Wondering where to have your wedding and running out of good ideas? Worried that you might get stuck into the tired out and expensive routine of a church ceremony followed by a wedding reception? Think that this run-of-the-mill way to go about getting married might make day hard to distinguish from any other just a few years down the road? Well, the thought of going to the chapel and getting married gets a lot more interesting when you consider that, after exchanging the wedding vows, you might be able to turn around and spend your honeymoon in the pristine blue water of a Caribbean Bay.
In fact, that's why more and more couples - young and old alike - are choosing to have their weddings at St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. What better spot to spend your honeymoon than at the beautiful island you got married on? On top of this, the casual, natural beauty of these outdoor weddings makes them not only affordable, but memorable as well.
In all reality, the wedding doesn't have to take place in a chapel at all (although there is a very nice one available in the heart of the forest). Other prime locations for the special moment include the white sandy beaches, the decks of elegant sailing boats, in the middle of the historic ruins of a sugar mill - or even waist deep in the clear turquoise water that surrounds this beautiful island. And while inviting a group of friends, family and loved ones to partake in the wedding ceremony is always a fun thing to do, many couples find that St. John is a perfect place to elope. Not only is it unlikely that anyone will find you here, but the island mystique gives a profound sense of being away from it all and truly being free from the outside world.
For couples of all different faiths, there is a wide variety of wedding service options available to be performed by an increasing number of licensed marriage ministers. While some of these ministers may arrive onto the beach in a Hawaiian shirt, shorts, sunglasses and no shoes on at all, others will be respectful of a more traditional approach to the wedding ceremony - it's all up to you! In order to make sure your wedding goes down smoothly you should call ahead to make reservations. Especially during the popular wedding season, try to book at least a month in advance.
Because you will most likely be far away from the island while making your preparations it's okay to go ahead with your minister's referrals for photographers, caterers, florists and musicians - if you should choose to have a more elaborate sequence of festivities. Still, even after a few extra island frills, the costs of these weddings come out to be a lot less than they would be otherwise if you were to have a more formal wedding on the U.S. mainland. That's because there is no major planning necessary for these low key ceremonies, as the natural beauty of St. John makes up for the lavish arrangements people have to make to stave off the tepidity of traditional wedding surroundings.
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