Elopement in Grenada: Intimate Weddings & Micro-Ceremonies
Two to twenty guests, three working days on island, and a 3,500-dollar floor — Grenada is built for the wedding you actually want, not the one you have to host. Here is the real 2026 walkthrough: legal, logistical, financial.
The short answer
An elopement in Grenada takes a minimum of five days on the ground: you must be resident for three working days before the marriage license is issued, then the ceremony can happen on day four. Expect to spend USD $3,500–$9,500 all-in for two people including the EC $300 license fee, an officiant, photographer, small floral setup and a celebratory dinner — a fraction of a full destination wedding without giving up the beach, the sunset or the legal paperwork.
Just-the-two-of-you ceremony
An officiant, two witnesses sourced locally if needed, and a beach corner reserved for an hour. The whole ceremony runs 20–30 minutes.
Sandy Island for total privacy
A 250-metre sandbar off Carriacou with nothing on it. Boat in, marry under a single palm, boat out — the most cinematic elopement venue in the country.
Vow renewals welcome
No license, no residency rule, no paperwork — celebrants will run a renewal ceremony in 48 hours from arrival. Same venues, half the lead time.
Elopement, micro-wedding or vow renewal — which one are you planning?
An elopement is the smallest version: just the two of you, an officiant, and the two legal witnesses Grenada law requires. Witnesses can be hotel staff, your photographer, or a friend you bring — they only have to be 18+ and able to sign their name. You file the same marriage license as everyone else (EC $300, three working days residency), but everything else collapses to its minimum. Most elopements here are wrapped in under an hour and cost USD $3,500–$5,000 all-in for two people.
A micro-wedding scales that up to 8–20 guests without becoming a full destination wedding. The ceremony stays short and beach-side, but you add a private dinner — usually a villa chef, a small restaurant buyout, or a section of a hotel restaurant. Floral, photography and rentals all stay small because the headcount stays small. Budget climbs to USD $6,000–$9,500 for the couple plus a modest spend per guest (USD $90–$160 each on dinner, if you cover it).
A vow renewal is the lightest of the three because it is not a legal act — there is no license, no residency requirement, and no Ministry visit. A celebrant runs the ceremony, you swap a few words, and Grenada gives you the same beach, sunset and palm tree. Couples on 5–10 day anniversaries often build a renewal around dinner the same evening and skip almost every paperwork step on this page.
The five best venues for a tiny wedding
These are the venues Grenada elopement planners actually use — places that genuinely accommodate two-to-twenty people without trying to upsell you into a fifty-guest setup. Capacities are real, prices are 2026.
Cabier Ocean Lodge
A tiny, owner-run lodge on the wild east coast — eight rooms, a cliff platform overlooking Crochu Bay, and a chef who will cook a four-course dinner for ten people on the open terrace. The smallest possible 'whole-venue' wedding in Grenada: you can book out the entire lodge for a long weekend.
- Buy out the whole property for under USD $4,500/night
- Cliff-edge ceremony platform built for tiny groups
- Chef-led private dinners on the terrace
Maca Bana — private villa terrace
Seven hillside villas above Magazine Beach with a planted terrace that hosts intimate ceremonies most weeks. The in-house team coordinates officiant, floral and dinner on the terrace — and you sleep five steps from where you got married.
- In-house wedding coordinator handles legal paperwork
- Sunset ceremony slot reserved for villa guests
- Magazine Beach access for next-day photos
Petite Anse Hotel — beach corner
Far-north location away from the tourist corridor, on its own crescent of beach. They reserve the western corner of the beach for ceremonies, which means an unobstructed sunset behind the headland and zero passing day-trippers. Guests can stay on-property in eleven cottages.
- Private corner of a private beach
- Whole-hotel buy-outs available for 20 guests
- Sunset behind the headland, no glare on faces
Mount Cinnamon villa
A cluster of stand-alone villas above Grand Anse — book a 2- or 3-bedroom for the ceremony and a private dinner on its terrace. The hotel restaurant downstairs can plate the meal upstairs without making it feel like a function. Best fit if you want Grand Anse logistics but a non-resort feel.
- Grand Anse beach two minutes downhill
- Private terrace dinners for up to 20
- Hotel concierge runs marriage license errands
Sandy Island, Carriacou
A 250-metre strip of white sand off Carriacou with one palm tree, no buildings and no other visitors if you book the morning slot. A charter boat from Hillsborough takes you, the officiant, witnesses and photographer for a 30-minute ceremony, then everyone goes back to lunch on the main island. The most photogenic elopement venue in Grenada.
- Total privacy, zero passers-by on morning charters
- Boat charter doubles as the wedding transport
- Pairs naturally with a Carriacou honeymoon overnight
What an elopement actually costs in Grenada
The line items below are the full elopement spend for two people in 2026 — no guest catering, no reception scale-up. Budget at the low end is a Sandy Island morning ceremony with a single photographer; the high end is a vendor-built micro-wedding for up to eight with sit-down dinner.
Marriage license (EC $300)
Paid at the Ministry of Legal Affairs in St. George's. Some couriers add a small handling fee.
$112 – $120
Officiant / celebrant
Civil officiants sit at the lower end; ordained ministers and bespoke ceremonies trend higher.
$250 – $600
Photographer (2–4 hours)
Half-day coverage including edited gallery. Add USD $400 for a second shooter or video clips.
$650 – $1,800
Floral — bouquet + small arch or arrangement
Tropical local stems (heliconia, anthurium) come cheaper than imported peonies and roses.
$220 – $650
Hair & makeup (one person, trial included)
Add USD $150–250 per additional person. Humidity-proof bridal trial usually included.
$220 – $480
Private transport for the day
Driver-led SUV from accommodation to ceremony and dinner. Boat transfers cost more — see Sandy Island.
$120 – $280
Celebratory dinner for two (tasting-menu level)
Petite Anse, Beach House, BB's Crabback or a villa chef. Wine pairing extra.
$180 – $420
Small ceremony setup (chairs, signing table, sound)
Bamboo arch, two signing chairs, Bluetooth speaker. Hotel venues sometimes include this free.
$450 – $1,200
Coordinator fee (optional but recommended)
An elopement specialist coordinates license, witnesses, officiant and timing. Optional for true DIY, but most couples book this.
$650 – $2,800
Estimated total
Adds-on most couples include: a videographer (+$800), boat charter (+$650), and one additional night of accommodation on the ceremony day.
USD $3,500 – USD $8,500
The marriage license walkthrough, step by step
Grenada's legal process for foreign couples is famously straightforward — but there is no shortcut on the three-working-day residency rule. Plan your arrival around it.
Arrive at least three working days before your wedding day
Grenada law requires you to be physically resident in the country for three working days before the marriage license is issued. Weekends and public holidays do not count toward the three days. So if you want a Saturday wedding, arrive by Monday evening at the latest — Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are your three working days, and Friday is when the license is normally collected. Plan a buffer day in case of flight delays.
What you'll need
- Current passport with at least 6 months validity for each party
- Original certified birth certificate for each party
- Proof of address (recent utility bill, bank statement or driver's licence)
- Two passport-sized photos per person (some planners arrange these in St. George's)
File the application at the Ministry of Legal Affairs
Both partners must appear in person at the Ministry of Legal Affairs in the Botanical Gardens compound, St. George's, with the original documents listed. Office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 am–4:00 pm. The ministry verifies your documents, takes the EC $300 fee in cash (USD $112), and starts the three-working-day clock. Most planners and resort coordinators will do the in-person filing with you to make sure nothing is missed.
What you'll need
- EC $300 (about USD $112) in cash for the license fee
- Original documents (no photocopies accepted for filing)
- Both parties present in person — no proxies
Provide divorce or bereavement documents if applicable
If either party is divorced, you need the original decree absolute (or final judgement) — a certificate of dissolution is not sufficient on its own in Grenada. If either party is widowed, you need the original death certificate of the previous spouse plus the original marriage certificate from that marriage. All documents must be in English; if yours are in another language, you need an official notarised translation done before you fly out, not in Grenada.
What you'll need
- Original decree absolute / final divorce judgement (if divorced)
- Original death certificate of previous spouse (if widowed)
- Notarised English translation of any non-English document
- Deed-poll or change-of-name certificate if your current name differs from your birth certificate
Choose your officiant and two witnesses
Grenada law requires two witnesses present at the ceremony, both aged 18 or over with photo ID. They can be anyone — hotel staff, your photographer, two strangers your planner introduces on the day — they only need to sign the register. Civil officiants are paid via your planner; church officiants charge separately and may require a religious-ceremony fee on top of the civil license. Same-sex marriage is not currently recognised under Grenadian law.
What you'll need
- Photo ID for two witnesses (passport or driver's licence)
- Officiant booking confirmation (civil or religious)
- Church/officiant fee if religious (varies, typically USD $150–400 extra)
Collect the license, marry, register the certificate
Once the three working days have elapsed, the license is issued — your planner or coordinator typically collects it on your behalf the morning before the ceremony. After the ceremony, the officiant signs the register along with both partners and both witnesses, and submits the documents back to the Ministry. The official marriage certificate is then issued, usually within 5–10 working days. Most couples request it be couriered home so they can fly out on schedule.
What you'll need
- Apostille request if your home country needs one (UK, US, EU mostly do)
- Courier details (DHL/FedEx) for delivery of final certificate
- Spare USD $30–60 for apostille and courier handling
Your five-day elopement timeline
This is the genuine minimum schedule used by Grenada elopement planners — built around the three-working-day residency rule. Land Monday, marry Friday, fly out the following week.
Day 1 (Mon): Arrive, settle, file the license
Land at Maurice Bishop International before 2 pm to give yourselves time to reach the Ministry of Legal Affairs the same afternoon. Your planner or coordinator usually meets you at the airport with the document packet, and your in-person application takes about 45 minutes once you're inside. The three-working-day clock starts the moment your application is accepted — Tuesday is day one. Quiet dinner at Grand Anse to recover from the flight.
Day 2 (Tue): Pre-wedding day off
Use this day for hair and makeup trial, a final venue walk-through with your coordinator, and a photographer pre-meet if you booked one. Otherwise leave it deliberately empty — a snorkel at the Underwater Sculpture Park, a beach swim, an early dinner. Couples who fill day two with errands burn themselves out by Friday.
Day 3 (Wed): License countdown + final details
Day three of residency. Confirm officiant, witnesses, floral delivery time and any boat-charter timings. If you're getting married on Carriacou or Sandy Island, this is the day to fly or ferry over — staying overnight gives the boat captain a buffer if morning seas are rough. Light dinner, early sleep.
Day 4 (Thu/Fri): Wedding day
Coordinator collects your marriage license from the Ministry early morning. Hair and makeup mid-afternoon, photography starts 90 minutes before the ceremony for getting-ready shots and couples-portraits in the golden-hour pre-light. Ceremony at 5:00–5:30 pm to hit the sunset, 20–30 minutes long. Witnesses sign immediately after; your officiant takes the register away for registration. Celebratory dinner at 7:30 — restaurant of your choice, or a villa chef on your terrace.
Day 5+ (Sat onward): Honeymoon and island time
Move into honeymoon mode — most couples shift to a different accommodation here (a villa, Carriacou cottages, or a north-coast hideaway) to mark the transition from 'getting married' to 'married'. The marriage certificate itself is delivered to your home address by courier 5–10 working days later. Stay at least three more nights to make the trip feel like a holiday rather than a paperwork mission.
What we tell every elopement couple
Book the 5:00 pm ceremony slot, not later
Sunset is at 5:35–6:25 pm year-round in Grenada — but you want to be exchanging vows in the warm pre-sunset light, not racing the dusk. A 5:00 pm start gives you a 20-minute ceremony, signing, and 30 clear minutes of golden-hour portraits before the light drops.
Witnesses are not the problem you think they are
Every elopement specialist on the island has a roster of locals who will witness for tips (around USD $40–60 each). You do not need to drag friends or family across the Atlantic just to sign a register. Most couples discover this with relief.
Skip September, target April–June
Late August through early October carries the highest residual hurricane risk and September is reliably the wettest month. April, May, June and late November are the sweet-spot windows: stable weather, lower hotel rates, vendor calendars open.
Build a buffer day before you fly out
Couriered marriage certificates sometimes take longer than five working days. If you have to leave before yours is ready, your planner can forward it to your home address — but a Saturday-morning departure for a Friday wedding leaves zero room if anything (license, weather, flight) wobbles.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum stay in Grenada to get married?
Five days end-to-end. Grenada requires three working days of physical residency before the marriage license is issued, plus arrival and ceremony days. Weekends and public holidays do not count toward the three working days, so if you want a Saturday wedding, plan to arrive by Monday evening at the latest.
How many witnesses do we need for a Grenada wedding?
Two witnesses, both aged 18 or over with photo ID. They sign the register alongside both partners and the officiant. They do not need to be related to you or known to you in advance.
Can two strangers serve as our witnesses if it's just us flying in?
Yes — and most elopement couples do exactly this. Every local elopement planner keeps a roster of witnesses (typically hotel staff, drivers or coordinators) who will sign for a tip of USD $40–60 each. You do not need to bring witnesses with you from home.
Is it worth hiring a wedding photographer if it's only the two of us?
Almost universally yes — 2–4 hours of photography costs USD $650–1,800 and is the single best-value line item in an elopement budget. You are also splitting nothing across guests, so the entire spend is invested in your own images.
What time should we book our ceremony to catch the sunset?
Schedule the ceremony to start at 5:00–5:15 pm year-round. Sunset in Grenada falls between 5:35 pm and 6:25 pm depending on the month, and you want to be exchanging vows in the soft pre-sunset light — not racing to finish before darkness.
Where can we have dinner after our elopement ceremony?
Petite Anse Hotel restaurant, Maca Bana's Lighthouse, The Beach House at Portici, BB's Crabback in St. George's and the dining room at Spice Island Beach Resort all do excellent post-ceremony dinners for two. Expect USD $90–160 per person at the higher-end venues; a villa chef on your terrace is often comparable in cost and more private.
Can family fly in for just our ceremony day?
Yes, but build a 24-hour buffer on either side. Direct flights from London, Toronto and New York all land in the morning or evening, so guests can land the day before the ceremony and fly out the day after. Just remember they are not residents, so they bring no legal weight to the proceedings — they are guests, not witnesses (though they can serve as witnesses if they prefer).
Build your elopement week
An elopement is half wedding, half honeymoon — these are the pieces that go around your ceremony day to turn five days on the ground into a memorable trip.
Elopement specialists
Planners who do single-couple weddings as their whole service