Let's play the old game: We have bad news and good news. The bad news is that non-residents cannot legally get married in the Maldives. But the good news is you can definitely come to the Maldives and have a legally non-binding symbolic wedding ceremony or renewal of vows ceremony, Maldivian style - barefoot on a 'No News, No Shoes' island!
From romantic sunset Dhoni cruises to traditional coconut palm planting ceremonies, immerse in the vibrant culture of Maldives to mark the most special occasion of your life. Do it the way you want. Hundreds of couples choose the wedding ceremony package which is offered by a number of resorts on the tropical island. After all, who would want to miss out on the powder-white beaches, crystalline waters and the beautifully romantic setting that the Maldives offer! Just perfect to exchange or renew your vows.
So, here's a list of the 10 best resorts (in no particular order) to celebrate that holy bond of love, and make this important day of your life perfect and memorable:
1. Kuredu Island Resort and Spa
Ratings: 4.8/5
Turquoise waters, white powder sand, and unlimited natural beauty are all that you expect from a wedding in the Maldives- Kuredu offers all of this and provides the perfect backdrop to tie the knot with your partner. Not just that, they have carefully crafted romance packages so that you can have the best possible experience. The ground package includes the ceremony, wedding decoration of the room, Maldivian ceremonial setup, your wedding coordinator and live Maldivian drum beats by Local Boduberu drummers. You are free to add an enhancement like a wedding cake, Champagne, romantic candlelight/Veli dinner, bridal hair and make-up, and wedding photography. Couples also receive an engraved wooden wedding plaque and a Kuredu Wedding certificate as mementoes.
For the ceremony, you can choose from the three options provided by the resort. First, ceremony on the beach - on the white powder sand with the view of the endless ocean; second, a ceremony on the luxury sailing yacht with the backdrop of the setting sun; and third, ceremony on dream island - a sandbank near Kuredu which provides a private, romantic setting for the ceremony.
Approximate Cost: Beach ceremony - MVR 13, 550; Dream Island ceremony - MVR 25, 440; Luxury sailing yacht ceremony - MVR 38, 960 per couple.
Location: Kuredu is situated in Lhaviyani Atoll. The distance from Male International Airport to the resort is 152 km, which is 40 minutes by seaplane.
2. Meeru Island Resort and Spa
Ratings: 4.7/5
The staff at Meeru Resort will ensure that no stone is left unturned in making your dream wedding or renewal of vows ceremony perfect. You can choose to exchange vows in a ceremony of your choice or let the resort organise a traditional, symbolic Maldivian wedding ceremony, officiated by the island's "headman." The wedding package includes bridal makeup and hairdressing; the beach ceremony which involves reading some part of the Book of Good Wishes, rendering wedding vows, exchange of rings, groom kissing his bride and signing the symbolic wedding certificate; transfer from the wedding pavilion to the beach by the guest house in Dhoni; and guest room decorations.
The venue - Asian Wok Restaurant beach area is decorated beautifully, locals from neighbouring islands dressed in traditional Maldivian clothes constitute the ceremony group, who escort the couple to the venue and sing songs to the mesmerising beat of the Bodu Beru drums. Wedding photography, champagne toast, wedding cake, bridal manicure, and pedicure are some options that can be added to your package.
The venue - Asian Wok Restaurant beach area is decorated beautifully, locals from neighbouring islands dressed in traditional Maldivian clothes constitute the ceremony group, who escort the couple to the venue and sing songs to the mesmerising beat of the Bodu Beru drums. Wedding photography, champagne toast, wedding cake, bridal manicure, and pedicure are some options that can be added to your package.
Approximate Cost: MVR 8,000 per couple.
Location: The resort is 36 km away from Velana International Airport. The 55 minutes speedboat transfer from the airport to the resort is scenic.
3. Baros Maldives
Ratings: 4.9/5
This adult-only resort is perfect for an elaborate, traditional Maldivian ceremony and offers an idyllic setting with majestic views in every direction. Their renewal of vows ceremony packages are very well crafted and can be tailored to suit your partner and your wishes. On your arrival, your very own butler will provide you with canapés and a bottle of Champagne to set your mood, and a Sarong and a polo shirt for the bride and groom. During the ceremony, a traditional Maldivian Bodu Beru procession will be there. After the couple signs the wedding certificate, the ceremony will be completed with the traditional palm planting ceremony and cutting of the wedding cake. After a romantic champagne dinner, enjoy a 90 minutes long Tri-scented Lime-infused Luxury Massage, and a wedding Champagne breakfast in the morning. The resort presents its couple guests a gift before departure completes your wedding in the Maldives!
You can choose from the three wedding venues - a private sandbank, beach or the lighthouse. The Sandbank package includes all the things mentioned above, while the beach/lighthouse package offers only one Champagne (during ceremony or wedding night), and does not include the massage and the breakfast.
You can choose from the three wedding venues - a private sandbank, beach or the lighthouse. The Sandbank package includes all the things mentioned above, while the beach/lighthouse package offers only one Champagne (during ceremony or wedding night), and does not include the massage and the breakfast.
Approximate Cost: Sandbank package: MVR 38,500; Island package (Beach/Lighthouse): MVR 25, 420.
Location: Baros Maldives is 15.5 km and just a 25 minutes speedboat journey away from the Male International Airport.
4. Mirihi Island Resort
Ratings: 4.9/5
As if the captivating combination of white sand and turquoise waters wasn't enough for a perfect beach wedding, the peace and tranquillity of the island makes it even better and will let you transition quickly from a hectic wedding planning period to relaxation mode! The wedding packages offered by the resort include almost everything, from a traditional ceremony to a wedding cake of your choice to a private romantic dinner at the beach, with a bottle of wine. In addition, the framed wedding certificates, the traditional present from the resort - wooden Dhonis with the couple's name carved on them and the wedding photo CD and Album made of palm leaves will always remind a couple of the most special day of their lives.
Approximate Cost: Mirihi Thundi wedding package: MVR 25,400 for guests on bed and breakfast and MVR 24,500 for guests on half board/full board; Magooma Wedding Package (Excursions included (Sunset Cruise, Spa 1x Couple Massage, Champagne Breakfast in the room): MVR 40,800 for guests on bed and breakfast and MVR 39,900 for guests on half board/full board.
Location: Located in the South Ari Atoll, the resort is 104 km and a 51 minutes seaplane journey away from the Male International Airport.
5. Reethi Beach Resort
Ratings: 5/5
Looking into the eyes of your partner, exchanging vows while standing barefoot on the soft, white sand, against the backdrop of the romantic shades of blue is an experience that you will cherish for life. Reethi Beach Resort team will make sure that that your wedding in the Maldives is one of the best experiences of your life! Upon arrival, you will be greeted with a fruit basket and honeymoon t-shirts and will be introduced to your wedding coordinator who will be taking care of all your whims and needs. The wedding package also includes breakfast with sparkling wine, a wedding ceremony at the beach, the traditional palm planting ceremony, a wedding cake, wedding reception after the ceremony with sparkling wine, a Bodu Beru presentation, a very romantic sunset Dhoni ride with canapés, a certificate, and exclusive barbeque dinner. The well-decorated serene venue will make for amazing photographs.
Approximate Cost: MVR 23,115 per couple.
Location: Reethi Beach Resort is situated in the Baa Atoll, 125 km away from Male International Airport. (20 minutes ATR aircraft + 15 minutes speedboat).
6. The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi
Ratings: 4.7/5
The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi resort will give you that unforgettable and intimate setting where you will create moments to last a lifetime. They offer as many as five different wedding packages, i.e. Simplicity wedding package; Ocean promise wedding package; The dream wedding package; an Ocean breeze wedding package; and a Love story wedding package - so that you choose what you want on your big day. The packages include a wide range of services like decoration and set up, serving traditional coconut drink or Kurumba drinks, honeymoon massage therapy, dinner, etc.; and mementoes like wedding plaque, CD-R digital pictures, and Maldivian sarongs.
Approximate Cost: Wedding packages start at MVR 13,000.
Location: The resort is located in the Noonu Atoll, 170 kilometres north of the main island of Malé and a 45 minutes long seaplane journey away.
7. Komandoo Island Resort and Spa
Ratings: 4.7/5
Approximate Cost: MVR 13,500 per couple.
Location: The resort is located in the Lhaviyani Atoll, which is 145 km away from Male International Airport.
8. LUX* South Ari Atoll Resort
Ratings: 4.4/5
The wedding experts at LUX* Resorts and Hotels pride themselves on offering an amazingly romantic and intimate tropical wedding experience to their guest couples, and they will invite you to choose from a variety of settings for your big day. Their skills in using the traditional or local artefacts and wares like vintage sailing boats aged by sun and surf perhaps, or brightly-coloured sarongs hung between palm trees sets them apart. They have a policy of only one such occasion per day so that you get full attention and nobody steals your thunder! Also, this is certainly the only resort in Maldives which organises wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples. Gay couples can now exchange vows amid the peace and serenity of Maldives.
Their Renewal of Vows package includes all the requirements of a memorable ceremony, like a tropical set up on the beach, flower bouquet and buttonholes, traditional Bodu Beru live performance, a symbolic Wedding Certificate, sparkling wine with wedding cake, traditional palm tree planting celebration, and In-villa Maldivian flowers and romantic bed decoration. Apart from all these inclusions, a romantic sunset cruise on a Dhoni, an exclusive dinner and a 30 minutes long Balinese massage are included in the Island Dream wedding package.
Their Renewal of Vows package includes all the requirements of a memorable ceremony, like a tropical set up on the beach, flower bouquet and buttonholes, traditional Bodu Beru live performance, a symbolic Wedding Certificate, sparkling wine with wedding cake, traditional palm tree planting celebration, and In-villa Maldivian flowers and romantic bed decoration. Apart from all these inclusions, a romantic sunset cruise on a Dhoni, an exclusive dinner and a 30 minutes long Balinese massage are included in the Island Dream wedding package.
Approximate Cost: The Renewal of Vows Package costs MVR 19,700, while the Island Dream Wedding Package costs MVR 50,800 per couple.
Location: Lux* South Ari Atoll is located in Dhidhoofinolhu. It is 104 km and a 50 minutes seaplane journey away from the Male International Airport.
9. Lily Beach Resort
Ratings: 4.8/5
Hold on and imagine your dream wedding in the Maldives - can you see yourself standing right in front of your partner, looking in their eyes against the backdrop of an idyllic setting, waves gently touching at your feet and the palm trees swaying gently in the breeze? The staff at Lily Beach Resort will make sure that that dream becomes a reality. They open endless options for their guests and focus on what they want.
Their two most popular packages are Essential Memories, which is simple yet romantic and offers fresh floral décor, buggy transport to the venue, traditional Maldivian dancers and drummers, canapés and cake, all captured by a professional photographer. The other one is the Everlasting Memories, which includes everything that the Essential Memories package offers along with a spa massage, mind-stirring sunset cruise, wedding dinner, breakfast and a private picnic on Sun Lily. You can even come up with your own wishlist and get the packages tailored according to your wishes.
Their two most popular packages are Essential Memories, which is simple yet romantic and offers fresh floral décor, buggy transport to the venue, traditional Maldivian dancers and drummers, canapés and cake, all captured by a professional photographer. The other one is the Everlasting Memories, which includes everything that the Essential Memories package offers along with a spa massage, mind-stirring sunset cruise, wedding dinner, breakfast and a private picnic on Sun Lily. You can even come up with your own wishlist and get the packages tailored according to your wishes.
Approximate Cost: Essential Memories package: MVR 14,630; Everlasting Memories package: MVR 26,100.
Location: Lily Beach Resort is located in Huvahendhoo, South Ari Atoll and it is 87 km and a 25 minutes seaplane ride away from Male International Airport.
10. One & Only Reethi Rah
Ratings: 4.7/5
Vogue describes One & Only Reethi Rah as "an impossibly idyllic private island that somehow tops everything you thought paradise was," and we won't call it an overstatement. Pristine sand, turquoise waters and those iconic palm trees create a breathtaking view and an ideal setting to exchange or renew the wedding vows. The Legendary Sunset package offered by Reethi Rah takes care of all the little details and includes everything you'd want in your dream wedding - from a petal shower to a Sunset Cruise with a canapé and house champagne and everything else that is included in the other resorts' packages. Exchange of Vows package will ensure a perfect beach wedding but without the sunset cruise bit!
Approximate Cost: The Legendary Sunset package: MVR 1,04,170; Exchange of Vows package: MVR 54,200.
Location: One & Only Reethi Rah is located in the North Mahe Atoll, 35.4 km away. The speedboat takes 45 minutes to reach Reethi Rah from Male International Airport.
The Maldives is the perfect paradise to celebrate the bond of love that you share with your partner. You will most probably be asked to send your marriage certificate before booking a wedding package, and do not forget to carry it with you, just in case. And, once you are done with your wedding, you can have the perfect honeymoon in the Maldives. Do we call this hitting two birds with one stone? Most definitely!
Powder white sand, endless blue ocean, lovely palm trees - Maldives provide just the right ingredients for a perfect ceremony that will stay close to your heart for the rest of your life. Hurry up, for the most magical moments await you. Wish you a lifetime of happiness!