Expert: John Guinn - 11/5/2010

Question
I am getting married in Grand Cayman by my uncle who lives on seven mile beach.  We would love to have him marry us.  Is there any way he can legally do this or do we have to have a cayman official preform the ceromony?  Thank you for your time. We are looking forward to our time there as we come everyear for about a month, a can not think of any other place to have our wedding.  

Answer
Hi Meaghan,
Congratulations.

For a marriage ceremony to be legal an official representative must be in attendance.

You should be able to arrange for your uncle to carry out some of the ceremony depending on the vows that you want to use. You would have to discuss this with

Office of the Deputy Chief Secretary
Government Administration Building, 3rd Floor
George Town, Grand Cayman, B.W.I.
Phone: 345.949.7900 or 345.914.2222

You will need to have the following:

a non-residents marriage license, and…
a letter from the authorised Marriage Officer who is to officiate.
Applications for non-resident marriage licenses ($200 U.S.) and a list of licensed Marriage Officers can be obtained from the Deputy Chief Secretary’s Office. (On Cayman Brac this is provided by either the Deputy Chief Secretary or the District Commissioner's Office)


Proof of citizenship and age – Passport or an original/certified copy of birth certificate with photo identification (18 is the minimum legal age without parental consent)
Proof of marital status (legal divorce decree or death certificate, if applicable)
Cayman Islands Immigration Department card, or Cayman Islands international embarkation/disembarkation card for cruise ship passengers.
Two witnesses at the ceremony

Kind Regards

John Guinn