Bermuda hotels for a wedding
Jul 27th, 2009 | 04:38 PM
#2
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 14,729
Likes: 0
txgrlinbda got married at the Reefs and she will be super resource for you. Other hotels which could serve your needs would be:
Pompano Beach
Elbow Beach
Cambridge Beaches
Coco Reef
Pink Beach Club
Tucker's Point
Grotto Bay
Fairmont Southhampton
Best wishes. Bermuda is a beautiful place to start your new life.
Pompano Beach
Elbow Beach
Cambridge Beaches
Coco Reef
Pink Beach Club
Tucker's Point
Grotto Bay
Fairmont Southhampton
Best wishes. Bermuda is a beautiful place to start your new life.
Jul 28th, 2009 | 02:29 PM
#3
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,076
Likes: 0
Have you been here before? What's your budget? Do you want someplace to handle a beach wedding and reception, as well? Full dinner?
These are just MY experiences from the research I did, planning my own wedding in January. cmcfong has listed the major players, so I'm going to elaborate on each one.
Pompano - a good possibility, but crossed off my short list simply due to the distance from everywhere else. Same for Cambridge Beaches, both properties are quite a way out. One of them has a wedding package that could be customized, one didn't, but was willing to make a la carte arrangements for me. I can't remember which was which, but I'm sure you could search the websites.
Elbow Beach - the biggest resort, and the most expensive. They were more than happy to help, had a shiny binder just for wedding planning, and the price just started going up the minute I walked in the door.
Coco Reef, small beach, and the property is small, and just a bit dated looking. The walk to the beach just didn't strike me as romantic. One restaurant indoors, with outside seating over the pool. It is popular for smaller, more laid-back weddings, especially with a pool-side reception.
Pink Beach Club - small, exclusive property along a fairly isolated stretch of South Shore. Pretty setting. Couldn't get anyone to return my emails, and there's NO info on the website other than yes, they do weddings.
Tucker's Point. New 5-star resort and golf club. The hotel is not on the resort beach. The golf clubhouse is fantastic; I don't know if that is available to hotel guests. The beach is gorgeous, with a classy beachfront restaurant, but it is separate from the main hotel. They were not open when I was planning, so I'm not sure what they'd offer, but it's a great facility all around.
Grotto Bay. Near the airport, small beach that is on a harbor, not ocean-front proper. Also one of those properties that's not near anything else.
Fairmont Southampton. Full-service, lots of restaurant choices, Hilltop location overlooking a gorgeous golf course, with the private beach facilities below. Huge choices for bigger weddings, but I couldn't get anyone to respond to emails for info regarding a smaller wedding. IMO, the best spa facilities and salon services on the island. I actually booked my mom here and we had our pedis, wedding-day brunch, hair and makeup all done here before my wedding.
The Reefs - our choice in the end, for many reasons. Gorgeous beach, gorgeous setting, not too far out of the way, right on South Shore Road, so very convenient for bus/taxi transportation for guests. A few restaurant options, an infinity pool that was perfect for sunset wedding photos, and a big deck built on the rocks over the water for a sand-free ceremony, if you want. They were awesome with planning - the coordinator, Barb, took care of every detail, most of it was done via email. You are welcome to search youtube for our pictures, just search for Andy Michelle Bermuda. And don't worry, they DO rake the seaweed during tourist season. I was very happy with our experience there.
If you want to get married at a public beach and do your reception elsewhere, there are coordinators here that will set that up for you. Let me know and I'll get the phonebook out.
You have to file a license request with the registrar's office, and it must be done at least two weeks, but not more than 90 days, ahead of time. You can download the form off the Bermuda tourism website, but it has to be printed on legal sized paper, not 8x11. Most hotels and coordinators that handle weddings will mail it to you.
If you are considering bringing anyone with you to perform the service, they need a temporary work permit. No kidding. There are plenty of pastors here that will do non-denominational weddings.
Hope that helps!
These are just MY experiences from the research I did, planning my own wedding in January. cmcfong has listed the major players, so I'm going to elaborate on each one.
Pompano - a good possibility, but crossed off my short list simply due to the distance from everywhere else. Same for Cambridge Beaches, both properties are quite a way out. One of them has a wedding package that could be customized, one didn't, but was willing to make a la carte arrangements for me. I can't remember which was which, but I'm sure you could search the websites.
Elbow Beach - the biggest resort, and the most expensive. They were more than happy to help, had a shiny binder just for wedding planning, and the price just started going up the minute I walked in the door.
Coco Reef, small beach, and the property is small, and just a bit dated looking. The walk to the beach just didn't strike me as romantic. One restaurant indoors, with outside seating over the pool. It is popular for smaller, more laid-back weddings, especially with a pool-side reception.
Pink Beach Club - small, exclusive property along a fairly isolated stretch of South Shore. Pretty setting. Couldn't get anyone to return my emails, and there's NO info on the website other than yes, they do weddings.
Tucker's Point. New 5-star resort and golf club. The hotel is not on the resort beach. The golf clubhouse is fantastic; I don't know if that is available to hotel guests. The beach is gorgeous, with a classy beachfront restaurant, but it is separate from the main hotel. They were not open when I was planning, so I'm not sure what they'd offer, but it's a great facility all around.
Grotto Bay. Near the airport, small beach that is on a harbor, not ocean-front proper. Also one of those properties that's not near anything else.
Fairmont Southampton. Full-service, lots of restaurant choices, Hilltop location overlooking a gorgeous golf course, with the private beach facilities below. Huge choices for bigger weddings, but I couldn't get anyone to respond to emails for info regarding a smaller wedding. IMO, the best spa facilities and salon services on the island. I actually booked my mom here and we had our pedis, wedding-day brunch, hair and makeup all done here before my wedding.
The Reefs - our choice in the end, for many reasons. Gorgeous beach, gorgeous setting, not too far out of the way, right on South Shore Road, so very convenient for bus/taxi transportation for guests. A few restaurant options, an infinity pool that was perfect for sunset wedding photos, and a big deck built on the rocks over the water for a sand-free ceremony, if you want. They were awesome with planning - the coordinator, Barb, took care of every detail, most of it was done via email. You are welcome to search youtube for our pictures, just search for Andy Michelle Bermuda. And don't worry, they DO rake the seaweed during tourist season. I was very happy with our experience there.
If you want to get married at a public beach and do your reception elsewhere, there are coordinators here that will set that up for you. Let me know and I'll get the phonebook out.
You have to file a license request with the registrar's office, and it must be done at least two weeks, but not more than 90 days, ahead of time. You can download the form off the Bermuda tourism website, but it has to be printed on legal sized paper, not 8x11. Most hotels and coordinators that handle weddings will mail it to you.
If you are considering bringing anyone with you to perform the service, they need a temporary work permit. No kidding. There are plenty of pastors here that will do non-denominational weddings.
Hope that helps!
Jul 29th, 2009 | 07:36 AM
#4
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 13,842
Likes: 4
Okay Michelle, I hope you don't mind, but I was curious to look at your wedding pictures and they are gorgeous! I had to see who helped me so much with my last trip. 
I have always thought the Reefs a very nice hotel and agree with the idea of getting married out on that deck over the rocks. Loved the pictures. Thanks for sharing them
I have always thought the Reefs a very nice hotel and agree with the idea of getting married out on that deck over the rocks. Loved the pictures. Thanks for sharing them
Jul 29th, 2009 | 08:44 AM
#5
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,076
Likes: 0
GOTG - Thanks!! It was the second wedding for both of us and I was 7 months pregnant (!!) so we were thrilled with a low-key affair. We had dinner at Royston's restaurant in the main bldg with just our family, then opened the bar/lounge and patio to all our friends for the evening. The Reefs did everything from passing trays of snacks to serving the cake after we cut it - above and beyond, as far as service goes, for what we paid for.
