Caribbean Destination Wedding Spring 2014
 

My fiance and I are planning on having a destination wedding in the Caribbean. I am from Southern California and my fiance is from NYC.

Here are few items that we want for our weekend.
1. Ceremony on the beach.
2. Fun activities for our guests over the weekend
3. We want to have a wedding venue that is easy for our friends and family to travel to.
4. Really great food with fresh and locally sourced, (organic if possible) ingredients.
5. Awesome party with great music
6. We might have around 100 guests.

I have been looking at Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos, etc. I want somewhere easy for people from the West Coast to attend.
Do you have any suggestions? I have been reaching out to hotels and comparing packages and prices. I wanted to see if you had any places that you would suggest for a great destination wedding.

Thanks!

We have seen many beautiful weddings over the years at The Somerset resort on Turks & Caicos . www.thesomerset.com

What time of year? And what kind of budget? Both of those will help us decide what to suggest. As you probably know, off-season and in-season make a big difference in pricing, as well as weather.

We are looking for Spring time. We want to miss the hurricane season.
Budget is still being figured out.

Are you Catholic? Priest won't hold cerimonies on the beach.

Budget is of most importance, as Spring is peak season and costs usually 2 times as much as May thru November. Usually hurricanes don't get active until August, and this year haven't been active at all.

My sister married in Turks and Caicos, amazing! (one of your tags) she had about 50 guests.

After you figure budget, we would be happy to help, as every island gets weddings!

8-)

We were looking for a similar location and end up deciding on the Bitter End Yacht Club on Virgin Gorda. Not the prettiest of names to have on a wedding invitation but it had everything we wanted. The main reasons we chose this location was that it is intimate with a TON of activities for guests. The least desirable thing I could imagine was getting married at a major resort on the beach with some fat guy in a speedo in the background :) We get married in 25 days!!!

note: you would be booking the whole resort they have 65 rms (aprox 150people) they have great dj's, bars and local bands. Food was questionable on reviews but I talk to a girl who just got married there... a self proclaimed foodie from new york... said ithe food was great and her weeding exceeded every expectation.

good luck

one more thing.... I found from the west coast no caribbean island is easy to get to. :(

My neighbors were married in Antigua at a Sandals resort. They liked it there very much. It is located on Dickensons Bay. I like "ancindyh" comment. I am from S.C orignally. It will not be easy for anyone there to get to the caribbean. Your fiance from new york not a problem--California. not so easy. Turks and Caicos is also a lovely place with gorgeous water. Keep that in the mix.

Have you considered Puerto Rico.. West coast to ATL to SJU. No "foreign" papers to file, as also on STT or St.J. but access?? easy?? I sure wouldn't say so. Mega bucks..yes indeedy!! Romantic, absolutely!! Family member did a STT wedding/cruise on Lindberg beach near airport..not many attended as $$$ was an issue. Have seen (from afar) awesome beach weddings(4) @ The Ritz on STT. 7 Mile Beach(Westin)on Cayman(3), but again very $$$. How about So Cal?? nice venues, local costs. Was at a lovely one at The Auberge in Del Mar..Lots of choices. Good luck and happiness!!

Have you ruled out Mexico? particularly flying into Cancun and choosing one of the many fabulous resorts? I am a fan of the Playa del Carmen area.....I see some nonstop flights out of LAX and I know it's a breeze from NYC....

First to come to mind....

Secrets Maroma Beach is lovely
Leblanc spa (Cancun) is over the top fab
Maroma beach resort (very upscale)
Esencia
Zoetry
Ritz Cancun
Rosewood Maykoba
Mandarin oriental

Some all inclusive, some not but I think with a group, an all inclusive simplifies so much for everyone and there are so many activities!!

Thank you for all of your tips! We are actually going to have a larger wedding than I thought. We think it may be 150-200 people- We looked into Harbor Island in Bahamas and loved it but a lot of the places cannot support more than 150 people. We have narrowed it down to Turks and Caicos and Playa Del Carmen in Mexico. But still open to suggestions. We don't like all inclusive hotels but are looking for unique places that will let us have a great outdoor reception.

On Turks & Caicos ...check with Bay Bistro, they also own Kissing Fish Catering. They should be able to help you--perhaps a wedding/reception on the beach at Bay Bistro PLUS guest could stay at many walkable resorts in many price ranges. Those resorts are: The Somerset, Regent Palms, Alexandra, The Sands , Point Grace and Sibonne ( Bay Bistro/Kissing fish is located at Sibonne fyi)

Turks and Caicos is gorgeous. There are plenty of hotels on Grace Bay so not everyone would even need to stay at the same one (although could). Plenty of beautiful restaurants to choose from as well.

Do all of your guests have passports? I attended a wedding in St John, USVI because the bride knew not all of the guests had passports and wanted to make it easier. They had a fantastic beach wedding. Not as easy to get to (need to ferry from St Thomas), but certainly doable. Everyone rented their own villa, but you could check out the few hotel options on St John.

Mexico will probably be considerably cheaper and easier to get to for the CA guests.