Do You Need to Speak Spanish to Get Married in the Dominican Republic?
One of the most frequently asked questions by international couples planning a destination wedding in the Dominican Republic is:
“Do we need to speak Spanish for the wedding to be legal?”
The short answer is: no, but there are some important details to keep in mind. While Spanish is the official language of the Dominican Republic — and most legal proceedings happen in Spanish — there are flexible and legal ways to accommodate non-Spanish-speaking couples.
Let’s explore everything you need to know to have a stress-free, legally recognized wedding in this tropical paradise.
Legal Marriage Ceremonies Must Be in Spanish
By law, all civil ceremonies conducted in the Dominican Republic — the ones that result in a legal marriage certificate — must be officiated in Spanish by a recognized civil judge or notary.
However, that doesn’t mean you or your partner must be fluent. What matters is that the ceremony itself is conducted legally in Spanish. To make this work, official translators or bilingual officiants are commonly involved.
Do We Have to Understand the Ceremony?
Technically, yes. You must understand the key parts of the ceremony (vows, consent, legal declarations). To meet this requirement, you can:
Bring a certified translator
Work with a bilingual judge or officiant
Request a dual-language ceremony (Spanish and English)
Many couples choose the third option — where the civil portions are read in Spanish, and the rest of the ceremony is translated for comfort and clarity.
Symbolic Ceremonies Have More Language Flexibility
If you're planning a symbolic wedding — one that’s not legally binding and for celebration purposes only — you can conduct the entire ceremony in any language you like. English, French, Portuguese — you name it.
In this case, the legal paperwork can be done separately (before or after the trip) in your own country, and the destination wedding is purely emotional and ceremonial.
What About the Legal Documents?
All legal documents submitted to Dominican authorities must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator. These include:
Birth certificates
Single status affidavits
Divorce decrees (if applicable)
Valid passports
These documents must also be apostilled in your home country before being used in the Dominican Republic.
Can We Find English-Speaking Wedding Professionals in the Dominican Republic?
Absolutely. Most vendors who work in the destination wedding industry — including planners, photographers, venue coordinators, and officiants — are either fluent in English or work closely with bilingual staff.
You won’t have trouble communicating with your team, and many couples report feeling very comfortable even if they don’t speak Spanish at all.
Should We Hire a Local Translator?
If your ceremony is civil and you don’t have a bilingual officiant, yes — a professional translator is recommended. They ensure that you understand what you’re consenting to and help the process remain fully compliant with Dominican law.
People Also Ask
Can I legally marry in the Dominican Republic if I don’t speak Spanish? Yes, as long as the ceremony is in Spanish and you use a translator or bilingual officiant.
Is the ceremony translated for us? Yes, you can request a bilingual ceremony or hire a translator to translate in real time.
What language is the marriage certificate in? The official marriage certificate is issued in Spanish. You can have it translated for use in your home country.
Can we get married legally in English? No. Legal civil ceremonies must be conducted in Spanish, but symbolic weddings can be in any language.
Do we need to bring our own translator? Not necessarily. Many wedding planners offer one or work with bilingual officiants.
