On the beach at Caneel Bay, St. John (Photo courtesy U.S. Virgin Islands Tourist Board)
Running off to an island to get married is one of the more seductive wedding scenarios around: Just the two of you, a secluded white-sand cove, and the sunset painting the sky all sorts of flattering colors.
The U.S. Virgin Islands—St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix—are three of the Caribbean’s most tempting spots for barefoot vows. They’re easy to get to (plenty of nonstop flights to St. Thomas, and easy connections to the sister islands), they’re a U.S. Territory, so you don’t need passports, and they’ve got dozens of resorts willing to jump through hoops to make your wedding unforgettable.
So eager are they, in fact, that a number of the islands’ most wedding-centric hotels have developed simple marriage packages meant to lure couples looking for a barefoot alternative to fussy home-town dos. A few to consider (keep in mind that these are low-season, summer rates):
You might recognize The Buccaneer, on St. Croix, from its recent appearance on “The Bachelor.” Sean Lowe took one lucky lady to dinner in the sugar mill, another for a rendezvous on Whistle Beach. The historic resort’s Elope to Paradise package includes a weekday ceremony with up to six guests—with officiant, flowers, photographer, and other goodies–for $1,350.
Tamarind Reef Resort, a 39-room, boutique-y find also on St. Croix, wraps up a five-night stay plus a beach ceremony with officiant, bubbly, a sailing excursion to Buck Island (brilliant snorkeling), even a gift certificate for dinner. It’s $1,405.
Over on little St. John, Caneel Bay Resort, a glorious enclave of private beaches, botanical gardens, and some of the best service in the islands, the Simply Us plan bundles up the wedding ceremony (the hotel will deal with arranging the officiant), flowers for both of you, a tiny wedding cake, and dinner on the beach. $1,500 also includes a memory box meant to hold your keepsakes.
At Gallows Point, a smart St. John resort where accommodations are more like apartments than hotel rooms, the wedding package includes a ceremony on property (the lawn gazebo, perhaps?) or a limo to take you off-site, the officiant and photographer, flowers for you two, champagne, a salon visit for the bride (nice!), plus dinner for two at any Cruz Bay restaurant—you’re within walking distance of some lovely spots. It’s $3,300 including a three-night stay.
Marriott’s Frenchman’s Reef, a massive St. Thomas compound that’s recently emerged all sleek and sophisticated from a $48 million renovation (the new infinity pool is a particular stunner), arranges flowers for both of you, invites you to walk down a path scattered with rose petals, organizes the officiant, books a photographer for an hour, and treats you to a cake and champagne. The whole thing costs $2,299.
Oh, and if you decide that any of these slices of paradise deserves to be shared with your BFFs, no worries—these resorts are well equipped to welcome your entire guest list.
