There are many beautiful venues, talented photographers, decorators, caterers, designers, beauty professionals, musicians and other service providers. But the information is often scattered across different places, social media pages and personal contacts. This can be especially challenging for couples who do not permanently live in The Gambia or foreigners who have chosen The Gambia as their wedding destination.

So, we decided to turn our own wedding-planning journey into something useful for others.

We are starting to create the My Gambia Digital Wedding Guide – an online guide where we will gradually bring together practical information, contacts, venues, businesses, services and experiences that can help couples plan their wedding in The Gambia.

And we are starting with one of the first things every couple needs to know: how to legally get married in The Gambia and how much a civil marriage costs.

HOW MUCH DOES A CIVIL MARRIGE COST IN THE GAMBIA?

According to the Civil Marriage Guidelines available to My Gambia in September 2026, the official marriage fee depends on the nationality of the couple.

If both parties are Gambian citizens or citizens of ECOWAS countries, the marriage fee is D7,000.

If one party is Gambian or an ECOWAS citizen and the other is neither Gambian nor an ECOWAS citizen, the marriage fee is D15,500.

If both parties are neither Gambian nor ECOWAS citizens, the marriage fee is D20,000.

In addition to the marriage fee, the Civil Marriage Form costs D1,000.

WHEN SHOULD YOU START THE PROCESS?

The Civil Marriage Form must be submitted at least two weeks before the proposed marriage date.

This is important to keep in mind, particularly if you are travelling to The Gambia specifically for your wedding. Do not leave the legal part of the process until the last few days.

Once the marriage date has been confirmed, both parties must also attend for swearing-in and payment of the required marriage fee at least 24 hours before the marriage date.

What Documents Do You Need?

The properly completed Civil Marriage Form should be submitted together with the required supporting documents.

Both intending spouses need to provide photocopies of their passports, or ID cards in the case of Gambian citizens, as well as one passport-size photograph for each applicant.

For a single Gambian citizen, a Bachelor/Spinster Certificate is required, with a stated fee of D1,000.

If either person has previously been married, additional documentation is required. A divorced applicant needs to provide a Divorce Certificate, while a widow or widower needs to provide the Death Certificate of the former spouse.

If a Divorce Certificate or Death Certificate is issued in a language other than English, a certified English translation must be provided.

When Are Civil Marriages Conducted?

According to the guidelines, civil marriages are normally conducted in the morning, between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM, unless another arrangement is determined by the Registrar of Marriages.

Couples with a confirmed marriage date must attend the required swearing-in and make payment of the marriage fee at least 24 hours before the wedding.

This Is Only the Beginning of Our Wedding Guide

The legal procedure is only one small part of organising a wedding.

Then come the venue, food, decoration, photography and video, wedding dress, suit, cake, flowers, hair and makeup, music, transportation, accommodation for guests, honeymoon... and all the little things you often only discover once you actually start planning.

This is exactly why we are creating the My Gambia Digital Wedding Guide.

As we go through our own wedding-planning journey, we want to collect and share useful information that can make the process easier for the next couple. We want the guide to become a place where couples can find not only practical information but also trusted contacts and businesses offering wedding-related products and services in The Gambia.