Getting Married in Fiji

Fiji has long been a favourite destination for honeymooners and couples and it's becoming increasingly popular for weddings or the re-affirming of vows. Fiji can provide a choice to keep the intimacy of the wedding by minimizing the production by having those closest to you attend or just the two of you. For your Fiji wedding you can choose to get married on our ocean front, coco colored beach at Tropic Splendor or journey to sparking waterfalls, tropical forests for the wedding ceramony and honeymoon in your beach cottege (bure). The choice is up to you below are some things to know when getting married in Fiji.

Original or certified copy of birth certificates

Passports

Decree Absolute (divorce papers) if relevant

Couples under 21 years of age are required to produce a consent document signed by a parent.

Death certificate of deceased former spouse

Confirmatory letter on current status to be obtained from the Marriage Registry where the applicant resides or statutory declaration signed by a Justice of Peace or Notary Public or Solicitor to prove that he/she has not entered into a marriage before (this declaration applies to first or second marriage).

To present yourself together at the Registry Office when applying for the licence which can be obtained within one working day. This must be done in Fiji. Registry offices are in Suva, Nadi, Sigatoka or Lautoka. If marrying at Namale Resort registration must be at Savusavu.

Registration offices are open between 9.00am and 3.00pm Monday through Friday. Registration formalities take about 20 minutes.

The fee is approximately FJD$20.00 and the license is valid for 21 days.

All ministers in Fiji belong to a certain church there are no nondenominational ministers. For Catholic weddings the requirements include a letter of Freedom sent well in advance, approximately 2-3 months out, to the Fijian Priest along with the Baptism Certificate. Your normal pre-wedding studies must be completed with a letter from your priest.

Other Important Fiji Wedding Information:

fiji wedding beach wedding in savusavu fiji

Minimum marriageable age for girls is 16 years; for boys is 18.

Birth, death and/or divorce certificates must either be originals or copies certified by and bearing the seal of the issuing authorities.

There is neither a residence requirement nor a minimum period of stay required for marriage in Fiji.

District Officers and Registrars may perform marriages without a marriage license. After the ceremony, it may take 15 working days to obtain the marriage certificate: 10 days for the Minister or District Officer's document to reach the Registrar General and 5-6 days for the Registrar to search its records and issue the certificate.

A Special License is required if the marriage ceremony is to be performed by a Minister of Religion or performed at a venue other than the Registrar-General or District Offices. If you decide to have a civil ceremony, it is advisable to make an appointment either a day or two in advance.

A marriage performed in accordance with the legal requirements of the country in which it takes place is recognized as valid in the United States. For specific information, consult an attorney in the jurisdiction where you reside.

The two main offices of the Registrar-General in Fiji are located in Suva and Lautoka:

Office of the Registrar-General
Cohil Complex, Toorak Road
P.O. Box 2226

Government Buildings
Suva, Fiji
Tel: (679) 315-280
Fax: (679) 304-917

Divisional Registrar
Western Division
P.O. Box 440
Lautoka, Fiji
Tel: (679) 655-132
Fax: (679) 668-077

Fiji Language - Fiji Phrases

Most of the tropical paradise islanders speak English as well as Fijian or Hindi - so to jump right into Fiji culture here are some handy words and phrases that you are likely going to hear while vacationing in Fiji.

English	Fijian	Pronounciation
Hello/hi	ni sa bula	nee sar bula
Good morning	ni sa yadra	nee sar yarndra
Goodbye	sa moce	sa more there
Please	yalo vinaka	yarlo veenarka
Excuse me	tulou	too low
Yes	io	ee or
Thank you/good	vinaka	veenarka
Thank you very much	vinaka vaka levu	veenarka varka levoo
Much/big	levu	levoo
No	sega	senga
Eat	kana	karna
Village	koro	ko ro
A little/small	vaka lailai	va ka lie lie
Great/a lot	vaka levu	va ka levoo
Fast	vaka totolo	va ka tortorlo
Slowly	vaka malua	va ka mar lua
House	vale	va le
Toilet	vale lailai	va le lie lie
Come	lako mai	la ko my
Go	lako tani	la ko tan i
One	dua	du a
Two	rua	ru a
One more	dua tale	du a ta le

If you have any questions or concerns about your visit to Fiji, your Hosts are always more than happy to assist you in answering your queries.

Fiji Cultural Ceremonies

The LOVO

This is a awsome feast, cooked in the earth. It's like a barbeque, only a little more smoked, and a very efficient way to cook large quantities of food at the same time.

Traditionally, the food will consist of cassava (tapioca), kumala (sweet potato), yam and taro - all of which should be peeled. Wrap a shoulder of leg of pork or ham in foil (and/or chicken, fish or lamb) and place in the oven. Put the big stuff at the bottom and the things that need less cooking at the top.

Cover the feast with banana leaves or coconut stalks and damp sacks provide the final insulation. Cover the lot with soil and pour yourself a drink.

The food will take around two hours to cook.

The MEKE

Music is woven into the fabric of Fiji and the Meke embraces traditional song and dance to tell of legends, love stories, history and spirits of the islands. It can vary from a blood-curdling spear dance to a gentle and graceful fan dance.

There are two groups in the make - the orchestra (Vakatara), who sit on the ground and sing or chant for the second group, the dancers (Matana).

The instruments are percussion (hardwood gongs, bamboo tubes, beating sticks etc). For the Meke the performers wear garlands of flowers (Salusalu), the men wear full warrior costume and the women, in traditional clothes, glisten with scented coconut oil.

Kava

Kava (Yaqona) is Fiji's national drink. It's made from the pulverised root of a member of the pepper family. It's believed to have medicinal qualities kava and is used as a herbal remedy to ease the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression).

In a formal yaqona ceremony authority is given by the village spokesman to begin mixing the kava.When mixed, a server will carry a cup ('bilo') to the chief guest, who must clap ('cobo') once before and after completely drinking the first cup. The order of serving depends on the status of those present, from the highest-ranking chief down.

The effects of drinking kava, in order of sensation, are slight tongue and lip numbing caused by the contraction of the blood vessels in these areas (the lips and skin surrounding may appear unusually pale); mildly talkative and euphoric behavior; calming, sense of well-being, clear thinking; and relaxed muscles.

Fiji Travel Guide

Getting Married in Fiji

Other Important Fiji Wedding Information:

Fiji Language - Fiji Phrases

Fiji Cultural Ceremonies

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