The Caribbean islands offer a wide variety of choice for a destination wedding; with many islands to choose from, there are a number of choices for a tropical island wedding. It is possible to be married on the beach, at a hotel resort, on a boat, or even underwater! The difficulty, perhaps, is deciding which island to choose for a perfect Caribbean wedding.
Where are the Caribbean Islands?
The Caribbean islands are located in the Caribbean Sea, southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and North America, north of South America and east of Central America. There are many small islands in the Caribbean region but the most well known Caribbean islands are:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Aruba
- Barbados
- British Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands
- Curacao
- Dominican Republic
- Grenada
- Jamaica
- Martinique
- Puerto Rico
- St Kitts and Nevis
- St Lucia
- St Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos
- US Virgin Islands.
Legal Requirements for Getting Married in the Caribbean
Each individual Caribbean island has its own specific requirements for getting married in the Caribbean; these may change without notice so it is best to check for current requirements with each island's tourist board. There is usually a small administrative fee to pay to get married. In general, the legal requirements for getting married in the Caribbean consist of:
- the bride and groom need to be resident on the chosen Caribbean island for a number of days before being allowed to get married (usual range is one to seven days)
- the bride and groom are usually required to be over 18 years of age, unless parental consent is obtained
- legal documents required to marry include (but are not exhaustive) a valid 10-year passport, birth certificate, decree absolut for divorcees and previous spouse's death certificate if widowed.
How to Plan a Caribbean Wedding
The easiest way to plan a Caribbean wedding is to employ the services of a good travel agency; a reputable travel agency or company will be able to book both the hotel resort and the services of a local wedding planner, who will take care of everything on arrival from arranging the wedding bouquet to making sure the legal requirements are taken care of. A local wedding planner will also have knowledge of additional services available including having a Caribbean steel band for the wedding!
Some Ideas for a Caribbean Wedding
Probably the most popular reason for getting married in the Caribbean is the ability to have a beach wedding in a beautiful climate! However, some more diverse and alternative options for a Caribbean wedding include:
- getting married underwater - underwater wedding packages include photographer, videographer, a unique wedding 'bouquet' and even diving lessons for the inexperienced.
- getting married aboard a yacht - moored off the beach or sailing off into the sunset!
- getting married on a private Caribbean island or at a private residence.
When to Go for A Caribbean Wedding
The Caribbean is known for sunshine and blue skies; however, it is best to check ahead with the chosen Caribbean island for the dates of the hurricane season. In general, the Caribbean islands are most popular from November to May, outside of the main hurricane season, and when the weather is more predictable; this is also an indication of when prices are usually higher.
Popular Caribbean Islands for a Wedding
Choosing a Caribbean island to marry on takes time and planning; the ultimate choice depends on the type of wedding, the setting and the bride's personal preference. Choosing to get married in the Caribbean is always a popular destination choice; however, some of the most popular Caribbean islands to get married on include:
- St Lucia
- US Virgin Islands
- Antigua
- Barbados
- Jamaica.
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