
Only the latest Decree Absolute is required.

What is the minimum stay before we can get married?
The minimum duration required in Mauritius, Seychelles and the Caribbean is 3 working days.

Can we pre-book the hairdresser?
No - this can only be done on arrival at your hotel.

How do we carry the wedding dress?
Because of limited aircraft space, airlines recommend that the dress be checked-in together with your baggage.

Do we need to carry all legal documents with us?
It is vital that you take all ORIGINAL documents with you.

What happens when we get to the hotel?
You will normally be met by the hotel's wedding co-ordinator on the day after your arrival. They will show you a choice of venues for the ceremony. They will also require the final wedding letter, which will be sent with your travel documents.

When do we arrange to swear the affidavits?
In Mauritius the hotel wedding co-ordinator will arrange a time for a taxi to collect you for the swearing of the affidavits and publishing of banns. This is normally done the day before the wedding. In Seychelles affidavits are sworn at the hotel. In the Caribbean a transfer will be arranged (cost included) for you to sign legal documents at a lawyer's office. A marriage licence fee may have to be paid locally.

Does sunset arrange any wedding insurance?
No - you will need to arrange your own cover.

What happens if we change the wedding date after we have received confirmation - or cancel completely?
A wedding cancellation charge equivalent to the deposit paid will apply.

What happens if it is raining on the day?
A gazebo or other covered venue is normally available - but at least a few hours' notice will be required by the hotel for a change of location.

Can we have a best man?
A Best Man can be provided free of charge, at many hotels.

Can we get married on the beach?
In a number of cases this is not possible as beaches are public property - but some hotels in Mauritius (e.g., Le Saint Géran) and most in the Caribbean can offer beach weddings.

What time will the wedding take place?
Usually mid-afternoon (to allow adequate time for photographs). The ceremony normally lasts about an hour.

What happens on the day?
A member of the hotel staff will help the bride prepare for the ceremony. After this has taken place, a toast is proposed and the cake cut. Then additional photographs can be taken by the beach or in the gardens.

When will we receive a wedding certificate?
Normally within a couple of days after the wedding. If you are departing within that time our local agent will forward the certificate to you. A mall fee will apply for extra copies (to be requested beforehand).

Is it necessary to register the wedding after our return?
British citizens are not normally required to do this for destinations in this brochure were we feature Wedding Packages. Other passport holders should check with their consulate.

Mauritius - Important Note: A Divorcee or Widow remarrying in Mauritius must take a pregnancy test on the island (or bring a recent certificate from their doctor proving a negative test) if remarrying within 300 days of previous marriage.