Fiji Wedding Guide

Getting married in Fiji is the stuff of dreams: a white sandy beach, tropical sun and a light breeze on your face, curved palm trees as your altar. The islands are rightly marketed as one of the finest romantic destinations in the world and one of the most idyllic locations to get married. Most days there's a Fiji wedding somewhere on a secluded palm-fringed beach, on a tiny uninhabited coral islands or beneath a tropical waterfall. The more adventurous get married whilst scuba diving and or those wishing for a traditional style wedding in Fiji, a handful of resorts have built their own beautiful oceanfront chapels for private ceremonies.

Most resorts offer Fiji wedding packages which generally include a minister or celebrant, assistance in obtaining the marriage license, flowers and leis, champagne and a candle lit dinner. Some include photographers, although these are usually not of a high professional standard so if photos of your wedding day are important it is highly recommended to seek out the services of an independent professional Fiji wedding photographer and there are a few decent ones to choose from in Nadi and Savusavu. If you want to hire a professional photographer from overseas you will need to apply for a temporary work permit on the grounds that you have been unable to find a local photographer to meet your needs.

Sunset weddings are a good option more for the fact that the heat wont be unbearable at that time of day - standing in full sun with a wedding dress and make-up can be pretty uncomfortable. The actual sunset in Fiji goes like a flash so don't hold out too much hope for those magical sunset shots.

If you're eloping to get married in Fiji then head out to one of the outer islands where the seclusion will make your special day even more enchanting. For those with friend and families in tow, one of the larger resorts on the Coral Coast or in the Mamanuca Islands make a more practical and convenient option, especially if small children are part of the ceremony.

Getting Married in Fiji

Getting married abroad is a good way of doing away with the stress of planning a wedding - there's not so much you can organise yourself from afar and so you're somewhat limited to the wedding co-ordinator's skills in arranging things.

A license is required for anyone wishing to get married in Fiji. These are obtainable within one working day from the Fiji Registry at either Nadi, Suva, Lautoka, Savusavu or Somosomo (Taveuni). Cost approx F$ 25, valid 21 days.

Flowers can be arranged from a specialist in Nadi or Suva, and flown in for the day - otherwise its up to the resort staff to pick local flowers and do their own arrangements - some resorts are very good at this indeed, especially those in the more tropical outer islands where flowers are in abundance ... but resorts in the Mamanucas, and especially the larger ones, tend to have fewer flowers available as what they do have are picked daily to dress the resort rooms. Here, it is advisable to ship them in. Beauticians and hair dressers can also be ferried in from Nadi or make sure one of your friends brings their curlers.

What Else You Need to Bring

Original birth certificates
Decree Absolute (divorce papers) if relevant
Officially witnessed consent of your father if you are under 21
Death certificate of deceased former spouse
For Catholic weddings, a letter of Freedom sent 2-3 months in advance to the Fijian Priest along with Baptism Certificates.

And most importantly a sense of humour ... Fijians are not the greatest time keepers and I've heard about countless weddings in Fiji where the minister turned up late, or the choir weren't quite ready.

Beach Locations for a Family Wedding in Fiji

If you've got a large wedding party, then obviously one of the larger resorts are going to be preferential for you. Keep in mind that the offshore islands are often more expensive to stay at for your guests and if your party is very big, then make sure you book early as rooms do fill up fast on these island resorts. If you want to get married somewhere quiet but have families travelling with kids, then somewhere like Malolo Lailai maybe a good option - Lomani Resort is totally kids free, which might work for you and some of the other guests, whilst neighbouring Plantation is a real family resort and slightly further down the beach is Musket Cove which accommodates both kids and couples and gives your guests good options. Otherwise, The Outrigger Resort on the Coral Coast has a similar variety of neighbouring properties where your guests can choose where to stay. One place I wouldn't recommend is Denarau Island. Is won't feel that much different than home and there's bound to be plenty of people walking about and gawking at your ceremenony.

Top Picks
Resort Name (click for details & pix)	Picture	Summary (hotel style)	Hotel Rate (F$)	Our Best Rate (click for quotation)
Castaway Beach Resort Mamanuca Islands		65 rooms Island Resort	$ 1,077 - 1,377
Lomani Island Resort Mamanuca Islands		22 rooms Beach Resort	$ 705 - 950
Intercontinental Resort Natadola Beach, Viti Levu		129 rooms Beach Resort	$ 618 - 1,465
Plantation Island Mamanuca Islands		192 rooms Beach Resort	$ 465 - 940
First Landing Resort Vuda Point, Nadi		32 rooms Beach Resort	$ 385 - 540
Highly Recommended
Shangri-La Fijian Resort Coral Coast, Viti Levu		420 rooms Beach Resort	$ 600 - 1,800
Musket Cove Resort Mamanuca Islands		45 rooms Beach Resort	$ 596 - 859
Mana Island Resort Mamanuca Islands		150 rooms Beach Resort	$ 432 - 1,020
Pearl South Pacific Pacific Harbour		78 rooms Beach Resort	$ 401 - 848
Others to Consider
Warwick Hotel Coral Coast, Viti Levu		248 rooms Beach Resort	$ 583 - 1,197
Outrigger Resort Coral Coast, Viti Levu		254 rooms Beach Resort	$ 480 - 1,288

Resorts with Wedding Chapels

Getting married in a resort chapel can be a great idea if you don't like the heat - you get the tradition, you get air-conditioning and usually there's a beautiful beach outside where you can get your pictures.

Top Picks
Resort Name (click for details & pix)	Picture	Summary (hotel style)	Hotel Rate (F$)	Our Best Rate (click for quotation)
Shangri-La Fijian Resort Coral Coast, Viti Levu		420 rooms Beach Resort	$ 600 - 1,800
Treasure Island Resort Mamanuca Islands		67 rooms Island Resort	$ 750 - 945
Highly Recommended
Musket Cove Resort Mamanuca Islands		45 rooms Beach Resort	$ 596 - 859
Mana Island Resort Mamanuca Islands		150 rooms Beach Resort	$ 432 - 1,020
Others to Consider
Tokoriki Island Resort Mamanuca Islands		29 rooms Beach Resort	$ 1,135 - 1,595
Intercontinental Resort Natadola Beach, Viti Levu		129 rooms Beach Resort	$ 618 - 1,465
Outrigger Resort Coral Coast, Viti Levu		254 rooms Beach Resort	$ 480 - 1,288

Intimate Beach Ceremonies - Eloping in Paradise

If its just and your other half, and just a friend or two, then head out to an outer island where the intimate and secluded setting is going to give you that special feeling of having eloped.

Top Picks
Resort Name (click for details & pix)	Picture	Summary (hotel style)	Hotel Rate (F$)	Our Best Rate (click for quotation)
Yasawa Island Resort Northern Yasawas		17 rooms Beach Resort	$ 2,019 +
Matangi Island Resort Off Taveuni Island		14 rooms Island Resort	$ 800 - 1,400
Lomani Island Resort Mamanuca Islands		22 rooms Beach Resort	$ 705 - 950
Toberua Island Resort Off Ovalau Island		15 rooms Island Resort	$ 648 - 996
Matamanoa Island Mamanuca Islands		33 rooms Island Resort	$ 495 - 795
Octopus Resort Southern Yasawas		24 rooms Beach Resort	$ 179 - 824 Dorm - $ 40
Highly Recommended
Tadrai Island Resort Mamanuca Islands		6 rooms Island Resort	$ 2,500
Tokoriki Island Resort Mamanuca Islands		29 rooms Beach Resort	$ 1,135 - 1,595
Navutu Stars Resort Northern Yasawas		9 rooms Beach Resort	$ 725 - 1,228
Lalati Resort Beqa Island		8 rooms Beach Resort	$ 610 - 1,140
Others to Consider
Vomo Island Resort Mamanuca Islands		12 rooms Island Resort	$ 1,850 - 2,450
Viwa Island Resort Southern Yasawas		12 rooms Island Resort	$ 832 - 976
Qamea Resort & Spa Off Taveuni Island		18 rooms Beach Resort	$ 700 - 1,200