Destination Weddings - Where to Go?

I remember posting something about the Caribbean last week but the more I think about it, not everyone will fancy a week in the Caribbean for their destination wedding cum honeymoon. Seriously, though, I cannot (for the life of me) understand why people would not want to go to the Caribbean. I must just be biased. In any case, there are tons of other places where you can go and hold your destination wedding.

If you prefer the cold to the hot – or let’s be moderate and say cool to the warm – then consider going to a ski resort or a mountain retreat for your destination wedding. If you love this kind of atmosphere, it would be perfect for you to spend your honeymoon there as well. There are plenty of places to choose from in the US – Colorado, Vermont, etc. Or if you have a little bit more cash to spend, go to the Alps in France, Switzerland, or Italy. Surely you will not find a lack of cold places to hold your destination wedding at.

One idea for a mountaintop wedding is to have a theme that suits the weather. How about ski suits or something that like that? Of course, it would only be apt if you and your partner are into skiing.

On the other end of the continuum we have the tropical climate with images of palm trees swaying in the breeze as you say your vows. For people who prefer this kind of destination, there are even more choices for you – Southern California, Hawaii, Mexico, and of course, the Caribbean. If you want to go to Europe, you have even more choices – South of France, Spain, Italy, and Greece. Dare to take things one notch higher? Go to Asia! Thailand, India, the Philippines, Indonesia – name it, the choices are endless.

Of course, if you are planning on a far away destination, you have to factor in the costs and all the paperwork that will be needed for your wedding. The idea is to decide on a general location and then zero in at the specific place you want. As I mentioned in another post, try looking for a package that will help you hold your destination wedding without too much of a hassle. Trying to find a minister, buy a wedding cake, get musicians, etc. individually will drive you crazy. For more information about this, see our post on all inclusive destination weddings.

Destination Weddings - The Caribbean

When you mention the word exotic, the chances are that imagery of powdery white sand, crystal clear water, and bright shiny sunrays are going to enter your mind. And what better place to go for these things than the Caribbean? For people in the Americas, the Caribbean is a convenient and affordable location for destination weddings. Yet where to go specifically? Here are a few ideas regarding the top spots for destination weddings in the Caribbean. (This is adapted from an article on the top 10 most romantic spots in this part of the world by Paris Permenter.)

Diamond Waterfalls and Gardens, St. Lucia. Blooming with tropical splendor, garden trails lead to the Diamond Waterfalls, a cascade that leaves a spray of “diamond” twinkles in the air. If you stop by on a Sunday, you can also enjoy a soak in the mineral baths originally built by French King Louis XVI for use by his troops.

The Baths, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands. This beach is littered with massive granite boulders as smooth as riverbed stones. They form shadowy caves perfect for a clandestine kiss.

Y.S. Falls, Jamaica. Although the north coast’s Dunns’ River Falls is far more visited, these secluded falls offer couples a much quieter paradise. Cascading in steps through tropical forest, the falls can be climbed with the help of a guide then swimmers can enjoy clear waters under a canopy of ferns.

Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Dotted with historic sites and rich with the atmosphere of Spanish conquistadors, here couples can stroll hand-in-hand where lovers have literally walked for centuries. The most recognized site in Old San Juan is Fuerte San Felipe del Morro, a fort better known as El Morro.

Boca Tabla, Curaçao. Pounding Atlantic waves carved this sea cave. Kneeling in the darkness of the sea cave, you’ll watch the surge of crystal blue waves as they come within feet of you, roaring into the cave and back out to sea.

West End, Negril, Jamaica. Negril’s famous Seven Mile Beach gives way to rugged cliffs on its west side and here visitors find one of the best sunset lookouts in the Caribbean. Every day, crowds arrive at Rick’s, one of the region’s best known sunset bars, for the chance to watch another island day draw to a close.

Now imagine you and your partner exchanging vows in one of these places…what’s stopping you?

Getting Married in Antigua

Are you dreaming of an island getaway but can’t decide where to go? Don’t worry, you are not the only one. With so many beautiful countries, each with their own wonderful people and gorgeous beaches it can be very hard to choose.

Why not consider having your destination wedding in Antigua? Destination weddings are the best! You get to celebrate your wedding in a beautiful place you’ve always wanted to go and your specially selected guests get to have a vacation as well, not necessarily at your expense.

For the last two years, Antigua has been chosen as the best wedding island. It really isn’t surprising because the place truly is beautiful and the people are amazing. They do love weddings and go that extra mile to make sure that every wedding held there is perfect for their clients: the bride and groom.

One of the best reasons to get married in Antigua is that the process is very easy. There isn’t that much of a waiting period, nor are there residency issues. Your marriage here is quick, valid and legal without most of the fuss that surrounds most bureaus.

You can apply for your special license as soon as you get to Antigua but to make the process go a little faster, prepare as much of the paperwork as you can before you leave. The application form for the marriage license is available online. You can download it from here.

You will also need to have your passports ready. These serve as your valid ID. If you have been married previously, you will need to bring the original divorce decree or original marriage and death certificates, whichever is applicable to your case.

In order to get married in Antigua, you must be at least over 15. If you are below 18 you will need parental consent. Your parent or guardian must give written permission to your marriage in order for your marriage to be valid.

If you plan to get marriage in church, you will need consent from the local parish priest. You may want to make arrangements through your local parish priest before you leave home. It will go easier if you are getting married in a church of the same order. Expect that you may be required to undergo some marriage seminars since the church does not take the sacrament likely and want you to be sure that you too take it very seriously.

Generally, here’s what you will pay for the license:

• Registration fee of about GBP20.29 (US$40)
• Application fee for a special marriage license of GBP76.06 (US$150)
• Marriage officer’s fee of GBP25.35 (US$50)

The rest of your money will go as you choose. When you are in paradise, you don’t really need a lot to make the backdrop for your wedding beautiful, but there are definitly a lot of people willing to help you make everything just as you want it.

Sensibly though, spend the money on your honeymoon. Spend on each other, doing things that you will both enjoy. Make the most of being on vacation and in each other’s company. There truly is nothing more wonderful than being alone together in a place as beautiful and romantic than this Caribbean island.