Weddings in New Caledonia
Weddings in New Caledonia
New Caledonia Weddings
Thinking of getting married in an Island paradise, then New Caledonia is your answer. New Caledonia offers some of the best locations for you to get married in, just imagine white sandy beach fully decorated with native flowers and surrounded by crystal clear water. You can’t ask for anything better then to start your new life with your loved one.
Here at New Caledonia we have found some of the best wedding packages to suit everyone’s budget and needs, from simple on the beach to grand weddings. Check them out and see what suits your needs and budget.
Can you Legally get married in New Caledonia ?
Since 2009, foreign tourists can get legally wedded in New Caledonia. Initially the couples had to prove a month stay at the local residence where they are getting married.
There are many chapels that are set along the beaches to make it magical for the couples.
The tourist couples have to file an application at the Town hall Record Department. The application should include
A Letter requesting permission from the mayor. The mayor should approve on the date of marriage according to law
Birth certificates of the couple to check if there are 18 and above
Proof of identity of the couple
Name, Profession, Mother’s name, Father’s name, their profession
2 Witnesses
Frequently Asked Questions
Most frequent questions and answers about New Caledonia weddings
How much does it cost to get married in New Caledonia?
It all depends on how much you want to spend and what sort of wedding you are after. The wedding packages range from few thousands to hundreds of thousands and it all depends on you.
A simple wedding on a beach surrounds by family and friends will set you back around $3000 to $5000 NZD including accommodation for the couple and use of ministers etc.
How much is going to cost for wedding reception?
The cost will depend on the venue and number of guest – there are some very affordable packages available in New Caledonia starting from $120 NZD per person and goes upto around $250 NZD per person.
The cost will depend on mostly what you what you want included in the package ie alcohol
What do you have to pay for?
The bride and groom will have to pay for everything from the cake to car and dress to food. To keep the budget under controll, you mush consider how amny guest you are going to have, as the more gust you have the more cost it will be.
Usually only core family and friends take up the offer to attend, which makes the reception less expensive and a lot more fun!
Are New Caledonia weddings suitable for small children or the elderly?
The mai
n things to consider are the resort, the wedding venue, transport and reception options. Children will be fine at a family-friendly resort. Keep a Kids Club in mind or having a local ‘nanny’ to keep little ones amused – the hourly rates start at a few dollars in the Pacific and the ladies are great with children. Kids can be a terrific part of a wedding ceremony (ring bearer, flower girl) but they can get bored come photography time or during the reception.
With the elderly, probably mobility and heat will be the main issues – look at a resort on the flat and keep launch or boat transfers to a minimum, request some seating for during the ceremony and have bottled water on hand to keep the hydration levels up. If you need rooms with facilities for the disabled, there are now some in the South Pacific.
Can I legally marry in New Caledonia?
You can marry in New Caledonia but to have a legally recognized wedding couples have to be resident in that country for at least 30 days.
Check with the local minster and arrange for marriage license before the wedding so that you have everything arranged.
Can I tailor the wedding to suit or do I have to choose an existing package?
To start of with and to keep the budgets under control sticking to a pre assigned wedding package would be the best.
If you are good at controlling every aspect of the wedding then a tailor made package would suit, just remember the budget can go out of hand very quickly if you don’t have control of your spending.
What documents are needed?
You will need copies of your passports, birth certificates and an Intention to Marry form. You will also need form for your witnesses if you are having friends or family attending. If just the couple, witnesses will be provided.
If you have been divorced, the decree nisi will be needed as well. Originals are not needed, just copies – and they can be scanned and emailed to to the marriage registrar in New Caledonia
Is New Caledonia marriage legally recognized?
Yes, but it will be registered in New Caledonia your marriage license will be lodged with the New Caledonia registry, not the New Zealand Births, Deaths & Marriages registry.
The marriage itself is legally recognized in the same way a marriage in New Zealand is recognized in other countries.
Is it easier/cheaper if we book the flights and/or accommodation ourselves?
Not usually. Some of the wedding packages works out cheaper if you take into account all the things you will need.
If you add up all the things separately almost all the time it will work out more expensive.
Best Weddings Venues in New Caledonia
Escapade Island
The Escapade Island resort is located in the coral Island of Maitre. The Resort arranges for wedding. The event is completely taken care by the resort starting from receiving the guests to decorating the wedding place. The wedding celebrant also offer other ceremonies like naming babies, renewal of wedding vows etc
It is 20 minutes ride from Noumea by boat. The guests are transferred to the place only during days. During weekends, they are transferred during evenings too.
The Resort is located above waters in the middle of a lagoon. It also includes water activities like kayaking, catamarans, water skiing, kite surfing etc. They also offer day trips to nearby uninhabited islands. They also provide scuba diving experiences.
There are 69 bungalows over water. There are garden bungalow, beach bungalow and over water bungalow. The cost of the bungalows per day varies from 500 NZD to 1000 NZD.
Hotel Oure Weddings Venue
Hotel Oure, Isle of Pines
The Island is one of the good wedding spots in the Island. The place is good and at reasonable rates for the families and friends to stay. The resort is located in the Kanumera bay to the south of Isle of Pines.
There are over 25 bungalows in the resort. They offer couple and family snorkelling and kayaking. There are garden rooms, family bungalows, beach bungalow. The cost of the rooms varies from 400 NZD to 800 NZD. The payment includes daily breakfast based on the room occupancy. If it is a 4 room occupancy then breakfast is provided for 4.
It is at 1 hour drive from the airport.
Apart from this there are 17 garden bungalows which can be booked together for weddings. There are bars, sitting area under the coconut palms.
Similarly there are other groups of bungalows like 10 duplex, 5 duplex. Basically the construction of the resort and its settings are in such a way for the weddings and the guests.
Drehu Village resort Lihou
Drehu Village resort Lihou Wedding Venue
Lihou is a silent island and the place is best for couples looking for an inexpensive option. The resort arranges everything required for wedding starting from flowers to constructing a personalised wedding chapel. It is located on the east coast of Lifou Islands. They provide snorkelling and kite surfing services. There is a bar, swimming pool inside the campus. The charges are comparatively very cheaper as compared to the other resorts in New Caledonia. A day’s charge for a bungalow is around 200 NZD to 300 NZD. However, the services are limited. Guests travel should be arranged by the host organising the event of wedding.
The Bungalows are set in 2 lines with partial ocean views. The inexpensive cost has its own role to play. However the place does give a great wedding with the blue waters and white sand. Usually the weddings are organised by the wedding celebrants in New Caledonia and formal ceremonies do not take place. The resort however provides a wedding priest on demand
Nouvata Park Hotel, Noumea
Nouvata Parc Hotel Wedding Venue
They are large wedding groups. The place is a multi complex resort. The Nouvata Park hotel consists of 3 hotels that charge differently for organising events and for accommodation of the tourists. Le Parc is a 2 star hotel. Nouvata is a 3 star hotel and le Pacifique is a 4 star hotel. All 3 hotels are built around a large swimming pool. They share a common reception
They provide wedding planning services individually. The charges of the planning and accommodation of the guests are completely based on their star rating.
The place is ideal for the hosts expecting large number of guests. They also offer wedding chapel building services. The responsibilities of the wedding right from picking up the guests to arranging flowers for the wedding is taken care by the celebrant.
All 3 hotels share common facilities of the hotel bar, ballroom, salon, fitness centre and night club. One has to book the places earlier to avoid last minute confusions. It is always advisable to book the halls along with the planning of the wedding.
The place is ideally located in the city premises of Noumea. There are more than 300 rooms. All the rooms have balcony facing the sea. There are shops inside the hotel. There are 3 different categories of accommodation that cost 300 – 700 NZD.
WEDDINGS IN NEW CALEDONIA
