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 Popular Destination Advice
U.S. Virgin Island Weddings - Weddings in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Stylish Wedding Transportation
A tropical St. John wedding in the U.S. Virgin Islands doesn't have to be a laid-back, casual experience. Not everyone decides on a St. John wedding with simplicity in mind. The worst thing you can do is assume that things like limousines are included in your St. John wedding package.
When working with your destination wedding specialist, be specific about how formal you want your wedding to be. Maybe you envisioned your guests waving as you and your fiancée sail into port on a beautiful yacht. Surrounded by the flora and fauna of St. John, you may have even dreamed of riding into a park where your wedding will take place on horseback.
Your mode of transportation is as much about setting the tone of your wedding as it is necessity. Some items to discuss with your wedding planner include:- Transportation to and from the airport
- Transportation from the hotel/resort to the wedding site (if it's taking place off-site)
- Transportation for your guests from the airport
- Transportation requirements for any guests with disabilities or physical limitations
Your destination wedding specialist will work with you and your guests to provide the best method of transportation for everyone involved.
Pre-Wedding Cool Down And Unwind Period
If you've decided on a destination wedding in the US Virgin Islands, it's important to know that there's an eight-day waiting period from the time the island receives your completed and notarized application form to get your marriage license. Unlike a Caribbean wedding destination, there's no minimum residency requirement for a St. John wedding. However, it's a great idea to head to your St. John wedding destination a few days early, before your guests arrive. You'll have a chance to scout the place out, get used to the atmosphere, and relax!
A lot of the pre-party stuff will probably take place before you head out to your wedding destination, but run the idea of having a bachelorette party in the topics. While you and your bridesmaids are partying around the hot tub, your significant other could be buying you lots of wedding presents at the local shops! Or ... he could be having a bachelor party.
Arriving a few days early will also give you some time to meet with the resorts on-site wedding planner and go over any last minute details and decisions that need to be made. Be careful not to overdo the sun and the sand though, especially before your wedding. Blistered skin is a bad look for a bride!
Your Wedding Planner Is Your "People"
You might be thinking: Why get a destination wedding specialist when I can plan my own St. Thomas wedding? So what if you have no idea which resort caters best to weddings. Who cares that you have no idea who to contact about actually performing the wedding ceremony? You'll figure it out, right? It's not unreasonable to think that you could actually plan your own St. John wedding or St. Thomas wedding, but since you're going to have to make travel arrangements anyway, it only makes sense to book them through a reputable company like DestinationWeddings.com. They can find you the best deal and offer you the assistance of a personal destination wedding specialist free of charge. Still don't think you need a wedding specialist? Consider what would happen if any of these scenarios were to occur. Would you know how to handle it?- The airline lost your sister's luggage -- the one bag that contained her bridesmaid's dress to be worn at your wedding.
- Your mother became violently hours before the wedding.
- Your maid of honor had her flight cancelled due to a snow storm, and is in jeopardy of missing the ceremony.
- You arrive at the resort only to find there aren't enough rooms for everyone.
- You're delayed at the airport because you've brought the wrong passport.
Wedding specialists know people. They know the locale, the locals, the rules, and they serve as an objective third-party to guide you through any unexpected inconveniences.
Avoiding Complaints With The Help Of A Wedding Specialist
Are you prepared to coordinate travel arrangements for all of your guests? If they all live in the same state as you, it might be doable with much inconvenience. Chances are, your guests will be traveling from all over the place to see your St. Thomas wedding. The U.S. Virgin Islands welcome guests from all over the world, whether they're fellow American citizens, Canadians, or international tourists.
If you don't have a professional destination wedding specialist to help you out, you should be aware that most guests will default to you with any and all questions they might have. While it's best to have a personal destination wedding specialist help with your St. Thomas wedding arrangements, remember that if you're doing it yourself, you should talk to international guests about arriving a few days before the wedding. That way, they can spend some time overcoming any jet lag they may have.
Of course, the last thing you want before your St. Thomas wedding is an irate call from your Uncle Gus and Aunt Bertha complaining that the flight gave them stale peanuts and there was no cab to pick them up at the airport. Sure you can humor them, but what about the other forty guests? Are you going to humor them too?
The best option is to communicate to all of your guests (using a website or via email) who they should contact to work out travel details. That way, you don't have to worry about forgetting something, or risk increased blood pressure from fielding complaints 24/7!
Beach Wedding Dress
Every bride dreams of what dress she will wear on her wedding day. But is that long flowing gown with a train going to be appropriate for your beach wedding? Or is it going to make you sweat under the hot St. Thomas sun? And will the fabric attract sand?
What about your shoes? You weren't planning on wearing stilettos in the sand, were you?
Fortunately there are wedding dresses designed specifically for beach weddings. Look no further than DestinationWeddingDresses.com for a wide selection of beach wedding dress for every body shape and budget. Traditional or contemporary, strapless or halter-top, white or ivory, elegant or casual, they've got plenty of options. You can even choose your bridesmaids dress here too.
Choose a beach wedding dress, and don't sweat it!
The Tranquility Of A St. John Wedding
Virgin Island wedding locations give you a little bit of everything: tropical air, soft sand, gorgeous sunsets, fantasy weddings, and some of the hottest wedding locales in the world.
The beauty of a St. John wedding, for example, is the fact that you don't have to leave the country to enjoy it. The area is unique but familiar. It's an American territory, which means the currency is the same, the island is subject to the same laws and legislations that you're used to, and you don't require a passport to get there. That's great news if you have friends and family living within the U.S. who don't have passports.
A St. John wedding is perfect for couples who love nature. Two-thirds of St. John is designated as a U.S. National Park, which means a refreshing lack of in-your-face retail. You can even take day hikes along woodland trails to panoramic vistas of white beaches, emerald coves, and crystal waters.
Sometimes getting married in the U.S. Virgin Islands is a better option than traveling to countries you're not familiar with. Talk to your destination wedding specialist for suggestions on good places to stay, food choice, music picks, etc.
Your wedding specialist might suggest booking a church, having the ceremony on the beach (one of the top choices!) or having the ceremony inside one of the island's two major resorts.
The Best Virgin Island Wedding Locations
If you're planning on getting married in the U.S. Virgin Islands, why not talk to your destination wedding specialist about combining a cruise with your St. Thomas wedding plans? Your specialist will be happiest working with people, resorts, suppliers, and retailers that are familiar. So, considering everyone has heard of the most popular cruise lines, there's a pretty good chance your wedding planner has worked with them before.
Now, don't be surprised if your wedding specialist offers some alternative St. Thomas wedding choices or themes. Try to stay open to any suggestions he or she has. Once the wedding planner has a good sense of your tastes, your likes and dislikes, you just might be pleasantly surprised at some of the options presented to you.
For example, you might decide to plan to have your St. Thomas wedding at the Old Stone Farmhouse Courtyard, Garden Terrace, or Magens Bay . You should see the white-sanded beaches! If you haven't been to St. Thomas yet, you just might need your wedding specialist to help you narrow down your options.
All Virgin Island wedding locations are spectacular, so it doesn't really matter what location you settle on. Just remember, whether you eventually decide on a St. Thomas wedding, St. John wedding, or a wedding somewhere in the St. Croix Islands, you're probably going to want to return every year for your anniversary.
Mention that to your wedding specialist and she'll probably start organizing your first year anniversary trip!
Please Remember:
Destination weddings take considerable planning and research, and the best properties & accommodations often book far in advance of the wedding date.
The earlier you begin planning your wedding, the greater the likelihood you will be able to book the perfect property for you and your guests.
Start Planning your Destination Wedding Today.
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