Fri, Sep 10th 2010, 17:06

A wedding in the Seychelles....

Seychelles is an ideal location for your island wedding. What else can you ask for pristine beaches, tropical landscapes and an abundance of natural beauty both above and below the ocean.

Information on the Seychelles:
The Seychelles is an archipelago of 115 different islands which are situated in the Indian Ocean - east of Africa- and south of the equator.

The islands are often referred to as the inner and outer group of islands. The inner group of islands (Mahe, Praslin, La Digue) is where Chalets d' Anse Forbans is located. The self catering beach bungalows are on the South East coast of the main land Mahe where you will find the Seychelles International Airport (14km from Chalets d' Anse Forbans )as well as the capital of the Seychelles- Victoria (24km from Chalets d Anse Forbans)

The Seychellois people are essentially descendants of the first settlers on the islands, the French, British and their slaves. The Seychelles has three official languages: English, Creole and French. The official currency is the Seychelles Rupee.

If you planning on getting married in the Seychelles read and wondering what are the Seychelles requirements:

1. To get married anyway in the Seychelles the intended couple must both be 18 years old or over.

2. If you wish to organise your own wedding in the Seychelles you must apply for a civil wedding license at the Seychelles Civil Status Office in Victoria. This is easy to obtain once you have all the required documents listed further down.

3. It is advisable that the wedding is planned and documents gathered at least six weeks before your planned date to allow for the processing in good time, but you can fast track it with a "special license."

4. Couples should advise the Civil Status Office in Seychelles of their proposed wedding at least eleven days before the chosen date. However, this 11-day period may be partly waived by applying for a special licence, which can be issued within two days from the date of application.

5. The couple must be resident in the Seychelles for at least 2 days prior to the civil marriage under this special licence.

6. Weddings in Seychelles may be conducted anywhere approved by the Civil Registrar. So if you have any special place in mind, first seek their approval. You can plan a wedding at Chalets d' Anse Forbans using the Creole Styled Gazebo.

7. If you wish to marry outside the Seychelles Civil Status Office you are required to pay a fee in Rupees. This fee applies to weddings held on any weekday on Mahe.

8. A premium fee is charged for weddings in Seychelles held on Saturdays and Sundays, or after 1700hrs on weekdays.

9. Legally conducted Seychelles weddings are recognised under European laws.

10. Any nationality can get married in Seychelles, but check with your own country's requirements first.

11. Except for British nationals, all nationalities require a special stamp (apostle) from the Supreme Court of Seychelles to validate the marriage certificate obtained after the civil wedding.
You can get your marriage certificate "apostled" at the office of the Registrar of the Supreme Court of Seychelles in Victoria. You have to go pick it up two days later and a small fee is charged.

12. For marriages in Seychelles the couples must produce the following documents:
• Their original Birth Certificate or a certified copy.
• If divorced, a decree of absolute must be produced.
• If widowed the death certificate of the former spouse along with the previous marriage certificate.
• Legal proof in the case of a name having been changed. Legal proof must also be supplied by a formerly married woman who has reverted back to her maiden name.
• Copies of the first 2 pages of valid passports held by both parties.
• Certificate of non-impediment. A document to show that there is no impediment or lawful hindrance to the intended marriage (If this cannot be obtained, an affidavit must be signed in Seychelles after a solemn declaration has been made to that effect)

13. All the above documents must be originals or copies duly certified by a notary or solicitor before departure from your home country and where necessary they must be translated into either English or French and the translation certified as correct and a true translation by a notary or solicitor.

14. Special Note for French nationals: Under French law, those who wish to get married abroad must follow certain specific procedures. For information concerning these procedures, contact either the Seychelles Civil Status Office or the French Embassy in Seychelles or your local municipality before leaving home, if you are a French national.
Note: Church weddings in Seychelles cannot take place without a civil legal marriage first.

Seychelles Civil Status Office registers all births, deaths and marriages in the Seychelles:
Seychelles Civil Status Office, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles
Tel: +248 29 36 13 or 248 29 36 36 Fax: +248 32 10 46
(Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 0800hrs-1130hrs and 1300hrs-1500hrs Closed on public holidays.)

Your wedding in the Seychelles... your ideal Seychelles wedding venue - Chalets d' Anse Forbans. Read our blog on Seychelles Weddings @ Chalets d' Anse Forbans.

Chalets d' Anse Forbans offers Seychelles Self Catering Beach Bungalows on the South East Coast of the Island of Mahe. View our website for more information.

This Blog post is Sponsored by Chalets d' Anse Forbans in Anse Forbans, Mahe, Seychelles