Romancing in the Caribbean.The sun-warmed beaches, crystal clear waters and breathtaking sunsets of the Caribbean are naturally linked with intimate rendezvous. A few days in the islands send visiting couples back home with a tropical glow and glazed-over calm that lasts for days and days. Within the last few years, these romantic getaways have become more than just a few moments in paradise. In fact, they've turned into extended stays as couples discover that the islands can double as the perfect setting for a wedding that leads effortlessly into the honeymoon. Add that the affordable prices--a Caribbean wedding can cost well under $1,000 (with a modest champagne and cake reception)--and you have a ceremony that will ring up to a fraction of the cost of a wedding in the States, which these days averages $20,000-$30,000 (including traditional elaborate dinner reception). This year's BLACK ENTERPRISE Caribbean Travel Guide will give you just a taste of romance in the islands, by putting the trend of "destination weddings" into perspective, spotlighting a few choice locations (both upscale and modest) and giving you the resources to help make your wedding or honeymoon--first or second--one to remember. So, sit back with a tall glass of cool rum punch and some steel band music to get you in the mood, me darlin'...and uncover what awaits you there. Advantage Caribbean What is it that's sending African Americans to faraway islands to spend one of the most important days of their lives? Young couples appreciated the cost saving and convenience as they prepare to start their lives, and more mature couples find the low-key picturesque setting, minus the elaborate reception, just right for the renewing of vows and second marriages. Fewer guests are willing to travel overseas, eliminating the inevitable family feuds over the ever-growing guest list. But guests who do decide to make the trip can turn the journey into a once-in-a-lifetime vacation with family and friends. Some brides and grooms just want an alternative to the traditional American wedding, and return to the splendor of their rich African and Caribbean roots. It's a trend that has flourished in the '90s, creating a market for wedding guides such as The Nubian Wedding Book: Words and Rituals to Celebrate and Plan an African-American Wedding by Ingrid Sturgis (Crown, $25) and Jumpin' the Broom: The African American Wedding Planner (Henry Holt, $17.95) by Harriette Cole Harriette Cole is a writer and columnist who works for the New York Daily News. She's the author of the nationally syndicated advice column, 'Sense and Sensitivity' which is published triweekly. External links
To reach that prospering African American market, The Buccaneer buccaneer: see piracy. buccaneer Any of the British, French, or Dutch sea adventurers who chiefly haunted the Caribbean and the Pacific seaboard of South America during the latter part of the 17th century, preying on Spanish settlements and shipping. Hotel in St. Croix (800-255-3881), for example, is promoting a "Jump the Broom...in Paradise" ceremonial wedding package, complete with minister and Afrocentric touches, for $450. Others resorts may not have a similar "Afrocentric" option, but they will accommodate your needs. Just tell the wedding consultants hired by the hotel specifically what you want, and they'll tailor the ceremony to fit your fantasy. It's that easy. Besides, the completion on the islands is fierce, and they want your business. the Red, (Blue, Yellow) Carpet Treatment Within the last five years, the Years, The the seven decades of Eleanor Pargiter’s life. [Br. Lit.: Benét, 1109] See : Time tourism industry has wisely responded to the growing demand for weddings and honeymoons with incentives much in line with business-savvy hotels like the Buccaneer. As part of a "second honeymoon Second Honeymoon was a game show modeled on The Newlywed Game in which three couples & their children answered questions to win (as the title says) a second honeymoon. special," the hotel is also welcoming back couples previously married at the resort with a two-day complimentary stay (if they have a five-night reservation). The promotion runs through December 19. Other hotels and cruise ships This is a list of cruise ships, both those in service and those that have since ceased to operate. Both cruise ships and cruiseferries are included in this list. (Ocean liners are not included on this list, see List of ocean liners. have implemented similar package deals that typically fall into two categories: all-inclusive resorts that cover marriage fees and arrange the wedding for free; and sites that present a wedding package for honeymooners who stay a set number of days, usually three to seven. The Radisson Cable Beach Resort (800-777-7800) in Nassau, the Bahamas, is one all-inclusive that offers a free wedding package, worth about $750, for couples who book a three-night honeymoon. Couples with children can take advantage of hotels like the Radisson that offer supervised programs. Guests can enjoy privacy and still share the ceremony with the kids. A more expensive, elaborate package is offered at Sandals Resorts Sandals Resorts is the largest operator of [all-inclusive resort]]s in the Caribbean. To determine if the room you are renting is old and outdated or modern and luxurous, call the resort directly. (800-SANDALS), which recently unveiled Sunset WeddingMoons at the Negril Beach Resort & Spa and at Beaches Negril. Couples marry at sunset, enjoy a wedding celebration for six, get personalized menus, five bottles of champagne, a band, beauty treatments, airport transfers, wedding coordinator, assistance with documents, hors d' oeuvres, photo album, wedding cake and more for $2,000 ($1,500 at Beaches Negril for a limited time). The traditional $500 WeddingMoon package, with fewer options, is now free for couples who stay at Beaches Negril for four nights. (For additional package deals at select resorts, see chart, "Package Deals.") Governments have stepped up to the plate as well. Islands that once required a week or more of residency, like Grenada and the Cayman Islands Cayman Islands (kā`mən), British dependency (2005 est. pop. 44,300), 100 sq mi (259 sq km), comprising three islands in the West Indies. , now allow weddings after an overnight stay, and have reduced the red tape and cost of fees to encourage tourist weddings and honeymoons. Another sign of the times--this year, for the first time in 127 years, couples wishing to tie the knot in Sint Maarten
The island area of Sint Maarten (Dutch: Eilandgebied Sint Maarten may apply for a temporary tourist permit and permission to marry from the Lieutenant Governor lieutenant governor n. Abbr. Lt. Gov. 1. An elected official ranking just below the governor of a state in the United States. 2. The nonelective chief of government of a Canadian province. . Despite the booming industry, a few places like Aruba and Suriname (which borders Guyana and French Guiana French Guiana (gēăn`ə, –än`–), Fr. La Guyane française, officially Department of Guiana, French overseas department (2005 est. pop. ) are still behind, not allowing tourists to marry there. Honeymooning is, of course, welcome. Some airlines are also cooperating with reduced fares and packages. Air Jamaica (800-LOVE-BIRD) offers visitors the option to stay over in Jamaica and continue on to a second and third Caribbean destination (Barbados, St. Lucia, Grand Cayman Grand Cayman See Cayman Islands. or Nassau) at no additional cost on a round-trip ticket Noun 1. round-trip ticket - a ticket to a place and back (usually over the same route) return ticket ticket - a commercial document showing that the holder is entitled to something (as to ride on public transportation or to enter a public entertainment) from its Montego Bay Montego Bay (mŏntē`gō), city (1991 pop. 82,002), NW Jamaica. One of the most popular resorts in the Caribbean with highly developed tourism facilities, Montego Bay is also a port and commercial center. , Jamaica, hub. American Airlines American Airlines Major U.S. airline. American was created through a merger of several smaller U.S. airlines and incorporated in 1934. It continued to buy the routes of other airlines, becoming an international carrier in the 1970s; its routes include South America, the (800-221-2255) offers wedding guests traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI USVI United States Virgin Islands USVI US Vision, Inc. (stock symbol) USVI United States Vegetation Index ) up to 10% off airfare, and reduced car rental rates from Avis for groups of 10 or more. Deals are popping up daily, and couples need only do a little digging--with the help of an in-the-know travel agent--to find the right one. Once you find a suitable hotel or cruise line A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships. Cruise lines have a dual character; they are partly in the transportation business, and partly in the leisure entertainment business, a duality that carries down into the ships themselves, which have both a crew headed by the , an on-site wedding planner will gladly take care of the details, typically helping you secure the proper documentation and meet requirements for that island, providing a minister, flowers, champagne, wedding cake, photographer, prints and special touches for the newly married couple. (For details on wedding requirements at select destinations, see chart, "Wedding Requirements.") Luxurious Splendor Package deals are great for some couples, but other are willing to make a small investment for the peace, privacy and top rate service that only money can buy. If that fits your bill, a few sites are well worth considering. The 58-room Ocean Club on Paradise Island For the DC Comics fictional island formerly known as Paradise Island, see Themyscira Paradise Island is an island in the Bahamas, north of the island of New Providence which is home to (Nassau). It is best known for the sprawling 'Vegas-by-the-sea resort' Atlantis. in the Bahamas (800-321-3000), owned by Sun International Hotels Ltd., is a favorite of athletes, business leaders and U.S. presidents. You and yours will be awed by a magnificent backdrop that includes a replica of the famous Versailles gardens with Italian marble statues leading up to a 12th-century French cloister cloister, unroofed space forming part of a religious establishment and surrounded by the various buildings or by enclosing walls. Generally, it is provided on all sides with a vaulted passageway consisting of continuous colonnades or arcades opening onto a court. . The Ocean Club recently completed an impressive $7.5 million improvement effort. Rates range from $360 to $730 per night. It's just minutes away from the mammoth 1,147-room Atlantis, Paradise Island, complete with a 30,000-sq.-ft. casino and championship golf course, also owned by Sun International. If Jamaica is your destination, Island Outpost's Strawberry Hill Strawberry Hill is the name of several places:
Blue Mountains, region of New South Wales, SE Australia. Located W of Sydney, this elevation is actually a plateau forming part of the Great Dividing Range. of Jamaica. A helicopter transfer from the Kingston airport Kingston Airport may refer to several airports:
St. Lucia's gem is Anse Chastanet Anse Chastanet is a beach north of the town of Soufrière, Saint Lucia. It is known for excellent scuba diving and snorkeling. The beach is effectively part of the nearby private resort which manages the numerous sun-bathing shelters, but public access to the attractive beach has (800-223-1108), internationally known as one of the Caribbean's most romantic resorts. The location is spectacular: a unique hillside setting on a natural, unspoiled beach. The resort has 49 rooms, 37 of which adorn the hillside. Twelve are beachside beach·side adj. Situated on or along a beach. Guests delight in the rooms for their art, sculpture and open-air architecture. Summer rates range from $276 to $490 per night, meals included. Newlyweds will enjoy the Couples Massage Course, a mini lesson in pampering. Or if you prefer, the "Anse Chastanet Therapeutic Massage for Two" will allow you and your mate to experience a simultaneous massage session in the privacy of the guest room. An "escape and scuba" package for honeymooners and those celebrating wedding anniversaries is available for $2,858-$4,270, depending on room size, and includes meals. The package includes accommodations for seven nights, guided tours, use of snorkel snorkel, tube through which a submarine or diver can draw air while underwater. When in use, the top of the snorkel tube extends above the water surface into the air. equipment, tennis course, sailing, windsurfing windsurfing, also called boardsailing or sailboarding, water sport that employs a board-and-sail device and combines elements of sailing and surfing. The sport was developed in the United States during the 1960s by the Californians Jim Drake, a sailor, and Hoyle , kayaking Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking is differentiated from canoeing by the fact that a kayak has a closed cockpit and a canoe has an open cockpit. They also use a two bladed paddle. Another major difference is in the way the paddler sits in the boat. , a scuba diving scuba diving Swimming done underwater with a self-contained underwater-breathing apparatus (scuba), as opposed to skin diving, which requires only a snorkel, goggles, and flippers. Scuba gear was invented by Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Émile Gagnan in 1943. course and cute romantic touches, like matching T-shirts for the happy couple. Snorkeling off the virgin coral reefs coral reefs, limestone formations produced by living organisms, found in shallow, tropical marine waters. In most reefs, the predominant organisms are stony corals, colonial cnidarians that secrete an exoskeleton of calcium carbonate (limestone). and nature walks are among the favorite tourist activities. Black-Owned Options In the States, black-owned bed and breakfasts are being considered as affordable options for romantic getaways. The Caribbean has a few of its own, unknown to many African Americans. These quaint locations provide a viable option on their own or as alternative lodging for guests attending the ceremony at nearby larger resorts. Though a number of black-owned B&B's have come and gone and are difficult to track, one that recently opened will charm you and your guests. You'll adore L'Hotel Boynes on St. Thomas (800-377-2905), which was restored by Samuel E. Boynes, a former hotel manager who relocated from Chicago. The original structure dates to 1785, but has been transformed into a grand, two-story brick, stone and iron structure. Eight rooms are elegantly furnished with island antiques and reproductions, private baths, air conditioning air conditioning, mechanical process for controlling the humidity, temperature, cleanliness, and circulation of air in buildings and rooms. Indoor air is conditioned and regulated to maintain the temperature-humidity ratio that is most comfortable and healthful. and ceiling fans. Room rates range from $135 to $195, depending on room size. Daily maid and concierge service add to the site's convenience. You'll enjoy the view of the Charlotte Amalie Charlotte Amalie (əmäl`ē), town (2000 pop. 11,044), capital of the Virgin Islands of the United States, on St. Thomas Island. It is the commercial center of the islands, a free port, and a popular tourist resort. Harbor from the upper gallery, where you can see cruise ships, yachts and seaplanes, and a view of St. Croix, 40 miles away on the horizon. L'Hotel Boynes is included in the National Register of Historic Homes. If you're looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a black-owned resort--and a true Caribbean, noncommercial experience, consider the lovely Negril Tree House Resort in Jamaica (800-NEGRIL-1), owned by Gail Jackson, a former Pittsburgh civil engineer. Weddings are gratis GRATIS. Without reward or consideration. 2. When a bailee undertakes to perform some act or work gratis, he is answerable for his gross negligence, if any loss should be sustained in consequence of it; but a distinction exists between non-feasance and in May, June and October if the bride and groom book five rooms for five nights. Included are the ceremony, marriage license, minister and a bottle of champagne. The 70-room beach-front property is situated on Negril's seven-mile beach, 60 miles from Montego Bay's Donald Sangster Sir Donald Burns Sangster (October 26 1911 - April 11 1967) was a Jamaican politician and Prime Minister of Jamaica. He entered politics in 1933 with his election to a local parish council. Airport. The cottages sit on 10 acres and house 12 simple, elegant bedroom suites and 58 double rooms, Highlights of the resort include a restaurant, outdoor pool and Jacuzzi. Room rates for suites, garden view, are $185. Double rooms range from $85 to $115, depending on the view. Guests who stay in May, September and December can enjoy a garden view double room for just $69 (regular price $85). Wedding Requirements Although Caribbean nations and territories have made it easier to tie the knot, nonresident non·res·i·dent adj. 1. Not living in a particular place: nonresident students who commute to classes. 2. brides and grooms still must come prepared. Some places require temporary residency and/or a tourist permit, specific documentation, payment of fees and a waiting period of one (or zero) to 15 days following registration before a wedding can be performed. In general, couples must provide passport, birth certificate, photo identification, divorce papers, death certificate (if bride or groom is widowed), proof of arrival (e.g., plane ticket or boarding pass from ship) and documented parental consent Parental consent laws (also known as parental involvement or parental notification laws) in some countries require that one or more parents consent to or be notified before their minor child can legally engage in certain activities. if either party is 18-21 years of age. Most places, except for Mexico and Puerto Rico Puerto Rico (pwār`tō rē`kō), island (2005 est. pop. 3,917,000), 3,508 sq mi (9,086 sq km), West Indies, c.1,000 mi (1,610 km) SE of Miami, Fla. , do not require a blood test. (Ask the tourist board what specifically is being examined in the blood test.) For wedding requirements on islands not listed here, call the Caribbean Coalition for Tourism for a free copy of The Caribbean Vacation Planner: The Caribbean ... Where to Go at 800-356-9999 ext. 613, or visit the Caribbean Tourism Organization The Caribbean Tourism Organization's main objective is the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of Caribbean people. The CTO provides to and through its public and private sector members, the services and information to accomplish this goal. at www.caribtourism.com. Keep in mind that if you've bought a package deal at a hotel or resort, your marriage license, fees and other details may be taken care of by the hotel's wedding coordinator. RELATED ARTICLE: Package Deals Most all hotels and resorts offer some kind of special deal for brides and grooms, whether it be a separate wedding or honeymoon package or a combination of the two. Options, like dinner, steel band, bar, center pieces for tables and DJ, typically cost extra. Don't assume that the price the hotel offers for the package is the price you'll have to pay. Special rates can be negotiated on request for wedding parties. Below are just a few. For additional package deals, ask your travel agent to do some scouting for you. Log onto Travel Web's www.travel.web.com for discounted hotel rates. Epicurious Travel's site, www.epcurious.com, features well-organized data on romantic Caribbean destinations, and includes a Bed & Breakfast finder. After you compile your materials, comparison shop for the best package to meet your needs. WEDDING/HONEYMOON COMBOS Hyatt Grand Regency * Grand Cayman, British W.I. 800-772-0011 $800 for wedding plus $1,059 for 3-night, 4-day honeymoon. Guests receive room credit for $100 until December 19, 1998. Wedding includes marriage officer, license and documentation, wedding cake, bouquet champagne One-day Jeep rental, sunset cruise, couple's massage and round of golf are included in honeymoon. Marriott Beach Resorts * St. Thomas, USVI 880-367-5683 $1,735 (Deluxe) (June 14 - October 17,1998) Includes ceremony in gazebo gazebo Lookout in the form of a turret, cupola (small, lanternlike dome), or garden house set on a height to give an extensive view. Few late-18th- and 19th-century rustic gazebos survive, but 17th-century turrets built up in an angle of the garden wall are not uncommon. , wedding director, bouquet, photographer, 72 photos w/album, wedding cake, champagne and accommodations for 6 days, 5 nights. Biras Greek in Virgin Gordo Gordo, the Spanish word for fat, may refer to:
A British colony in the eastern Caribbean east of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Road Town, on Tortola Island, is the capital. Population: 21,700. Noun 1. 800-223-1108 $750 for wedding. 8-day, 7-night honeymoon starts of $2,100, depending on season. Wedding includes license, fees, flowers, wedding cake, champagne, photographer and ceremony. Honeymoon includes 3 meals/day, champagne and sunset cruise on private yacht. HONEYMOON ONLY Jalousie Hilton Resort & Spa * St. Lucia 800-HILTONS $2,220 (May 30-October 30). Honeymoon Spa Package includes 6-night accommodations, meals, one-hour massage session, spa treatment. WEDDING ONLY Plantation Beach Villas * Tobago, West Indies West Indies, archipelago, between North and South America, curving c.2,500 mi (4,020 km) from Florida to the coast of Venezuela and separating the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico from the Atlantic Ocean. 868-639-9377 $680 for cost of wedding. Ceremony, assistance with documents, bouquet and boutonniere, wedding cake, wine, 36 photos, decorated arbor. RELATED ARTICLE: What to know Before you go Now that you know about the wonderful options, you might be ready to jump on the next plane and spend weeks in ecstasy. But hold on to your suitcase! A few insider's tips can prevent your plans in paradise from fizzling. Talk to a couple who've been there. Dawnyielle and Raymond Downes from Danbury, Connecticut “Danbury” redirects here. For other uses, see Danbury (disambiguation). Danbury is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It has an estimated population as of July 1, 2005 of 78,736. started planning their nuptials at Sam Lord's Castle (246-423-7350), a historical black-owned site in Barbados, eight months prior to their July ceremony last year. Since Raymond's family is from Barbados and was planning to celebrate their family reunion Often an annual event, a family reunion takes place on a specified day each year for the purpose of keeping an extended family closer together. Some reunions may be held less often. simultaneously, the event was extra special. "It was a vacation disguised as a wedding." remembers Dawnyielle, now 28. The Downeses had 30 friends and family from the U.S. join them for the celebration. They used the group's size to negotiate hotel rates with the manager. As a surprise to some of their guests, the Downeses graciously paid for air transportation and three nights' stay at a nearby resort. The grand total for the entire wedding was under $15,000, even thought it appeared to cost twice that amount, says the couple. Making sure all details were clearly outlined in writing, Dawnyielle corresponded with the hotel staff several times a week by fax. She even created a workbook outlining each item so there would be no room for errors. "I asked them to sign and date the pages as projects were completed," she says, Dawynielle found that Caribbean sites don't provide personalized napkins, candles and extra decorations, so she shipped peripherals from the States to the hotel in a barrel. She even created an informational newsletter for guests mailed on three separate occasions before the wedding. One tip she offers: beware of hotel photographers, since you may not get the best quality. "Fly a quality photographers in," she advises. Research by reading and surfing the Newt. Take a look at Weddings for Dummies by Marcy Blum (IDG IDG International Data Group IDG Integrated Drive Generator IDG Installation Design Guide IDG Internet Discussion Group IDG Inset Dielectric Guide IDG International Dangerous Goods (mail, shipping) Books, $19.95), part of the popular "... For Dummies" series of reference books. Blum gives specifics for "destination weddings," as well as other advice. Brides should consider how to transport the gown without damage, she says. Ask the ship to pack your gown in acid-free tissue paper, and take an off-peak flight so you can place your gown in an extra seat. Log on to the Wedding Day Inc. site at www.bridalnet. com.abc/wedding/day.htm. A few words of wisdom: keep the ceremony and reception early in the day, since meals will be less expensive. And avoid the peak season, June to August. Early May, and September through November, will be less expensive.
DESTINATION LICENSE FEE WAITING PERIOD TOURIST BOARD
BAHAMAS $US40 24 Hours 800-BAHAMAS
Marriage license must be obtained from the Commissioner's office
for wedding on any Bahamas island outside of New Providence.
Both parties must apply in person.
BARBADOS $US50 No waiting
period 800-221-9831
Fee is for affidavit from U.S. Embassy in Nassau. + $25 in Barbados
postage stamps(*)
BERMUDA $US 165 Up to 14 Days 800-BERMUDA
Couples must file a "Notice of Intended Marriage" form with
the Registrar General. The notice will be published in two local
newspapers. If there's no formal objection, the Registry will
issue the license 14 days after receiving notice. License must be
issued within three months of receipt of notice.
BRITISH VIRGIN
ISLANDS $US 110(*) 3 Days 800-835-8530
Apply for a marriage license at the Attorney General's office.
Processing time is three days. The fee is $110 if you stay at least
three days; $5 if it's 15 days or more.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC $US 20 None 888-374-6361
Write to the American Consulate in Santo Domingo in advance,
requesting permission to marry. Party must bring a notarized letter
from their local police department stating that they are in "Good
conduct/Moral Character."
JAMAICA approx.
$US 6 24 Hours 800-233-4582
Fee includes license and ceremony by judge.
MEXICO $US 200 2 Days 800-44-MEXICO
Party must provide the names, addresses, ages, nationalities and
tourist card number of four witnesses. Some Mexican cities
require Mexican witnesses. A blood test from your doctor must be
taken within 15 days of the wedding. Bride or groom must prove
that one year has passed since divorce or previous spouse's death.
PUERTO RICO $US 2 None 800-223-6530
Health certificate from a resident practitioner in P.R. is required.
Previously married brides must present their original birth
certificate. Blood test is required within 10 days of wedding.
Send request in writing at least two months prior to ceremony to
the Department of Health (787-728-7980).
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO $US 55 3 Days(**) 800-748-4224
Parties must establish residence in Trinidad Tobago no less than
3 days starting the day after arrival.
ST. LUCIA approx.
$US 198 2 Days 800-456-3984
Any applicants to marry should be submitted to the St. Lucia
Attorney General through a local solicitor at least four
days prior to the ceremony. The wedding fees include
marriage license, certificate and notarial and registrar fees.
US VIRGIN
ISLANDS $50 8 Days 800-372-USVI
Couple must send a letter requesting a marriage license to the
Territorial Court of the USVI in St. Thomas. Upon return receipt
of the notarized application, an 8-day waiting period begins (it
may be waived at the judge's discretion). Letter accompanying
marriage must state date of visit, length of stay and preference
of date.
(*) Payment for license fee is in postage stamps This is a list of postage stamps that are especially notable in some way. The best-known stamps:
(**) With President's License application. Otherwise, 16 days. |
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