Saying “I Do” in the Caribbean
Why wait until the honeymoon to experience all the romance the Caribbean has to offer?
Couples have long known that the Caribbean is a destination where love blooms and flourishes. The pulse of life beats strongly here, and stress is artfully soothed away by languid island rhythms, swaying palms, and the sea gently lapping at your toes. This fertile landscape provides the perfect backdrop for new beginnings — and, for an increasing number of lovers, a destination wedding.
Island weddings are becoming increasingly easy to arrange, with simplified legal paperwork that is done well in advance of your trip. A few pre-trip emails or faxes provide the essentials to arrange a ceremony site with extras that can range from steel pan bands to harpists. Vows can be exchanged on powdery beaches, in garden gazebos surrounded by blossoming bougainvillea and hibiscus, or surrounded by historic architecture steeped in island lore. Here’s a look at some of the top islands that make it easy not just to exchange your vows but to say “I do” to a lifetime of anniversary trips.
St. Lucia
Imagine a tropical island where colorful blooms promise romantic walks in a Garden of Eden. This is St. Lucia, where you’ll find plenty of excuses to seal your vows with a kiss in the shade of a tall coconut palm, beneath the spray of a mountainside waterfall, or atop a hillside lookout. The symbols of St. Lucia are the Pitons — rugged mountains that climb from the sea. Located on the island’s southwest coast, the verdant slopes of Gros Piton and Petit Piton are among the Caribbean’s most recognizable landmarks and the perfect backdrop for wedding photos.
Jamaica
The reggae beat of this island is just the first clue to Jamaica’s vibrant atmosphere. In this land of “no problem,” destination weddings are easy to plan — your only challenge might be narrowing down the long list of romantic venues. From picturesque waterfalls like Ocho Rios’ Dunn’s River Falls to historic great houses like Montego Bay’s Rose Hall and nearby Cinnamon Hill (once the home of Johnny Cash), the island offers memorable venues near every cruise port. End your ceremony with a taste of a traditional Caribbean wedding dessert: black cake, made with burnt-sugar syrup and fruit aged in the island’s world-class rum. Locals often ship slices of the heavy fruitcake to family and friends unable to attend the ceremony, a perfect tradition for destination wedding couples who want to share the fun.
St. Kitts and Nevis
Life is quiet and unspoiled on this two-island nation, often referred to as “the way the Caribbean used to be.” In the shadow of St. Kitts’ Mount Liamuiga, the 17th-century fortress provides a dramatic venue for vow exchanges with the sea as a backdrop. Or next door on Nevis, opt for a sandy ceremony at Pinney’s Beach with Mount Nevis in the background. The pinnacle was named by Columbus for the ever-present cloud that circles the peak, giving it a snow-capped look. Don’t be surprised to have a few uninvited onlookers if you choose an outdoor ceremony. These islands are home to tens of thousands of African green vervet monkeys, descendants of pet monkeys kept by the French on this island paradise over 300 years ago.
St. Maarten St. Maarten, the Dutch side of the 37-square-mile island shared with French St. Martin, is found on the smallest landmass on the globe shared by two nations — the perfect place to begin a life shared by two people. Shop for wedding rings in the port city of Philipsburg, then turn your walk down the isle into a real walk down the aisle with a ceremony on beautiful (and nearby) Great Bay or Maho beaches. Barbados In Barbados, the sea comes in two flavors: Caribbean and Atlantic. The Atlantic pounds the island’s eastern shore as miles of waves clash against rugged cliffs, while on the western side, the placid Caribbean washes ashore with a gentle whisper against the sand. Both provide dramatic venues for weddings alongside verdant destinations like the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens. Whether you opt for a beach or garden wedding, brides traditionally carry a bouquet showcasing, of course, the national flower: the Pride of Barbados.
Antigua
Nicknamed the “Gateway to the Caribbean” thanks to its position on the major shipping routes between the islands and Britain, Antigua has long welcomed ships from around the globe — and today provides a special nautical background for seafaring couples. The rich historical architecture found at Nelson’s Dockyard National Park vies with beaches like Dickenson Bay, Hawksbill, and Galley Bay for weddings that promise fair winds and a happy voyage through life together.
Aruba
The stark beauty of this desert island with its backdrop of colorful Dutch architecture and the turquoise sea makes Aruba a top choice with many couples. Aruba weddings are twice the fun: The day begins with a civil ceremony in the historic town hall in Oranjestad, with its traditional architecture, then many couples opt for a beach ceremony, often on Eagle Beach. For a true island touch, be sure to get a wedding photo in front of an iconic divi-divi tree.
The fort’s garitas, the fortified circular sentry towers that are a symbol of Puerto Rico, make the perfect backdrop for a ceremony that recognizes the strength of your love.