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Legal Requirements

To get legally married at Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay, there are a few requirements you need. By law, the wedding couple needs to be in Jamaica 24 hours in advance (not including the day of arrival) of their wedding. However, we would advise you to come at least three days in advance to meet with the wedding coordinator and marriage officer and go through the final details regarding the wedding. Symbolic and non-legal ceremonies allow flexibility for arrival date.

Please speak with the wedding coordinator to discuss the requirements.

For legal ceremonies, a marriage officer recognized by the Jamaican government must conduct the wedding. The following original documents are required to be sent via courier to the wedding coordinator at least eight weeks before the couple’s arrival to the hotel:

  • Proof of citizenship: a certified copy of their birth certificates, which includes father’s name.
  • Notarized copies of the bride and groom’s official ID (passports).
  • Proof of divorce, if applicable (original certificate of divorce).
  • Notarized copy of death certificate for widow or widower.
  • Occupation of both candidates.
  • Occupation and full names of both sets of parents.
  • Parent’s written consent if under 18 years of age.
  • Italian nationals celebrating their wedding in Jamaica must notify their embassy and have a certified copy of their marriage certificate forwarded to their embassy to be legalized and translated.
  • French Canadians need a notarized, translated copy of all documents and a photocopy of the original French documents.
  • All documents not originally in English need a notarized, translated copy and a photocopy of the original documents.
  • After the ceremony, the couple will receive a copy of the marriage register that the officer will take to the Registrar General in Montego Bay to obtain your official certificate. This process takes approximately three months, and we will mail the documents to you as soon as we receive it from the Registrar’s Office.

Secrets Resorts & Spas are not responsible for those documents sent via postal or courier services and not received by the wedding coordinator. We are unable to retrieve those documents not sent directly to the hotel, and neither the wedding coordinator nor any other employee of the hotel can leave the property to retrieve documents. After signing the marriage registrar forms, the Minister sends the documents signed by the couple to the Registrar General Department (the government agency that processes marriage certificates). On average, the processing of the paperwork takes approximately three months. Please note that

Secrets Resorts & Spa is not responsible for any delay in the processing of the marriage certificates.

Symbolic Ceremonies: In Jamaica, symbolic ceremonies are considered a non-legal option. Due to government law, wedding couples must be legally married in their country before having a symbolic ceremony in Jamaica. The bride and groom must present their wedding certificate as proof of marriage for a symbolic ceremony