With rich culture, a vivid history, pristine beaches, and natural diversity, U.S. Virgin Islands have a lot to offer. And since there are several hotels and resorts with modern amenities, a Virgin Islands wedding is a dream for many.
Come and enjoy the clear waters, beautiful beaches, amazing adventures, and dynamic celebrations – all in one place.
If you want to taste the Caribbean paradise while being in the U.S., the Virgin Islands is the place you need to be. Each island will offer you something unique and different.
When you’re here for your wedding, you can also enjoy water activities, carnivals, festivals, outdoor adventures, local cuisine, and so much more.
About Destination Weddings in the Virgin Islands
Why Get Married in the Virgin Islands
If you’re looking for a faraway romantic beach-style destination wedding where you don’t require a passport, say hello to a Virgin Islands wedding. When you’re here, it’s easy to get lost in the vibrant scenery of the place.
Couples who want to take a break from mainland America but wish to travel sans passport can take refuge in the Virgin Islands. These islands have remarkable white sandy beaches and diverse flora and fauna. And of course, they have spicy, mouth-watering dishes.
Whether you want to visit St. Croix, St. James, or St. Thomas, you can distinctly notice the smiles on the faces of native people, who are known for their friendly nature.
Average Cost of a Destination Wedding in the Virgin Islands
Getting married in the Virgin Islands is similar to getting married anywhere else in the United States. Prices will depend on which island you want to get married.
An elopement-style wedding will cost you about $595. For this amount, you’ll get a marriage license application and a licensed wedding officiant.
If you want a more detailed package, you can spend $1395 and get additional features of wedding photography, a bouquet, and a beach site.
A wedding of 20 guests can you up to $2500 and you’ll get additional features such as an arch, a champagne toast, chairs for the guests, and a wedding cake.
The Best Virgin Islands Wedding Venues
Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove
Experience a heavenly wedding celebration at the picturesque hillside right in front of the azure waters in this breathtaking place. This premium hotel offers you immaculate beach views along with a secluded area where the two of you can celebrate some intimate moments.
Enjoy the perfect celebration of your love at Marriott’s Frenchman’s Cove. Have a frozen cocktail at the Sunset Cove Bar and Grille and sink your teeth in spicy wings. And when you’re in the mood for some fruity ice cream, head out to The Marketplace where you can enjoy a casual meal.
The spacious villas in this luxury hotel offer all the comforts you desire. There are three-room villas that can accommodate up to 12 guests. They also have two-room villas for up to eight guests. They offer many family-friendly activities at the hotel to keep your guests busy.
The villas have private living and dining spaces with kitchens and washing/drying facilities. Enjoy the beautiful beach scenes from your balcony and relax in the master suite that has a king-sized bed and soaking tub.
And when you want to relax, take a dip in their infinity pool that has an exciting waterslide. Later, dine at the poolside restaurant and immerse yourself in luxury while their wedding staff handles everything related to your Virgin Islands wedding.
Secret Harbour Beach Resort
If you’re planning a Virgin Islands wedding for up to 75 guests, Secret Harbour Beach Resort could be the perfect venue for you. They offer readymade packages that can be customized according to your needs. The barebones package starts at $1200 and offers a wedding officiant at their private beach.
The biggest package that’s prepared for up to 50 guests costs $14,910. The wedding coordinator will take care of everything while you relax and enjoy the resort.
Secret Harbour will prepare a custom menu based on your preferences. There are options for casual and formal rehearsal dinners facing the Caribbean Sea. Enjoy a private wine session in their wine room that can seat up to 15 people.
There are two spots for the reception. You can select The Patio for casual dining and Sunset Grille for formal dining. Both places have a seating capacity of approximately 80 guests.
You can accommodate your guests in any of their villas. There are 3-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 1-bedroom, and studio-style villas for complete privacy. All villas come with fully-equipped kitchens and private balconies.
The resort offers several beach activities including watersports to keep you busy. Also, don’t forget to take a dip in their tropical freshwater swimming pool.
Emerald Beach Resort
Explore a breezy, cozy, and bright décor with a friendly and welcoming atmosphere at this resort. Bring your Virgin Islands wedding to life with vibrant activities offered here. And if you’re looking for a laid-back affair, discover their tranquil atmosphere as you walk on their sandy white beaches, hand-in-hand with your loved one.
Enjoy uninterrupted views of the ocean from your room as it’s a 100% beachfront resort. Whether you want to read your vows in a lush tropical garden or on a sandy beach, you can have the perfect wedding here.
Enjoy kayaking with your special one and then come back for a Caribbean cocktail as you lounge at the oceanfront of the hotel. Whether you choose to explore the islands or just relax at the resort, the hotel staff can make it possible.
Want a unique dining experience? Head out to Emerald Café for a smoothie. Enjoy a seafood lunch at Caribbean Fusion, and a quiet dinner at Emerald Beach Bar.
The resort has 90 rooms and all of them have all modern amenities to pamper you and your guests. The concierge of the resort will help you plan your entire stay here and help you with the wedding.
The Buccaneer Beach and Golf Resort
Plan your Virgin Islands wedding in a unique style at this luxury beach and golf resort by Wyndham. Explore a memorable backdrop by having your wedding at the beaches of St. Croix. Enjoy the mild fragrance of tropical flowers and sea breezes that add Caribbean magic to the celebrations.
Witness the romantic sights of the sun setting over the sea and find salvation in the spacious and luxurious accommodations that come with breathtaking views.
Celebrate your special day among the charm of the old sugar mill and enjoy the blissful tropical gardens right next to the sea.
Whether you want to celebrate an elopement with just the two of you or a grand wedding with up to 100 guests, you can have it here at The Buccaneer.
There are pre-made wedding packages for young couples. The Elopement wedding package costs $1800 and is made just for the bride and groom. It includes a couple’s massage, professional photography, a bouquet, a wedding cake, and other features. You also get group rates for the guests you bring to the wedding.
The resort has four amazing indoor and outdoor venues for ceremonies and receptions. Whether you tie the knot at The Brass Parrot Reception Room, The Mermaid, The Sugar Mill, or Beauregard’s on the Beach, you can guarantee you’ll have a grand ceremony.
Gallows Point Resort
Gallows Point Resort sits in the middle of St. John, Virgin Islands, and offers striking sunset views. It’s spread over a 5-acre peninsula area and boasts panoramic views from its private rooms. It’s just a few minutes from Cruz Bay and has an unmatched tropical ambiance.
The resort has rooms, ocean-front villas, concierge services, a gift and gourmet shop, an ocean-front pool, and fine dining options. Yes, it has everything you need for a luxury Virgin Islands wedding.
Keep up with your routine with the in-house fitness center and have a drink at the bar. Gallows Point has two wedding locations to offer. Get the perfect Virgin Islands wedding with gorgeous water views and beautiful sunsets. Or hold the ceremony in lush gardens with vivid colors – the choice is yours.
When it comes to accommodation, you can select ocean view or harbor view. Enjoy scrumptious dishes at Ocean 362 or a hearty breakfast at the casual restaurant. Make sure you try their authentic seafood that brings the island to your table.
Virgin Islands Wedding Legal Requirements
Legal Weddings vs. Symbolic Weddings
A legal wedding is when you get legally married in the Virgin Islands. However, a symbolic wedding means you get married in your home location and then come and read the vows here.
When you hold a symbolic wedding, it takes one task off your list of to-dos – signing the papers. So when you arrive at the resort, you just have to take care of the ceremony and enjoy the stay.
The good thing is that most resorts and hotels in the Virgin Islands will help you with a legal or civil wedding.
Required Legal Documents & Cost
You need to fill out a marriage license application for a Virgin Islands wedding. For this, you need to submit your full name, age, social security number, nationality, names of parents, and previous marital status.
If the applicant(s) are widowed or divorced, they’ll need to produce a copy of their previous partner’s death certificate or divorce certificate.
The marriage application will cost $100, the marriage license will cost another $100, and the ceremony by the judge will cost $400. When visiting the court, business casual attire is mandatory.
Legal Marriage Timeline
Here are the steps you need to take for your Virgin Island wedding:
Fill out the marriage application form. You can download it from the website of the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. Once the form is complete, you can post it to the address of the Superior Court.
There is an eight-day waiting period for the court to authorize the application. Make sure you call the court and confirm the authorization before arriving at the destination.
If you’re coming from the U.S., you don’t need a passport since the Virgin Islands fall in the territory of the United States.
Virgin Islands Wedding Planning Tips
How to Get There
You can reach the Virgin Islands by air or by sea.
By air
The Virgin Islands has two main airports: One in St. Croix (Henry E. Rohlsen Airport) and the other in St. Thomas (Cyril E. King Airport). You can find non-stop and connecting flights to all major airports in the United States. The major airline carriers are American Airlines, Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, US Airways, and United Airlines.
By sea
St. Thomas is considered a popular destination for cruise ships. You can also find charter yachts and marinas here. If you want to travel between islands, you can take a ferry.
Virgin Islands Weather
The Virgin Islands enjoy a tropical climate that stays hot all year. Winters are relatively cooler and last from December to March. July and August are the peak summer months.
The temperatures can go down to 23oC in winter and up to 33oC in summer. You’ll get a dry season from January to April. Rains usually last from May to December, with September, October, and November receiving the maximum rainfall.
The place remains largely sunny throughout the year and the sea is warm throughout so no matter when you visit the place, you can always take a dip in the ocean.
Budgeting Tips
Here are some budgeting tips for your Virgin Islands wedding.
- St. John is approximately more expensive than other islands so you can select other islands instead.
- Plan your wedding during the off-season. You might even get a 40-50 percent discount on accommodation during the off-season.
- Send e-invites instead of printing cards. This will save a lot since wedding invites are often expensive.
- Select a beachy casual wedding attire instead of a traditional gown and save money.
- You can switch your wedding cake with several cupcakes and save money.
Best Time of Year to Get Married in the Virgin Islands
Since the place has pleasant tropical weather, it’s always a good time to have a Virgin Islands wedding. But if you ask for the perfect wedding time, it would be between April and June, when the rain showers are less frequent and there’s plenty of sun.
Winter season is also a good time to visit the place but it’s too touristy and if you want to avoid the rush, you might want to skip the busy season. It’s also best to avoid September to November when there’s a possibility of hurricanes.
Looking for other U.S. destinations for your wedding? Check out our guides for a Maui wedding and Florida wedding.
