How to Plan a Wedding in Niue

When is the Best Time to Get Married in Niue?

A good place to start organising your wedding in Niue is with the “when”. When are you going to get married in Niue? This not only means picking a season to get married but also with enough time to sort out the legalities.

The Best Time for a Niue Wedding

First, pick a season. Niue has two distinct seasons, the dry season (winter) and the wet season (summer), which come with their differences.

The dry season runs from November to April when the weather is hot and humid. The wet season runs from May to October when the weather is warm and drier.

The dry season is a popular time in Niue for tourism, where the weather is warm but dry (mostly). The wet season is a quieter time on the island accompanied by weather that is hotter and more humid.

If you have nightmares of rain on your wedding day, then you’ll have better odds for a dry wedding in the dry season (May-October). This time is also better for seasonal activities, such as whale swimming. However, if you want the feeling of having the island all to yourselves, then you might want to consider a wedding in the wet season (November-April).

Jump into this subject in more detail in The Best Time to Visit Niue: A Month-by-Month Guide.

When to Arrive in Niue for Your Wedding

When narrowing the time to get married in Niue down to your travel dates, you will need to keep in mind the timeframe of getting your marriage legalities organised.

You need to complete and sign a “Notice of Intended Marriage” form at least three working days before you intend to marry, bearing in mind that government services only work Monday to Thursday in Niue and don’t work on a public holiday. So leave yourself at least three to four days before your wedding day to arrive in Niue. If arriving on a Friday, you will need at least five days to arrive in Niue before your wedding day. Check the latest flight schedules in Which Airlines Fly to Niue?

If you arranging your own wedding on the island (see below), you may want to give yourself more time on the island prior to your wedding day.

Find out more in What are the Marriage Requirements in Niue? or scroll down to “Making Your Marriage in Niue Legal” to learn more about the Marriage License.

Where to Get Married: Choosing a Wedding Venue in Niue

Admittedly, Niue is not brimming with choices when it comes to wedding venues. What it does have is a stunning boutique resort with its very own wedding planner that can organise both on-site and off-site services. On the other hand, do-it-yourself weddings are pretty easy to organise in Niue through the Niue Justice Department. Finally, members of one of the Christian denominations represented in Niue can opt for a religious ceremony at one of the quaint village churches.

The Scenic Matavai Resort (Matavai Conference Centre)

A popular choice for eloping couples, the Scenic Matavai Resort offers an array of special settings, both on-site and off-site, for your special day. Enjoy an expansive clifftop terrace with ocean views and indoor and outdoor options. Get married at one of Niue’s breathtaking beaches or hidden coves for a unique ceremony venue in nature. The Scenic Matavai also offers generous wedding packages, as well as accommodation and catering packages to make the organisation effortless.

The Scenic Matavai Resort has a standard wedding package of:

• Return private airport transfers
• Welcome drink on arrival
• 2-hour sunset welcome evening with drinks and canapés
• 3 or 4 nights’ accommodation in 15 Superior Clifftop Rooms (2 guests per room)
• Daily breakfast
• Wedding day inclusions for up to 30 guests
• Wedding ceremony: location on the lower pool deck, wedding coordinator, registration with the Niue Justice Department, marriage certificate, bride’s floral headpiece and groom’s Niuean neck garland, up to 30 covered chairs, rehearsal day before, marriage celebrant, portable sound system and two witnesses, if required.
• Reception: private bar setup, private buffet setup, dining tables with linen and candles, wait staff, menu for up to 30 people, and a 2-hour beverage package.

The following features can be added to wedding packages:

• Serenader for the ceremony
• Local dancer
• Floral archway
• His-and-her paleu (sarong)
• An off-site wedding ceremony location, such as beaches and caves
• Transport to the said site for up to eight people
• Dinner for two
• Food and beverage packages
• Accommodation packages.

The Scenic Matavai Resort can also offer a number of off-site services, from hair and beauty to photography and more. Learn more about the resort as a wedding accommodation in the 10 Best Wedding & Honeymoon Accommodations in Niue.

DIY Wedding Ceremony and Reception in Niue

Arranging your own wedding is incredibly easy in Niue, as you’ll find locals are very accommodating and everyone knows everyone, so finding a local hairdresser, entertainment, dining venue, etc. will be pretty straightforward. Just note, however, that you won’t have a huge choice to compare, but you’ll find that Niueans are proud of what they do and are unlikely to disappoint.

A good starting point for arranging your own wedding is at the Niue Justice Department (where you get your Marriage License). The team there not only have their own registrar (celebrant) to solemnise your marriage (free of charge) but can contact a range of celebrants and ministers across the island (charges may apply). What’s more, if you have a particular ceremony venue in mind, whether it’s the clifftops overlooking the Pacific Ocean or nestled in a dramatic chasm or even at one of the quaint churches, the Justice Department can contact the appropriate village councils, ministers, etc. on your behalf.

Contact details for the Niue Justice Department can be found on the Niue Government website.

As for other wedding services, such as beauty (see The Best Spas in Niue), entertainment, catering (see The Guide to the Best Restaurants in Niue), floral decorations and a functions venue; these are all available in Niue. However, it is usually much easier and quicker to organise these services on the island than from overseas, as things are always changing on the island (and not everyone is good at responding to emails).

Niue Wedding Services

Some of the wedding services in Niue include but are not limited to:

Hair and Beauty: Vilina (Alofi), Malau Spa (Tamakautoga)
Wedding cakes: Keke Time (Alofi Commercial Centre)
Floral arrangements: Matakau Fisikanai Flowers
Photography: Marina Faitala, BV Motofoou
Entertainment: Glen JXN Jackson, JinNam Hopotoa

Church Weddings in Niue

If you are part of one of the Christian denominations in Niue, such as Catholic, Apostolic, Latter-Day Saints, Seventh Day Adventist or Ekalesia Niue, then religious ceremonies in one of the Niue churches can be arranged through your church network. Learn more about the churches in The Guide to the Religions in Niue and the 10 Best Churches in Niue to Experience as a Visitor.

Making Your Marriage in Niue Legal

To legally get married in Niue, you need to get a Marriage License, called the “Notice of Intended Marriage“. Couples must apply for this in person at the registry office, which is at the Niue Justice Department building located opposite the Swanson Complex (near the airport).

You must file for your Marriage License at least three working days before your wedding day (noting that the Justice Department is not open Friday-Sunday or public holidays). You’ll both need your passport, original or certified birth certificates, and any other relevant papers, such as divorce papers or a death certificate of a spouse. It is also possible to get an Apostille Certificate to legalise your Marriage Certificate so it is internationally recognised once solemnised.

If you are having your wedding in Niue with a wedding package, then your wedding coordinator will provide assistance in obtaining the Marriage License.

Learn more about the legalities of getting married in Niue in our complete guide, What are the Marriage Requirements in Niue?

How Much Does it Cost to Get Married in Niue?

Weddings in Niue vary in cost depending on whether you’re eloping or bringing the whole tribe for a wedding reception. As weddings abroad tend to involve only your nearest and dearest, we usually find that weddings in Niue are a little more affordable than having extravagant weddings at home.

Here are some typical wedding costs in Niue when booking through the Scenic Matavai Resort:

• Resort elopement ceremony (bride and groom only) – NZ$1,200
• Resort wedding ceremony (up to 1o guests) – NZ$1,250
• Alternative ceremony location – NZ$400
• Food package (per person) – NZ$65-$90
• Beverage package (per person) – NZ$40
• DJ, sound and lighting – NZ$800
• Cultural performance – NZ$500
• One-man band – NZ$400
• Marriage celebrant – NZ$200
• Flower arrangements (per piece) – NZ$30-$200
• Wedding cake (/tier) – NZ$80/single, NZ$220/two, NZ$380/three
• 3/4 Night Wedding Package (inc. accommodation for up to 30 guests) – NZ$18,750-$23,250.

Remember that you’ll also want to factor in costs like the wedding dress, rings, etc. which you’ll usually want to bring with you to Niue.

What to Do on Your Honeymoon

The great thing about a wedding in Niue is that you’re at your glorious honeymoon destination as soon as you tie the knot! You can start enjoying the romantic activities and stunning natural attractions that this raised coral atoll has to offer.

Start planning the honeymoon portion of your elopement with The Wedding, Honeymoon & Romance Guide to Niue, as well as make your bucket list with the 10 Romantic Things to Do in Niue.