The celebration of a wedding must be magical. Imagine combining it with the unforgettable experience of renting a yacht on an island. There is probably nothing more romantic than a couple starting life together with a Virgin Islands-style wedding and/or honeymoon!
Imagine repeating vows while standing barefoot on a white sand beach with turquoise blue water as your backdrop. Or maybe you prefer a lush mountain top with sweeping views and gentle trade winds. Maybe more adventure is your style. How about standing on the prow of a magnificent sailboat or chartering a luxurious yacht adorned with tropical flowers while you exchange your vows? You can get married at sunrise, sunset or under a warm tropical night, with the sky filled with more stars than you have ever seen. An underwater ceremony can even be incorporated into a colorful coral reef dive. Caribbean weddings are big business.
Wedding planners and yacht/sailing charterers are happy to make any arrangements. However, the happy couple must remember that they can’t just show up on their favorite island and expect to get married.
Each island has its own requirements, but the local tourist office will provide the necessary details. For US citizens, it is easiest to arrange a wedding in Great Britain or the US Virgin Islands. In the British Virgin Islands, couples apply for a marriage license at the Attorney General’s office in the Administration Building in Road Town, Tortola. You must have your passport with you so that the date of entry can be established as the ceremony cannot take place until you have been in the Territory for a minimum of 3 days. An original or certified copy of a divorce decree or death certificate must be submitted if either couple was previously married. Both the application and the actual ceremony require two witnesses. A couple can get married at the Recorder’s Office above the Main Street Post Office for $35.00. If the ceremony is elsewhere (on the beach or on a sailboat/yacht), the fee is $100.00.
Choosing the location of the ceremony is probably the most difficult part of having a wedding in the British Virgin Islands. Tortola is the main island of the British Virgin Islands, with many beautiful beaches to host a wedding, including: Cane Garden Bay, Lambert Beach, Long Bay Beach, Josiah’s Bay, and the Beach at Nanny Cay.
Just north of Tortola is the island of Jost Van Dyke. White Bay, with its crystal blue water and white sand beach, is a perfect place to drop anchor from your sailing or yacht charter, swim to the beach and exchange vows. The wonder and beauty of the baths on the southeast coast of Virgin Gorda will be memorable. For more information, contact Gail Hartman at ViSailing.
In the US Virgin Islands, the St. Thomas Territorial Court must receive the marriage application form and any certified divorce decrees or death certificates from the previous spouses at least 8 days prior to the ceremony. No physical exam or blood work is required, but you will need to show up with a photo ID to the court clerk before the big day to get your license. Again, a local wedding planner can help you with the details. There are many options for selecting the perfect wedding venue in the US Virgin Islands. In St. Thomas, the romance of a tropical beach wedding can be yours at enchanting Magen’s Bay, selected by National Geographic magazine as one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world.
Sapphire Beach villas have panoramic views of St. John and Jost Van Dyke. Imagine a terrace-side celebration around the infinity pool against that backdrop as you exchange vows. On St. John, two-thirds of the island is National Park. The natural beauty of the island’s mountains combined with the exquisite white sand beaches create a perfect location for a wedding in paradise.
Check out Caneel Bay and Leinster Bay. For an island experience with a more Dutch character, don’t miss St. Croix with its white sands of Pineapple Beach or the secluded alcove of Sugar Beach. Do you want more privacy? Consider heading out to sea for a bridal adventure aboard a private sailboat or chartered yacht. A Virgin Islands-style wedding is a great romantic way to start your marriage, and it’s an even better place for your honeymoon!
As a Customs agent recently put it: “Our moon is full of honey, man.” Throughout the Virgin Islands, with its laid-back lifestyle and friendly people, there are plenty of resorts and villas to make for the perfect romantic vacation. Whether you choose a beachside cabana or a luxury suite, the new couple can enjoy spectacular views of the seascape while snuggling up in a comfortable hammock for two. If you need more intimacy and privacy, how about sleeping on board a sailboat or a luxury yacht?
Virgin Island Sailing’s knowledgeable staff will be more than happy to arrange your crewed or bareboat sailing vacation or yacht charter.
In addition to island hopping, there are a variety of activities to explore the full range of romantic honeymoon possibilities.
Whether you’re new to the sport or a seasoned veteran, there are countless places to dive or snorkel in the Virgin Islands, including exciting wrecks, walls and reefs.
Playing golf, island style, is a round you’ll always remember. Tees and greens with stunning ocean views and fairways like tropical gardens make golf in the Virgin Islands a golfer’s paradise. How about horseback riding through the waves or on a lush mountain trail, or even windsurfing on the Sir Frances Drake Channel?
Honeymooners can walk hand in hand on the fabulous beaches, sip rum shots while watching the most spectacular sunsets, or gaze at the stars in the clear tropical night sky. With the constant gentle breeze, swaying palm trees, soft white sand and warm turquoise waves lapping at your feet, the romance of a Virgin Islands wedding and/or honeymoon is truly unforgettable.
Whether you stay on land or organize a yacht or sailboat, you will truly start your lives together in paradise! Contact ViSailing to charter your yacht and let your ideal fairy tale moment come true.
