The Most Important Day of Your life - We Can Help Make it the Best Day of Your Life.

A beautiful ceremony on one of the Caribbean sugar-sand beach at sunset.... A large reception at the beach with your own rented chefs and staffYour budget, can be accommodated to make your Caribbean wedding dreams a reality.
 

Renewing your vows? Why not do so on one of the exotic Caribbean islands,  including a reception on location for all your friends and guests.

You dream of a beach wedding ceremony, getting married atop a mountain with breathtaking tropical Caribbean ocean views  or having your wedding in a romantic chapel is possible in the Caribbean.

Destination Weddings: Are They For You?

by Paris Permenter and John Bigley, editors of Lovetripper.com

Would you like to get married on your honeymoon? Destination weddings are becoming more and more popular with couples who are eager to skip the fuss of a traditional wedding and jump right into the fun. Around the world, you'll find hotels and resorts that offer on-site help to plan your wedding, from details like the wedding license to extras such as music and photos. Whether the special day involves just the two of you or whether you'll be inviting friends and relatives to join in the occasion, a destination wedding can be a way to create wonderful memories.

But, first, the down side. Destination weddings aren't for everyone. If you're in love with the idea of a large wedding with all your friends and family, skip this idea. Even with a year of planning, it's just about impossible to get everyone's schedules coordinated for this kind of event.

But many couples are saying "I do" to the idea of destination weddings not only as a way to make the occasion more special, but also as a means of simplifying the whole process. "Just say the word, and we'll take care of everything," explains Ava Burke-Thompson, Director of Guest Services at the Sheraton Grand Resort Paradise Island, Bahamas. "We can arrange for the marriage license; minister, priest or rabbi; the florist and the photographer; the wedding cake and champagne; and the rehearsal dinner and wedding reception."

At resorts like the Sheraton Grand, on site wedding coordinators take care of every last detail, some with just a one day notice. "We do it all the time," says Burke-Thompson. "It's now legally possible to get married in the Bahamas with 24 hours' notice."

POPULARITY OF DESTINATION WEDDINGS

Destination weddings have caught on for several reasons. According to hotels and resorts around the world, they're especially popular with:

couples on a budget who don't want the expense of an elaborate wedding.
couples who don't want the fuss of a wedding and all that goes with it at home.
couples on their second marriage looking for something a little different.
those on their second marriage who'll need to bring along children on the honeymoon. The children's programs at many resorts offer privacy for the couple and a chance to enjoy a vacation with their new family.
couples who are bringing a small wedding party. Sometimes the bride and groom stay at one resort and the wedding party at a neighboring resort, giving everyone privacy. couples who are bringing a sizable wedding party and would like to take over a resort.
Many small resorts like Florida's Little Palm Island offer groups the option of taking over the entire property. This type of stay must be arranged far in advance. The wedding party has the run of the resort for their stay, with plenty of room to party and play. "Little Palm Island is a really private, secluded getaway for wedding groups," explains Susan Belanski, Director of Sales. "We close off the entire island." When wedding parties take over an entire property like Little Palm Island, regular house rules, such as no guests under age 16, are suspended so wedding parties can invite anyone of their choice.

DETAILS, DETAILS

Before you say "I do," plan to do a little research into the "do"s --and "don't"s -- of the local marriage laws. Many countries have loosened their marriage regulations, making it easier for foreigners to tie the knot. Even so, you'll need to do some research.

"The reason some couples have problems with their overseas wedding is that they are unfamiliar with the marriage laws, rules and regulations of where they want to be wed," explains Ruth Keusch, co-owner of Ottley's Plantation Inn, located in Caribbean federation of St. Kitts and Nevis. In researching your destination wedding, Keusch recommends that couples make sure they learn:

if their home country will recognize a wedding in the designated country as valid
the minimum residency period before the marriage can be performed
what paperwork you'll need to bring from your hometown house of worship if you're planning a religious ceremony
what proof is required if you're divorced or widowed
if blood tests are required and, if so, if you can bring them from your home doctor or if must they be performed locally
if there will be English-speaking staff members available to assist you
costs and fees
typical weather during the month of your wedding
special hotel rates for members of the wedding party
what previous experience the hotel or resort has in planning foreign weddings
Destination weddings can also lead to another joyous celebration: destination anniversaries. Couples who wed on their honeymoon can revisit the very spot where they married and share the memories of that occasion.

Photo courtesy Sheraton Grand Paradise Island

Husband and wife team Paris Permenter and John Bigley have authored over 20 guidebooks and also edit Lovetripper.com Romantic Travel Magazine<A HREF="http://www.lovetripper.com/">, an online publication featuring worldwide destinations.

 

Packing for Your Destination Wedding

by Paris Permenter & John Bigley, editors of Lovetripper.com


Are you planning a destination wedding? Congratulations! Before you head off to your dream wedding and honeymoon, don't forget the packing for the wedding itself. Much will depend on where you're having your wedding and your own personal style.

If you're getting married in a formal wedding dress, be sure to carry it with you - don't trust your dress to checked luggage. Most airplanes have coat closets and will allow travelers to hang garment bags. Check with your airline.

Grooms should also carry the clothing needed for the ceremony. If you're getting married in the Caribbean, you won't find many tuxedo rental shops in the islands. It is easiest to bring clothes with you. We recently saw a panicked groom in the Bahamas wearing a tuxedo shirt, coat, cummerbund -and a pair of jeans. The stressed-out groom was racing for the lobby door to meet a clothier who had located a pair of tuxedo pants after the groom's were lost in his luggage. Don't let this happen to you!

Also, carry all original documents--including birth certificates and divorce papers, if applicable--in your hand luggage. Don't pack these in checked luggage!

Many resorts have on-site beauty salons, so you can make sure your hair is perfect for your wedding day. (If you plan to do your own hair, be sure to check first on the electrical current and plugs at your destination. You may need to bring converters for hot rollers and other appliances.) Many resorts also have on-site spas which can pamper the two of you with a massage to work out the kinks from your flight.

For the wedding, you'll want to pack some of these items, depending on your plans:

wedding dress

special hosiery or undergarments

shoes (if you're planning a tropical wedding, remember that high temperatures and humidity, coupled with a long flight, can make feet puffy)

guest book

wedding rings

groom's tux or suit

groom's shoes

address book

thank you cards if you'd like to write them on the way home

special decorations, wedding music

Husband and wife team Paris Permenter and John Bigley have authored over 20 guidebooks and also edit the Lovetripper.com Romantic Travel Magazine<A HREF="http://www.lovetripper.com/">, an online publication featuring worldwide destinations.