ATTENTION! The ceremony can ONLY be booked if accommodation is booked through SITours!
Required documents: • a copy of the birth certificate of the bride and groom (translated into Spanish and sent in scanned form to the referral manager); • the first pages of a foreign passport (scanned and sent to the designated manager); For citizens of the Russian Federation who were previously married (divorced or widowed), it is necessary to provide copies of the certificate of divorce or death of the spouse: 1. the document is translated into Spanish, 2. the translated copy is notarized, 3. the document is transferred to the manager in the direction, 4 . the document is legalized at the Cuban Embassy (carried out by the operator) The cost of legalization is 13,700 rubles. for each document Attention! Documents requiring official certification must contain information about the number, place and time of issue of the notary's license. The wedding ceremony can be booked no less than a month before arrival. The ceremony is held from Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 16:00, but not earlier than 3 days after arrival at the hotel. Receipt of documents: The newlyweds receive an official Marriage Certificate certified by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Cuba by mail (DHL) within 2-6 months after the ceremony. Please check the document delivery address CAREFULLY!!! After receiving, the Certificate must be translated into Russian by a notary and contact the registry office and passport office at the place of residence to affix stamps to the internal passports of citizens of the Russian Federation / change the surname.
Carrying out official ceremonies in hotels:
BLUEDIAMONDS - from RUR 69,600: Memories Jibacoa 4*, Memories Varadero 4*, Memories Flamenco 4*, Memories Caribe 4*, Memories Holguín 4*, Memories Paraíso Azul 5*, Memories Grand Varadero 5*, Starfish Cuatro Palmas 4* , Starfish Cayo Santa María 4*, Royalton Cayo Santa María 5*, Royalton Hicacos 5* IBEROSTAR — 87,000 RUR: Iberostar Laguna Azul 5*, Iberostar Playa Alameda 4*, Iberostar Tainos 4*, Iberostar Daiquiri 4* IBEROSTAR — 106 300 RUR: Iberostar Varadero 5*, Iberostar Bella Vista 5*, Iberostar Ensneachos 5*, Iberostar Playa Pilar 5* Deluxe Wedding MELIA — 120,800 RUR: Melia Las Antillas 4*, Melia Peninsula Varadero 5*, Melia Cayo Coco 4 *, Melia Las Dunas 5*, Melia Varadero 5*, Melia Marina Varadero 5*, Melia Cayo Guillermo 5*, Melia Buenavista 5*, Melia Las Americas 5*, Melia Jardines del Rey 5*, Melia Cayo Santa Maria 5* Deluxe Wedding PARADISUS - 140,200 rubles: Paradisus Varadero 5*, Paradisus Princesa del Mar 5*, Paradisus Rio de Oro 5* Memorable Wedding SOL, Melia, Paradisus - 55,100 rubles: Melia Las Antillas 4*, Melia Varadero 5*, Melia Las Americas 5*, Sol Palmeras 4*, Paradisus Varadero 5*, Melia Peninsula Varadero 5*, Paradisus Princesa del Mar 5*, Melia Cayo Coco 5*, Melia Buenavista 5*, Melia Marina Varadero 5*, Melia Jardines del Rey 5*, Sol Cayo Guillermo 4*, Melia Las Dunas 4*, Melia Cayo Guillermo 5*, Melia Cayo Santa Maria 5*, Sol Cayo Largo 4*, Paradisus Rio de Oro 5*, Sol Rio de Luna y Mares 4*
Picturesque places in Cuba for a wedding ceremony
Every corner of Cuba has its own charm and long history. Any couple can find a suitable place for their ceremony on the island. Some people like to celebrate on the sea coast, others - in exotic nature, others prefer a celebration in a special hall on the hotel premises.
There are several of the most popular wedding venues in Cuba:
- The ancient city of Havana , which is the capital of the republic. The settlement is known for its colorfulness, which compares favorably with other metropolises of the island. Havana has a large number of beautiful sights, against the backdrop of which newlyweds often arrange photo sessions, for example, near the Capitol building, various ancient houses, and on Cathedral Square. There is also an Orthodox church where couples from all over the world are allowed to get married.
- The second popular wedding destination in Cuba is the resort town of Varadero , which is awarded for having one of the cleanest beaches in the world. There are many first-class hotels, parks, and restaurants. For lovers of resorts - an ideal option. You can spend your holiday on a yacht or on the beach, visit interesting places - protected areas, caves.
- And the third favorite place for celebration is the islands of Cuba. For example, uninhabited Cayo Guillermo with palm groves and mangroves is an excellent opportunity to retire away from numerous tourists. There is a coral reef next to it, so water sports enthusiasts will have plenty to do here on their honeymoon.
Also popular are islands such as Cayo Largo with a huge, snow-white beach and Cayo Coco , which is the most isolated resort in the Republic of Cuba, where you can reunite with nature.
Cuban Islands
Note the small islands located off the coast of Cuba
Cayo Guillermo
Much of this islet is uninhabited and wild. Here you will enjoy privacy, the sound of the surf, and the singing of tropical birds. Transparent sea, beautiful coast, pink flamingos... It’s not for nothing that Ernest Hemingway himself, a great writer and regular visitor to Cuba, loved these places.
Cayo Santa Maria
A miniature island washed by the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. There are enough hotels here that operate on an all-inclusive basis. And a few years ago, the village “Zvezdnaya” was opened to tourists, where you can have a lot of fun, enjoy local cuisine, visit spas, massages and bowling.
A walk along a superb wild beach at sunset, accompanied by a light Atlantic breeze, will add romance to your honeymoon. By catamaran or yacht you can reach the islands surrounding Cayo Santa Maria. A luxurious photo session and the flavor of Cuban nature are guaranteed to you.
Cayo Largo
Located almost in the very heart of the Cuban archipelago. In the south of the island there is a vast 27-kilometer long white sand beach. The island is popular among scuba diving enthusiasts. Here, newlyweds can enjoy a catamaran cruise, have fun with deep-sea fishing, and visit Iguana Island.
Cute reptiles allow themselves to be photographed and even fed and petted. Lush tropical vegetation, mango thickets, fantastic beaches - a real paradise awaits newlyweds on this island.
Cayo Coco
Pelicans, flamingos and the white ibis (after which this Atlantic island is named) live here. A suitable place for a secluded holiday and organizing a wedding on a wild beach, in harmony with nature untouched by man. Romantics can rent a house here, on stilts rising above the sea. This island is a godsend for lovers of ecotourism and an ideal beach holiday. All local hotels offer massage services. There is also a wellness center where you can choose a procedure for the soul and body, as well as visit the sea water pool.
The perfect time of year for an unusual wedding
The best time for a wedding in Cuba is from late spring to early September, as it is possible to celebrate outdoors. But it’s still worth taking care of a backup plan in case it suddenly rains, for example, preparing a tent, awning, or covered gazebo.
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During the cold season, you can also organize a wedding somewhere in a restaurant or at historical and cultural sites. But it is important to remember that in the latter case, the opportunity to hold a celebration may be available a certain number of times a year, so you will have to adapt.
Financial side
Getting married in Cuba is, of course, very beautiful and touching. But such a celebration will require certain financial investments from you. You will have to spend money on registration and notarized translation of documents, on air tickets for yourself and guests, and hotel accommodation. The host party, which will be involved in all stages of preparing and holding your wedding, will take a certain amount from you.
To be fair, despite all these costs, getting married in Cuba can be quite democratic and affordable. You don’t have to gather a hundred guests for the celebration; if you wish, you can organize a modest but very beautiful ceremony for several friends and relatives. Or maybe you even want to get married just the two of you, in a very romantic atmosphere.
Organizing a wedding ceremony in Cuba
It is better to entrust the organization of the wedding to specialists by ordering an appropriate tour through an agency.
Loved ones won’t have to waste their energy or worry about anything. The hotels have extensive experience in holding weddings, so they will do everything at the highest level, taking into account the wishes of the couple.
You can choose any place for the celebration - a banquet hall, a restaurant, a beach with an arch decorated with flowers, exotic and uninhabited places on the islands of the republic.
What do you need to plan in advance?
Don't forget about the newlyweds' outfit. Here you need to take into account the weather conditions in Cuba. For a summer wedding, a light white dress for the bride and a light suit for the groom are perfect.
You need to decide in advance what kind of wedding will be - official or symbolic.
In the first case, prepare all the necessary documents, translate them into Spanish and notarize them.
Whatever type of celebration is planned, it is important to choose the venue and its design, think through the scenario, and decide on the number of guests, if they will be present.
How to find an organizer and photographer in an unfamiliar place?
If the wedding is held by a local organizer, you need to carefully select an experienced specialist. You can find it in hotels or event agencies. Some of them have intermediaries in Russia, for example, wedding and travel agencies.
You can order wedding ceremony photography from local photographers. You cannot bring such a specialist with you from Russia, because to conduct photo sessions in Cuba, foreigners are required to have a work visa and a local license. Violating this rule can even result in deportation.
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You can find a photographer via the Internet, for example, on the websites “Vedgou-ru”, “Mived-com”, on social networks “Vkontakte”, “Instagram”. You can also contact the hotel staff, who will tell you who to order wedding photography from.
Flights
The sooner you realize that Cuba is your dream destination, the better and, of course, cheaper.
My husband and I were very stupid and bought tickets just three months before the trip. As a result, we paid a pretty tidy sum for them - 104 thousand rubles for two people “round trip”. We flew from Moscow to Havana on a direct Aeroflot flight. It was during this period that the Russian company conducted a demonstrative campaign against alcohol, timed to coincide with the Olympic Games in Sochi. In the absence of a usual means of combating boredom and aerophobia, Russian passengers whiled away the time in front of individual TV screens installed in the backrests in front. The flight to Havana took about 12.5 hours. From there we took about three more hours by taxi to our hotel in Varadero (we intended to lie there on the snow-white sand for 7 days, then to travel around the island for another 6 days, and again fly back home from the Cuban capital). Useful advice based on personal experience: while on the plane we spotted another couple of newlyweds who were also traveling to Varadero. We split the fee. There were 40 CUC for each newly created unit of society.
But it is quite possible to save on tickets to Liberty Island. For our fellow travelers, round-trip tickets for two to Varadero cost 83 thousand rubles. The difference is that they ordered them six months before departure and through the Cuban national airline Cubana de Aviacion (which operates flights jointly with Aeroflot). Early booking in some cases allows you to save up to 30% of the total cost of the flight.
Another option to reduce costs is to buy tickets with transfers. From Moscow to Cuba you can, for example, travel with Air France in transit via Paris or KLM via Amsterdam. If you book in advance, the ticket price will be about 30 thousand rubles per person.
You can also try your luck with Iberia and Air Europa, which from time to time run special promotions to reduce fares.
Directly from Moscow you can only fly to the airports of Havana or Varadero (Transaero airlines). To get to other international airports - and there are five of them on the island - you will have to transfer.
Finally, the last factor that affects the price is the season. The chances of finding cheap tickets to Cuba are much greater during the off-season: from May to October.
Viñales, 2013 - photo: Maria Gorkovskaya
Photo shoot ideas
The result of a photo shoot in Cuba will not leave anyone indifferent. The pictures come out bright, saturated, sunny. Magnificent natural views provide the perfect backdrop for newlyweds. A photo on a snow-white beach near the clearest water surface and under a wedding arch of flowers is very romantic and beautiful.
In addition to the beach, you can arrange a photo shoot in some city in Cuba. You can rent a retro model car in which you can drive around various sights, ancient streets and take wonderful pictures.
You can also take wonderful photos while sailing on a yacht.
Especially if you shoot at sunset. You can always ask the captain to turn the watercraft towards the sunset or other attractive places so that the pictures come out spectacular.
Transport
It is dangerous for tourists to travel using the favorite modes of transportation of Cubans - hitchhiking or in the back of a truck (no matter what they say about the practically achieved communism on the island). It’s hard for an unaccustomed Russian in local crowded buses without air conditioning.
On the road, Cuba, 2013 - photo: Maria Gorkovskaya
As a result, vacationers have four options to choose from when traveling around the island.
The first is to rent a car. This requires international rights. Renting a car will cost approximately 65 CUC or more per day, depending on the make of the car and gearbox. A liter of gasoline on the island costs approximately 1 CUC. You will have to leave about 100 - 230 CUC as a deposit. At the same time, it’s easy to get lost on local roads: there are minimal signs, and local residents, with rare exceptions, do not speak English.
The second option is tourist taxis. They can be ordered from any hotel. Intercity taxis can also be found at any bus station. Price - from 0.50 to 1 CUC per kilometer. There is, of course, the opportunity to get hooked on some local “bombila”: it will be cheaper, but without any guarantees. We once took the risk of getting from Vinales to Havana - an old Fiat drove us at a speed of 160 km/h to the capital in 1.5 hours instead of 2.5. At the same time, at the exit from the mountains, our driver didn’t even think about slowing down, and we literally squeezed into the seat. I didn’t remember a single scenery outside the window, but only a small fan hanging from the ceiling instead of an air conditioner.
The third mode of transport quite popular among foreigners is air travel. Domestic airlines serve more than two dozen national airports. Ticket prices are not too high. From Havana, you can get to Cayo Largo for about 65 CUC, and to the more distant Santiago for 155 CUC. The main national carrier is Cubana airline. Flight tickets can be booked on its website https://www.cubana.cu/.
Finally, the fourth option (my husband and I) is to use the special intercity bus line for foreigners Viazul. Quite comfortable and inexpensive transport with air conditioning. So, for the Varadero-Trinidad ticket we paid only 20 CUC per person, and for the longest journey Cienfuegos-Vinales (with a transfer in Havana) - 30 CUC. Tickets can be purchased at the bus station or on the Viazul website https://www.viazul.com/.
Which wedding is better: official or symbolic?
There are two options for holding a wedding in Cuba - with an official wedding or just a symbolic celebration with preliminary registration of the family union in Russia.
The first method is possible on the territory of the republic; you only need to prepare a package of documents translated into Spanish and notarized. You will need a passport, a certificate of marital status, a birth certificate and a divorce certificate, if you have one. In Cuba, they issue a marriage document, which must then be translated into Russian and certified by a notary.
The cost of an official wedding will be higher than ordering a symbolic wedding. This option is suitable for those who want everything to happen for real. For many, it is the painting that is important, and not the celebration itself.
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A symbolic wedding in Cuba is cheaper and frees you from unnecessary hassle with documents.
This option is especially suitable for those couples who are celebrating their wedding anniversary. Reciting your vows is a great opportunity to rekindle the romance and show your love for each other.
Where to live?
Having enjoyed all the possible amenities in Varadero, my husband and I decided to save money on housing in other cities in Cuba. Basically, we only needed a place to stay for the night: from early morning until late evening we had a cultural program. In addition, we wanted to get to know the Cubans and their life better, which is difficult to do within the walls of hotels with a certain number of stars. As a result, on the website https://www.tripadvisor.ru/ we selected several hostels that we liked and emailed their owners.
Accommodation in such private houses, where the owners rent one or two rooms to tourists, costs 15 - 25 CUC per night. For this price you will be given a room with a double bed, a small refrigerator, a fan (don't count on air conditioning) and a separate shower with hot water. Breakfast or dinner can be ordered for an additional fee. Usually we limited ourselves to only breakfast for 5-6 CUC. It included eggs, toast with jam, a whole mountain of fruit and Cuban-brewed coffee: strong and sweet. Advice - find out the price in advance so that such a homemade breakfast or dinner does not cost you more than a room.
One of the advantages of such accommodation, besides being cheap, is that the hosts will meet you at the bus stop and take you to the hostel. They will also advise where it’s really worth going – whether it’s a museum or a bar. In return for a good attitude, it is quite possible to please the owners by giving them a souvenir from the capitalist world - toothpaste, creams, cosmetics, old mobile phones. The local resident will appreciate all this due to the difficult economic situation in the country.
Trinidad, 2013 - photo: Maria Gorkovskaya
Cons - you will have to live under the same roof with a large family, which sometimes includes crying children and their squabbling parents. Be careful for allergy sufferers: as in almost every Cuban home, in hostels you will definitely meet a couple of dogs and cats running in from time to time. In addition, unlike hotels aimed at foreign tourists, the plugs and sockets in such private casas are flat in shape, and therefore an adapter is needed. Here, unlike large hotels, problems with Internet access may arise. Due to the international isolation of Cuba, not everyone can access the Internet from home.
The most expensive hostel for us was in Trinidad, since it was located in an old colonial house. The best and at the same time cheapest is Hostal José y Fátima in Viñales: very nice hosts, stunning views of the mountains from the window and coffee beans from their own harvest as a gift.
Don’t be disdainful and take business cards from the owners. As already mentioned, popular American booking sites with Cuba do not work. Therefore, almost the only way of advertising for them is reviews from former guests, for example, on https://www.tripadvisor.ru/ or https://turbina.ru/.
Traditions and rituals
Cubans have a hot temperament and love to celebrate weddings brightly, noisily, and cheerfully. Russian couples can also adapt to local traditions, dress in catchy outfits and walk through the streets with fiery dances, accepting congratulations from the people around them.
In the Republic of Cuba, there is one ritual that is resorted to after the wedding ceremony - the lovers are wrapped in a black veil. This helps protect the family from the evil eye and bring happiness and good luck into it.
There is also a tradition of showering the newlyweds with banknotes during their dance. After this, anyone can invite the bride to dance with him. If she agrees, the guest gives her money. This ritual is carried out to attract financial well-being.
Where to go?
- for history buffs
Perhaps the best place to immerse yourself in the history of Cuba is in Trinidad, founded in 1594 by Spanish conquistadors. The city is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is an open-air museum in itself - colonial architecture, cobbled streets, ancient Catholic churches and palaces. It’s worth walking here and once again marveling at the Cuban contrasts. In houses of the 18th and 19th centuries, local grandmothers knit in rocking chairs under high ceilings, and in the doorways - right across the street full of tourists - old people talk calmly with their neighbors.
Trinidad, 2013 - photo: Maria Gorkovskaya
Of the real museums, in my opinion, it’s worth visiting only the Historical Museum - in the Cantero mansion. The exhibition is a bit small, and the building itself is in need of restoration, but the tower here offers a wonderful view of the city.
- for those interested in the ordinary life of Cubans
We ended up in the industrial town of Cienfuegos simply because it was on the road to Viñales. As in any more or less ancient settlement, here you can see the central square with the main local attraction - the only one on the island, the Arc de Triomphe in honor of the declaration of Cuban independence from Spain. Barefoot boys play football here. And along the longest Boulevard in the country, Prado, in the midst of a working day, all, as it seemed to me, local residents leisurely stroll. There is a rather picturesque port where you can buy a pina colada for 1 CUC. True, its charm is disturbed by the entertainment of local children: for example, throwing dogs from a pier (about a meter high) into the water for a competition to see who can swim to the shore the fastest. Both children and adults, looking at this spectacle, smile happily.
- for connoisseurs of nature and cigars
The Viñales Valley is another UNESCO World Heritage Site. She earned this honor for her traditional crafts and agriculture, as well as her amazingly beautiful karst landscapes. Be sure to enjoy these unique views and take a horseback ride. You can book a horseback riding excursion at the local tourist office - it will cost 30-35 CUC per person. To save money, ask the locals who organizes such excursions semi-officially. The owner of our hostel agreed with his comrades, and in the end we spent about two hours on horseback exploring the local beauties for 20 CUC each. Halfway through the journey we stopped at a small lake and took a swim. We ended the trip at a small tobacco farm, where the owner explained the process of making cigars individually and completely free of charge. This is where we bought them - for our own pleasure and as a gift to our long-awaited friends back home. For 25 pieces we paid about 40 CUC. Vinales is located in the province of Pinar del Rio, where the best varieties of Cuban tobacco are grown.
- for Che fans
In general, you will not be able to escape the revolutionary side of life in Cuba anywhere. Everywhere you will be haunted by the song Hasta siempre about Comandante Che Guevara, and along the roads every now and then you will see posters with revolutionary sayings of the famous Argentinean.
Cienfuegos, 2013 - photo: Maria Gorkovskaya
But if this is not enough for you, you should go to Santa Clara, where his memorial is located. The complex includes a mausoleum, a museum and a monument to the revolutionary. In addition, the city is home to the Monumento a la Tome del Tren Blindad, dedicated to the battle that ended the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista and the victory of Fidel Castro and his comrades.
Honeymoon for newlyweds
For a honeymoon, lovers can choose almost any city in Cuba; each has its own advantages. You can stop at the above-mentioned Havana and Varadero or choose another metropolis. For example, the city of Santiago de Cuba is perfect for couples who love the party atmosphere - strobe lights, cocktails, passionate dancing, bright shows.
You can go on a honeymoon to the islands, which are also mentioned above - Cayo Coco, Cayo Largo, Cayo Guillermo. This is a good opportunity to relax alone with nature, enjoy snow-white beaches every day, and swim in the clearest azure water.
If you dream of organizing a wedding in an exotic corner of the planet, go to Cuba. There you can not only hold an unforgettable celebration, but also officially register your relationship! Preparing for the holiday requires the newlyweds to be in a good mood and inspired!
Summary
Cuba will delight you not only with its extraordinary landscapes and excellent weather, but also with the hospitality of the local people. Russian tourists are treated here with special warmth. Hospitable Cubans will congratulate you right on the streets - have no doubt that a wedding in such an atmosphere will definitely become the foundation for a long and happy life together. On this island you will find entertainment to suit your taste: water sports, educational excursions, fun nightlife filled with local flavor, the perfect beach holiday. Sunny Cuba is happy to welcome you at any time of the year!
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Havana
Like any capital, Havana combines everything that the Cuban soul of a foreign tourist could desire. The most interesting sights are concentrated in the historical center - Old Havana: the Capitol, which is strongly reminiscent of Washington, the Grand Theater in the colonial baroque style, the Cathedral in Ciénaga Square and Prado Boulevard. Here is the country's main Museum of the Revolution, where, among other things, you can see Che Guevara's camera and a human-sized piggy bank, into which Cubans once chipped in for agrarian reform. From the sea side in Old Havana it is pleasant to stroll along the Malecon promenade. It’s better to do this when it gets dark - then you can see the real nightlife of the Havanese here. Young people dancing salsa, couples in love, old fishermen and girls of easy virtue - everything is here.
Also in this part of Havana there is an old bar-restaurant called El Floridita, where the famous writer Ernest Hemingway loved to visit and drink a glass of daiquiri. Nearby is the Ambos Mundos Hotel, where he lived in the 1930s.
Hotel Ambos Mundos, Havana, 2013 - photo: Maria Gorkovskaya
On the outskirts of the capital there is a wonderful house of the writer. For 3 CUC you will see his library, hunting trophies, typewriter, and collection of guns and bottles. True, all this is through the window. They are not allowed into the house itself.
Be sure to stop near the museum and drink a cocktail prepared using a special machine (like an old washing machine) - sugar cane juice with lime. Delicious.
You can get to Hemingway's house using another Havana highlight - a vintage car from the 1950s (order a taxi or rent a car). In the city itself, you will also sometimes have to resort to this type of transport: Havana is not like the usual small cities in Europe, and you cannot get around it on foot.
