Getting Married in Mauritius: What Is the Wedding Day Really Like?

Dreaming of saying ‘I do’ on a beach beside the ocean? But how does a wedding in Mauritius actually unfold? Who greets the couple, who makes the arrangements, and what happens on the day?

Hanka and Stanka, formerly part of the YachtWedding destination-wedding team, answer our questions. Hanka takes us through the preparations, while Stanka shares her experiences of looking after couples on the island. And they have plenty to tell us.

It All Starts Before the Flight

Does a wedding in Mauritius begin only when you arrive?

Hanka: At YachtWedding, the preparations began well before departure. Every couple received a personalised, day-by-day itinerary with important information and appointments. We prepared the marriage documents together and planned the details of the wedding trip.

And what happened when the couple landed?

Hanka: Our wedding representative met them at the airport, welcomed them personally and took them to their hotel in a private car with a driver. We helped them check in, too. The cars even had Wi-Fi, so they could let family and friends know they’d arrived safely.

Why did you give couples a local SIM card?

Hanka: We gave them a topped-up Mauritian SIM card as a little welcome gift. They could contact our representative whenever they needed to without the worry of international roaming charges. There was always more to arrange for a wedding than for a holiday without a wedding to organise.

Stanka, how was being a wedding representative different from looking after other holiday guests?

Stanka: It was more personal and carried much more responsibility. We gave every couple, and any guests they brought, individual attention. Several of us worked on the Mauritius wedding team. We didn’t use group transfers or hold big group meetings.

Why did such personal attention matter?

Stanka: We knew that a wedding or honeymoon in Mauritius was meant to be a romantic, once-in-a-lifetime experience for our couples. Everyone had their own wishes, and we looked after them personally on the island.

Did you find yourself sharing the couple’s emotions, too?

Stanka: When I attended the ceremony and helped the bride and groom, I shared their emotions and happiness. In a way, we became part of their story. The lovely messages newlyweds sent after returning home were the best reward.

What About the Legal Paperwork?

Do couples need to visit the capital before the ceremony?

Answer: When we organised these weddings, the couples we looked after usually travelled by private car to Port Louis a day or two before the wedding, then visited the local office near their hotel. We generally managed the appointments in a morning.

And was there more to organise back at the hotel?

Answer: Our representative accompanied them and helped them follow what was being said in their own language. Afterwards, we had a meeting with the hotel’s wedding coordinator.

Meeting the Hotel’s Wedding Coordinator

What happened at that meeting?

Answer: Couples confirmed their choice of ceremony venue with the coordinator. Some hotels offered several places to choose from. We also discussed their wedding package and any extras they wanted.

Flowers, decorations, hairstyles — was this when the fun started?

Answer: We often suggested choosing the finishing touches once the couple arrived. Hotel coordinators had large, regularly updated catalogues of bouquets, floral arrangements and hairstyles. And flowers are seasonal, even in Mauritius.

Could the bride have a hair and make-up trial?

Answer: Brides often chose their hairstyle or decorations after seeing the options locally. They could also arrange a trial, which we recommended so they could explain exactly what they had in mind.

And what time did the ceremony on the beach usually begin?

Answer: The beach weddings we arranged often started around four or five in the afternoon. Couples avoided the midday heat and the light was lovely for photographs. On the west coast we could catch the sunset over the ocean; on the east coast, the evening colours in the sky. Our representative arrived early to check that the venue had been set up the way the couple had asked.

A Little Detour: What About the Groom?

While the bride is getting ready, what’s the groom doing?

Stanka: What do you think? He would often be relaxing by the pool or on the beach until the last moment, then get ready in minutes.

So the bar might be his last taste of ‘freedom’?

Stanka: Couples often followed the tradition of not seeing each other before the ceremony. The groom would leave the room when he was ready and sometimes spend those last moments of ‘freedom’ at the bar.

And how did the ceremony begin?

Stanka: When it was time, our representative invited the groom to the ceremony spot, where he waited for the bride. Their chosen song began to play, and in she came.

Could couples choose their own music?

Stanka: The resort had a playlist, but couples could choose their own songs and agree on them at the pre-wedding meeting. It made the ceremony feel even more personal and romantic. Live music was another option.

And Then Comes the Moment to Say ‘I Do’

Hanka, does the groom have to wait, or can the couple arrive together?

Hanka: They didn’t have to walk in separately. They could arrive together, or the bride could be accompanied by a guest or someone from the hotel team. We could arrange that as well.

Could couples say their own vows?

Hanka: They could exchange personal vows or declare their love in their own words. It added something special to the ceremony. They only had to let us know at the pre-wedding meeting.

And what followed the ‘I do’?

Hanka: The newlyweds shared their first kiss, received congratulations and signed the marriage register. Then came a toast, the cutting of the cake and the first dance. Our representative stayed for the ceremony and could accompany the couple for photographs if they wished. Afterwards, they enjoyed a romantic dinner.

Which Memories Have Stayed With You?

Stanka, what do you remember most fondly about those weddings?

Stanka: We’d been specially trained for beach weddings, and I’d personally been there for hundreds of them. Later, when I worked in the YachtWedding office, I still looked back on my time as a wedding representative with such affection. I felt part of the couple’s story, which made it all the more meaningful. Even at my desk, I thought about it every day. 🙂

Thank you, Hanka and Stanka, for sharing your experiences. Doesn’t it sound wonderful? We hope your beach wedding in Mauritius is beautiful, magical and wonderfully romantic — and, most of all, a day you’ll remember with a smile.