Weddings and Honeymoons

With over 60 islands to choose from, miles of deserted beaches, luxury yachts, exclusive resorts, hideaway villas, sun kissed days and star filled nights, it's not surprising that the British Virgin Islands are fast becoming the destination of choice for couples looking for the perfect place to start their lives together. Whilst the islands of the Caribbean have long been a popular option for the wedding/honeymoon market, many couples are now looking for the lesser known, more unspoilt areas, where they can feel secluded whilst being spoiled and pampered, away from crowds and prying eyes.

In the BVIs, romance is guaranteed. And couples can always find somewhere to be completely alone. Private islands, footprint less beaches, luxury spas with couples suites, magnificent honeymoon yachts or cottages built just for two, can all be found in this small pristine corner of the Caribbean. Weddings, from the discreet to the extravagant, are also gaining in popularity in the BVIs, where a marriage can be performed anytime, anywhere! Unusual venue choices range from the decks of yachts, gazebos on the ends of jetties, hibiscus filled gardens and flower scented terraces, on the top of Sage Mountain or Gorda Peak, deserted beaches and even underwater! Wherever a couple decides to tie the knot in the BVIs, they will almost certainly be the only wedding in that location on that day.

Being naturally warm and hospitable, the local ministers and registrar are happy to accommodate most of the reasonable wishes of a bridal couple, and perform the ceremony at a venue of their choice. The paperwork couldn't be simpler either; the marriage licence takes three days to process, and can be applied for on arrival in the territory.

There are few occasions more precious than weddings and honeymoons, and few places in the world more perfect for both than the British Virgin Islands. Some romantic ideas include:

• A secluded villa in the hills; with sensational views and plenty of privacy
• Peter Island's Honeymoon Beach; a secluded beach reserved for a day for two
• A cruise on a private luxury yacht; Let your clients be spoilt by five star cuisine and get lost in the sensual trade winds of these magical islands
• Candle lit dinner at The Sugar Mill; the pristine walls of the old mill provide a wonderful backdrop for an intimate meal
• Dinner on the Beach; Torches light the way to a table for two set on the exclusive Little Dix Bay
• Watch the mesmerising sunset in a hammock for two on the veranda of a Robinson Crusoe style accommodation at the Bitter End Yacht Club
• A wedding in the natural splendour at the Botanic Gardens Gazebo
• Honeymoon at Biras Creek in the secluded and sumptuous Suite 17a
• A wedding ceremony at sunset on the torch lit terrace at Biras Creek
• Wedding vows at the top of a hiking trail overlooking the dramatic Atlantic Ocean

Requirements

Upon immediate arrival in BVI your clients can apply for a Marriage Licence at the Attorney General's Office, situated at the Government's Central Administration Complex in Road Town on Tortola.

The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm. The licence takes 3 days to process. Once the Governor has granted a licence it remains valid for 3 months from the date it was signed.

At the Attorney General's Office they will be required to:

• Purchase a $110.00 postage stamp for special licence if they have been resident in the BVI for one day OR purchase a $50.00 postage stamp for an ordinary license if they have been residing in the BVI for 15 days or more.
• Show proof of identity and residential status (i.e. BVI immigration stamp in passport)
• Show proof of marital status (including certified copies of Decrees Absolute for divorced spouses or death certificates of deceased spouses)
• Have 2 witnesses to sign their application form for the licence; please note that these 2 witnesses need not be the same 2 individuals who are present at the marriage ceremony. Also please note that they can always request persons in the BVI to be their witness at the Attorney General's Office and at their wedding ceremony.
• Having applied for the licence they should then go to the Registrar's Office to schedule an appointment for the date and time they want to be married. If they have scheduled their appointment before arriving in the BVI, they will need to confirm it at the Registrar's Office.

The Registrar General's Office is situated in the heart of Road Town, above Burhym's Electrical and Royal Varieties Store on DeCastro Drive. The office is open to the public from 9:00am - 3:30pm.

At the Registrar General's Office, they will be required to fill out a form showing their names as shown on their travel documents (passports), ages, occupations, marital status and the names of two witnesses (these MUST be the witnesses who will be present at the ceremony)

If they wish to be married at the Registrar's office, they will need to pay a fee of $35. If they wish the Registrar to perform their wedding outside the office (for example, on Virgin Gorda), there is a fee of $100, plus the Registrar's transportation costs. A Banker's or Postal Money Order Cheques should be purchased payable to the Accountant General.

It is recommended that they travel with their Driver's Licence or Birth Certificate, in addition to their passport. All documents showing identity or marital status should be originals or certified as true copies of the originals.

Blood tests are not necessary.

Wedding Specialists

The simplest way to get married in the BVI is to have a Wedding Specialist handle the arrangements. From the license and paperwork to the ceremony and honeymoon, your Clients' BVI Wedding Specialist will ensure that everything runs smoothly.

(All ministers of religion in the BVI are Marriage Officers and can perform civil ceremonies outside church. The Registrar General also performs civil ceremonies.)

Wedding/Honeymoon Packages

Most of the larger hotels and resorts have wedding planners who can coordinate with your clients to create the ceremony of their dreams. See the following list for Hotels, Resorts and Private Islands with BVI Wedding Coordinators:

• Necker Island
• Peter Island Resort
• Little Dix Bay Resort
• Biras Creek
• Bitter End Yacht
• Guana Island
• Sugar Mil Hotel
• Long Bay Resort
• Leverick Bay Hotel

UK Tour Operators Offering Wedding/Honeymoon Packages:

KUONI - Weddings
www.kuoni.co.uk/weddings
01306747007

British Virgin Islands Holidays Ltd. - Weddings
www.bviholidays.com
01279871188

Caribtours – Honeymoons
www.caribtours.co.uk
02077510660

Jetlife/Caribworld - Weddings and Honeymoons
www.jetlife.com/
08707877877

Prestige Collection - British Airways Holidays - Weddings and honeymoons
www.britishairways.com
0870 242 1188

Virgin Atlantic - Weddings and honeymoons
www.britishairways.com
08702202757