St Kitts / Special Interests / Weddings & Romance

St Kitts for Romance

A picturesque landscape dominated by volcanic peaks and dotted with the remains of abandoned sugar mills adds an evocative flavour to stays on St Kitts. Such romantic surroundings are enhanced by the island’s pretty plantation house hotels, though there are a handful of larger resorts for those wanting more facilities.

St Kitts is a fun place to explore, especially on the scenic railway tour (the first of its kind in the West Indies) where riders can soak up the beautiful views as it trundles along the old tracks once used to transport sugar cane across the northern part of the island. But this is a destination where it is simply fun to find your own private vantage points, via dirt tracks through the cane fields, and admire the views across to Nevis and beyond. Alternatively, chill out at the bars lining Frigate Bay beach and join locals and tourists to toast the end of another idyllic day with a sundowner.

Wedding in St Kitts

St Kitts has some lovely spots for a memorable wedding or renewal of wedding vows. This might be on the beach, in one of the lovely plantation hotels or at a historic hillside fort. Most of the hotels will assist you in your plans and many have a “package”, which they can adapt to your particular needs. This is likely to include the services of a minister, the flowers and photography, and the ceremony afterwards, and the music and food. In order to ensure that everything is just as you would wish it to be and runs smoothly, you should include your wedding plans at the same time as you plan your holiday.

As an alternative to marrying at your hotel, you might consider a variety of other venues. Some of the most popular locations for St Kitts weddings include the historic Fairview Great House & Botanical Garden, the awe inspiring Brimstone Hill Fortress and National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) which has a number of locations within itself to choose from, and Romney Manor which has 12 acres of beautiful botanical gardens, plus a backdrop of old sugar estate ruins and rainforest. You might also consider tying the knot in Nevis.

If you are booking via a tour operator or travel organiser, discuss your requirements with them before booking, and if you are making your own arrangements, again, make sure that you contact your hotel, villa agent or a local wedding co-ordinator such as Kantours Vacation & Tour Consultants for advice.

Do think about the practicalities of what you want to do and how it will affect the enjoyment of the event. Consider the time of day when you would like to get married, and what you are going to wear. It may not be practical or comfortable to choose full- blown traditional attire and high heels if want to get married on a beach. Would getting sand in your shoes bother you? Most weddings take place late afternoon to avoid the heat and to use the best of the sunsets for romantic photos.

Legal requirements for getting married in St Kitts:

Residency - couples are required to be on St. Kitts or Nevis for two full working days before the wedding day. However, it will take three full working days for completion of all administrative and legal requirements. There are exceptions for visiting cruise ship passengers wishing to get married when arriving in port by pre-arrangement.

Both parties must have a valid passport and birth certificate (original or certified copy).

If either party is divorced, a decree absolute must be presented. If documents are not in English they must be accompanied by a notarised translation.

If either party is widowed, a copy of the death certificate of the deceased spouse must be presented.

If the ceremony is to be performed by a Catholic priest, it must take place in a Catholic Church, and a letter must come from the couple's parish priest verifying that they are unmarried and have received the necessary counselling sessions. You will also need to submit the necessary Catholic documents to the local Bishop (based in Antigua).

If an Anglican priest or other minister of religion is to perform the ceremony, a letter must come from the couple's parish minister verifying that they are known and unmarried. It the couple is resident in St Kitts and Nevis for the stipulated period, a notary public and a marriage officer will have to be paid. Charges vary from officer to officer.

If the couple is resident on St Kitts & Nevis for the minimum period of two working days prior to the marriage, the licence fee is US$80; if the couple is resident for 15 days, the fee is reduced to US$20.

If parties have never been married before an affidavit is required confirming single status and can be obtained from a Notary Public in the home country or on island for a cost of US$20 (compulsory on Nevis and optional on St Kitts).

If your documents are not in English they must be accompanied by a notarised translation.

The wedding ceremony can be performed between the hours of 6am and 6pm if performed by a religious person and between 8am and 6pm if performed by a Magistrate.

Wedding in St Kitts by Deana Bellamy