It is important! Considering the climatic features of Cuba — hot weather, high humidity — it is better not to use bulky dresses and dark-colored suits as wedding outfits.
Another advantage of Cuba is that here marriages are legally valid, since they are registered officially. That is, there is no need to register the marriage first in Russia and then fly to the island and repeat the ceremony. Undoubtedly, such a scenario is possible, but most couples refuse to get married in their home country and hold one ceremony in Cuba.
Ceremonies are conducted in Spanish, but there is a translator at the celebration, who synchronously duplicates the text into Russian or English.
The hassles associated with the organization of the holiday are taken care of by the party hosting the guests, usually a hotel. Features of the program are determined by the newlyweds. The wedding can be modest and secluded or, on the contrary, luxurious, with a large number of guests, music, a huge cake and rivers of champagne.
It is important! If the newlyweds want to get married, after the official marriage ceremony, you can visit an Orthodox church in the capital of Cuba, where weddings are held.
List of documents
Given that the marriage is registered officially, one of the main issues is the preparation and execution of documents.
- Passports of newlyweds.
- Birth certificates.
- A document confirming that the couple can get married and there are no obstacles to this. The certificate is issued by the civil registry office.
Each document must be translated into Spanish and notarized. If the ceremony is prepared by the hotel, all the hassle associated with the execution of documents falls on its representative. It should be taken into account that the marriage certificate in Cuba is prepared for quite a long time — from 3 to 4 months. After receiving the document, it is necessary to translate it into Russian and certify it. Only then can the passports be stamped.
It is important! To prepare the documents correctly and legally, you will need about 200 euros. It should also be borne in mind that Russia does not always agree to legalize marriages concluded in Cuba. In this matter, you need to be persistent, as the law does not prohibit the recognition of such marriages.
Organization of the celebration
The easiest option is to choose a hotel that organizes and conducts such events. Depending on the individual preferences of the newlyweds, the hotel offers a list of services that take into account the smallest nuances, from the bride’s bouquet to a cruise on a snow-white yacht.
Some items on the list of services require special attention.
1. Choosing a photographer.
In some hotels, only local specialists work on the holiday, the quality of whose work is difficult to check. Foreign photographers are reluctant to enter the hotel. This issue should be resolved in advance with the event coordinator.
2. Place of Celebration.
More often than not, hotels offer two options:
- garden on the territory of the hotel;
- beach area belonging to the hotel.
The garden is decorated with fresh flowers and ribbons, flower arches are installed. Taking into account that the holiday takes place in Cuba, tropical, rare plants are used for decoration. Finding yourself in such a garden, you will feel like the main characters of a Hollywood movie for a while.
The holiday on the beach is also held in a romantic and beautiful atmosphere. Soft, snow-white sand, clear, turquoise water and a carved arch of palm trees await you.
3. informal part of the event.
After the long-awaited words: «I declare you husband and wife», the spouses are waiting for an exciting entertainment program:
- excursions;
- romantic dinner;
- yacht trip.
Cuban-style programs are very popular — these are rousing parties reminiscent of carnival.
Quite often newlyweds choose one of the islands located near Cuba. The most visited:
- Cayo Guillermo;
- Cayo Largo.
Ernest Hemingway loved to rest on Cayo Guillermo, one of the beaches is named after the writer.
Each island is a piece of tropical paradise, where you should definitely come at least for 2-3 days. This is often used by newlyweds, as the official ceremony is held only on the fourth day after arrival in Cuba, these days are spent in a secluded, romantic place where you can have a great time and go diving.
