Weddings & Honeymoons I DO! THE PERFECT MATCH
For couples wanting an extravagant wedding with all the trimmings or a simple barefoot ceremony on the beach, the Caribbean can prove to be a match made in heaven.
THIS collection of exotic hotspots has all the right ingredients for the perfect romantic occasion with an endless supply of pristine powder white sand beaches, unspoilt lush surroundings and luxurious hotels. The list of idyllic spots where couples
can take their vows is endless, while honeymooners are spoilt for choice when it comes to exotic escapes. The islands have also made it easier for couples to tie the knot by cutting red tape and residency requirements for foreigners wanting to marry. The number of days that couples must spend on the islands before the wedding varies, but in Antigua and Barbados, for instance, couples can make arrangements on the day they arrive.
LIVING IT UP
If you want all the thrills and spills of marrying in a spacious resort with a beautiful backdrop, opt for a high-rolling occasion at some of the Caribbean’s mega-resorts such as the huge Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas, Sandals Resorts or SuperClubs which you’ll find on islands such as Jamaica and Saint Lucia or the extensive all-inclusive resorts along the coasts of Cuba, Aruba and the Dominican Republic. Couples opting for larger islands will find a greater choice of venues and hotels, and more florists, photographers and hairdressers. However, they will sometimes find they
are not the only couple getting married at their chosen resort – there can be several ceremonies on the same day. Many hotels, particularly all-inclusive chains offer free weddings and deals for honeymooners while others offer special wedding packages which include an official to conduct the ceremony, flowers, cake, champagne, food, music and photographer. Such properties are used to arranging weddings and also usually have wedding co-ordinators.
PLAYING IT DOWN Romantics wanting a quieter, more secluded ceremony can choose from plenty of tucked-
away boltholes in the most beautiful surroundings. For ultimate privacy, they can opt for their own luxury villa on islands such as
Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, Mustique or Anguilla or stay at the Villas at Stonehaven on Tobago which boast fabulous views, or the spectacular five-star Villa Castellamonte in the Dominican Republic. Alternatively, they can choose from one of the many upmarket hotels in spectacular settings such as Jade Mountain at Anse Chastanet in Saint Lucia, Strawberry Hill in the Blue Mountains of Jamaica or the One&Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas. Lovebirds with money to spend can even hire a hotel so family and friends can stay too or enjoy their own island – Young Island or Palm Island in the Grenadines or Richard Branson’s private Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, for example.
But wherever they go, at smaller properties couples stand a greater chance of being the only ones to marry that day, that week or even that month.
BAREFOOT AND RUSTIC
Choose from beaches of all shapes and sizes with sands of different shades and hues from golden to dazzling white or romantic pink. Try Morne Rouge Beach on Grenada or the romantic pink beach on Harbour Island in the
www.caribbean.co.uk
The list of idyllic spots where couples can take their vows is endless, while honeymooners are spoilt for choice when it comes to exotic escapes.
Bahamas which stretches for miles; the bright white sands of Anguilla and the Turks & Caicos Islands or the pretty powdery bays of Antigua. If you don’t want to get sand between your
toes, you can say your vows amid the ancient columns of the 14th century Augustinian cloister on Paradise Island, Nassau, which was shipped from Lourdes in the 1920s or climb 206ft to the ruined Hermitage on tiny Cat Island in the Bahamas with Atlantic views. Couples can also marry at picturesque
plantation house hotels on the islands of St Kitts and Nevis which often have pretty ruined sugar mills in their grounds that make beautiful wedding locations. For a taste of tradition, why not choose the pretty traditional stone churches on islands including Barbados, Antigua and Jamaica. Alternatively, there are historic Catholic
churches dating back to the 15th century, while followers of the Jewish faith can marry
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