What can I say about this team other than there is no way I would have been able to do this without them. They put us in touch with the Registrars’ office so we could have the paperwork to make it all legal. I can’t thank them enough for how smooth and easy getting married abroad was.
Laurie & Christopher – Utah

Planning an Irish elopement can be simple!

Ensuring your elopement ceremony in Ireland is legal sounds stressful. But with the right support, it’s actually a straightforward process.

When you work with us, your elopement is stress-free and uncomplicated. Let’s start planning!

Working with Eloping in Ireland made planning our destination elopement so easy and stress-free! They walked us through the steps to ensuring a legal wedding in Ireland. I would recommend this company over and over again for anybody looking to wed in Ireland.
Brittany & Robert – Toronto

How to get started on a legal Irish elopement

Book your elopement details

To get started, we need to book your elopement date, ceremony venue, and officiant/celebrant.

Contact the Irish registrar

Next, we will connect you with the marriage Registrar in Ireland by phone. They will advise ye further on the paperwork required.

Submit your marriage application

If you don’t live in Ireland, your marriage application can be submitted remotely. You will not have to travel to Ireland to do this.

Pay your legal & paperwork fees

The legal & paperwork fee is €220. This is payable directly to the Registrar’s Office and includes your legal marriage certificate.

At Eloping in Ireland, we’re well versed in planning legal Irish elopements for couples around the world! Don’t hesitate to ask the team for help with your legal paperwork.

Documents you’ll need for a legal Irish elopement

Make sure you have these documents in order before you start your application for a marriage license in Ireland.

Here’s what you’ll need:

  • Passport (must be in date)
  • If either of you is divorced, you’ll need the original final decrees in respect of all previous divorces.
  • If either of you is widowed, you’ll need the death certificate of the previous spouse and the civil marriage certificate for the first marriage.
  • If either of you had a previous civil partnership dissolved, you’ll need the original final decree of dissolution in respect of all previous registered civil partnerships.
  • If either of you is a surviving civil partner, you’ll need a death certificate of the civil partner and the civil partnership certificate.
  • Additional documentation may be required in some cases, such as where a divorce has been granted outside the State, and it must be determined whether it is recognised under Irish law. The registrar will advise what is required in each case.
  • If either of you is a foreign national, you’ll need proof of your immigration status documentation (must be in date). A ‘foreign national’ means a person who is neither an Irish citizen, nor a citizen of a member state.

Additional details required

  • The intended date of marriage
  • The names and dates of birth of the two witnesses (Eloping in Ireland can provide two witnesses if a couple has no guests)
  • Details of the proposed solemniser and venue
  • PPS Number/Public Service Card/Social Security Number (where applicable)

Documents required when the notification process is complete

  • Declarations of no impediment: These are given to the couple by the registrar when they are giving notification and should be signed by the couple in the registrar’s presence.
  • Marriage Registration Form (MRF): This is the couple’s civil license to marry, issued to the couple by the registrar at the meeting with them. It is a crucial document and your marriage cannot be civilly registered without it. You must bring this with you to be signed during your wedding ceremony.

Frequently asked questions

When getting married in Ireland, what type of ceremony can we have?

The 2 most popular ceremony choices are civil (legalities sorted in Ireland) and symbolic (legalities sorted in your home country)

If we have a legally-binding civil ceremony in Ireland will our marriage be legal in our home country?

Yes. If you receive your marriage certificate in Ireland, you will be recognized as being legally married in your home country, too.

If we choose to have a legally-binding civil ceremony in Ireland, will we require witnesses?

Yes, you’ll require two witnesses over the age of 18. We can provide these as part of your elopement package (if you have no guests or no guests age 18+).

When getting married in Ireland, will we need to travel there ahead of our wedding to submit our notification to the registrar in advance?

If you are having a legally-binding civil ceremony, we can arrange for you to meet with the Registrar in Ireland between 2 and 5 working days before your wedding. You do not have to travel to Ireland any earlier than that as everything else can be completed remotely. If you are having a symbolic ceremony, you can arrive on any date.

Are the legal process & paperwork for a legally-binding civil ceremony expensive?

No, the total cost for this is only €220 which is payable directly to the Registrar.

Can we personalize our ceremony in any way?

Of course! The celebrant will work closely with you to create a beautiful and intimate ceremony which you can personalize with your own readings, prayers, poems, or vows. It’s also possible to include a traditional Celtic handfasting or any other marriage ritual, if desired.

Let’s make your love official

Plan a legally-binding elopement in Ireland now!