Curacao is home to the world’s best scuba diving spots, stunning beaches, historic towns, and a diverse culture. The Island has a rich history with British and Spanish Influences before it became part of the Netherlands. That makes it a fantastic destination wedding spot. However, when planning a Curacao wedding as a foreigner, you may need help finding venues or learning what requirements you should meet.
Fortunately, we’ve got you covered.
Our detailed guide takes you through some of the best Curacao wedding packages and venues to consider. We also list some legal requirements and give you timely budgeting tips to make your search and planning process seamless and straightforward.
About Destination Weddings in Curacao
Why should you have a Curacao wedding, or what are the costs? Here’s everything you need to know.
Why Get Married in Curacao
Some of the reasons you should get married in Curacao are:
Lots to Explore
Curacao is a Caribbean paradise with over 30 spectacular beaches, lush green gardens, and rich culture. Curacao remains a perfect wedding destination with plenty of fantastic attraction sites and places to explore with loved ones. You can arrive with your family/friends a day earlier and visit these sites before your big day. That means you have extended celebrations instead of your wedding day being a single day.
Perfect Island For Both Wedding and Honeymoon
Curacao has a vast selection of resorts and hotels. Whether you’re on a budget or looking to splurge, you’ll find a venue that fits your budget. Most resorts have all-inclusive packages to make having a Curacao wedding smoother, giving you ample time to relax.
Save Money
Traveling to Curacao for your special day allows you to save money through the all-inclusive packages. Most of these packages have a symbolic ceremony and reception, which cuts down the costs of the wedding venue and reception. Thanks to the beautiful palm trees and breathtaking ocean views, you don’t spend much on decor.
Average Cost of a Destination Wedding in Curacao
The average cost of a destination wedding in Curacao is $2500. That includes the cost of flights, accommodation, and the ceremony. In some resorts, you can opt for an all-inclusive package between $4,000-$20,000, depending on your budget. These packages include a wedding ceremony, cake, photography, music, and decor.
The Best Curacao Wedding Venues and Curacao Wedding Packages
Curacao has a vast selection of resorts and hotels to consider for your wedding. Some of the best Curacao resorts and boutique hotels are:
Sandals Curacao
Sandals Curacao is an all-inclusive resort that allows you to experience what makes Curacao a dream travel destination. The resort has Latin, Dutch, and Creole influences, breathtaking beaches, and vibrant marine life.
The luxury resort is 15 miles from the airport and offers round-trip airport transfers when you have a reservation. Nestled in the Santa Barbara estate in Willemstad, the resort provides the best vantage point for you to experience Caribbean sunsets.
As a couple, you can exchange your vows at a desert garden setting, an indoor/outdoor reception space, or a golf course at the beachfront. You can also choose to have a legal or symbolic wedding ceremony.
With 12 five-star gourmet restaurants, modern suites, an infinity pool, and an expansive golf course, couples will have endless options to explore in Sandals Curacao.
A wedding package at andals Curacao includes:
- A personal wedding planning team
- Marriage documents preparation
- Wedding gift registry
- Customizable wedding website
- Bridal bouquet and a groom’s boutonniere
- Ceremony location
- Pre-recorded musical accompaniment
- Complimentary wedding photo
- Wedding cake
- Table setting and decor
- Cocktail reception with sparkling wine
- Romantic turndown service
- Honeymoon dinner in a specialty restaurant
- Breakfast in bed on any morning of your choice
Dreams Curacao
Dreams Curacao is one venue that promises to give you a European experience in the Caribbean. Tucked away on the two sandy beaches of Piscadera Bay, the resort offers couples an all-inclusive wedding, honeymoon, and vacation package.
The resort features three pools, seven restaurants, and four bars. There’s a brewery onsite with micro beers and a large casino with two bars. Couples can choose from four outdoor venues for their ceremony, including a historical Dutch Colonial fort.
You also get access to world-class snorkeling and scuba-diving experiences. There are also non-motorized watersports and plenty of entertainment activities. The resort also has 24-hour room service.
After the ceremony, you can opt to go for the different tours and excursions available on the island. You can stop by the UNESCO World Heritage Site, go on a city walk in Otrobands or explore Sea Trek Helmet diving.
Dreams Curacao is only 15 minutes from the airport, which makes it easily accessible and convenient. Their wedding packages cover complementary and can also be customized for more elaborate celebrations.
Their wedding package includes:
- A wedding coordinator
- Intimate, grand ceremony at the ballroom reception or water’s edge
- Bridal suite
- Ceremony arch
- Dance floor
- Champagne toast
Sunscape Curacao
Sunscape Curacao has the largest beach on the island, offering stunning views and lush green tropical gardens. The family-friendly resort allows you to choose between four venues-Flamboyant Center, Peninsula Area, Beach Gazebo, or the Wedding Gazebo.
Couples can hold an intimate ceremony or go all out and splurge at a big convention center wedding. Take a dip in one of the three pool areas, relax in the hot tub, or explore Curacao’s rich Dutch heritage. Outdoors you can snorkel at National Underwater Park or visit the floating market.
A standard wedding package, which is the Sunscape Sun Kissed, includes:
- A symbolic ceremony
- On-site wedding coordinator
- Bridal bouquet and groom boutonniere
- Sparkling wine and wedding cake
- Turndown service night of the wedding
- Newlywed package
- Welcome letter
- Bottle of sparkling wine
- Fresh fruit
- Breakfast in bed with mimosas
- Late checkout for a couple
Premium packages include Sunscape love in the sun and Sunscape forever.
Curacao Destination Wedding Legal Requirements
Curacao has a set of marriage requirements and specific procedures you’ll need to follow before you can officially celebrate your big day. Here’s everything you need to know.
Legal Weddings Vs. Symbolic Weddings
Curacao offers couples an option to celebrate both symbolic and legal weddings. Couples who’d rather not deal with all the legal requirements and rules of the civil registry can choose to get married in their home country and have a symbolic ceremony in Curacao.
Most hotels and resorts also offer a symbolic wedding ceremony as part of their packages. You get to choose what you like, depending on your preferences.
If you plan on having a legal wedding in Curacao, you’ll need to follow the rules of the civil registry and meet all the requirements beforehand to obtain a marriage license. Read on to learn more about the required legal documents and their costs.
Required Legal Documents & Cost
You need to fulfill specific legal requirements before your Curacao wedding. Some of the license requirements include the following:
- Birth certificates with the parent’s names
- Passport photocopies
- Two dates to get married and a time
- International declaration of not being married issued by the civil registry of your country and an apostille
- Send a request to the municipality informing them that you want to get married. Couples need to sign the letter.
- Copy of the divorce certificate or death certificate if widowed. The documents need to be certified by the embassy of the Netherlands in your resident country.
These documents must have been issued within six months regarding the wedding day. A witness must be 21 years old and registered with their full name, date of birth, and address. They also need a passport copy.
All documents should be recent, original, and legally certified.
Once you send the required information, you should hear back from them within two weeks. You must be on the island three days before the wedding date to get a Curacao marriage license.
Legal Marriage Timeline
You need to be in Curacao three days before your wedding date to obtain a Curacao marriage license. That allows you also to familiarize yourself with the office of the Registrar. After receiving your marriage license,
Your marriage will be announced officially on the first Saturday after the marriage application and approval of related documents.
Curacao Destination Wedding Planning Tips
Planning a destination wedding in a foreign land can be overwhelming.
Here are some timely tips on how to get to Curacao, the weather, and how to budget for your trip.
How to Get There
You can get to Curacao by air, yacht, or cruise from N. America, S. America, and Europe. The island has one airport, the Curacao International Airport or Hato International Airport.
All public flights to Curacao fly into the international airport, with direct flights from Newark, Miami, and Charlotte. JetBlue, American Airlines, and United fly directly to Curacao from Miami, New York, Charlotte, and Newark.
Flights from NY take 4 hours and 30 minutes, from Miami take 2 hours and 53 minutes, Charlotte takes 4 hours, and Newark at EWR takes 5 hours.
You can also fly from Toronto and Montreal to Curacao.
When arriving on a cruise ship, you have options like Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Carnival, and other celebrity cruise lines.
Note that you must fill out the Embarkation-Disembarkation Card before going through immigration. That can be done online to speed things up.
Curacao Weather
Curacao has excellent weather throughout the year, but August is the sunniest, receiving up to nine hours of sunshine daily.
The sunny season is from December to April. Curacao’s weather during this time is fantastic, allowing you to enjoy outdoor activities and visit different places.
March and February are windy, with June being the windiest month. Temperatures are warm, and you’ll get to enjoy the breeze. You don’t have to worry about the island being too windy as the atmosphere is relaxing for a destination wedding.
There’s rain in October and November. Although this is a wet season, the showers are not prolonged.
Budgeting Tips
Curacao is a stunning island to explore and have your destination wedding. However, costs can only add up if you plan accordingly. Although the island isn’t as expensive as other islands, you can still save some money with tips and tricks.
Here are a few budgeting tips to have in mind.
Plan Your Wedding During the Shoulder Season or Cold Season
If you’re not too focused on having a summer wedding, you can schedule your big day in the shoulder or cold season. Apart from fewer crowds in resorts and attraction sites, you also enjoy special discounts on accommodation and various activities.
Since the hotel staff won’t have a lot of people to cater to, you also get to enjoy extra attention from them.
Consider Car Rental if You Plan to Stay Longer
Taxis in Curacao can be costly. For example, a trip from the West End to Mambo Beach is 50 ANG. You’re better off renting a car for 75 ANG a day. It’s convenient and more economical.
You can find car rental services at the airport and around the island.
Best Time of Year to Get Married in Curacao
The best time of year to get married in Curacao is between December and April. It’s the dry season and also the peak season that attracts a large crowd. Most events, like the grand street parade and Curacao Carnival, also happen during this period. There’s also great weather during this season, which allows you to visit most historical sites and engage in different watersports.
Nonetheless, due to demand, you may find the Caribbean island overcrowded and need to book your hotel stay in advance.
You can also choose to visit Curacao from May to August, which is the shoulder season. It’s the best time to travel if you’re still looking for great weather but fewer crowds. The beaches are less busy, and it’s easier to find accommodation in high-end resorts at a reasonable rate.
Additionally, if you’d like to enjoy great discounts on accommodation and airfare and don’t mind the less-than-ideal weather, you can visit Curacao between September and November.
