Barbados is a romantic haven famous for its gorgeous beaches, delicious cuisine, rich culture, and world-class rum. You’ll love having a destination wedding on this beautiful island, thanks to the various activities to explore.
If you’re thinking of planning a Barbados wedding and have no clue where to start, you can relax.
Our detailed guide explores everything you need, including some of the best Barbados resorts and packages. We also give you tips on how to get to Barbados and the ideal time to travel.
Why Get Married in Barbados
Some of the reasons you should consider having a Barbados wedding are:
Perfect Island For Sophistication and Romance
The island’s year-round sunshine, turquoise waters, and stunning beaches provide the ultimate romantic setting for your big day. Its natural beauty, tranquil music, calming breeze, and tropical gardens make this Caribbean island a romantic and sophisticated escape.
You can get married on the beaches, in a church, elegant garden, and more. The choices are endless.
Simple Requirements
Unlike some islands that require you to meet several legal requirements before getting married, Barbados only needs couples to apply for a marriage license in person. This requires a few documents, but the process is quick and straightforward.
You Can Have Both Your Wedding and Honeymoon in One Place
When planning a Barbados wedding, you don’t need to worry about your honeymoon destination. The island has some of the world’s dreamy honeymoon destinations to explore. After the ceremony, you and your spouse can continue your stay in Barbados and enjoy some alone time.
A few resorts also offer all-inclusive wedding packages that allow you to have both the ceremony and honeymoon, further cutting down the cost of finding another honeymoon location.
Affordable Destination
The average cost of a modern wedding is between $25,000-$30,000 in the U.S. With a Barbados wedding; you can spend less than $10,000 for a three-day stay.
Some hotels and resorts also have affordable wedding packages that include the ceremony, reception, decor, catering, and more.
Average Cost of a Destination Wedding in Barbados
On average, a destination wedding in Barbados costs $7,000. You can expect to spend at least $10,000, including flights, accommodation, and the ceremony.
The Best Barbados Wedding Venues & Barbados Packages
Some of the best Barbados wedding venues are:
Sandals Royal Barbados
Sandals Royal Barbados should be on your list if you’re looking for luxury, elegance, and beauty. The medium-sized resort is an excellent choice for couples who want to spend quality time with their friends and family in serenity.
The adult-only resort features a rooftop pool with a bar, a four-lane bowling alley, a gourmet donut shop, and a long stretch of private beach for relaxing. There are also six restaurants, five bars, a fitness club, a spa, and plenty of water activities to explore.
Sandals Royal Barbados outdoes itself in terms of accommodation. The Beachfront Prime Minister Butler Suite comes with a deluxe private pool and beautiful views of Oistin Bay from a private patio, while the Beachfront Butler Suite features a soaking tub, an in-room bar, and an oceanfront view.
You can exchange your vows on the rooftop terrace with stunning ocean views or have a beachside ceremony.
The resort is 20 minutes from the LIR Airport, which makes it easily accessible.
Their standard wedding package includes the following:
- A wedding planning team
- Marriage documents preparation
- An officiant
- Wedding registry
- Wedding photography
- Cocktail wedding reception
Accra Beach Hotel
The Accra Beach Hotel is on the southern coast of Barbados. It’s an excellent choice for couples looking for a family-friendly resort that can accommodate everyone, including children.
Couples can get married at the beachfront or the banquet room. The medium-sized resort hosts two weddings per day.
With two outdoor pools, a fitness center, a spa, a kids club, and a hospitality lounge with free WiFi, you’ll have plenty of activities to enjoy while staying at this resort. Their rooms have stunning views of the island, pool, and ocean. Luxury suites have jacuzzi tubs, and you can also visit the spa for pampering. Their wedding planners can also organize excursions for you and the wedding party.
One thing to note about this 4-star resort is that it doesn’t offer all-inclusive packages.
At Accra Beach Hotel, you can expect amenities like:
- Capacity to fit 200 guests
- Wedding planning services
- Full catering services
- Group rates on accommodation
Sandals Barbados
Sandals Barbados is conveniently located on Dover Beach. It’s a breathtaking spot where the Caribbean meets the Atlantic. When getting married at this venue, you can expect a gentle ocean breeze, endless sunshine, and pristine beaches.
The resort is 15 minutes away from the airport and is a walking distance of St Lawrence Gap.
Standard rooms have AC, Smart TV, WiFi access, a minibar, wines, a safe, a king-size bed, and a private patio or balcony. Deluxe rooms have views of tropical gardens.
When visiting Sandals Barbados, you can take a dip at one of the three freshwater swimming pools or the seaside infinity whirlpool, enjoy a couple’s romantic massage, do some stretches at the Yoga pavilion, or go for water sports like paddle boarding, scuba diving, snorkeling, or kayaking.
Sandals Barbados has an all-inclusive package that includes the following:
- A personal wedding planning team
- Bridal bouquet and groom’s boutonniere
- Wedding photograph
- Pre-recorded music
- One-hour cocktail reception
- Marriage document preparation
- 5-Star global gourmet dining
- Romantic turndown service
- 15% discount on spa treatments.
- Witnesses upon request
- Honeymoon dinner at a specialty restaurant
- Two-tier wedding cake
Crystal Cove Barbados
Crystal Cove, Barbados, offers the best combination of relaxation and activity. Nestled in the most serene location on the West Coast, the all-inclusive resort is an excellent choice for couples looking for a family-friendly venue for a Barbados wedding.
You can exchange your vows at the beach with pristine views, white beaches, and a relaxing breeze, or at the garden featuring lush vegetation.
The tropical resort is 15 minutes from Bridgetown and 30 minutes from Grantley Adams International Airport.
Guests will appreciate all the amenities, like the two restaurants, three bars, a spa, and a fitness club. Kids can have fun at the lagoon-like complex, cave bar, and kids club.
Each of its rooms has a private balcony or patio, a modern design, and is spacious.
After the ceremony, you can spend the next day touring the island and learning more about Barbados.
A standard wedding package at Crystal Cove Barbados includes:
- A bottle of sparkling wine in the room on arrival
- Welcome cocktail upon arrival
- Marriage license
- Officiating ministerial services
- Choice of intimate garden or beachside ceremony
- Personalized gift registry and wedding website
- Nightly turndown service
- Romantic private dinner for the couple on the beach
- Complimentary room upgrade subject to availability
- Mimosa breakfast in bed
O2 Beach Club & Spa
Ocean Two Beach Club & Spa is on the south coast of Barbados. It’s a fantastic venue for couples looking for a romantic and intimate setting for their special day. The 4-star beachfront resort has elegantly furnished suites and hotel rooms.
You can say I do on the Sky deck with stunning views of the Caribbean ocean or exchange your vows on the beachfront while enjoying the cool breeze. The resort provides customized wedding packages, allowing you to add all desired elements for a memorable Barbados wedding.
The resort also has a 24-hour gym, Whirlpool tubs, three pools, and complimentary non-motorized water sports. Hotel guests also get one round of free golf during their stay. You can dine at one of the six restaurants, enjoy some drinks at one of the seven bars, or head over to the rooftop terrace for breathtaking views over Oistins Bay.
A wedding package at O2 Beach Club & Spa includes:
- Legal wedding
- Beachfront wedding location
- A dedicated wedding planner
- Romantic breakfast for the couple
- One-tier wedding cake
Barbados Destination Wedding Legal Requirements
Barbados is one of the few Caribbean islands with simple legal requirements. Here’s everything you need to know about the legal requirements and costs.
Legal Weddings VS. Symbolic Weddings
A symbolic Barbados wedding is an excellent option if you’d rather not deal with all the legal requirements for a civil ceremony. You can choose to get married in your home country and opt for a symbolic ceremony to reduce legal challenges.
A symbolic wedding also means you don’t have to find a licensed venue. You can exchange your vows anywhere. You won’t have to get a licensed officiant, as any loved one or wedding celebrant can perform the ceremony. It’s a stress-free option when planning a destination wedding.
It’s impossible to invite all family and friends to a destination wedding. Planning a civil ceremony at home allows you to invite people who cannot travel.
Nonetheless, if you’d rather avoid the extra costs of two separate ceremonies, you can opt to have a legal ceremony in Barbados. With this option, you must follow Barbados’ legal wedding requirements and get an officiant. Furthermore, legal destination weddings are more expensive as they involve many paperwork processing and translation services.
Required Legal Documents & Cost
Getting married in Barbados is a simple process as the island has no minimum length of stay or required waiting period. The main process involves applying for a marriage license at the Ministry of Home Affairs between 8;30 a.m-3:30 pm from Monday to Friday.
Some of the documents you’ll need are:
- Valid birth certificates and passports
- Return tickets
- Original decree absolute if either party was divorced or a certified copy of the Final Judgment.
- Certified copy of the marriage certificate and death certificate if either party was previously married and widowed
- Documents should be sent to the bishop of Bridgetown for a Roman Catholic ceremony.
Note that documents that are not in English must have a certified translation. You must also arrange with the marriage officer to perform the ceremony before applying for the license. That’s because you’ll need to present the letter at the time of application.
Some of the costs to note for non-citizens of Barbados are:
- $10 for the issue of a marriage certification
- $37.50 for the issue of a certificate publication of banns
- $100+ $12.50 stamp for the issue of a marriage license
- $50 for the solemnization of a civil marriage
- $25 for the issue of a medical certificate
- $50 for special requests to receive a marriage license on holidays, weekends, or in a different location than the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Civil marriage ceremonies also have separate fees. There’s a $175 magistrate fee for ceremonies held out of court and $125 for ceremonies held in the court.
Legal Marriage Timeline
Barbados doesn’t have a minimum stay or waiting period for you to get married.
Nevertheless, you must schedule your ceremony with a local marriage officiant or magistrate. You’ll also need to know when to visit the Ministry of Home Affairs office for the marriage license.
Barbados Destination Wedding Planning Tips
With all the information above, it’s time to plan your Barbados wedding. Read on as we give you tips on how to get there, what weather to expect depending on the month you travel, and more.
How to Get There
Getting to Barbados is easy, with several direct flights. Barbados has an international airport, Grantley Adams International Airport, also referred to as Bridgetown Airport.
There are four ways to fly to Barbados from the United States. You can fly from Boston to Barbados for 7 hours and 2 minutes, from Houston for 11 hours and 3 minutes, or from New York for 7 hours and 46 minutes. It’s also possible to fly from Dallas to Barbados for 11 hours and 21 minutes.
JetBlue flies from New York and Boston to Barbados. Direct weekly JetBlue flights from Boston to Barbados complement the other daily flights from New York. United Airlines flies from Washington, DC, and New York. You can get American Airlines in Charlotte and Miami.
Delta Airlines also has two weekly flights from New York and Atlanta airports.
Barbados Weather
Barbados generally has warm weather all year round, north of the equator. The island has a moderate tropical climate with temperatures ranging between 27-30 degrees Celsius or 80-86 degrees Fahrenheit
Note that Barbados has two seasons-dry and wet seasons. The dry season starts from December to May, which is also the high season for tourism. It’s sunny throughout the day and cooler at night.
The wet season starts from June through to November. September and October are the months that receive the most rain. You may notice bursts of showers mostly overnight and early in the morning. Rain is followed by sunny skies, allowing you to enjoy the warm Barbados weather.
Budgeting Tips
Although Barbados is a reasonably-priced destination, you may find that costs tend to accumulate, especially if you’re planning a civil ceremony. Here are a few budgeting tips to help you save a few dollars and still have an amazing Barbados destination wedding.
Keep Your Guest List Short
You’ll incur extra costs when you invite many people to your wedding. Avoid inviting distant friends/family out of obligation. Ensure your guest list has close friends and family. That will help you save costs and have a more intimate ceremony.
Create DIY Invites or opt for E-Invites
The average cost of wedding invitations is $5,000 for 100 invites. Unfortunately, these costs can be high if you’re on a budget and wish to maximize your budget on the wedding venue and other essential items.
You can opt for DIY invites or send e-invites to cut costs.
Chose an All-Inclusive Wedding Package
Most resorts and hotels in Barbados offer a standard all-inclusive wedding package that includes the ceremony, choice of ceremony location, reception, cake, food, decor, and a wedding planner.
Such packages eliminate the need to hire separate vendors, reducing costs and allowing you to enjoy your destination wedding with friends and family.
Best Time of Year to Get Married in Barbados
The best time of year to get married in Barbados is from December to April. It’s the island’s dry season, and you can expect endless sunshine and clear blue skies. January is the peak month when you can expect crowds of people around the island. May to August are summer months, where you can expect humid weather and scorching sun.
If you don’t mind crowds and are comfortable paying a premium for accommodation, you should visit during this season.
However, if you’d rather avoid the crowds and enjoy relaxed vibes in Barbados, you can schedule your wedding from June to November. September and November are the wet months, with a short shower in the afternoon before the weather clears up later.
