The Basics
We can think of two reasons to have a destination wedding at Strawberry Hill: The up-in-the-clouds setting, and the chance to marry in a bit of rock and roll heaven. Strawberry Hill is a former Blue Mountains coffee plantation, more than 3,000 feet above the distant Kingston cityscape and even more distant sea. Because of its association with music producer Chris Blackwell, it’s been a sanctuary for many musicians, most notably reggae icon Bob Marley. No beach weddings here, and not the place for you if grandpa gets winded by a bit of a climb. But with only a dozen cottages among the hills and not much else around, this is perhaps the most intimate, and romantic, setting on the island. And as you would expect from its isolation, Strawberry Hill is very self-contained, with a restaurant, spa, and infinity pool that will give you little reason to go anywhere else.
Wedding details
With so many vantage points for panoramic views, just about anywhere on Strawberry Hill’s 26 acres could serve as a memorable ceremony or reception venue for up to 150 guests. Among the more popular possibilities, though, are the restaurant, where the cuisine is Caribbean, the Great Lawn, for its expansiveness, and the Jadevine Courtyard, for intimate weddings with mountain views.
Getting There
Strawberry Hill is a 50-minute drive along switchback roads from Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport. Car transfers are $90 each way, or, if want to make a very grand entrance, helicopter transfers start at around $600.
Keep in Mind
If the draw for you is Strawberry Hill’s musical heritage, you may find yourselves more interested than you could have imagined in the hotel’s business center, the Gold Room. It is essentially a shrine to the many artists Chris Blackwell worked with, with framed gold and platinum records from performers and groups such as Cat Stevens, U2, and Melissa Etheridge lining the walls.