Tropical Destination Weddings
Beaches are among the world's most romantic locales for weddings. Imagine exchanging your vows on a beautiful white sand beach with the sun sparkling on the ocean in the background and the blue sky above. If this sounds like your idea of paradise, then a destination wedding to a tropical location may be just perfect for you. This guide to tropical destination weddings covers selecting a destination, choose the wedding attire, beach wedding etiquette, the practical considerations, and much more. There are many reasons to have your wedding on a gorgeous beach tucked away on a tropical island. There is the breathtaking scenery, the romance of the beach, the relaxed attitude of the islands, and the appeal of a combination wedding/honeymoon. For some brides and grooms, another appealing aspect of a destination wedding is that it allows them to keep their guest list limited to their closest family and friends. In fact, that might be reason enough to run off to an island paradise to say your 鈥淚 dos鈥? Not all warm weather destinations are the same, and choosing the island destination which is perfect for your celebration takes a bit of research.
The most popular islands for U.S. Caribbean. They are easy to get to from most East Coast cities, offer a wide range of local customs and cultures, and of course, have great weather and beautiful beaches. As they say, it's better in the Bahamas! Located a mere 45 miles off the coast of Florida, the Bahamas are a very easy hop, skip, and a jump to a tropical wedding. Because they are in the Northern edge of the Caribbean, the islands which make up the Bahamas are among the cooler of the top resort destinations. Besides its proximity to the U.S. Bahamas for a destination wedding. There are the renowned pink and white sand beaches, the warm clear water, and shopping in the straw markets. The Bahamas are a middle class country, and can be a very comfortable place to visit for tourists who seek an island which feels like a paradise, yet is not very exotic. The areas around Nassau and Freeport are where most of the large hotels and resorts are located.
The general feeling of the Bahamas is informal, although some of the nicer restaurants may request that men wear jackets. Getting married there is easy: apply for a marriage license when you arrive and pay a fee and it will be valid the next day. Documents to bring include your passport, birth certificates, and proof of your date of entry to the country. Also required is a death certificate or divorce decree if the bride or groom was previously married, or an official notarized document confirming that the person has not been wed before. Of course, as licensing requirements can change, any couple planning a destination wedding should confirm the latest regulations before hopping on a plane. Also be sure to check with your home state to find out what steps you must taken to make your marital status official in the U.S. Known for their upscale flavor, the Cayman Islands are a top notch destination for a wedding.
If you are seeking a tropical paradise which is cultured (they are a British Overseas Territory), elegant, and safe, look no further. The busiest island in the group is Grand Cayman, which is home to swanky resorts for the bride and groom wishing to have an elegant tropical wedding. This is the location of the capitol, George Town, as well as the pristine Seven Mile Beach. Couples who want to experience fine dining and excellent shopping while on their wedding-moon will enjoy what Grand Cayman has to offer. Be sure to pack elegant resort wear, including a jacket for the groom. A quick flight from Miami, Grand Cayman's high season is from December - April. It is also a popular stop for cruise lines. Because it is a prosperous country, it is one of the more expensive destinations in the Caribbean. Happily, it is also one of the easiest places for an American couple to be married in paradise, thanks to same-day marriage licenses.
Book your celebration in one of the fancy resorts, or venture off to the smaller Cayman islands: Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. Much smaller and less populous than Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac offer more relaxed and intimate settings for exchanging your vows. Couples who want to have their wedding on an ultra-laid back island will find what they seek in Jamaica. The third largest Caribbean island, Jamaica has a lush and varied landscape featuring sandy beaches, rainforests, and mountains. The climate is tropical, with warm and humid weather all year round. December to March is high season in Jamaica, with June - September being peak hurricane season. Jamaica has been hit by a number of serious hurricanes over the years, so couples would be wise to take hurricane season seriously and book their Jamaican wedding well outside of the danger zone. Jamaica is best known for its unique and warm culture. Your destination wedding there can feature reggae music, jerk barbeque, rum punch, and Red Stripe, the local beer. Definitely plan to embrace the local flavor of Jamaica if that is your chosen destination. The majority of the top resorts are located around Negril and Montego Bay.