Specialist Under The Spotlight... Charlotte on Jamaica

Our Jamaica Specialist, Charlotte gives her advice on unique wedding & honeymoon ideas in Jamaica...

Jamaica has moved from ONCE YOU KNOW, YOU GO, and come into a new light - with its logo - NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL ALRIGHT, being especially true for weddings, as you can arrive on the island and get married within 48 hours, (with an express licence, no blood tests, or document translation fees, and the ceremony will be in English)

We have just booked a last minute May wedding, for a busy professional couple, who could only find a 7 day gap in both their schedules, and originally thought a European destination would be their only option, but were really looking for a beach wedding.  We arranged everything with the local resort coordinator so they can get married ASAP on the beach, and then spend a couple of days relaxing before returning back to the UK.

We had another couple who took their first trip there 4 years ago, as new boyfriend and girlfriend, then on their return a year later he proposed on the beach during a romantic private dinner.  They are now Mr and Mrs having just married in April on the same beach he proposed on, with 18 close family and local friends.

If you are looking for really unique wedding ideas, then Waterfall and River Weddings provide a picture perfect backdrop in places like: YS Falls, Reach Falls, Dunns River and Rose Hall.

For honeymoons, Half Moon is a beautiful hotel with what seems like deserted island endless beach, and superb luxury detailed villas and unique activities such as horseback riding and swimming with dolphins....

If you are looking for ultimate luxury then the over the water villas at Golden Eye are a must... The location is perfect for a quieter luxurious stay on the island.

Charlotte's Top Tips:

• Request a late afternoon/evening wedding time of 3-5pm as then your photos will have fantastic light and you will not be in the morning or mid-day sun.

• Make sure your wedding dress is loose fitting and as light as possible to avoid overheating on your special day, even in the evening 

• And before your wedding day  - don't sunbathe for longer than 15 mins at a time in the sun  - even with SPF50

For more information visit:

PerfectWeddingsAbroad.co.uk / PerfectHoneymoonsAbroad.co.uk 

Jamaica Wedding Hot Spots

It’s easy to see the appeal of getting married in a tropical paradise; warm waves, dreamy beaches and sunsets more romantic than you can imagine.

Marry on the Negril's world famous 7-mile stretch of white sand beach, a beautiful location for a sand in between your toes wedding, or Ocho Rios and Montego Bay also have fabulous beaches.The 600-feet-tall Dunn’s River Falls is simply breathtaking, you can swap vows right next to its thundering cascade. By night, watch the spectacular sunsets, sway to the island’s famous music, and sample the bewildering array of rum cocktails.

Azul Sensatori

The Azul Sensatori by Karisma is a tropical paradise located on the world famous Negril beach. One of the highlights of this hotel is its adults-only section, where you can step straight into the lazy river and enjoy cocktails at the swim-up bar. What’s even better is the Gourmet Inclusive dining which means you can enjoy unlimited food and drink around the clock, plus 4 A La Carte restaurants offering everything from local Caribbean to Italian cuisine. This resort offers a range of different wedding locations to suit everyone’s needs. Plus receive a number of perks when you book your guests here including a complimentary cocktail reception!

Hilton Rose Hall

Situated along the pristine shores that once served as the site of an 18th century sugar plantation, this Caribbean haven exudes an unforgettable ambiance in a stunning tropical setting. There is no shortage of romantic venues to choose from at Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa. With 400 acres of grounds, couples can hold their nuptials in one of our many garden or poolside locations, or perhaps in our wedding gazebo. For a more exclusive affair, couples may prefer to celebrate their marriage by the seaside ruins of an 1837 aqueduct, or on the stone steps of the grand Rose Hall Plantation House. Other options include a secluded waterfall on the Cinnamon Hill Golf Course or the Johnny Cash villa – exclusively for use by Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa guests.

Grand Bahia Principe

The spectacular Gran Bahia Príncipe hotel is located on the beachfront in Runaway Bay, a privileged spot on the north coast of Jamaica. This hotel has a beautiful garden gazebo and what’s even better is your wedding package is free. The Montego Bay international airport is 50 minutes away and less than 30 minutes away is the town of Ocho Rios, known for its beautiful beaches and a good place for shopping. 

For more information on our Jamaica wedding venues click here

Or call to speak to one of our Jamaica Wedding Specialists on Freephone 0808 168 1210

Sandals Grande Riviera, Jamaica relaunched as Ochi Beach Resort

As of this month, the Sandals Grande Riviera in Ocho Rios, Jamaica  has relaunched as the Ochi Beach Resort.

No place embodies the soul of Jamaica like Ochi Beach Resort. Wrapped in the lush beauty of rolling mountains, meandering rivers, cascading waterfalls and a picture-perfect coastline. The Ochi represents an essence of cool Caribbean combined with a distinctive fusion of the French Riviera.

The resort has recently undergone extensive refurbishment with the addition of new restaurants offering plenty of variety including Tapas on the Riviera, French cuisine at Le Gourmand, beachside seafood restaurant, Vista Sky Terrace, The Southern Table, offering soul food and The Jerk Shack with Jamaican cuisine.

A new speakeasy bar The Rabbit Hole and deck lounge and bar, Tree House, have also been added.

Further upgrades include the 'Popcorn & Palms Cinema' along with a new garden and updated furniture.

For more information on the Ochi Beach Resort click here

Jamaica Weddings Caribbean in Focus

Jamaica is teeming with culture, nightlife and natural beauty spots, delicious and distinctive cuisine, soothing spas, a host of activities and attractions, historic houses and trails, botanical gardens and stunning white sand beaches.

Top properties: Strawberry Hill, Half Moon, Mocking Bird Hill, Ritz-Carlton Rosehall, Jamaica Inn, SuperClubs Breezes, Couples Sans Souci Resort, Couples Negril,
Sandals Negril, Geejam, Iberostar.

Hot spot to watch: The area of Port Antonio. The resort area of Montego Bay with resorts such as The Palmyra, A Solis Resort and Secrets Resorts: Secrets Wild Orchid and Secrets St. James.

Landscape: Beaches, hills, mountains, rainforests, valleys, rivers and waterfalls.

Activities: Bamboo rafting, river tubing, kayaking, canopy tours, horse riding, mountain biking, dog sledding.

Marriage Requirements: If you apply in advance for a marriage licence, you can get married 24 hours after arrival.

Arrangements are made through your hotel or travel agent or directly through the Ministry of Justice.

Residency Requirement: Twenty-four hours which must include a working day.

Documents Required: Essential documents plus original or certified copies of birth certificates, which include father’s name. Proof of citizenship. Written parental consent if under 18. Change of name by deed poll proven by an Affidavit. Proof of divorce if applicable. Certified death certificate for widow(er).

Fees: The cost of a licence is JM$4000 (approximately US$60-US$65).
Witnesses: Two people are required.

Lovers Paradise:
Visit Lovers’ Leap and delight in the stunning view from the 1,600-foot cliff, and hear the captivating story how Lovers Leap got its name. Hike to the top of YS Falls and take time to swing down the cascading waters, Tarzan-and-Jane style. Go for a romantic starry Moonlit horseback ride. Revive your love taking a romantic river ride on a 30-foot bamboo raft on the Martha Brae and be captivated by the intriguing legend of Miss Martha’s Gold hidden away in a mysterious cave yet to be discovered. Or just find yourself a romantic secret bathing place around Treasure Beach. Frolic in the exhilarating cascading waters of the world famous Dunn’s River Falls.

Weddings in Jamaica visit:
http://www.perfectweddingsabroad.co.uk/destination/Caribbean/Jamaica
Source: Information kindly supplied by Caribbean Tourism Organisation: http://www.caribbean.co.uk/content/files/CaribbeanWeddingGuide2011.pdf

2011 All Inclusive Caribbean Weddings

Due to the increasing popularity of fully-inclusive weddings abroad, Perfect Weddings Abroad are delighted to launch a new Caribbean-only website focusing on the Breezes 'super-inclusive' resorts. The resorts in Jamaica, Bahamas and Curacao are fabulous locations for adults, and in the case of Breezes Trelawny families alike.

The wedding packages include all of the usual bits that weddings abroad couples require, as well as the return flights from the UK, in-resort tranfers and accommodation for 14 nights on an all-inclusive basis. The prices start from a very reasonable £2,185 per couple (based on October 2010 flights from London Gatwick).

The new website for Breezes Resorts Weddings has just gone live and includes wedding packages in the following resorts:

Jamaica:

Breezes Grand Negril
Breezes Rio Bueno
Breezes Trelawny
Breezes Runaway Bay

as well as Breezes Curacao and Breezes Bahamas.

Perfect Weddings Abroad has also increased its Caribbean Portfolio for 2011 to include new destinations...