Cartagena Weddings: Venues, Planners and What to Know Before You Book

• A UNESCO World Heritage city. The port, fortresses and monuments of Cartagena have been on UNESCO’s World Heritage list since 1984. Inside the walls you’ll find plazas, colonial houses with flower-filled balconies and, just outside, the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas.
• Beaches and islands. Bocagrande, Castillogrande, El Laguito and La Boquilla are part of the city, and Tierrabomba, Barú and the Rosario Islands lie offshore.
• Easy for guests to reach. Rafael Núñez International Airport is inside the city, and it has nonstop flights from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, New York (JFK) and Atlanta, among others. Routes change by season, so check current schedules before you send the save-the-dates.
• Room for a long weekend. More than 40% of guests at foreign weddings in Colombia stay four to six days, according to ProColombia. In Cartagena, that’s easy to fill.

It’s hot all year, and the breeze makes it bearable. The rainier months are usually April–May and October–November, with September and October the cloudiest and wettest. November to February are the breeziest months.

Demand matters as much as weather. December is the busiest wedding month in Colombia, and ProColombia lists December, November, March and August as high season for destination weddings. Cartagena also celebrates its Independence festivities around November 11 for four days, so book early if your date falls then. Whatever the month, plan an outdoor ceremony for late afternoon and keep a covered backup.

Think about the whole weekend, too. Many couples add a welcome dinner in the old city, a day on the islands or a farewell brunch, and in high season boats, restaurants and hotel rooms fill up early. Send save-the-dates with the hotel block and transfer details as soon as your venue is confirmed.

Foreigners can marry in a civil ceremony before a notary (notaría). One Cartagena notary lists these requirements for foreign partners:

• passport copies;
• birth certificates issued within the last three months, with a Hague apostille and an official Spanish translation;
• proof of single status or its equivalent;
• documents filed at least seven business days before the wedding, plus a public notice (edicto) of five business days;
• one partner must have lived in Cartagena for the six months before the application, with no exceptions.

Other notaries may ask for different things, so check each one. Requirements can change; confirm with the notary before booking flights.

Because of the residency rule, many couples marry legally at home and hold a symbolic ceremony in Cartagena. If you’d like a Catholic wedding in one of the old city’s churches, the parish has its own requirements: ask early. For the full document list, see our destination wedding guide.