U.S. Virgin Islands
St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix
Magens bay, St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
As a United States territory, it couldn’t be easier to travel to the United States Virgin Islands; no passports are necessary. Yet, surprisingly, it’s not quite as easy to marry here than on other Caribbean Islands. It’s necessary to first submit an application for a wedding license. Once the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands receives your completed, authorized application, an eight-day waiting period begins before you can marry.
Once you’ve taken care of the paperwork, you can focus on the destination wedding itself. The USVI consists of three major islands, St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix. In both tone and surroundings, the islands vary tremendously, which makes an island-hopping wedding or honeymoon great fun.
There’s also the opportunity for novelty: Couples can get married underwater, charter a yacht for their entire party to sail, or rent a villa for the duration. Of course, religious venues that include churches, temples, and mosques can be reserved. Naturally, beach weddings are popular.
The most built-up and commercial of the USVI destinations, St. Thomas is also its transportation hub. Flights from the continental United States land at Cyril E. King Airport in Charlotte Amalie, which is also the port where cruise ships call. For couples who are shoppers, the streets of Charlotte Amalie are filled with shops selling everything from glittering jewels to state-of-the-art cameras. And thanks to the islands’ territory status, visitors are allowed to bring back more duty-free booty from the USVI than from any place else.
Just as spectacular is Magens Bay on St. Thomas, one of the most photographed beaches in the Caribbean. Its white sands stretch for nearly three-quarters of a mile. Paddle boats, kayaks, and sunfish can be rented by the hour here.
Couples have the widest choice of accommodations on St. Thomas. The Ritz-Carlton is at the top of the list.
St. Croix, 40 miles south of St. Thomas, is the largest of the USVI. Two hotels that have been hosting weddings and honeymoons for generations include The Buccaneer and Carambola Beach Resort.
St. John, 3 miles from St. Thomas, is a vast nature preserve that remains the most underdeveloped of the USVI. Two-thirds of the island consists of national parkland, and camping is permitted here.
On the other end of the spectrum is the luxurious Caneel Bay Resort. For couples who have family and guests at disparate ends of the economic spectrum, a destination wedding can offer those who can afford the best nights at Caneel Bay and those who are limited in funds (or just really love the outdoors) the opportunity to overnight in tent cottages.
Other accommodations throughout the islands consist of beachfront resorts, hillside inns, and campgrounds, all surrounded by tropical beauty.
As for activities, they primarily center on water sports. At Coral World Ocean Park you can go on a scuba adventure; it’s kind of a scuba that anyone who can wear a snorkel mask can master. A couple of outfits offer sunset cruises that include a beach barbecue, which offers an innovative first (or third) night dinner for wedding guests.
