Is There Anywhere I Cannot Elope To?

Where Not To Elope?

WhereToElope typically focuses on the best places to elope worldwide. We’ve demonstrated that it’s possible to elope just about anywhere!

But there are some places couples simply are prohibited from eloping, and even a few locales that you probably shouldn’t consider under any circumstances.

While the positives far outweigh the negatives of elopement, we want to make the journey from engagement to “Just Married” as easy as possible.  WhereToElope believes it’s important that couples are aware of those places they should NOT elope.

Sometimes an Elopement Can Be Difficult To Arrange

The traditional definition of eloping once meant a couple would run off for a romantic and spontaneous wedding. Today the term ‘elope’ has taken on a different meaning with names like casual wedding, destination wedding, non-traditional wedding, small wedding or tiny wedding. Many couples plan their elopement months or even years in advance.

This is especially true for those who wish to marry abroad. It is necessary to contact the embassy of the country in which the marriage will occur in order to learn the legal requirements couples must follow.

This process might include a three- to four-week waiting period.  There are official documents to be completed. Sometimes, a country will require at least one of those being wed to reside in that country.

Such regulations may make it difficult to arrange an elopement in certain countries. Among those known to be most difficult for a foreign visitor to be married include:

• Spain – Spain has a 21-day waiting period to obtain a marriage license, which translates into a  lengthy stay or multiple trips to the country. Plus, all documents must be translated into Spanish and authenticated by the Spanish consulate. It can take up to eight weeks for the authorities to approve a marriage license. Couples might have to wait as many as 12 weeks simply to secure the license.
• France – France’s residency requirement states that the couple must reside in the same district as city hall for a minimum of 40 days prior to the wedding.  Proof of residency, including utility bills, is required. That romantic elopement to Paris might be just a bit more difficult to pull off.
• Germany – Foreign couples traditionally have difficulty getting married in Germany.  In addition to providing a complex series of documents, the cost of marriage in Germany is directly related to your financial status (the more you earn the more you pay). You’ll need to supply bank records. If you wish to have a religious ceremony, you will first need to have a legal wedding with the registrar. You also need to allow a minimum of six weeks of notice prior to your wedding.

Other countries might present similar obstacles. Do your homework. Research is essential. WhereToElope is not saying couples cannot elope to these countries; only that it is a lot more difficult to attain a legal marriage. You may even need to spend an extended period of time living in that country in order to qualify. You might have to allow as much as a year to plan your wedding or just have a ‘ceremony’ abroad, then get married again legally when you return home. For some couples this cancels out the financial savings and reduced stress levels usually associated with eloping.

Where You Should Not Consider Eloping

In countries with strict marriage laws, eloping is considered to be illegal due to religious or cultural reasons. In some countries, eloping is a crime. As outrageous as it might sound,  those who elope could face punishments ranging from whippings or even a death penalty by stoning.

Other countries follow a more relaxed approach, but while eloping is technically legal, it is often frowned upon. Anyone taking part in such a ceremony could be risking personal attacks from extremists. This is a common issue in countries just starting to emerge from the grip of very strict regimes. While these countries are beginning to see an increase in elopements, couples are still hiding their marriages in order to avoid repercussions from family members who still believe in arranged marriages. Therefore, it is not advisable to travel to these countries to get married.

These scenarios might be difficult to comprehend, especially in a time when marriage equality is being accepted in a growing number of states.

Have you encountered difficulties in planning to elope abroad? Tell us about it below.