Ultimate Guide for How to Elope in Puerto Rico
Destination Elopements in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico is an amazing island and best kept secret in terms of all inclusive elopement experiences and vacations. Many people want to visit Puerto Rico because it’s a great way to experience the Caribbean and not have to leave the U.S. since it’s a U.S. territory. As a destination elopement videographer and photographer, I’ve seen time and time again how eloping can be such a rewarding and meaningful way to celebrate your marriage. If you’re looking for a place to do that on the beaches in paradise, this video will break down every thing you need to know about eloping in Puerto Rico from locations, getting your marriage licenses and I’ll even take you around the island so you can see for yourself what this place is all about.
How to Get Your Marriage License in Puerto Rico
Getting married in Puerto Rico is not as complicated as you may think. It only takes a few steps and documents and you’ll be good to go. I’ll put a link in the description straight from the Puerto Rican tourism board on what you need to bring to receive your marriage license here but will just breeze through everything pretty quickly here.
What you need to get your marriage- at a glance:
Identification
Birth Certificates
Medical Clearance
Affadavit of Intention (Be prepared with an affidavit stating that you’re coming to Puerto Rico specifically to get married and that you’ll return to your place of residence after the wedding.)
IRS Stamp for $150 to file paperwork
Officiant: Your officiant must be registered to preside over weddings in Puerto Rico. If you’re set on having someone from home perform the ceremony, your best bet is to hire a local to serve as the Officiant of Record on the legal documentation.
Here’s a full and in-depth article from the tourism board of Puerto Rico on how to get your marriage license:
Now, let’s get onto the fun part…
After many visits to Puerto Rico, here’s my personal list of some of my favorite elopement spots on the island. There’s a ton of information out there about places to go and visit but here are just a few of my faves.
Best Places to Elope In Puerto Rico
Old San Juan
Colorful streets, awesome forts, museums and nightlife, old San Juan is the center of all the action on the island. This is without a doubt one of the most iconic places in Puerto Rico and whether or not you choose to have your ceremony here, old san juan is a must if you’re visiting here. San Juan is definitely the cultural hub of Puerto Rico and one of the most culturally rich places in all of the Caribbean. When you walk through the streets of San Juan you’ll feel the vibrant colors seeping into your soul making your heart smile. It’s a pretty easy place to be happy. I also say the same about eloping in Colorado, that it’s a pretty easy to find your happy place, but one of the only other places in the world that I feel that is in Old San Juan.
El Yunque Rainforest
The only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Forest system, Home to more than 240 types of trees, unique birds, native species like the coquí frog, and beautiful scenery, the forest spans 28,000 acres of land that includes 25 waterfalls, several rivers, and ancient petroglyphs of Taíno deities. Only a one hour drive from San Juan, you can either navigate it on your own or take a guided tour to get to the most popular locations. Choose between hiking, ziplining, or horseback riding, and fall in love with the astonishing view from the top of the forest overlooking the region’s lush valleys.
Make sure to get a timed entry permit if you plan on eloping or visiting El Yunque Rainforest! https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/300017/ticket/3020
Culebra / Vieques
In order to get to Culebra you have to take a ferry from Ceiba (which is about an hour from San Juan). Culebra didn’t get a feature in the video at the top of this blog post but that doesn’t mean it’s not a totally epic place to visit! This little island off of Puerto Rico served as a U.S. Naval base until 1975. A few of the remnants from the base are still around the waterfront and getting a photo on top of a rusty tank is an iconic tourist opportunity. One of the coolest things about Culebra and its neighboring island Vieques is the ocean life and ocean exploration available.” Culebra is surrounded by more than 20 cays and vibrant underwater landscapes.
It is a haven for those interested in getting closer to ocean life while snorkeling or diving. More than 20% of Culebra has been preserved as a National Wildlife Refuge for more than 100 years. The refuge serves as a habitat for endangered sea turtles and seabirds, among other creatures.” Places like Flamenco beach have been recognized on lists of the best beaches in the world. And while that's the most famous, others are more remote, with natural charm. Something to also do some more research on if you’re wanting to elope in Puerto Rico, especially on Vieques island, is the bioluminescence swimming, kayaking diving opportunities. Learn more about the brightest bioluminescence in the world here.
Rincón
Dude, I freaking love Rincón. All ‘bout those waves for surfing and some pretty rad sunsets. If you want some epic golden rays hitting you at the end of a heartwarming day and some beautiful waves to either learn to surf or perfect your craft before or after your ceremony, Rincón is the spot for you!
It’s a little bit of a ways away from the San Juan airport coming in at about 2.5 hours but once you’re here, you’re here. Rincón gives you a chance to really catch those easy-going vibes on some picturesque beaches with great restaurants and dining all around. I may be biased because I love surfing but I feel like Rincón is just always a town I find myself repeatedly visiting every time I go to Puerto Rico. It’s located out on the western side of the island and is known as the “town of beautiful sunsets” because of it’s breathtaking twilight views. A bonus cool thing about Rincón too is during the winter you may be able to see some migrating whales along the shores. Again, I love this place. If you were to pick a place to have a home base during your Puerto Rican elopement, I would recommend here.
Exploring the Culture of Puerto Rico
Yeah, I know this is a blog post about how to get married in Puerto Rico but while you’re eloping in the Caribbean you should probably get a sense of what the island is like beyond the waterfalls and soothing waves. What’s so special about planning a destination wedding or destination elopement in Puerto Rico is the chance to experience some of the street festivals and concerts that the island has to offer!
Bomba is one of the musical styles unique to Puerto Rico and absolutely awesome to listen to. Beyond Bomba there are a lot of street festivals with that latin flare to get you feet moving to the local rhythms and tunes. Eat local street food from food trucks, keep your eyes and ears open for any sort of local Puerto Rican culture while you’re here because you’ll definitely get a good feel on why this place is on the top of my list to visit time and time again. Get a chance to check out my ultimate guide to eloping in Puerto Rico above to get a chance to see what this all looks like, it’s pretty awesome.
To conclude, as I’ve mentioned in a few of my other elopement planning videos linked in the “elopement resources” tab at the top of the website, I think it’s important to really try to focus on creating an experience of things you love to do together. If you love traveling and exploring new places together, this could be a perfect option for your elopement. If you’re wanting to sit by the beach and relax with a beautiful sunset over the water after a day of saying your vows and doing mellow waterfront tropical beach walks, Puerto Rico could be the place for you!!
If you want to elope here with your family, wondering about how to book vendors, or just general things to keep in mind when planning an adventure elopement definitely make sure to check out some of my other planning videos on my website. Feel free to hit me up with any questions as well, always happy to help you all get out there and celebrate your love in a way that’s true and unique to you. As an elopement videographer and elopement photographer, I’ve been all over the world with couples helping bring their dreams to life so please never hesitate to let me know how I can help. I love you, I’m proud of you, have the best day ever.
Want to Elope In Puerto Rico? Get Started Today!
I’ll film it, I’ll take photos of it and (just like this article) I’ll plan the whole thing for you. It’s quite a deal :)
Here are some links to more resources in case you’re wondering what eloping in Puerto Rico is all about!
Places to Elope:
https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/list/top-places-to-see-puerto-rico#!grid~~~random~1
El Yunque Rainforest (https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/article/visit-el-yunque-national-forest)
Culebra - Take a ferry from Ceiba an hour from San Juan (https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/regions/culebra#!grid~~~random~1)
Crash Boat Beach - Near Rincon - 2 hours from San Juan (https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/regions/rincon#!grid~~~random~1)
Best Beaches:
https://www.discoverpuertorico.com/article/best-beaches-puerto-rico
Beach AirBnB’s in Puerto Rico: