A dynamic nation filled with influences from French, English, and African cultures, St. Lucia is an ideal destination wedding location for couples that like adventure and cultural exploration balanced by luxury and pampering. Offering an abundance of accommodations ranging from all-inclusive resorts to boutique, luxury hotels, this nation can suit any preference as long as you enjoy the sparkling water of the Caribbean, unfettered nature that’s shockingly vibrant, and powder-soft sand. It will be easy to convince your wedding guests to book a trip (especially on the Travel page of your wedding website!) to this paradisical setting.
St. Lucia Destination Wedding Tips
St. Lucians have made major moves to make their country a coveted location for destination weddings, ensuring everything from finding dreamy resorts to acquiring a marriage license is a breeze. Additionally, St. Lucia is known for its gorgeous weather and pristine beaches that melt into the Caribbean Sea. To ensure you take full advantage of this stunning environment, consider the following four tips.
1. Plan Your Wedding for May
The month of May is the sweet spot for St. Lucia weddings. It’s not part of the expensive high season that runs from December – March or hurricane season that runs from June – November.
2. Know the Documents to Bring
While it’s pretty easy to get a wedding license in St. Lucia, you want to make sure you show up with the right identification and paperwork. The gist of scoring this oh-so-important document is to bring your passports, birth certificates, the immigration form you received when you entered St. Lucia, and a decree absolute if you or your fiancé have been divorced before.
You’re required to present these items at the attorney general’s office at least two working days before your wedding day. You can expect to pay $125USD, or $200USD if you need a same-day license. And here’s a funny St. Lucian quirk: Wedding ceremonies must be completed after sunrise and before sunset to be considered valid.
3. Utilize Local Musicians
Music is a big part of St. Lucian culture which is why there’s a variety of musicians who are pros at everything from country to traditional Caribbean tunes. If you want something that fills your nuptials with tropical vibes, hire a steel or calypso band. But if you want something wholly unique, consider a shak-shak band for your wedding reception. This type of band typically consists of a rattle or shekere, fiddle, cuatro, banjo, and drum.
4. Watch Those Tan Lines
If you’re planning on arriving at your resort a few days before the big day, make sure you’re a shade and sunscreen worshipper, especially if your dress is strapless. The intense Caribbean sun can quickly provide you with a golden glow… or lobster skin. So if you’d rather not have tan lines in your wedding photos, avoid major sun-soaking until after you say “I do.”
The Best St. Lucia Destination Wedding Venues
Here’s where to go to ensure you have a St. Lucia destination wedding that’s filled with stunning views, impeccable service, finely-appointed accommodations, and the best in bespoke wedding services.
1. Jade Mountain Resort
A location so idyllic that a finale on The Bachelor was filmed here, Jade Mountain Resort is the place to go for couples that want the quintessential St. Lucia destination wedding experience. This resort only allows one wedding a day and lets couples choose from a range of ceremony and reception options (at the resort or at its sister property, Anse Chastanet). Some of the most popular sites include an old colonial plantation with 18th-century remains, a nearby waterfall, or a beach by the coral reef.
The popular “Elope to Paradise” wedding package includes a tropical wedding bouquet, boutonnière for the groom, a wedding planner and staff, a choice of wedding locations on the 600-acre property, décor at the wedding location, a two-tier wedding cake, and a special dinner table for the wedding party. This package also includes all the legal processes and fees required to obtain the marriage license. All you have to do is show up with the documentation mentioned above.
Typical Cost: $1,095 – $4,750
Capacity: 100
Bonus: The resort occasionally offers free wedding packages. Additionally, it’s easily accessible and only a mile-and-a-half from the town of Soufriere.
Find Jade Mountain Resort on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
2. Sandals Regency La Toc
One of the most popular destination wedding sites in Castries and throughout all of St. Lucia, this iteration of the iconic Sandals resort is all-inclusive and provides free wedding packages! From the winding palm-lined entrance, palatial common areas, and executive-style golf course to the fine dining restaurants, Unlimited Robert Mondavi Twin Oaks® wines, and plush accommodations, Sandals Regency La Toc is coated in glamour.
If you book a stay for three or more nights, you can relish in a wedding package that comes at the perfect price of free and allows you to pledge your love on a picturesque, half-mile crescent-shaped beach that hugs exotic coral bluffs, vibrant hillsides, and manicured fairways. This complimentary package includes a fuchsia dendrobium orchid bouquet and boutonnière, a table for eight clad in crisp linens, an elaborate centerpiece, and a white fondant wedding cake. More elaborate packages are available at an additional cost. Known by many as “Emerald of the Caribbean,” this resort lives up to its nickname.
Note: This is an adults-only resort, so it will be a no-go if kids will be in your wedding or on the guest list.
Typical Cost: Free, if you’re a resort guest for more than three nights. Customized wedding packages range from $1,700 – $2,900.
Capacity: 80
Bonus: You’ll really feel like a queen (or king!) when your butler, dressed in a full-on butler uniform, caters to your every need as you lounge on the beach or dine on deliciousness in your private veranda.
Find Sandals Regency La Toc on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
3. Cap Maison
It’s easy to craft a dream wedding at this enchanting resort which sits on a secluded seaside bluff overlooking the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Ensuring full attention is given to your special day, Cap Maison only hosts one wedding every three weeks and appoints you a wedding coordinator. While all weddings are customizable, the venue provides three packages crafted to suit all budgets. Plus, these packages are complimentary when you book a stay for seven nights or more in the room category attached to each package.
Out of its multiple wedding locations, Smugglers Gazebo is the most popular as it provides dazzling views of the Caribbean Sea with the island of Martinique as the backdrop. Rock Maison is a popular event site for more intimate celebrations and is positioned right above the ocean, providing the soundtrack of gently lapping waves. Many larger receptions are hosted at the resort’s restaurant, The Cliff at Cap, as it features premier views of the sea and garden.
Typical Cost: Free if you stay for seven or more nights. Packages range from $1,650 – $3,800 if you won’t stay for at least seven nights.
Capacity: 120
Bonus: The venue offers a range of food packages that provide mouthwatering dishes like Roasted Pumpkin with Coconut Velouté, Rib of Lamb with Caramelized Anise, Provencal Vegetables, Tarragon, and Tomato Jus, and Island Spiced Bread Pudding with Rum Butter Scotch Sauce.
Find Cap Maison on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
4. Marigot Bay Resort and Marina by Capella
This opulent five-star resort sits on the shores of Marigot Bay and is one of the most tropical locations in the area. Marigot Bay Resort and Marina by Capella is also a fairly secluded resort, making it a great choice for couples that want privacy. Favorite ceremony locations include the serene Alexandria Garden, the cozy Tree House, or a privately chartered yacht that sets sail at sunset.
Additionally, the resort provides you with a Romance Specialist who will cater to your every wedding need, help you plan, and make sure everything runs smoothly on the big day. As you’ll likely want to sprinkle your downtime with activities before or after the wedding, know the resort offers everything from sunset cruises and couples’ massages to culinary immersions and tours through their onsite rum cave.
Typical Cost: $1,000 – $4,500
Capacity: 100
Bonus: Many of the wedding packages include special perks such as a 60-minute couples’ Swedish massage and spa discounts for the bridal party.
Find Marigot Bay Resort and Marina by Capella on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
5. Stonefield Estate Resort
Framed by the Pitons, this resort is ideal for couples that relish the majesty of the mountains. Set on 27 acres of lush hillside blooming with tropical flora, fruit trees, and flowers, Stonefield Estate Resort makes you feel like you’ve stumbled on a hidden paradise. Beyond the natural environment, the design of the resort is spectacular as it emulates a plantation-style home that provides a luxurious, boutique experience. This is an “I can’t bear to leave” kind of place.
The Pearl Package provides the marriage license, airport transport, a tropical arch for the ceremony, the bridal bouquet and groom’s boutonnière, a one-tier wedding cake, a bottle of champagne to toast, and a ‘couples’ first marriage breakfast in bed.’ Meanwhile, The Diamond Package offers slight upgrades such as a two-tier cake, bamboo arch, candlelit dinner, and 60-minute couples’ massage. Both packages accommodate ceremonies at the most coveted site for the exchange of vows: a deck backed by the 2,400-foot Petit Piton that rises from the water near the resort.
Typical Cost: $1,200 – $2,000
Capacity: 120
Bonus: The venue provides amazing one-, two- three-, and five-bedroom villas that provide breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and optimal privacy. Each villa features a private pool, terraces, and garden showers.
