FAQ’s – Weddings Cape Verde
1.Can tourists get legally married in Cape Verde?
Tourists (non-Cape Verde Nationals) need to be in Cape Verde 30 days before they can be legally married in Cape Verde.
2. What wedding services does Cape Verde Tips offer?
Currently we offer : Love and Devotion Readings, Religious Blessings, Renewal of Vows.
3.We are staying at a Riu Hotel, can we have our ceremony at that hotel?
The Riu Hotels do not permit people to hold ceremonies in the hotel or on the beach in front of the hotel.
4. Are single sex marriages performed in Cape Verde by the Notary or Church?
No
5. What is the stance on single sex relationships in Cape Verde?
They are not openly encouraged here.
6. What is the difference between the ceremonies?
• A ‘Love and Devotion’ ceremony is a reading of chosen poems or other, performed on a beach. It is performed in English, normally by a representative of the Church (but not a Pastor). No translator is required. You can also choose to have any of the additional services.
• A ‘Religious Blessing’ is performed by a Pastor, official documents need to be provided and they will need to be translated. A translator may be required during the ceremony. These can be performed before or after a couple have legally married. You can also choose to have any of the additional services.
• A ‘Renewal of Vows’ ceremony is performed by a Pastor and are for couples who are already married who wish to renew their vows. Official documents are required and they will need translating. A translator may be required during the ceremony. You can also choose to have any of the additional services.
7. What are the additional services that you can arrange?
There are other additional services such as transport, professional photographer, after celebration drinks or venue for a meal at additional costs.
8. Where do you offer these services in Cape Verde?
On the islands of Boavista and Sal Island
9. How do I know which island to choose to visit for a holiday?
Have a look in travel brochures but also carry out research, we have some info within the Cape Verde Tips website. Also look at Trip Advisor and other information sites. The Bradt Travel Guide book on Cape Verde is also useful. Click here to view more info: Cape Verde (Bradt Travel Guides)
10. Do you have offices on the islands?
No, we do not as yet have offices on the islands. We arrange for you to meet with a representative for Blessings and Renewal of Vows after you arrive on Boavista or Sal.
We can also speak with you on the phone at your hotel or on your mobile to confirm arrangements after arrival. You must let us know hotel room number on arrival.
11. How do I decide which island to have my ceremony?
Again please read informative websites or books about Cape Verde so that you are more informed about the islands before booking your holiday.
12. Where can we find out more information about your wedding services?
Go to : Weddings Cape Verde which will provide you with some general information. If you know which island you are visiting (Boavista or Sal) you can register for more information on that island.
13. How do I know what I will be getting for a particular ceremony?
After visiting the above webpage you can chose to access a Secure Zone for ‘More Information’ on services on either Boavista or Sal. You will be provided with a Username and Password. Within each Secure Zone you will have read about the different services. If you then have further enquiries regarding these we will provide more information.
14. Are Church Blessings or Renewal of Vows easy to arrange for our ceremony?
We need to check that the Pastor and translator are available. There are two Pastors on Boavista and three on Sal, sometimes they are away on Church business on other islands or are busy with other work on the day you are requesting for your service.
15. What do you charge for your services?
We have set costs for blessings, renewal of vows and love and devotion reading services that we arrange. There are additional costs if you wish to pay for a professional photographer, artificial flowers and/or other services, these are listed within each secure zone.
16. What are your payment requirements?
We require a 25% part payment on booking our services. The outstanding amount must be paid at least 30 days before the service is held. We have a cancellation fee if the ceremony is cancelled by you after this, in this case then we will retain the 25% part payment, the remainder will be refunded to you.
NOTE: we need to make arrangements with people to be available for the ceremony, to organise their diary and the event around our requirements. A cancellation will result in a good gesture payment by us to those who are involved. If we have difficulties with making arrangements on the day and time specified we will endeavour to make alternate arrangements at another time during your stay.
17. How will I be sure what I will be getting for my money?
We will need to review your request and check that people, venues and services are all available on a particular date before agreeing what can/can’t be provided or what you wish to include/not include and provide you with the costs. You can then decide whether you wish to proceed with a booking.
18. How can I pay for this service?
Through bank transfer or PayPal.
19. What do you need from me/us?
• Information on what you require.
• Relevant documentation for Blessings or Renewing Vows
• Chosen readings for Love and Devotion ceremony
• Payment
• Your hotel room number on arrival.
20. What confirmation will I receive from yourself?
We will provide you with your booking details and confirm payment.
21. What can I do to save on costs?
• Arrange to bring your own artificial silk flowers, bouquets, button holes from the UK.
• Buy a bottle of champagne at the airport in UK, it’s cheaper than here.
• If you are staying in an All Inclusive Hotel, just have a relaxing drink at the venue of the ceremony and not a meal, so that you can return to your hotel to make your own celebrations
• Ask friends to take photos with your cameras instead of using a professional photographer.
22. If we are non-Cape Verdean Nationals (we are foreigners) who are staying in Cape Verde for two months and we want to get legally married in Cape Verde can we arrange this ourselves?
Yes you can arrange this yourselves at the Notary. You will need to contact the Notary on the island you are going to be staying on to ask what is required.
23. If I want to marry my Cape Verdean partner, what do I need to do?
Contact your Embassy to ask what you need to do. Ask your partner to contact the Notary on the island where you intend marrying to obtain a list explaining what is required. You can also look at our notes to read some of the information we were provided with by the Notary.
Please look at the link above for Weddings Cape Verde, read through the information, then if you wish to make further enquiries for our services please contact us via the web forms stated above.
We are not in a position to provide accurate legal information.
These answers will be updated/amended from time to time.
