Tropical Nuptials in Jamaica

By Melanie Reffes

Fairy-tale weddings come true in Jamaica. Whether your dream is to walk barefoot down a sun- and surf-kissed aisle or celebrate your big day amid bright blooms in an elegant ballroom, the island has you covered. With countless romantic settings and expert wedding planners from coast to coast, when deciding to have your wedding in Jamaica, it’s so easy to say: “I do.”

Sandals and Beaches Resorts have teamed up with Martha Stewart to provide innumerable wedding options with six artistic themes: the “Vision in White” for couples who prefer a classic white wedding, from party favors to desserts; “Flutter of Romance,” incorporating butterflies for a splash of whimsy; “Seaside Serenade,” where couples exchange vows under a seashell-studded bamboo arch; “Chic and Natural” for the organic twosome; “Island Paradise,” a ceremony studded with rainbow-hued orchids; and the elegantly simple “Beautiful Beginnings.”

Celebrating “second time around” and “third time lucky” weddings, Franklyn D. Resort is delighted to host couples with kids in tow. While wedding planners look after every detail from the minister to the music, newly blended families have plenty of quality time to bond on the beach or enjoy a round of massages in the spa.

At Couples Tower Isle, Couples Sans Souci, Couples Swept Away and Couples Negril, marriage proposals carved in ice are a cool way to pop the question. Add a bottle of bubbly and a box of chocolate-covered strawberries, and eager grooms will get a “yes” every time.

Honeymoons in paradise are the norm at Tensing Pen on the western tip of Negril. Here scattered along the cliffs you’ll find a collection of surreal thatch and stone cottages with interiors crafted by local artisans from bamboo, mahogany and cedar, and sunning patios carved out of the rocks. This is the stuff of storybook honeymoons for couples who dream of sultry sunsets and lazy mornings.

Villa Cindy at the Sunflower Cottages and Villas welcomes active honeymooners who enjoy a round on the golf course, a game of tennis or an afternoon horseback riding on the beach.

Secrets Ultimate Weddings at the adults-only Secrets St. James and adjacent Secrets Wild Orchid in Montego Bay exude grown-up sophistication from sunrise to sunset. Newlyweds toast their nuptials in Vera Wang-designed champagne flutes as a Jamaican musical trio sets the mood and a photographer snaps souvenir memories of the special day.

A treasure trove of treats awaits honeymooners at the Sunset Beach Resort in Montego Bay, Sunset Jamaica Grande Resort in Ocho Rios and Sunset at the Palms in Negril. Room upgrades, complimentary photos of the happy couple, a bottle of sparkling wine and flower petal turndown service are some of the romantic signatures at this trio of all-inclusive resorts along the north and western coasts.

Weddings are movie-set perfect at Round Hill in Montego Bay, where How Stella Got Her Groove Back was filmed, and where its star Taye Diggs returned to marry his sweetheart, Broadway singer Idina Menzel, in a seaside fairy tale wedding. Honeymooners create their own magic in chic villas with private pools while toasting the sunset with a chilled glass of the resort’s own Cabernet Sauvignon.

For the independent-minded couple, arranging a ceremony without the advice of hotel wedding planners is part of the fun. On Cornwall Beach, fronting the Hip Strip in Montego Bay, barefoot weddings on the beach are a breeze in a seaside gazebo adorned with bouquets of vibrant blooms. A minister not only performs the ceremony but also offers counseling to warm up cold feet, while the Cornwall’s resident chef whips up a Jamaican feast.

Adored as the garden parish, St. Ann in Ocho Rios lures with awe-inspiring views of gushing waterfalls and rainforests brimming with wild ferns. With a name that gets its meaning from the Arawak word for paradise, Coyaba River Garden is teeming with lush verdant backdrops at every turn.

Sky-high weddings are taking off at Rainforest Adventures at Mystic Mountain in Ocho Rios. The “I Do at 700 Feet” ceremony woos daring couples that want to get hitched while flying high through the treetops on the Sky Explorer or on the lawn atop Mystic Mountain. Note to celebrity spotters: Olympic runner Usian Bolt is a fan of the park and visits often! Weddings include photographs of the high-octane ceremony and two witnesses — in case you forgot to bring them with you. 

Nestled in the foothills of the Blue Mountains, red cabana beds on a soft sandy beach are the stuff of musical memories at Geejam. Built as a recording studio for artists like No Doubt and Gorillaz, this Island Outpost boutique resort is pitch-perfect for newlyweds and honeymooners alike.

Friendly innkeepers also roll out the regal red carpet to those in love at the eco-boutique Hotel Mocking Bird Hill outside Port Antonio. The quaint 10-room hideaway built on a hillside celebrates love with complimentary afternoon tea service, Sundowner cocktails on the hotel terrace and heart-racing views of the awesome countryside. The five-night “Heavenly Honeymoon” package woos newlyweds with a leisurely breakfast on the balcony, gourmet dinner in the Mille Fleurs restaurant and an unhurried afternoon floating down the Rio Grande River in a bamboo raft built for two.

A scenic drive from Port Antonio winding through the majestic Blue Mountains takes you to Kingston. In the capital, the Jamaica Pegasus is the hotel of choice for city slickers in love. The spectacular Talk of the Town ballroom on the 18th floor boasts panoramic vistas of the city and a dance floor guaranteed to keep the happy couple and their guests jammin’ and jivin’ till the sun comes up. With a wedding party of 50 revelers or more, the lucky couple will receive a bouquet of gifts from the hotel, including a night in the honeymoon suite, breakfast the next morning and expert advice from the wedding team — from arranging limousine service to hiring disc jockeys and cake decorators.

Next door, the Courtleigh Hotel is a favorite of savvy locals and discerning travelers. Weddings in the garden terrace won’t break the bridal bank with extras like mimosas for the wedding party and the honeymoon suite for the bride and groom, with late checkout the next morning.

Find a fantastic wedding or honeymoon hotel or resort in our Lodging section.

Find a beautiful, scenic location to host your dream wedding, party, meeting or event in our Dining section.

Remember to shop for gifts or gift baskets for your wedding party, or guests!  Shop here.

Jamaica offers a variety of different landscapes and experiences — all with their own unique charm. Find your destination wedding location; beach, mountain, waterfall, or off the beaten path place now.  

Images Courtesy of (in order of appearance): Half Moon Resort (2 & 3), Ritz-Carlton Weddings (4), Sandals Resorts (5), RIU Resorts (6, 7 & 8), Weddings at Mystic Mountain (9), Beach Wedding Ocho Rios (10)