How to Plan Your Beach Wedding in St Thomas
Nowadays, being a Virgin (Island) beach bride calls for two willing hearts, a bit of planning, and minimal paperwork. Consistently ranked as one of the top five wedding and honeymoon locations, the U.S. Virgin Islands is the perfect place to start your blissful wedded life together.
Interested in something unconventional? Consider getting married underwater,aboard a charter yacht or in a lavish villa. For a reception like no other,dine surrounded by a coral reef aquarium, or enjoy drinks in a submarine immersed in the Caribbean Sea.
Remember, when you’re married here, you’re also in an idyllic location for a romantic honeymoon. So think about having your wedding on one island and honeymoon on another. That’s the beauty of having four different islands to choose from, all within a quick ferry or plane ride of each other.
On St. Thomas, spend the day at Magens Bay, selected by National Geographic magazine as one of the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world. Snorkel or snuba at Coki Point on the east end or windsurf at Morning Star Beach on the island’s south side. Nothing tops a day at the beach like watching the sunset from Paradise Point.
As one of the biggest shopping destinations in the Caribbean, you can partake of some duty-free fun at one of the island’s many shopping complexes. Or — ride an underwater scooter, glide across the water while kiteboarding or swim with the Caribbean’s only sea lions. Or –visit Atlantis Submarine and take in the wonderful water views Or –spend a few hours at Coral World sea trekking, petting sharks or swimming with the sea lions. OR DO ALL OF THESE!
Another unique possibility for a wedding in St. Thomas: Because cruise lines ship dock every day, many of them offer wedding packages (flowers, officiant, open bar and hors d’oeuvres, cakes) aboard ship (but no cruise) at exceptionally modest rates.
You will get tons of additional free info about these options when you visit the links I display below in my “Location. Location. Location” panel.
In considering which of hundreds of potential beaches to site your wedding ceremony, keep in mind the nearest airports, accommodations and “civilization” (caterers, wedding cake bakers, musicians, photographers,and restaurants to provide for your guests before and after the wedding itself). Also, think about whether it is important to be on the beach at particular times of the day (such as sunset) and where the sun is likely to be at that time.
In coastal locations, huge beach houses can often be rented more affordably than putting up most people in a resort hotel. They also often offer large decks or entertaining areas that would be great for the rehearsal dinner, the wedding reception, and even the post-wedding breakfast.
So, explore! Enjoy! And relax!
Sarah Forrester
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Check out these links to fabulous beach venues in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands.
Hull Bay
• Calm Surf • Sandy Beach • Dive Shop • Snorkeling • Beach Bar Seagrape trees line the coast of this tranquil beach. Mostly populated by locals, this secluded hideaway is perfect for snorkeling and basking in the sun. Hull Bay is infamous for some of the islands favorite restaurants and bars.Check out the dive shop which provides you with equipment for snorkeling, kayaking, and more. Mandahl Bay Mandahl Bay is a secluded beach that offers a natural island feel. Explore the coast as you watch the pelicans dive in for a snack. One of Mandahl Bay’s famous favorite spots are their small tide pools, which allow you to get up close and personal with tiny fish, crabs, and an array of small sea creatures. Most of the beach is made up of rocky terrain,making it a better location for exploring compared to laying out in the sun.
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The USVI tourism office offers a free “Getting Married in the United States Virgin Islands” kit that includes a license application and guidelines. Call 1-800-372-USVI toll free to get a copy.
American couples need only fill out a two-page form, pay a $50 license fee, and observe an eight-day posting period. It can be done through a local wedding planner, thus eliminating an on-island waiting period. To ensure that everything runs smoothly, start planning a minimum of two months ahead, or even sooner if you’re thinking big. The U.S.Virgin Islands require no marriage blood tests. Previously married individuals must present a certified copy of their divorce decree or death certificate of a deceased spouse. The marriage license application fee is $100 ($50 for application fee and $50 for the license). Only cash, certified checks and money orders are accepted. The application is good for 1 year. No physical examination or blood test is required. Civil marriages in front of a judge are performed on weekdays by appointment and will cost around $200. Ceremonies are performed Monday through Friday at 8:30am on St.Thomas and Wednesday at 9:00am on St. Croix. For a religious ceremony, you must make your arrangements directly with church officials. Before your marriage license can be issued, you are required to personally appear before the Clerk of the Court or her designee: 8:00am through 5:00pm Monday through Friday, except holidays, and Saturdays from 10:00am through noon, except Carnival Saturday. Additionally, by appointment and upon paying a $150.00 fee, the Clerk of the Court or her designee can be available on Sundays between 9:30-10:30am. Because marriage license requirements can change, please do not regard this guidance as legal advice. |
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Planning so far in advance for a beach wedding means that you need to equip yourself with facts about the weather (temperature and possibility of precipitation) for the beach location that you have in mind.
Although there certainly are exceptions,when it comes to weather,the past is a pretty good predictor of the future.and it will almost always be better than a wild guess. This link provides historical weather data over nearly 50 years for thousands of locationsin the world. |
What if a major storm occurs or the groom has an accident that requires the wedding to be postponed or even canceled? What if an important vendor goes out of business before the wedding and you can’t get back your deposit for the cake or the music?
Consider wedding cancellation insurance. It is available online for as little as 1 cent for every dollar of insurance, and it can cover the honeymoon, too. Here’s one site that has designed a special insurance policy just for coverning wedding-related events: http://www.wedsafe.com/ |
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED READING
To help you through the sometimes mind-boggling decisions that you must make,
I discovered an inexpensive and highly readable book that spells everything out for you.
I mean everything! Click here and check it out for yourself!– Your host, Sarah Forrester
