Marrying outside the US or UK?

Damn! I saw this subject and thought "oooh, yay! Finally!"   

You might want to pm "Flaurena" - I haven't seen her around much but I know she and her dh got married abroad - she might have some advice!

Hi everyone! My name is Laurie.  I'm currently living in London with my fiancee and trying to plan the wedding.  I'm new to posting, but have been lurking for awhile.  A quick thanks for all the help that is given daily on this website.  I looked around and couldn't find a answer to my question so I'm hoping for some advice.  I'm American and my fiancee is British.   I was wondering if it's a must you get married in the USA or the UK or can you get married say on a Caribbean island and it still be reconsigned by the UK. (We'll be living in the UK after we're married.)  With many family/friends issues I though it would be easier to elope on a nice island! 

Any advice/answers would be appreciated.  Thanks!! 

Laurie

welcome to UKY laurie!  are you here in the UK on a finance visa?

 I was wondering if it's a must you get married in the USA or the UK or can you get married say on a Caribbean island and it still be reconsigned by the UK. (We'll be living in the UK after we're married.) 
Any advice/answers would be appreciated.  Thanks!! 
Laurie

I don't see why not. The UK accepted ours, it was not in English so they wanted to see photos and all was ok. Not sure how the US handles that.

Anyway welcometo UKY

Hi Laurie and welcome to UKY.  I would think that the Caribbean's proximity to the US makes it an ideal location for offshore American weddings, so they would have published info as to the legal requirements and validity.
Also, I think you'd up your chances of having the marriage recognized by the UK if you getting married in a Commonwealth country or UK territory. 
In any case, I can't imagine that a marriage in the Caribbean wouldn't be considered "valid" by the US or UK, but rather that you'd need additional documentation.  For example, I know that Italy doesn't recognize marriage certificates issued in the USA, unless they're accompanied by an apostille from the US Department of State, which is easy enough to get.
Good luck whatever you decide!   

Thanks for the warm welcome and the advice.  I think to be safe maybe we should marry in the UK and let the family feelings play out as they may.  Sometimes I wonder if the wedding is about the two people getting married or not hurting the feelings of the families.  Ugh! 

If you don't have the legal right to live in the UK, you will have to get a marriage visitor visa to get married in the UK.