Planning an Island Wedding
The path to marriage is a challenging one. After finding the right person to commit to, it’s only a matter of time before the stresses of planning a wedding take over and it seems like the only thing you really want to prepare for is a vacation. With most brides having a lengthy checklist of things they’d like to accomplish before the big day, an island wedding offers a solution to complex problems by providing an abundance of perks to the bride and groom, while keepings costs affordable.
Things to think about
Location: There are numerous places in the Caribbean that will provide warm weather and breathtaking views for your wedding. Narrowing down your choices will likely be the most difficult part. Popular islands include: Jamaica, the Bahamas, Barbados, Aruba, Turks & Caicos and the U.S. Virgin Islands. There are several Caribbean wedding-related Web sites you can visit for complete details on each island. It’s a good idea to utilize the official tourism board Web sites for each country, like www.visitjamaica.com, in order to obtain the most up-to-date information.
The Guest List: Often, couples choose to do a destination wedding as a way to lessen the costs and stressors that typically come with large, traditional ceremonies. Decide how many people you’d like to attend and send out a save-the-date notice so people can plan ahead. Thoughtful gestures like welcome baskets with suggestions of what to do in the area are always appreciated by guests who may be visiting the island for the first time. Often, families and couples attending island weddings opt to combine the special event with a vacation and are seeking to relax as much as possible. Don’t plan too many activities, as you don’t want guests to feel like they’re obligated to attend one event after another.
Legalities: Each country has its own requirements for marriage licenses and paperwork. Couples need to factor the laws of each island when trying to narrow down their choices of where to wed. For example, in doing your research, you will discover that the island of Jamaica is known for being one of the easiest islands to get married on, with relatively few documents needed, and only a 24-hour wait required before tying the knot, in comparison to Belize, where couples need to be on the island for at least three days before marrying. Visit www.islandbridejamaica.com for easy and thorough instructions on what protocol to follow and which documents to bring in order to be legally married in Jamaica.
Travel Arrangements: Many airlines fly directly from major U.S. and international cities to the Caribbean islands. From Air Jamaica and Caribbean Airlines to Delta and Spirit, there are numerous options to choose from, that will take you to your destination. Working with a travel agent or using a booking website can ease the plight of trying to get the best deal for you and your guests. Proper etiquette doesn’t require or imply that the bride and groom should pay for their guests to travel to the island of choice. Work within your comfort zone and budget to offer and accommodate your guests with good hotel rates, discounted fare ideas and plenty of wedding events like a welcome party, the rehearsal dinner and a morning-after brunch.
Vendors: Brides will want to do their research, whether it’s on their own or through a wedding/resort planner in order to find the flower, décor, catering, music and photographer that suit their needs and vision for the special day. Depending on the island, most have websites specializing in destination weddings and its costs and necessities. Couples getting married in Jamaica can easily work with companies like Island Bride Jamaica, which offers helpful tools and a wedding concierge service for the bride and groom. Keep in mind that the trends and traditions on the island where you’ll be exchanging vows may be different than what you would expect from a traditional wedding in your home country. Exotic flowers, a beach landscape, tropical colours and natural elements are typically worked into the production of island weddings.
