How to Plan a Destination Wedding in MarrakecH | Marrakech Wedding Photographer
Locations, guide, and all the important details to know when planning your destination wedding or elopement in Marrakech
Colourful, chaotic and steeped in old world charm, Marrakech is such a beautiful destination and one of the most up and coming wedding destinations. Its endless magical cobbled lanes, the cities surrounding scenery such as the Atlas Mountains and the vibrant culture are just a few things that draw people to the fourth largest city of Morocco.
Marrakech is home to some of the most luxurious, glamorous wedding venues and is well known for its captivating atmosphere - everywhere you go you’ll be met with bright colours and treasure troves of magical locations that will ignite your love of travel and your senses. So if you dream of having a vibrant destination wedding somewhere far away and exciting, then Marrakech is definitely the place for you.
From endless beautiful locations to the chill vibe this city has to offer - Marrakech is truly the magical city and a dream location for a destination wedding. This blog post is your ultimate guide to getting married in Marrakech. We’ll take you through just about everything you need to get organised and plan your dream Marrakech wedding.
The legalities of getting married in Marrakech
The easiest way to get married in Marrakech would be to get legally married in your home country and then celebrate the marriage in Morocco. But if you’re certain that you want the official ceremony to be in Marrakech you must make sure you follow these steps:
First let's start with the necessary documents. You’ll need:
Passport and passport sized photos
Birth certificates
Copies of two witnesses’ passports
Police records from your country of residence
Medical certificates from a Moroccan doctor
Divorce & Death Certificates (If necessary)
Once you have all the relevant information you must get an affidavit stating that it is legal for you and your partner to get married. You can get this by arranging an appointment with your relevant embassy or a consulate in Morocco. This might incur a fee as both you and your partner will need one. Once this is approved by your relevant embassy, it must be approved by the local Moroccan authorities.
This document must then be translated into Arabic and taken to the relevant registry office to be authorised. After the date of issue this is valid for three months. Bear in mind this can take anywhere from a couple of days to a few months to process.
Please be aware that same-sex relationships are forbidden in Morocco.
When is the best time to get married in Marrakech?
Morocco benefits from gorgeous weather practically all year round and is the perfect place for an outdoor wedding. From June to early September it is hot hot hot, with temperatures sitting at around 30 degrees so if you and your guests don’t mind the heat then these are popular months to get married. If you want the weather a little bit cooler we would recommend tying the knot in May or September/October where temperatures sit in and around 20 degrees.
Find out when sunset is and plan your ceremony for around two hours beforehand so you can get the transition from day into evening in your wedding photographs. Did someone say golden hour?
Book a pre-wedding trip
Visiting Morocco before your wedding is a great way to get to know the city and feel the atmosphere of Marrakech and what it will feel like to have your wedding here. It’s a great chance to visit venues and wonderful locations, see what kinds of activities you can all get up to in the surrounding areas, sample the food and maybe even meet some potential wedding vendors.
What are the best places for weddings in Marrakech?
Have no idea where to get married in Marrakech? We’ve got some of the most gorgeous wedding venues here to help make your choice a bit easier:
Palais Namaskar | Marrakech
Agafay Desert | Morocco
Palais Namaskar | Marrakech
Situated between the desert and the almighty mountains this venue will offer you an unforgettable atmosphere and if you’re a foodie, the chefs are renowned for creating authentic cuisine and local specialities. In fact, The Palais Namaskar has even been voted the Best Hotel in Africa by Prix Villegiature! It’s most certainly a palace fit for a fairytale wedding.
2. La Mamounia
Nestled in 17 acres of stunning walled gardens which magically light up at night, this location is incredibly romantic and perfect for a wedding celebration. The outdoor pool is a great event space as the light reflects on the Italian marble creating a luxurious and grande atmosphere. Or if that doesn't suit, choose from the 17 acres of greenery in the gardens!
The Rial El Fenn exudes old world charm with a twist of modern luxury. It’s an oasis of calm and luxury amidst the madness of the medinas. It’s an incredible location for wedding photography, known for its ‘instagrammableness’ because of it’s stunning rooftop which is perfect for a wedding reception. Word on the street is that they serve some of the best cosmopolitan cocktails!
If luxurious, traditional riad with stunning grounds is what you’re after then stop right now. The Royal Mansour encapsulates the soul of Morocco with its stunning architecture and art. If your budget stretches enough you can hire the entire resort, but they cater for more intimate weddings too!
5. The Selman:
This venue is what some might say a paradise. Crystal chandeliers, decor to die for and views of the mountains and the sky in the distance make it an amazing location for any ceremony. You and your partner even have the option to stay in a private riad, separate from the hotel with fountains, a private garden and your own dedicated butler.
This is another venue which you can hire for your entire wedding and you’ll have the place all to yourselves and we can see why you’d want to. The tranquil circular pool is surrounded by towering columns, plush sofas, decadent drapes and amazing mood lighting that will make your ceremony look like something out of a James Bond movie and the rest of the building becomes embezzled with tea candles and flowers. It’s truly magical.
Right at the foot of the Atlas Mountains lies Kasbah Tamadot, if you want a breathtaking backdrop then this fits the bill perfectly. This hotel is peaceful, tranquil and luxurious and all of the rooms have been individually decorated to match the architecture of the building and houses antiques from all over the world. The venue can even help you include some traditional berber elements into your wedding if you really want to get involved with the culture.
8. Amanjena:
This venue is incredibly romantic. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, the resort overlooks the Amelkis Golf Course and the High Atlas Mountains and is full of atmosphere and magic. You can have anything from an intimate courtyard dinner beside a flowing fountain or a wedding banquet in an elaborate Caidal Tent. Or… if you want something a little more exciting why not say “I do” and dine on the desert dunes or have a picnic up in the atlas mountains!?
Palais Namaskar | Marrakech
Palais Namaskar | Marrakech
Palais Namaskar | Marrakech
Steps for planning your wedding in Marrakech
1. Set A Budget
One of the most important things you should do before any wedding is to set a budget. Decide between you and your partner how much you want to spend on a wedding and what you can afford and stick within this range. Some of the things you may want to consider are venue, catering, lighting and decor, music, entertainment, photography and videography, hair and make up, travel costs, etc.
2. Decide ON a Date
Do you want to get married in the spring or autumn or during the peak hot summer months? Work out what dates work best for you and the majority of your family and friends and get ready to send out those invites!
3. Pick Your Venue
Perhaps the most important element of your destination wedding. Your venue is going to set the scene for the entire day and be the backdrop of all your wedding photos. Some of the most gorgeous venues are situated in Marrakech so do your research and choose wisely. Think about whether you want a beach wedding or want to be surrounded by lush gardens. Or do you want to be surrounded by luxurious architecture? The choices are endless so pick what suits you both best.
4. Select The Best Morocco Vendors and The Ones that You Can Connect With
5. Decide on your Guests
Write down exactly who you and your partner want at your wedding so you can gauge how many people might potentially attend. Remember that for destination weddings the numbers are slightly less than a traditional wedding due to travel arrangements and guests booking extra time off work so pick the people you really want to be there to celebrate on your special day. Once you have decided on the venue and your guest list then you can write your save the date invitations!
Include as much detail as possible, including where you’re getting married, a description of the area, hotels and apartments that are nearby to suit a range of budgets and how much all the transport will cost so your guests can get an idea of how much the destination wedding will cost. Then wait for the RSVPs to roll in!
6. Book hotels and transport
Finally, make sure all the hotels and transport are sorted for you and your guests. Then once everything has been decided and booked you can begin your countdown for the big day!
7. Final notes…
Be sure to fly out a couple of days before your guests so you can settle in, go over any final arrangements and visit the venue to clarify everything. AND make sure you have some fun and spend quality time together before your big celebration! Once you know it, it’ll be time to begin the next adventure… your honeymoon!
it’s awesome you’re here!
I’m Aryan - your luxury Marrakech wedding photographer and videographer. I’m one of the few Marrakech destination wedding photographers that offer an all inclusive photo and video package, saving you the hassle of having to go through two different suppliers, invoices, meetings, contracts, etc.
My style is a mixture of editorial, documentary and fine-art - just like cooking where the combination of multiple ingredients make up the final delicious dish, in photography and filmmaking, it’s the combination of these three styles that make up an elegant wedding gallery!
It would be an absolute honour to document your special day in Morocco, if you’d like to find out more, please get in touch.