Puerto Rico Covid Wedding Regulations

ONLINE WEDDING CEREMONIES

Online weddings are not allowed in Puerto Rico.

COVID RESTRICTIONS FOR COUPLES & MINISTERS

Puerto Rico has fully reopened. Masks are required at all public indoor areas and may be required at certain private facilities so make sure you are aware of any restrictions when planning your wedding.

MARRIAGE LICENSES & THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE

At the moment, many County Clerk's Offices in Puerto Rico are operating with modified schedules. Please plan accordingly, as hours may have changed.

Couples can apply for a marriage license through the mail or in person. All marriage licenses are processed by the Demographic Registry in San Juan. Couples can apply in person, or submit the form available below. Contact the Demographic Registry Office for more information, as scheduling an appointment may be necessary.

MINISTER REGISTRATION & THE DEMOGRAPHIC REGISTRY

In Puerto Rico, ministers must register their credentials with the Demographic Registry. We recommend contacting the main office in San Juan for additional information.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

For more information, contact the Demographic Registry Office.

Puerto Rico Mail-In Marriage Certification Application

COVID-19, social distancing, travel bans, lockdowns… Many couples are being forced to downsize their wedding plans and for many guests, the only way to attend is with their computers and mobile phones.

If your guest list is shrinking to just the couple and officiant, or maybe just the couple, Puerto Rico marriage laws regulate who must be in attendance, and how the ceremony is conducted. Here are some options to help adapt your wedding plans in Puerto Rico to celebrate a COVID safe wedding.

Virtual Weddings vs. Livestream Ceremonies in Puerto Rico

For the sake of clarity, we differentiate virtual wedding ceremonies (or Zoom/Skype ceremonies) from livestream ceremonies by who is in attendance. If the officiant is officiating the vows from another place via video, then we call that a virtual or Zoom ceremony, since the people involved in the ceremony are interacting over whatever video platform is chosen.

However, if the couple and the officiant are present, but guests are watching remotely, we call that a livestream wedding since the ceremony itself is happening in one physical place. You can read more about what distinguishes each option here.

How can we celebrate a legally valid live streamed ceremony in Puerto Rico

You can livestream any activity or event, and it doesn't matter where you are in Puerto Rico, what you're doing or how many people are physically present with you. Some of the most popular platforms include Skype, Zoom, Google Hangouts, Facebook Live, and Instagram Live.

As long as you have a tripod and a phone with a good camera on it, your guests will be able to participate remotely. Many of these platforms even allow guests to comment, chat, and interact in other ways.

We realize that this is not always ideal, but ultimately, if couples choose to move forward with scaled down weddings and smaller guests lists, these communications platforms let friends and family around the world know that they are still being thought of.

For folks planning on livestreaming their nuptials, Here's How to Livestream Your Wedding.