According to Condor Ferries, about 350,000 destination weddings take place every single year — and if your idea of the perfect destination wedding involves plenty of sun and sand, then Aruba might be just the place you’ve been looking for.
In this guide, we’re covering why Aruba is the perfect place to tie the knot, and we’ll even give you some planning notes to help you get the process started. Worried about your wedding budget? We also provide a price breakdown so you can budget accordingly and still realize your dream wedding.
If you’re already considering holding a destination wedding in Aruba, you probably have at least some idea of what makes this small island nation such a great spot to get married. Factors like great weather and pristine beaches probably come to mind first. However, Aruba offers so much more than temperate weather and natural beauty.
Here are some reasons why so many couples decide to marry in Aruba.
With an average of 29 days of precipitation per year and an annual rainfall of only 7.1 inches, Aruba is the sunniest island in the Caribbean.
Despite all of the sun, temperatures stay in the low 80s year-round thanks to the cooling trade winds. Most reassuringly, Aruba sits south of the hurricane belt, making a direct hit unlikely. With weather this perfect, you can rest easy knowing Mother Nature is on your side.
Aruba’s natural beauty will captivate you the minute you step off the plane. With its alabaster beaches hugging the turquoise Caribbean Sea and its breathtaking Ayo rock formations, the island offers stunning vistas at every turn.
As you venture further inland, Aruba’s landscape transitions into an arid, desert-like environment adorned with unique cacti and gracefully windswept divi-divi trees. Whether you’re looking for a tropical paradise or a picturesque desert backdrop, Aruba promises an idyllic setting for your wedding photos.
You’ll be happy (and probably pretty surprised) to find out that a wedding on this island paradise won’t break the bank. According to a survey conducted by Destination Weddings, most couples who get married abroad spend less than $10,000 on the whole affair. That’s much less than the average $30,000 price tag for a domestic wedding in the United States.
One of the main reasons couples think twice about having a destination wedding is because they don’t want to inconvenience their friends and family members or make them shell out for an expensive plane ticket. You can forget about both of those fears if you choose to get married in Aruba. Aruba is a five-hour direct flight from New York and Chicago; tickets go for less than $1,000 round-trip.
Aruba’s local population is a melting pot of Indigenous, Dutch, Spanish, and African ethnicities. So, no matter your background or beliefs, you’ll feel comfortable being yourself on this incredibly diverse island.
Beyond that, Aruba is incredibly welcoming to LGBTIQA+ couples. Not only do locals have a progressive mindset, but the island nation approved same-sex marriage in 2022.
Most couples planning a destination wedding get married in their home country first, then host a symbolic ceremony in their location of choice. However, Aruba makes it easy for couples to get legally married there if they choose. All you have to do is get a couple of forms approved by the Aruban government before you tie the knot.
If you’ve made it this far, you’re likely serious about getting married in Aruba. To help you plan, we’re sharing a few things to think about as you make your arrangements.
Before hiring a wedding planner or booking a venue, consider whether you want a symbolic or legal ceremony.
A symbolic ceremony is just what it sounds like: a celebration of marriage minus the actual marriage license. If you go this route, you’ll complete all of the legal formalities in your home country then hold a ceremony and reception in Aruba.
On the other hand, a legal ceremony means that your marriage will be legally registered in Aruba. According to the Aruba Tourism Authority, documents you’ll need for a legal marriage include identification and birth certificates for both partners, identification for two witnesses, an Aruba Declaration of Marriage Intent form, and an Aruba Declaration of Single Status form.
While getting married in Aruba is a relatively painless process, a local wedding planner can help you sort out all the details and ensure your wedding is as perfect as you’ve always dreamed. Their services include finding and hiring local vendors, sorting out paperwork, and booking additional experiences or services you might require.
While you might view wedding packages as cookie-cutter, that’s not always the case, especially in Aruba. Many wedding venues will work with you to personalize your event based on the number of guests and the desired setting.
If that’s not enough to convince you, consider this: Packages include everything from the floral arrangements to the reception entertainment. That removes the planning stress, allowing you to relax and enjoy your wedding day.
Aruba wedding resorts with packages include:
While hotels and resorts are popular spots for weddings in Aruba, many couples opt for something a bit different.
Given the island’s natural beauty, beach weddings are especially in demand. With its soft white sand and captivating Fofoti trees, Eagle Beach is one of the island’s most popular spots to say ‘I do.’ Palm Beach, on the island’s northern coast, is another sought-after locale, thanks to its crystal-clear waters and easy access to amenities.
If beaches aren’t your thing, consider walking down the aisle in Aruba’s capital, Oranjestad. This adorable city is the perfect mixture of colorful Dutch architecture and laid-back island vibes. Hotels like the Embassy Suites by Hilton and the Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino are two Oranjestad hotels offering wedding services for a cheaper price with the Hilton Honors Rewards Program!
Although a destination wedding sounds expensive, that’s not necessarily the case. Believe it or not, an Aruba destination wedding probably won’t cost you more than $10,000, and that’s on the high end of things.
Destination Weddings, a website dedicated to helping couples plan their far-flung nuptials, reports that the average destination wedding costs somewhere between $5,425 and $7,445.
This price range accounts for both the ceremony and the honeymoon and includes expenses like:
Keep in mind that these are just estimates. You can spend more or less depending on your budget and preferences. If you’re looking to save money on your wedding, consider getting married during Aruba’s shoulder season (between April and October). Accommodation and wedding package prices are considerably lower during this time period.
Guests can expect to pay between $750 and $1,000 per person for round-trip airfare. Accommodations range from $200 to $600 per night.
Foreigners can get legally married in Aruba; however, they must submit a number of documents to the Aruban government beforehand, and the civil ceremony must take place at the Civil Town House in Oranjestad, Aruba’s capital city.
Also called a humanist ceremony, a symbolic wedding is a celebration of marriage, minus the legal aspect. It includes typical wedding rituals like the bride’s entrance, vows, and exchanging rings. Because it’s symbolic rather than legal, couples have a lot of flexibility when it comes to location, theme, and additional rituals.
Thanks to its prime location, Aruba enjoys beautiful weather year-round. For that reason, pretty much any time of the year is excellent for getting married. However, if you want to avoid the crowds and score some deals, visiting between April and October is ideal.
With its award-winning beaches, friendly locals, and affordable wedding packages, Aruba has pretty much everything you could hope for when selecting a destination for your wedding.
Still, we recognize that a Caribbean beach wedding might not be everyone’s fantasy. Not to fear! Check out our destination wedding planning guide for help selecting another perfect spot for your nuptials.
