The short answer: Yes, you can get married in Bora Bora without living in French Polynesia. Since a 2009 French law, foreign couples can hold a legal civil wedding at the town hall (mairie) in Vaitape, if the paperwork arrives well ahead. Many couples add, or simply choose, a symbolic Polynesian ceremony at their resort.
- Legal wedding: civil ceremony at Bora Bora town hall, with a complete file sent at least 45 days ahead (the Four Seasons asks for 90).
- Symbolic wedding or vow renewal: no legal paperwork, and it can be held on a resort beach, in a chapel or on a motu.
- Who offers weddings: the Four Seasons, St. Regis, Conrad, Westin and InterContinental Le Moana all publish wedding pages.
Can you get married in Bora Bora legally?
Yes. A legal wedding in Bora Bora used to require a month's residence. Article 58 of French Law No. 2009-594 of 27 May 2009 dropped that requirement for foreign couples in French overseas collectivities, including French Polynesia. Tahiti Tourisme confirms foreigners can now marry there once the mayor approves a complete application.
The basic conditions (per Tahiti Tourisme and the Four Seasons' wedding guide):
- You are both at least 18 and neither of you is already married.
- Neither of you is domiciled in France or a French territory.
- Each of you has one or two witnesses aged 18 or over, and at least two must attend.
- The ceremony is held at the mairie (town hall) of the commune, which for Bora Bora is in Vaitape. It is led by the mayor or a deputy.
Same-sex couples can marry on the same terms, because France's 2013 marriage-equality law also applies in French Polynesia.
Documents you'll need
Tahiti Tourisme's 2026 checklist asks for:
- the "Marriage of Foreign Citizens in The Islands of Tahiti" form, plus a dated, signed letter to the mayor asking for Article 58 to be applied
- passport copies for both of you and your witnesses
- a full (long-form) birth certificate for each of you, issued no more than six months before the wedding, with an apostille (in the US, usually from the secretary of state of the state that issued it)
- French translations of the documents by a sworn translator
- proof of address (a utility bill)
- details of your parents
- a certificate of customary law (certificat de coutume) explaining your home country's marriage law, and a certificate of single status or capacity to marry
If either of you was married before, add a divorce decree or death certificate. The US government does not issue certificates of customary law; the US Embassy in France refers Americans to English-speaking attorneys, so ask the mairie or your planner what they accept before paying for one. You'll also need a sworn interpreter at the ceremony.
Is a Bora Bora wedding recognized in the US?
A civil marriage at the mairie is a legal marriage under French law. You receive an official marriage certificate, and the Four Seasons notes couples also get a French livret de famille (family record book). Marriages legally performed abroad are generally recognized in the US; the State Department suggests asking your state attorney general's office if you need certainty. A resort ceremony alone has no legal effect: as Tahiti Tourisme puts it, only a civil marriage performed by a civil registrar counts.
Bora Bora wedding planning timeline
Built from the official process. Resorts may set earlier deadlines than the legal minimum, so follow whichever comes first.
| When | Legal (civil) wedding | Symbolic ceremony or vow renewal |
|---|---|---|
| 6+ months before | Choose resort and dates; ask the planner for an eligibility check. Start on the customary-law and single-status certificates. Check passports. | Choose the resort and venue; pay the deposit to hold the date. |
| About 5 months before | Order long-form birth certificates (no earlier: they must be under six months old on the day), then apostilles and sworn French translations. | Choose your ceremony style, music and photographer. |
| 3 months before | Send the complete file (the Four Seasons asks for PDFs at least 90 days ahead, then originals by courier). | Confirm guest numbers, dinners and transfers. |
| 45 days before | The official latest date for the file to reach the mairie. The mairie then confirms the date and time. | Finalize menu and decorations. |
| 10+ days before | The mairie posts the banns (a notice of the marriage) at least 10 days before the ceremony. | Arrive a few days early to settle in. |
| Wedding week | Civil ceremony in Vaitape with at least two witnesses and an interpreter. Your resort ceremony can follow. | Ceremony day. |
The InterContinental Le Moana says legal paperwork takes about three to five months, so six months is a comfortable start.
The traditional Polynesian Bora Bora wedding ceremony
Most of the big resorts offer a symbolic Tahitian ceremony: a blessing, not a legal marriage. Tahiti Tourisme describes it like this:
- A pū (conch shell) announces the bride, who often arrives by outrigger canoe.
- A tahu'a (Polynesian priest) leads the ceremony. He blesses the couple with an auti (ti) leaf, tearing it in two and tying half around each partner's wrist, and purifies their hands with coconut water.
- The couple wears white pareos and shell necklaces with crowns and garlands of hibiscus and tiare, the fragrant national flower. They exchange the garlands before their vows and rings.
- The couple is wrapped together in a red tifaifai, a hand-sewn quilt described as a symbol of royalty, love and acceptance. They then receive a Tahitian wedding name and a certificate written on tapa (bark cloth).
- Music and dancing close the ceremony.
These are living traditions, not decoration. Listen to the blessing, ask what your Tahitian name means, and don't treat it as a show. Resort versions vary, and some use a Western officiant.
Bora Bora wedding packages: which resorts offer them
We checked each resort's own website in October 2026. These five open resorts publish wedding offers:
- Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora: the most detailed published guide, with the Aherenoa Chapel (up to 10 people including the couple), a "Sunset Motu" sandbank and villa beaches. Planners help with legal paperwork; on-site ceremonies are symbolic.
- The St. Regis Bora Bora: Simple Polynesian, Joining of Heart and Traditional Polynesian ceremonies on its Spa Beach islet or main beach; some packages include a one-hour photo shoot. Prices on request.
- Conrad Bora Bora Nui: Polynesian ceremonies with a blessing, leis and flower crowns, a tapa certificate, musicians and dancers. Venues include what it calls the island's longest white-sand beach, a hilltop chapel and Motu Tapu.
- The Westin Bora Bora: beach weddings and vow renewals, plus Manahere, an overwater bungalow reserved for events.
- InterContinental Le Moana: Polynesian blessings on its deck, an overwater chapel for up to 20 guests, and help with legal weddings at Vaitape town hall.
Other hotels may arrange ceremonies through local planners, so ask. Packages typically bundle the ceremony, a planner, flowers, a tapa certificate, music, a cake and a romantic dinner; a legal wedding, extra photography and bigger venues cost more.
Private island weddings, elopements and vow renewals in Bora Bora
A "private island wedding" in Bora Bora usually means a ceremony on a motu (an islet on the reef). The Conrad offers ceremonies on Motu Tapu, and the Four Seasons has its Sunset Motu sandbank (100,000 XPF set-up fee, December 2025 rates, weather permitting). The St. Regis Spa Beach sits on its own islet. Older articles list the Sofitel Private Island and InterContinental Thalasso, but both are closed; see our resort status page.
A Bora Bora elopement works well as a symbolic ceremony; the Four Seasons explicitly offers ceremonies for "just the two of you". Vow renewals are even simpler, since there's no paperwork; the Westin and Four Seasons both advertise them.
Best time of year for a Bora Bora destination wedding
The drier months, roughly May to October, give the best odds of a clear ceremony. June to September is high season (busiest July and August); May and October are quieter shoulder months. December and January are the wettest, and November to April is cyclone season, so plan a covered backup venue. See our month-by-month guide for details.
Budgeting for a Bora Bora wedding
Few resorts publish prices. The Four Seasons packages are 480,000, 660,000 and 910,000 XPF (about $4,500 to $8,600), and a legal wedding adds 350,000 XPF (about $3,300). A 200,000 XPF deposit holds a date. These are December 2025 rates and include 13% tax. The InterContinental Le Moana's wedding page (checked October 2026) quotes packages from about $1,200 to about $3,700.
- The room is the big cost. Overwater villas at the top resorts start from about $2,500 a night (2026). See how expensive Bora Bora is for the full picture.
- Keep it small. The Four Seasons' brochure ties ceremonies of more than 10 guests to booking a beachfront villa estate for at least the wedding night.
- Choose a shoulder month and get quotes in writing, with taxes and cancellation terms.
- Consider a legal wedding at home first, then a symbolic ceremony on the island. It saves the legal fee and the paperwork.
Bringing guests, photographers and officiants
Guests fly to Papeete (about 8 hours from Los Angeles) and then about 50 minutes on to Bora Bora. See our flights guide. Boat transfers to motu resorts usually cost about $100 to 300 per person return, and US citizens need no visa for stays of up to 90 days. Tell guests the likely costs early.
For a symbolic ceremony, the resort supplies the tahu'a or officiant. For the legal wedding, only the mayor or a deputy can marry you. For photos, compare the resort's packages with independent photographers' portfolios, contracts and rain plans. Drones are restricted near the airport and over built-up beaches.
Turning the wedding into a honeymoon
Many couples simply stay on for the honeymoon. Start with our Bora Bora honeymoon overview, read the honeymoon planning guide, and borrow our 5-day honeymoon itinerary for the days after the ceremony.
Frequently asked questions
Can you legally get married in Bora Bora?
Yes. Since a 2009 French law, foreign couples not living in France or a French territory can marry legally at Bora Bora town hall in Vaitape, after filing a complete application.
How far ahead should we start the paperwork?
Start about six months out. The file must reach the mairie at least 45 days before the wedding, some resorts ask for 90 days, and birth certificates must be under six months old on the wedding day.
Is a Bora Bora wedding recognized in the US?
A civil marriage at the mairie is a legal marriage, and marriages legally performed abroad are generally recognized in the US. A resort or Polynesian ceremony alone is symbolic. Check with your state if you need certainty.
How much does a Bora Bora wedding cost?
Published examples: InterContinental Le Moana packages from about $1,200 to $3,700, and Four Seasons packages from 480,000 XPF (about $4,500), plus 350,000 XPF for a legal wedding. Rooms and flights cost extra.
Can we renew our vows in Bora Bora?
Yes. Vow renewals need no legal paperwork, and resorts including the Westin and the Four Seasons offer them.
Can we get married on a private island in Bora Bora?
Yes, symbolically. The Conrad offers ceremonies on Motu Tapu and the Four Seasons on its Sunset Motu sandbank. The legal ceremony itself must take place at the town hall.
Sources
- Tahiti Tourisme: Legal wedding in The Islands of Tahiti (PDF, 2026): tahititourisme.fr
- Tahiti Tourisme: Tahiti wedding FAQ: tahititourisme.com
- Tahiti Tourisme: Celebrating a traditional Polynesian wedding: tahititourisme.com
- Assemblée nationale: Ministerial answer on Article 58 of Law No. 2009-594 (marriage of non-residents in overseas collectivities): assemblee-nationale.fr
- US Department of State: Marriage abroad: travel.state.gov
- US Embassy & Consulates in France: Documents we notarize (certificat de coutume and single-status statements): fr.usembassy.gov
- Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora: Weddings and Wedding Planning Guide (rates updated December 2025): fourseasons.com
- The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort: Weddings and events: marriott.com
- Conrad Bora Bora Nui: Weddings: hilton.com
- The Westin Bora Bora Resort & Spa: Events and vow renewals: marriott.com
- InterContinental Bora Bora Le Moana Resort: Weddings: lemoana.intercontinental.com
- Météo-France 1991 to 2020 climate normals, Bora Bora airport
