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Caribbean Destination Weddings

by Paris Permenter and John Bigley,
Authors of Lovetripper.com's Guide to Caribbean Destination Weddings

More and more couples, eager to skip the fuss of a traditional wedding and jump right into the fun, are choosing to tie the knot in the sunny Caribbean. Throughout the islands, you'll find hotels and resorts that offer on-site help with wedding planning, from details like the marriage license to extras such as music and photos. Whether the special day involves just the two of you or whether you'll be inviting friends and relatives to join in the occasion, a destination wedding can be a way to create wonderful memories.

But, first, the down side. Destination weddings aren't for everyone. If you're in love with the idea of a large wedding with all your friends and family, skip this idea. Even with a year of planning, it's just about impossible to get everyone's schedules coordinated for this kind of event. But many couples are saying 'I do' to the idea of destination weddings not only as a way to make the occasion more special, but also as a means of simplifying the whole process.

'Just say the word, and we'll take care of everything', explains Ava Burke-Thompson, Director of Guest Services at the Sheraton Grand Resort Paradise Island, Bahamas. 'We can arrange for the marriage license; minister, priest or rabbi; the florist and the photographer; the wedding cake and champagne; and the rehearsal dinner and wedding reception.'

At some resorts, like the Sheraton Grand, on site wedding coordinators take care of every last detail, some with just a one day notice. 'We do it all the time', says Burke-Thompson. 'It's now legally possible to get married in the Bahamas with a 24-hour notice.'

Island Marriage Laws
In the last few years, many islands have relaxed their marriage requirements. 'We are pleased to see that many of the islands are meeting the current trend of destination weddings by enacting legislation making it easier for tourists to get married in the Caribbean,' said Michael Youngman, director of marketing for the Caribbean Tourism Organization. 'In addition, many hotels and resorts offer weddings and honeymoon packages, making getting married in the Caribbean a memorable and affordable experience.

In 2002, Aruba became the latest island to modify its wedding requirements. Couples now find that they have the option of civil ceremonies on this sunny isle.

Caribbean Destination Weddings

• official birth certificate (with a raised seal)
• photo ID
• proof of death, if either of you is widowed
• proof of final divorce, if either of you is divorced

If your documents are not in English, you'll probably need to have these translated into English (or the island's official language).

Each island will also have certain questions for you. These also vary but generally include your name and address, citizenship, father's name, your occupation and so on. Islands also have 'residency requirements'. No, you don't need to move to the island; this just means that you'll need to 'reside' on the island for a few days before the ceremony. Residency requirements have been greatly reduced lately although lengthy residency requirements in the French Caribbean make weddings difficult.

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