One of the most stressful experiences, we often hear, is planning a wedding. A time when emotions are running sky high and the desire for everything to be 200% perfect is a source of tension with every wedding related phone call.

For many British people in particular, a traditional wedding is a costly affair which often adds to the existing pressure when there really should be none as the event in question is supposed to be the happiest day of a person’s life.

Travelling abroad to get married is an increasingly popular option nowadays for many couples regardless of background or age and can even be a far more cost-effective way of tying the knot. This way the wedding and honeymoon are combined for most couples. In addition – and this depends entirely on your preferred climate - a southern European wedding (or further afield) can come close to a guarantee of blue skies and sunshine coupled with the reduced risk of your big day being a washout.

As an accredited translation company Translations2u often translates marriage certificates from other languages into English and other documents from English to be presented to the authorities of other countries. However, for the latter, intending spouses must check what the relevant authority in the country where they wish to marry actually requires of them to comply with local legislation and what type of “certification” that authority will accept.

Important to note is that different countries set different legal requirements, some require a period of residency, others don’t. Some require additional documents to be translated whereas others require only three essential documents.

Once you have been married abroad, a certified translation into English is easily come by since the UK has no “sworn translator” requirement. Instead the Chartered Institute of Linguists and Institute of Translators and Interpreters set guidelines for the performance of translations that are required for official purposes. Although any competent person can in principle be accepted as a “certified translator”, the authorities, educational establishments and courts always seek a translation certified by a recognised accrediting body such as those indicated above.

Future posts will cover the requirements for getting married in various countries and those considering marrying abroad or looking for advice on translating their personal documents into another language for this purpose are welcome to contact Translations2u for free advice at any time.