P E RFEC T FOR WEDDINGS AND HONEYMOONS
The choice of locations to say ‘I do’ is sensational – and it’s so easy to tie the knot, says Jane Anderson
Tying the knot on a Caribbean island makes perfect sense for Brits in search of an easy tropical location with guaranteed sunshine and those sugary, white sand beaches so synonymous with the region.
These days, though, couples want more than a direct flight and a pretty beach for their overseas wedding and honeymoon. They want a profound sense of place and the feeling that they’ve discovered something very special, not to mention professional wedding planners and minimum red tape to make everything run smoothly.
The island of Barbados lives up to all these demands – and more – much like the choosiest of high-maintenance fiancées demanding nothing but the best.
All 11 parishes on the island are steeped in history with their own distinct character. You only have to take a jeep ride through sugar cane fields and on to Gun Hill Signal Station to realise this is an island with serious heritage and ambitions.
Across the island from its calm west coast (known as the “Platinum Coast”) to the breakers of the Atlantic Coast are stunning venues to say “I do” and romantic experiences, all of which will be raising their game in 2016, as this marks 50 years of independence.
The choice of wedding venues and locations is breathtaking: from gorgeous parish churches, elegant plantation homes and dramatic sugar mills, to under the cool shade of a flamboyant tree by the dramatic Atlantic sea cliffs of Bathsheba.
There’s also the option to marry in one of the oldest synagogues in the western hemisphere in Bridgetown, or even on a catamaran.
A plantation house venue gives couples the chance to steep themselves in the history of the island and create a truly elegant wedding. The 350-year-old Fisherpond Great House, lovingly restored and filled with antiques, is the perfect old-world setting. And you can even have an authentic wedding breakfast of Caribbean pepperpot stew, red snapper pâté and curried green banana served.
Alternatively, Sunbury Plantation House is about as old-school Barbados as it gets, dating back to 1660. As well as its historic interiors, it has spacious grounds and glorious landscaped gardens.
If you desire a floral setting, Orchid World in Sweet Vale houses more than 20,000 orchids and its gardens have elevated views over sugar cane fields and beyond.
Similarly, the Flower Forest Botanical Gardens have stunning panoramic views over Chalky Mount and the east coast.
For a nautical wedding, Tiami Catamaran Cruises has five catamarans available for private charter with live music, barbecues or special wedding menus. Even if you don’t tie the knot on board, a sunset sail is a treat on your wedding day or honeymoon.
The historic northwest coast is now home to Port Ferdinand, a luxury marina where luxury yachts dock next to luxury homes, an ideal base for a private yacht wedding.
Barbados, of course, also has a huge choice of special hotels that are well versed in weddings and honeymoons. Couples looking for a touch of retro chic should check out The Lone Star Boutique Hotel and Restaurant. Right on the water’s edge along the renowned Platinum Coast, this former car garage has pioneered fashionable boutique style on the island. Newlyweds should bag one of two penthouses or the coral stone Beach House. The coveted restaurant by the water is renowned for its Italian fusion cuisine.
For something more traditional, Cobblers Cove emanates the British heritage and elegance of Barbados. The pink curved building could pass for a lavish wedding cake and the service is top notch. Weddings take place on the sand or in the gardens followed by candlelit dinners on the beach. There’s a complimentary night for the bride and groom on their wedding night, and a champagne breakfast the next morning.
Another west coast favourite for romance is The House by Elegant Hotels. By night, with its flaming torches, white décor and coral stonewalls, it’s a dreamy location for a wedding or honeymoon. It promises a limited number of weddings per year and personalised attention to detail on your big day. Romantic getaway packages include dinner on the beach, a couple’s Royal Bajan Ritual spa treatment, and free room upgrade.
No one does Barbados style like Sandy Lane, though, the Rolls-Royce of island five-star retreats. Here, a sense of occasion seems to be a way of life and couples are treated like royalty by an experienced team of bespoke wedding and honeymoon planners. There are butlers to draw a bath with chocolate truffles on the side and cabanas on the beach with flaming torches just for two.
For something more affordable, there are also all-inclusive resorts on the island. The Club Barbados Resort & Spa is an adultonly all-inclusive on the west coast that will make your budget spread far.
Sugar Bay Barbados, located in the Unesco World Heritage Site of the Historic Garrison on the south of the island, opened late 2015 and is an ideal, all-inclusive getaway for young couples or those bringing friends and family away to witness them tying the knot.
And for something different, check out the Atlantis Hotel on the dramatic east coast with its Atlantic breakers. One of the most authentic and charming hotels on the island, this is the place for a small, intimate wedding full of local touches.
It’s easy to get married in Barbados. There’s no required waiting period or minimum length of stay. Application for a licence must be made by both parties in person at the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs and you must take all documentation.
Non-citizens and non-residents are charged US$100 cash and a US$12.50 stamp. Fees for civil marriage ceremonies held out of court are US$175 – for details, email the Ministry of Home Affairs at ps@mha.gov.bb.
And toast your vows over a Mount Gay Rum, one of the oldest rums in the world. How’s that for a symbol of longevity?
Weddings take place on the sand, followed by candlelit dinners