Many a happy couple dream of tying the knot in a far-away Caribbean destination; hence the reason for the term “Caribbean destination wedding” in the first place. Just a decade or so ago, the practice of transporting an entire wedding to a location other than the local church was unheard of; but in today’s society of bigger and better, you can’t go wrong with such an exotic wedding day.

Planning any wedding can be a monumental task, let alone planning a wedding on a Caribbean island. However, with a little research and a lot of organizing, the bride and groom can choose from a multitude of locations where the sand will be warm under their feet and the ocean breeze will caress their first kiss as husband and wife.

One of the first things to know about Caribbean destination weddings is that there are multiple locations to choose from. The Caribbean consists of over a dozen islands surrounding the Caribbean Sea. Choices for wedding locations abound with these numbers. There is the island of Jamaica, which is a popular choice. There is also the Bahamas, Puerto Rico and The Cayman Islands.

With so many choices, what might you want to consider when planning a Caribbean destination wedding?

Work with professionals. Especially because your destination is far from home, working with a professional coordinator is an essential part of your wedding going off without a hitch. Many Caribbean destination weddings are planned through knowledgeable coordinators associated with major resorts. It takes only a bit of homework to find one you trust. Send invites early. Because of the travel involved, guests will need to take some time away from work, home and family responsibilities to attend your nuptials. In order to ensure you’ve given enough time for your guests to plan, sending out a save the date card is recommended. Typical invitations go out 4 to 6 weeks before the event; therefore, save the dates should go out well before then. Consider the climate. If you are planning a Caribbean destination wedding, it is wise to know the climate during the time of year, and time of day, you plan to wed. In some areas, the sun can beat down quite hot; you wouldn’t want to be stuck without some shade for you and your guests if you plan a daytime wedding. Decide what you will pay for. Oftentimes, guests of a Caribbean destination wedding will cover their own travel fares. However, it is a nice gesture on your part to make arrangements in terms of accommodations and flights to the extent of finding good packages. Work with a hotel in your Caribbean location to set aside special rates for your guests, and include that information in your invitations. Guests will appreciate it. Make sure you know the marriage laws of the island you will be married on. This is very important, as you don’t want to go through all that planning just to find out our marriage isn’t legal. Working through a coordinator, you will likely be guided through the process well, but knowing that all islands do not have the same marriage laws will prompt you to be aware and to ask questions on this topic.

A Caribbean destination wedding can be an affair you will remember forever. Getting through red tape is a cinch when you are prepared with the right questions and carry the right tools. Enjoy!

From Oct.25 to Dec.13 we criss crossed the Caribbean…YOLO (you only live once)

Video Rating: 4 / 5

Related Caribbean Destinations Articles

The islands of the Caribbean are renowned for many things including the number of all inclusive vacation packages you can find there. These islands are the capital of the world for all inclusive Caribbean vacations, so much so that they outsell any other type of vacation available. Some attribute the popularity of the Caribbean islands to the predominance of this type of vacation; although there is no proof that there has ever been any need for this.

The most plausible explanation is the fact that for many people who want to travel to these islands, all inclusive Caribbean vacations packages are very good value for money; which makes them particularly attractive for families on a budget. Each particular type of vacation caters to a different need since some people may have needs in a specific area that other travelers may not have. For people that already have family on the islands, their requirements are minimal; they usually only need to pay for flights, but not accommodation or activities.

Although, the average visitor will find the all inclusive Caribbean vacation the least inexpensive. Many tour operators offering this facility will have options of cheaper transportation and accommodation than would otherwise be accessible to the independent traveler. Of course travelers who like to arrange everything them self, would not consider such an option even if the vacation were to die for. Even after many years of all inclusive vacations, many travelers are still unsure exactly what is included in a vacation like this.

No matter what type of vacation you are arranging, one thing remains constant and that is the room will be included in the package. All meals and any additional snacks for example will be included in the cost but that is not necessarily the case with other types of package available; some deals only include a breakfast each day. Surprisingly, there are still a number of people that believe that a full board vacation is the same as an all inclusive one.

Simply put, a full board hotel arrangement means that you will be supplied with three meals each day whilst an all inclusive Caribbean vacation resort will supply all food at any time (including snacks) and the same for drink as well; alcoholic and non-alcoholic. It is not unusual to find that special arrangements have been made with other hotels and restaurants; however, the visitor will still need to pay for those activities at some point, although it may not be at the full price. Most all inclusive Caribbean vacations will however, normally include all these as part of the package; in fact you will be hard pushed to find events and situations where you will need money, which means you are able to enjoy more without the worry of additional cost.

More Caribbean Vacation Resorts Articles