New Zealand is fortunate enough to be located close to the South Pacific islands of Vanuatu and the Cook Islands.

These are very popular wedding and honeymoon destinations, attracting couples from all walks of life wanting to live out the dream of a tropical island wedding.

Having your wedding on a Pacific island has many benefits. The weather is always warm and the perfect time to go is during our winter, so not only can you have a dream honeymoon, you can also escape the winter dreariness back home.

I've put together some information of two of the most popular Pacific wedding and honeymoon destinations... The Cook Islands and Vanuatu!

The Cook Islands has become a perennial favourite with Kiwi travelers because it shares the same currency (same Eftpos) and language. An excellent selection of resorts are centered on the ‘home island’ of Rarotonga, within a short distance of Avarua, the main town. Most major resorts employ full-time wedding coordinators who will organize your wedding for you. Best time to travel is between April and November.

Rarotonga is surrounded by a reef with excellent swimming, while the local dining scene wouldn’t be out of place in Auckland – just add the tropical cuisine, the balmy nights and the sunsets. There’s even a lively fine arts scene, and options for exploring the island include a plethora of scooter for hire.

Only accessible by a 45-minute flight, the island of Aitutaki is considered the jewel in the Cook Island’s crown. This island has a number of fabulous resorts, large and small, that look over one of the world’s most breathtaking lagoons. Aitutaki is one of the most romantic locations in the South Pacific and well worth the extra cost to stay there.

The legal age of consent is 20 years, otherwise you need written approval from your parents. The license application must be made in person to the Registrar of Marriages on Rarotonga at least three working days before the actual wedding, otherwise you have to pay extra fee of $45. This is one island where Catholic weddings can be held on a beach.

The website www.cook-islands.com has a page dedicated to getting married, and includes a business directory of local wedding co-coordinators and planners. You can contact the Registrars Department directly, phone 00 682 29410, fax 00 682 29610, or email offices@justice.gov.ck

The appeal of this popular destination is its variety – different islands and friendly Melanesian cultures, great diving, eco-tourism tours and, if you are just into a romantic stay, the appeal of the large, world-class and boutique resorts clustered around the capital, Port Vila. Nor are guests tied to their resort, as they are in many island tourist spots.

Just 10 minutes away from the main resorts, Port Vila is a charming, French-influenced town with a huge local market, great duty-free shopping, tropical beachfront bars and at least 35 very good restaurants, at last count. For the adventurous, there are bus and river tours, and flights to other islands – where you can walk to the rim of a live volcano on Tanna, or witness the spectacular land-diving (the original bungy jumping) at certain times of the year on Pentecost Island. The best time to travel is between May and October.

You must post a Certificate of Intended Marriage at least 28 days before the wedding to the registrar in Port Vila, before leaving NZ. You then need to be in Port Vila three days before the ceremony. The larger properties have wedding organizers on their staff, while many others use the services of local Connie Wells, a photographer who has branched into co-coordinating weddings.

More information on Vanuatu can be found on the tourism website www.vanuatutourism.com, or by emailing the tourism office, tourism@vanuatu.com.vu