Are you Dreaming of a wedding in Maldives ? Here are the 10 most common questions and their answers to help you start to plan this unique journey.
Dreaming of a Wedding in Maldives ?
You are about to live one of the most exciting chapters of your life and you’re dreaming of the Maldives for your wedding ?
Congratulations ! You are choosing one the most romantic and spectacular destination in the world to celebrate your love.
There are thousands of small decisions that need to be made when planning your wedding. In Maldives, you can bring down this stress almost to none. The resorts will organize everything for you and at a cost that might beat the one you’re about to pay home.
Maldives wedding ceremonies are purely ceremonial and not legally recognised by law, plus it is as easy as organizing a holiday. Everything is organized and often pre-packaged by the resorts. You will have nothing to manage, just to enjoy your dreamy elopement .
elope and celebrate your love barefoot on a Maldives Beach
If you don’t want to wait for your wedding event to happen home, you should elope to the Maldives where a ceremony can be easily and beautifully conducted in a dream location without much prior organization. Just contact your favorite resort ( the below questions will help you choose it ) and let their team guide you through every step of the planning process for your big day.
Dreaming Of A Wedding In Maldives in 10 Questions
- How much does a wedding in the Maldives cost ?
- What is the typical Wedding Package in a Maldives resort ?
- Can I tailor my own ceremony ?
- Is the wedding ceremony official ?
- Can I have a religious wedding ceremony in Maldives ?
- Do the Maldives organize same-sex weddings?
- Which resorts organize wedding ceremonies ?
- Which Resort should I choose for my wedding ?
- What a typical traditional Maldivian Wedding Ceremony looks like ?
- What are the required documents for a wedding in Maldives ?
- What is the best time of year to get married in the Maldives ?
10 Questions about Wedding Ceremonies in Maldives
I hope these questions and answers will help you get a better idea of what a wedding in the Maldives looks like and where you stand with your budget and expectations.
How much does a wedding in the Maldives cost ?
A wedding package in the Maldives will cost you between 500 USD for the most simple ceremony in a 3* resort to 5,000 USD and much more for the most luxurious resorts, which remains cheaper than the average cost of a classic ceremony at home.
Let’s face it, a wedding can be an expensive event. The average wedding typically cost more than 20,000 USD with the ceremony, the dress, the caterers, the reception, the pictures and/or the videography, the makeup… and that does not include the honeymoon which comes at a minimum average of 4 to 5000 USD, if not more.
So, a wedding package in the Maldives will still cost less. Flights included.
Plus, everything is covered : the wedding and the honeymoon, all in a dreamy setting.
What is the typical Wedding Package in a Maldives resort ?
Maldives resorts offer many wedding packages. The most typical one includes the ceremony on the beach, the flowers, the music, the makeup, the cake, and the photography.
The bride will bring her own wedding dress, wear a simple dress, have one from a local even planner or wear a Dhivehi Libaas, the traditional Maldives dress.
The groom will be as free as his bride and choose from his own clothing or rent one for the occasion.
If you choose a ceremony on the beach, you will however highly prefer to adopt a barefoot attitude. Heels and chic leather shoes are not the most ideal footwear on a Maldivian beach.
You can also tailor your ceremony, which brings us to the next question :
Can I tailor my own ceremony ?
Yes, you can. Most generally wedding venues are organized on a private sandbank, on the resort beach or in a dedicated wedding pavilion. However, the more luxurious the resort the more options you will have to design the wedding of your dreams.
If you dream for more, you can also name your own star, alter decorations, go for a romantic sunset cruise, have a couple massage, get married underwater, rent an island, have a firework, have a candlelit wedding ceremony under the stars, the list goes on and on…
Is the wedding ceremony official ?
No. A wedding in Maldives is symbolic and will not be recognized as legal when you get back home.
On the legal side, Maldives non-residents are not officially married but the ceremony or renewal of vows ceremony remain a serious celebration.
Can I have a religious wedding ceremony in Maldives ?
No. There is no possibility to have a religious ceremony in the Maldives, even if you are Muslim, which is the only religion authorized in the country. But even if you are, you will still need to reside in the Maldives or to get married with a Maldivian citizen to have a religious wedding.
The ceremony remains civil and orchestrated by a designated civil officiant from the resort or from Male, the capital city.
Do the Maldives organize same-sex weddings?
No. The Maldives are a safe place for gay couples but as a Muslim country under the Sharia Law, it does not recognize the LGBT community. However this law doesn’t apply in resorts where alcohol is authorized for example.
Read also : The Maldives from A to Z. A Complete Journey around The Maldives
Which resorts organize wedding ceremonies ?
In 2022, most, if not all, resorts offer wedding celebrations so it’s impossible to give you here the complete list.
Even guest houses, local hotels, cruise ships and safari boats offer such ceremonies. They closely work with local event planners and will organize your wedding ceremony on the most suitable place around your location ( a sandbank being generally the preferred venue ).
Which Resort should I choose for my wedding ?
As stated in the previous question, the Maldives have a myriad of resorts to choose for a wedding. The final choice will first depend on your budget. The price range is huge : it can go from 300 USD per night for a good resort to several thousands of USD. So that is the first criterion you must take in consideration.
Once you’ve narrowed down your choice to the appropriate resort list, here are a few things to check :
- First is the location of the island. Is it close to the airport? How will you get to the resort ? by speedboat ? seaplane ? domestic flight ? The prices starts at around 150 USD by boat to more than 500 USD by seaplane or plane. It makes an enormous difference if you invite several guests to your wedding.
You can contact me if you need more information about a particular resort in the Maldives.
- Second, the type and number of villas offered by the resort. Does it feature honeymoon villas ? romantic villas ( overwater or on the beach ). These villas are often located in a more secluded area island and offer more privacy.
See 10 Sexy Villas in Maldives For a Romantic Holiday
- Third, the amenities and excursions offered on the island. The bigger the resort is, the more experiences and activities you and your guests will enjoy.
remark : if you’re looking for a more intimate setting, you should opt for a small resort like a Boutique Hotel.
What a typical traditional Maldivian Wedding Ceremony looks like ?
A traditional Maldivian wedding ceremony looks like…heaven. That’s not a surprise. So, let’s get into the dreamy details.
First the venue and set up : the ceremony is often held on a paradise beach with a pavilion made of coconut palm trees and flowers, petals on the sand, a flower shower thrown by Maldivian ladies wearing the Dhivehi Libaas, the Maldivian traditional ceremonial dress, Maldivian drummers playing the Bodu Beru, the traditional music of the Maldives, and of course the officiant.
The ceremony includes the officiant, the exchanging vows and rings, the cake, wine or champagne and the photography.
Drone photos can be created according to the resort policy ( some resort forbid it for privacy policy).
What are the required documents for a wedding in Maldives ?
You do not need any legal documents to get married in Maldives.
However, please keep in mind that you will need a wedding certificate for a Honeymoon stay (which does not always include a wedding ceremony).
What is the best time of year to get married in the Maldives ?
The best season to get married is during the Maldives so-called “dry” season, which usually runs from October / November until April. September is in theory (and in theory only) a little less “risky” than June / July / August months when the rainy monsoon can still be active to very active.
The Maldives dry season
The Maldives dry season occurs during European winters. Called the winter monsoon, or Iruvai in Dhivehi, this period of the year is generally hot and dry and is the best time to go to the Maldives.
Maldives winter monsoon often brings sunny skies, a few rainfall and quiet seas.
Say I DO in Maldives /
Read more
Rent a Maldives Island for Your Wedding at CROSSROADS Maldives
Follow us on Facebook, Youtube and Instagram
for more Maldives Dreams & Stories
[ Official ]
Traveler's Choice
14th Edition
