Celebrating a wedding should be magical. Imagine combining it with the unforgettable experience of chartering a yacht on an island. There’s probably nothing more romantic than a couple starting life together with a Virgin Islands-style wedding or honeymoon!
Imagine repeating the vows while standing barefoot on a white sand beach with turquoise blue water as a backdrop. Or maybe you prefer a lush mountaintop with panoramic views and gentle trade winds. Maybe more adventure is your style. How about standing on the bow 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. You can even incorporate an underwater ceremony into a colorful coral reef dive. Caribbean weddings are big business.
Wedding planners and yacht / sailboat charterers will be happy to make any arrangements. However, the happy couple must remember that they cannot just show up on their favorite island and hope to get married.
Each island has its own requirements, but the local tourist office will provide the necessary details. For US citizens, a British or US Virgin Islands wedding is the easiest to organize. You must have your passport with you so that the date of entry can be established since the ceremony cannot be performed 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 presented if either partner was previously married. Both the application and the actual ceremony require two witnesses. A couple can get married at the registry office above the Main Street Post Office for $ 35.00. If the ceremony is elsewhere (on the beach or in a sail / yacht rental, the fee is $ 100.00.
Choosing a ceremony location is probably the hardest thing about having a BVI wedding. Tortola is the main island of the BVI, with many beautiful beaches to host a wedding, including: Cane Garden Bay, Lambert Beach, Long Bay Beach, Josiah’s Bay, and Nanny Cay Beach.
Just north of Tortola is the island of Jost Van Dyke. White Bay, with its crystal clear waters and white sand beach, is a perfect place to drop anchor from your sailboat or yacht, swim to the beach and exchange vows. The wonder and beauty of the baths on the southeast coast of Virgin Gorda will be most 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 divorce decree or death certificate from the former spouses at least 8 days prior to the ceremony. No physical exam or blood test is required, but you will need to present yourself with photo identification to the Clerk of Court 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 beautiful Magen’s Bay, selected by National Geographic magazine as one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world.
The Sapphire Beach villas have panoramic views of St. John and Jost Van Dyke. Just imagine a deck-side celebration around the infinity pool with 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, creates a perfect setting for a heavenly wedding.
Take a look at 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 wedding adventure aboard a private sailing boat or yacht. A Virgin Islands-style wedding is a great romantic way to start your marriage, and it’s an even better honeymoon spot!
As a Customs agent recently said, “Our moon is full of honey, my friend.” Throughout the Virgin Islands, with its unhurried lifestyle and friendly people, there are many resorts and villas to make 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 in a cozy hammock for two. If you need more privacy and privacy, how about sleeping aboard a luxury yacht or sailboat?
Virgin Island Sailing’s experienced staff will be happy to arrange your bareboat or crewed boat vacation or yacht charter.
In addition to smooth sailing from island to island, 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 endless places to dive or snorkel in the Virgin Islands, including thrilling shipwrecks, walls, and reefs.
Playing golf, island style, is a round you will 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 riding a horse 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, drink rum 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 they stay ashore or arrange to rent a yacht or sailboat, they will truly begin their lives together in paradise! Get in touch with ViSailing for your yacht charter and let your dream fairytale moment come true.
