Written by the wonderful Sam Tatro of Undiscovered Path Home

Sandbanks in the ocean, shades of blue, warm sand beneath your feet… For beach lovers everywhere, the Maldives is a dream destination. This beautiful country, comprising 1,200 islands, is hands down the most breathtaking and simply spectacular spot to start your new lives together. So many couples plan their honeymoon to the Maldives…so why not start a little earlier and plan a Maldives elopement? 

Where to elope in the Maldives

Eloping in the Maldives is all about the resort. With more than 100 resorts throughout the Maldives, it can be difficult to pick an amazing place to stay. When you’re planning your Maldives elopement, keep in mind that you will likely stay in the resort island the entire stay. Venturing beyond the island will depend on the resort location and what’s around the resort. For many guests, external trips will include snorkeling trips, dive trips, or boat trips. 

That’s why the resort is so important – because you will spend most of your time in this resort.

So how do you plan a Maldives elopement? Well, some Maldives resorts will include their own wedding packages, which can save you money. You want an all-inclusive wedding package to avoid any extra fees, though you will likely want to bring along your own Maldives elopement photographer (me!) to get THE perfect photos. 

Before booking anything, make sure to speak with each resort and see if they can accommodate your wishes! Each resort has their own rules, and you want to make sure you can elope the way you envisioned it. 

Anantara Veli Maldives Resort

Whether you want a traditional Maldivian wedding or a destination elopement with hues of blue as your backdrop, there’s something for you at Anantara Veli Maldives. This resort offers a wedding package that includes honeymoon benefits for you both as well! 

This resort, one of the larger resorts in the Maldives, has more than 110 villas for guests. The hotel has beach villas, overwater villas, and other sick accommodations for your wedding and honeymoon! 

In addition, your stay gets you access to everything at their sister resort, Veli, as well. Another big benefit? The hotel is only 30 minutes by speedboat from the main island. 

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island

Dreaming of the most luxurious Maldivian wedding? There are few resorts as beautiful as the Conrad Maldives resort on Rangali Island. The Conrad Maldives wedding package includes a wedding planner, ceremony set-up, florals, hair stylist, a spa treatment, and more. The best part is that you can spend your honeymoon at the resort, soaking in those gorgeous views. 

The Conrad Maldives resort is also home to The Muraka, the world’s first underwater hotel residence. With glass-bottomed spa rooms and an undersea restaurant, you can really have an unforgettable adventure in paradise. The hotel is home to 12 different restaurants, which makes for a truly unique experience. The luxury beach and overwater villas at Conrad are nicely spaced out for privacy…and that water? Too gorgeous to believe!

Jumeirah Vittaveli

This resort, located in ​​South Male atoll, is easy to reach and romantic all at the same time, the perfect place to start the rest of your lives together. The wedding package at Jumeirah Vittaveli is upon request, but the hotel does have an unbelievable underwater wedding pavilion for guests looking for that spectacular ceremony. The package includes romantic baths and dinners for just you two. 

Jumeirah Vittaveli is the perfect place to honeymoon, too. Their villas are completely over-the-top luxurious, complete with huge pools and waterslides for guests. You won’t ever experience anything like this again! 

COMO Maalifushi

Have you dreamed about biking to your overwater villa on a little pathway above crystal clear waters? You’re going to want to check out COMO Maalifushi. This resort is the first and only resort to open on the unspoilt Thaa Atoll, in the archipelago’s southern reaches known for their outstanding diving and surf breaks. 

The COMO Maalifushi Resort in the Maldives offers wedding packages as well if you want to plan a Maldives elopement on the sand. The wedding package includes a private dinner, sunset cruise, cake, ceremony decorations, seaplane transfer and so much more. 

This resort really does have so many different options for guests with 65 different types of suites, villas, beach houses, overwater villas and full-on residences. 

Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa

Kuda Haraa’s Maldivian village charm is the perfect place to say your vows! The luxurious Four Seasons offers a number of different locations from your wedding, from the pristine white sand beaches to the clear waters of the lagoon. The hotel offers wedding packages with a private dinner, spa treatments, and more. Plus, you can spend the rest of your stay celebrating your love on a secluded honeymoon! 

One of the big benefits of the Four Seasons? The Four Seasons is located on South Male atoll, an easy-to-access part of the Maldives. The Four Seasons has a number of amazing accommodations right on the water with private pools and sunset views. To die for! 

Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa

What’s not to love about this small island and their amazing overwater bungalows? If you’re looking for a smaller island, this might be the place for you. The Park Hyatt hotel only has 50 villas across the property. The overwater villas are spaced out, unlike many other resorts, so you will have your privacy. It’s also a great choice if you have points with Hyatt that you need to spend! 

The Park Hyatt offers a number of different venue options throughout the island. The package includes flowers, decor, cake and pampering services. However, the photographer will only work with you for one hour (which isn’t enough!), so I’d recommend bringing Jayne along. 

What to do on your elopement day in the Maldives

What you do on your elopement day in the Maldives will likely depend on the resort you plan to stay at. Unlike other island nations, getting around between islands in the Maldives can be difficult and expensive. In fact, you will likely face a pricey bill for the private plane to your resort’s private island. 

But that being said, there are still so many wonderful ways to soak up your elopement day in the Maldives. Here are some of my favorite ideas: 

• Visit a sandbar: Sandbars, a strip of sand in the middle of the ocean, are located everywhere in the Maldives. These unique places are totally isolated islands surrounded by pristine, clear waters and coral reefs. You will need to take a boat to visit, and many captains will know exactly where to go. Make sure to bring an umbrella to enjoy some shade! 

• Diving: Diving is BY FAR one of the coolest experiences in the Maldives! Even without a diving license, going 12 meters deep can expose you to so much marine life. Catch a glimpse of sharks, eagle rays, and countless other species. 

• Surfing or stand up paddleboarding: Did you know the Maldives is a prominent surfing destination? Many surfers head to the Maldives just to catch their waves. But if surfing isn’t quite your thing, try stand up paddleboarding. You can still spend lots of time in the water without the stress of trying to surf. 

• Fishing: The Maldives are known for their underwater life, and it’s no surprise that resorts will organize fishing trips for guests. Most boats head out around sunset, which makes it an extra scenic experience! The waters have so many fish, and you’re bound to catch something. 

• Head to the spa: The spas in the Maldives are unlike any other spas in the world! Chances are, your resort has its own spa with plenty of amenities and treatments available. Why not sit back and let someone else take care of you?

• Relax: Above all else, the Maldives are known for their relaxing beaches and villas! On your elopement day, think about kicking back and relaxing and soaking it all in!

The best time to elope in the Maldives

The best time to visit the Maldives is, hands down, between December and April. During this time, you can expect dry and sunny days with plenty of blue skies! 

If you do plan to visit during other months, be warned that the Maldives’ rainy season runs from May to December. During this time, you may encounter thunderstorms and rough weather. The weather will likely impact your flight, too. 

How to get to the Maldives

To fly into the Maldives, most U.S. travelers will need to travel through Europe, Asia or the Middle East before taking a direct flight to Malé, the capital of the Maldives. Plan to fly into Velana International Airport. 

If you plan to stay on a private island, you will likely need to take another flight, organized through your resort. These private planes can cost a lot, but in almost every case, they’re the only way to get to your hotel. When booking your hotel, make sure to ask about the transfer water plane to your hotel. 

How to legally elope in the Maldives

As a foreigner, you cannot get legally married in the Maldives. However, you can still have a symbolic ceremony with everything you might expect from a wedding – except the certificate of marriage. For this reason, I’d recommend handling the legal paperwork at home before or after the ceremony. This is much easier than getting legally married in a foreign country, too! 

What to know when visiting the Maldives

Never visited the Maldives before? The Republic of Maldives is a beautiful elopement destination, and that’s why it is so important to know a little about the country before visiting. 

• Religion: The Republic of Maldives is an Islamic country. You cannot bring liquor into the Maldives, but resorts are licensed and you can drink while you’re at the resort. However, if you do plan to tour neighboring islands or the capital city Malé, you will need to dress modestly. 

• Resorts: There are more than 100 resort islands off the mainland in the Maldives. Every resort has their own rules and regulations. Some resorts are child-free, for example. Read the fine print before booking!

• Prices: Food and drinks can be extremely expensive at resorts. If you can, look for all-inclusive packages. You’ll feel much better ordering that extra drink, knowing it’s not coming out of your excursions budget. All-inclusive packages will look pricey, but you can spend at least $1,000 on food and drink each week in the Maldives at a resort. Save up and plan to indulge! 

• To overwater bungalow, or not to overwater bungalow? How many times have you seen those gorgeous overwater villas? Those accommodations can be extremely pricey in the Maldives, and some of them can be crammed side by side at resorts. Make sure to think about what fits your budget and your preferences.  

Closing Statements

For couples looking for that exclusive beach elopement, the turquoise water as their backdrop…is there any better place to elope? A Maldives elopement promises to be romantic, relaxing, and intimate.