Weddings and Honeymoons

There's no question that Jamaica is one of the Caribbean's foremost honeymoon and wedding destinations. Romance is in the air here, and the white, sandy beaches and turquoise water and swaying palm trees and balmy tropical breezes and perpetual summer sunshine put people in the mood for love. A destination wedding is no longer exclusive to celebrities and the super rich. You can plan a traditional ceremony in a place of worship followed by a reception at an elegant resort, or you can go barefoot on the beach. All the large resorts have wedding planners, and some of the all-inclusive resorts even offer free weddings.

The Big Day

Choosing the Perfect Place. When choosing a location, remember that you really have two choices to make: the ceremony location and where to have the reception, if you're having one. For the former, there are beaches, bluffs overlooking beaches, gardens, private residences, resort lawns, and, of course, places of worship. As for the reception, there are these same choices, as well as restaurants. If you decide to go outdoors, remember the seasons—yes, Jamaica has seasons. If you're planning a wedding outdoors, be sure you have a backup plan in case it rains. Also, if you're planning an outdoor wedding at sunset—which is very popular—be sure you match the time of your ceremony to the time the sun sets at that time of year.

Finding a Wedding Planner. If you're planning to invite more than a minister and your loved one to your wedding ceremony, seriously consider an independent on-island wedding planner who can help select a location, help design the floral scheme and recommend a florist as well as a photographer, help plan the menu and choose a restaurant, caterer, and suggest any Jamaican traditions to incorporate into your ceremony.

Of course, all the large resorts have their own wedding planners on-site, and several of them offer a basic wedding for free. If you're planning a resort wedding, work with the on-site wedding coordinator to prepare a detailed list of the exact services they'll provide. If your idea of your wedding doesn't match their services, try a different resort.

Legal Requirements. Minimal residency and no citizenship requirements, and no blood tests or shots are required in Jamaica, and you can get married after only a 24-hour waiting period on the island if you've applied for your license and supplied all necessary forms beforehand. It's possible to get most of the legal paperwork done in advance of your arrival on-island. You need to supply proof of citizenship (a passport or certified copy of your birth certificate signed by a notary public), written parental consent for couples under age 18, proof of divorce with the original or certified copy of the divorce decree if applicable, and copy of the death certificate if a previous marriage ended in death.

Wedding Attire. In Jamaica, basically anything goes, from long, formal dresses with trains to white bikinis. Floral sundresses are fine, too. Men can wear tuxedos or a simple pair of solid-color slacks with a nice white linen shirt. If you want formal dress and tuxedo, it's usually better to bring your formal attire with you.

Photographs. Deciding whether to use the photographer supplied by your resort or an independent photographer is an important choice. Since Jamaica is a large, well-populated island, you do have many choices in professional island-based photographers, and an independent wedding planner will know the best in the area. Look at the portfolio (many photographers now have Web sites) and decide if this person can give you the kind of memories you are looking for. If you're satisfied with the photographer that your resort uses, then make sure you see proofs and order prints before you leave the island.

The Honeymoon

Do you want champagne and strawberries delivered to your room each morning? A maze of a swimming pool in which to float? A five-star restaurant in which to dine? Then a resort is the way to go, and Jamaica offers them at many different price ranges. Whether you want a luxurious experience or a more modest one, you'll certainly find someplace romantic to which you can escape. Several of the island's resorts cater exclusively to couples, so these are ideal places for a honeymoon. On the other hand, maybe you want your own private home in which to romp naked—or maybe you want your own kitchen in which to whip up a gourmet meal for your loved one. In that case, a private vacation-rental home or condo is the answer. If you're having a destination wedding and are considering one of the many couples-only resorts in Jamaica, just remember that your wedding guests will also have to be couples.