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British Virgin Islands / Special Interests / Weddings & Romance

By Sara Macefield

BVI for romance

It is said that the British Virgin Islands are the closest you will ever come to paradise – a string of beautiful hideaways floating like emerald gems in the crystalline waters of the Caribbean Sea. Such surroundings give these islands a head-start in the romance stakes, making them a perfect idyll for couples searching for a true island escape. The views alone, across tiny exotic outposts with talcum powder beaches fringed by tropical waters that turn from the brightest emerald greens to vivid shades of turquoise, make the BVIs irresistible to romantics. But there’s the added attractions of friendly locals, a low crime rate and chilled-out lifestyle along with some of the Caribbean’s best hotels, some set on their own islands, and plush villas.

This is a place for peace and privacy; where it come naturally to jump on a yacht to explore the tempting waters. Discover and enjoy the rockpools, grottoes and giant granite boulders of The Baths in Virgin Gorda, moor up at one of the quirky beach bars and revel in the freedom of exploring the islands at your own pace. Go beneath the waves on snorkelling or diving trips to get up close to shipwrecks and brightly-coloured corals or take to the skies for fabulous views on a scenic helicopter ride and hop over to the US Virgin Islands for a spot of shopping.

Wedding in the BVI

The BVI, in all its landbound and coastal beauty, is a delightful place to get married. There is a good variety of environments and settings. The logistics are a little harder than in other islands because so much has to be imported here, but several of the hotels have excellent wedding organisers in their staff and can liaise with you or your tour operator back home to create exactly what you want. You can also choose to use a dedicated wedding consultant to make things that extra bit special. Biras Creek on Virgin Gorda offer a particularly good package, as does the Sugar Mill on Tortola, which has lovely grounds and a nice area above the water on Apple Bay.

In the villas it is a slightly different story, mainly because of the staffing levels. These are generally lower than in most other islands. There is just a handful of villas that have the staff that can cope with a villa wedding - Baraka Point on Virgin Gorda is particularly well organised for weddings. If you are in an unstaffed villa and you'd like the privacy that goes with a villa wedding, the best thing is to put all the arrangements in the hands of a dedicated wedding organiser such as Heather Anderson of BVI Wedding Planners & Consultants.

A novel option is to get married on a yacht. It is romantic but it involves certain logistical issues. Everything that you will need has to be brought on board – food and drink, maybe music - but as with villa weddings, everything is made simple if you use Heather's services. Ministers are generally taken out in a chase boat, only staying for the ceremony. Heather will organise everything for you and liaise with the yacht charter company. Horizon Yacht Charters and Virgin Traders have a good selection of BVI bareboat and crewed yachts that would work well for a wedding at sea, or you can opt for a wedding on a catamaran such as Kuralu, which you can hire for the day and have all the catering and arrangements fixed by BVI Wedding Consultants.

If not an actual marriage then you might want to spend the first couple of days of your honeymoon on a yacht. There are many options for a private charter, but you might also consider the hotels that have sailaway options, Biras Creek and Peter Island. And if not an actual honeymoon, then you might choose to “go away”, leaving the wedding ceremony in a yacht.

Finally, there are several private island resorts which would make a wonderful venue for a wedding. You might take the place entirely for your guests, making it an entirely private affair. Consider Guana Island for all its unusualness and Necker Island off Virgin Gorda, which is a world away from the humdrum. And finally, another one to consider is Little Thatch. A lovely wedding can be held under the palms there (they can host 25 or so on the beach), but the place is most special because it is a one-bedroom villa on the beach on a totally private island, absolutely perfect as a honeymoon destination.

Legal Requirements for getting married in the BVI:

You will need to be in the British Virgin Islands for at least three (3) days before you get married. You can apply for a licence on your day of arrival at the Attorney General's Office, situated on the second floor of the Central Administration Complex, Road Town, Tortola.

The requirements are:

US$110 (in BVI postage stamps) for a special licence if you are resident in The BVI for 3 days before your wedding.

US$50 (in BVI postage stamps) for a special licence if you apply at least 15 days and plan to be resident for at least that period of time before the wedding.

Your passport as proof of identity and arrival date in BVI.

Proof of marital status (certified or original copies of decree absolute for divorced spouses or death certificate for deceased spouses).

Two witnesses needed.

a) for signing the licence application and

b) to be present at the marriage ceremony (witnesses need not be the same for both exercises, persons in The BVI may be selected as witnesses)

Having applied for the licence, you go to the Registrar General's Office to schedule an appointment for the date and time you propose to be married. The Registrar General's Chamber office is located in Road Town. However, we recommend that the Registrar is booked well in advance and this can be done by BVI Wedding Planners.

Wedding in the BVI by James Henderson

Recommended accommodation view more

  • Baraka Point Estate Villas & Villa Living

    An exotic, fully staffed retreat boasting the best of bohemian style with African, Oriental and Caribbean influences that complement its fabulous clifftop setting. A myriad of mod-cons make it an ideal getaway haven. Sleeps 14. Read more

  • Biras Creek Hotels & Resorts

    A delightful retreat. Elegant and full of character, set on its own bays in the North Sound on Virgin Gorda. Just 31 very comfortable suites in cottages, excellent dining room with superb views. Stay sail holidays available on crewed yacht. Read more

  • Cooper Island Beach Club Boutique/Small Hotels & Inns

    An informal and often lively 10-room hotel on a pretty and virtually private island in the BVI, popular with sailors and divers. Good value. Read more

  • Fort Recovery Beachfront Villa & Suites Hotel Villa & Condo Resorts

    A delightful cluster of 29 villa-style suites and an eight-bedroom beach house, set on a quiet beach near Tortola’s lively West End. A very low-key getaway for those seeking a relaxed setting with a therapeutic ambiance. Scuba nearby Read more

  • Necker Island Villas & Villa Living

    Taste tropical island life at this sybaritic retreat which reflects the laidback jet-set glamour of its owner, Sir Richard Branson. Sleeps 2-28 Read more

  • Seagrape Cottage Cottages & Apartments

    This romantic dream of a place offers the ultimate Caribbean escape just for two. Set on its own island, the pretty gingerbread house, complete with wraparound veranda, is a castaway heaven. Sleeps 2 Read more

  • Sugar Mill Hotel Boutique/Small Hotels & Inns

    One of the nicest small BVI hotels - friendly and comfortable set in pretty gardens within an old sugar estate on Tortola’s north shore. 23 bedrooms and a prize-winning dining room. Read more

  • Surfsong Villa Resort Villa & Condo Resorts

    Six villas with wonderful views of Sir Francis Drake Channel from Well Bay on Beef Island off Tortola. Can be taken as private villas or one whole property for up to 24. Read more

Browse Weddings & Romance on other islands

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Or read our other island guides

Anguilla | Antigua | Aruba | Bahamas | Barbados | Bermuda | Bonaire | British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands | Cuba | Curacao | Dominica | Dominican Republic | Grenada and Carriacou | Guadeloupe | Haiti | Jamaica | Martinique | Montserrat | Nevis | Puerto Rico | Saba | St Barthélemy | St Eustatius | St Kitts | St Lucia | St Martin/St Maarten | St Vincent and the Grenadines | Tobago | Trinidad | Turks & Caicos Islands | US Virgin Islands

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Looking for inspiration?

  1. Charter a yacht and sail by day, bar hop at night
  2. Marvel at the massive boulders at The Baths, Virgin Gorda
  3. Chill out at the Fireball Full Moon Party, Trellis Bay
  4. Enjoy a beach villa holiday with the family
  5. Scuba Dive Sir Francis Drake Channel

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