> IF YOU GO
Paperwork
Unlike many islands, St. Lucia doesn’t have a residency requirement; you can apply for a sameday marriage licence within a day of arrival. Each of you will need to present a passport valid for at least six months and an original birth certificate, as well as additional paperwork if you are divorced, widowed or under 18. Work with a local wedding planner to make sure you have all the right documents. Same-sex marriage is not legal in Saint Lucia. Just beachy If you’re planning a beach wedding at a hotel, clarify whether the beach will be closed to others during the ceremony and how many beach events the hotel typically plans in a day. In general, the more expensive the resort, the greater the chances you’ll have the sand to yourself. Open-air caveats Sure, an open-air suite is romantic, but a room without walls or screens has its quirks. If birdsong or sunlight wakes you up in the morning, bring earplugs and eyeshades. Bug spray will help keep mosquitoes at bay, but you may well wake up to find a bird nibbling on your fruit basket. And if you can’t live without air conditioning, you’ll be better off in a traditional room.
Climate
January through April is the driest period of the year; in summer, the showers that put the rain in rainforest are common. Year round, temperatures hover around 28 C by day and 22 C at night. Hurricanes are rare but not impossible. Flights Air Canada and WestJet offer direct flights between Toronto (YYZ) and St. Lucia (UVF). Many package air-and-hotel deals are also available with scheduled and charter airlines, which can bring the total price down considerably. Practicalities St. Lucia uses the East Caribbean dollar, but the U.S. dollar is also widely accepted by tourist-oriented businesses. Electricity is 220 volts AC, 50 cycles, so bring British-style adapters (although some hotels provide a few Canadian-style 110-volt outlets in each room). If you’ve rented a car, you will need a temporary driving permit, which you can get at Hewanorra airport or the Gros Islet police station. St. Lucians drive on the left. And don’t forget to pack your favourite motion sickness remedy. Roads are very hilly and twisty, and even if you haven’t been carsick since childhood, you may get a bit queasy.