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Dificult for Americans to get married in Ireland?

Dificult for Americans to get married in Ireland?

Old Nov 1st, 2013, 05:29 PM
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Dificult for Americans to get married in Ireland?

We are thinking of getting married in Europe, perhaps a year from now or a bit sooner. I did a search here, but much of the info is several years old, and things may have changed by now, so...

Our first choice would be France, I think, but the old info says there's a 30--40 day residence requirement, which is impossible for us. Still true?

Not opposed at all to Italy, Austria, or Spain, but thinking Ireland or England might be easier to work out for the wedding. Then we can dash off to wherever for the honeymoon. So basically, we need to know where we can wed with the least amount of red tape.


Does anyone have experience with this? Any help will be much appreciated. For what it's worth, we're thinking of a small town or village rather than a large city. And there won't be a lot of extra arrangements to handle, as there will be no guests or family (not the first marriage for either of us).
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Old Nov 1st, 2013, 08:23 PM
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For UK, you need a special visa called marriage visitor visa, which both of you need to obtain from the British Consulate General in NYC (processing center for most UK visas) before leaving. It's not difficult to get or expensive, but you need to have a firm plan for a UK wedding and intention to leave the country after the ceremony. The visa itself is valid 6 months.
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Old Nov 1st, 2013, 08:41 PM
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For Ireland (Republic of), you don't need a special visa but you need to give notice of marriage 3 months in advance and I believe you need to do so in person, not by mail or by proxy.
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Old Nov 1st, 2013, 09:44 PM
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The UK isn't particularly interested in attracting foreigners to get married, but is very interested in deterring all sorts of abuses that some foreigners might be trying to pull by getting married here.

So in England and Wales, you both need to go in person to a registry office 15 days prior to the intended wedding to book the wedding - and one of you must be able to demonstrate you've lived in that office's catchment area for at least 7 days. Getting the paperwork to demonstrate those 7 days' residence might add a couple of days as well.

It's slightly more relaxed in Scotland and Northern Ireland - but if neither of you live here already, the rules probably make the UK unsuitable for what you've got in mind. Why not go to Nevada, get married immediately, then get a flight to Europe from Las Vegas?

You need to consult BOTH the UKBA website:
- http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/vi...ilpartnership/

and the more general government website:
- https://www.gov.uk/marriages-civil-p...ships/overview
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Old Nov 2nd, 2013, 04:19 AM
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France still has a requirement that you have to be a resident to get married there of at least a month or more, they have no interest in attracting tourists for weddings and encumbering the country's administrative records and staff for no reason. To be legal, someone has to marry you, that would be some civil servant in the mairie, not to mention all the paperwork you'd have to file. I think the main places that really want to do that are looking for those kind of tourist dollars.

If you have no ties to any area and don't want anything but a quickie wedding, why don't you just get married where you live and then go on a honeymoon? I just don't see the point of what you are trying to do at all. But there are various specialty wedding websites that tell you where it is easier and the standards. Since you are an American, the US state dept website has information on this for various countries, I think.
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Old Nov 2nd, 2013, 07:13 AM
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Europe ain't Las Vegas !! That said, you might look into Gibraltar. All non-Spaniards in Spain used to marry there to avoid the hassles involved in Spain (and the fact that divorce there was non-existent). The hassle with Gibraltar is that it takes 6 hrs to get in and out just now. Perhaps that will have changed when you're to wed.
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Old Nov 2nd, 2013, 08:20 AM
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I agree with Christina, I don't see the point when from your POV, several European countries are interchangeble for your wedding. Sounds like you just want to be able to say you were married in Europe.

All the countries you mention, however, have residency requirements.

Why not have your marriage blessed or acknowledged in some way in France as that is your first choice? There are event planners who can arrange this.
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Old Nov 2nd, 2013, 08:54 AM
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While a wedding in Europe may have a romantic appeal to you, there is also the practical side of it to consider.

You can Google for 'wedding planners Italy'(or any other location you wish) and you will get plenty of info on what is required etc. Here is an example: http://www.distinctiveitalyweddings....w-we-work.html

But what you will find is that it is never real simple and always a bit of a hassle. Some countries have residency requirements as noted but not all do. Greece for example has none.

Nowhere is hassle free though and for that reason I would really give serious thought to just how important it is to you to do this.

My choice would be to marry at home in a simple civil ceremony and spend my time, money and effort on a great honeymoon.
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Old Nov 2nd, 2013, 10:04 AM
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I also don't see the point, at all. No European country is looking to attract foreigners just to get married - why would they? Most have onerous paperwork and residency requirements. I'd just plan a fantastic honeymoon wherever it suits your fancy.
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Old Nov 2nd, 2013, 10:40 AM
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I think getting married in Denmark would be possible for you. You would probably have to stay 2 weeks prior in the jurisdiction in which you wish to be wed. Do further research.

http://denmark.usembassy.gov/getting--maried.html

http://usa.um.dk/en/travel-and-resid...ge-in-denmark/

http://denmark.angloinfo.com/family/...non-residents/
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Old Nov 2nd, 2013, 10:42 AM
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Details for Ireland http://ireland.angloinfo.com/family/...-partnerships/
Spain: http://spain.angloinfo.com/family/ma...-partnerships/
France:http://france.angloinfo.com/family/m...-partnerships/
Ok so you get the idea go to here and search for yourself:http://www.angloinfo.com/
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Old Nov 2nd, 2013, 10:50 AM
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Italy is pretty open to the process even if they generally do not do wedding vacations. Follow my name to see how we got on in Italy.
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Old Nov 2nd, 2013, 02:29 PM
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Thanks, all. Guess we'll just do it here and honeymoon there. 'Twas just a romantic notion, anyway.
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Old Nov 2nd, 2013, 02:42 PM
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Actually StCirq there are a lot of holiday destinations in Europe as well as elsewhere in the world that do indeed encourage weddings. It's a way to get a group of tourists (the couple getting married and often a couple of dozen wedding guests) to spend money.

In Greece for example you will find that some municipalities require a notice to be put in a local newspaper a week or so beforehand. Some specific a 7-9 day residency before the wedding. Some require neither of the above. Rhodes is an example where they have dropped these requirements. http://www.exquisiteweddingsgreece.c...quirements.php

There is no question they are looking to attract weddings.

But that doesn't change the basic question of whether it is worth doing vs. a civil wedding at home and relaxing for your entire time away from home. ie. the honeymoon.
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Old Nov 2nd, 2013, 03:49 PM
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Arranging a wedding in an overseas country is the first part of the problem, but then comes another: having it recognized as legal marriage in your home country, which may mean another pile of paperwork and more hassle. Make your life easier, and have the civil wedding at home. Then you are free to, for example, organize a church wedding or similar ceremony over in Europe if you really want, without worrying about the legal requirements on both sides of the pond.
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Old Nov 4th, 2013, 07:28 AM
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These guys are pretty good
http://www.yltourcongressi.it/page.p...%20in%20Puglia
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