Should You Get Married in Jamaica?

You only get married once, as the saying goes, right? So if you're planning a wedding, the setting, the backdrop, the day – you want it to be pretty special. And if you're considering a destination wedding, well, you might as well make it somewhere you'll never forget.

For our Head of Operations, Sarah, that place was Jamaica.

Back in 2009 – what seems like a millennium ago now – Sarah and her brand-new husband spent two weeks at Sunset at the Palms in Negril for their wedding and honeymoon.

And here's the fun bit: they didn't actually choose Jamaica first and then go looking for a hotel. They chose the hotel first. Strange concept, we know. But Sarah wanted somewhere different. Somewhere they hadn't stayed before. Somewhere that felt a little more special than simply booking a block of rooms and turning up.

And Sarah has worked in travel for most of her life, so when it comes to destinations, believe us, she's been to a few. But the hotel and the setting were key for them.

And that hotel led them to Jamaica.

Barefoot, on the beach, in Jamaica

There was no big, formal walk down a church aisle for Sarah. Instead, she walked barefoot along the beach, with her wedding party doing the same. The team at the resort had created a coconut-lined walkway for her to walk down, while her wedding coordinator scattered flower petals as she made her way to the ceremony.

She walked down the aisle to 'Over the Rainbow' by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole, before the whole wedding party walked back up the beach to Bob Marley's 'One Love'. Tell us a more Jamaican soundtrack. Go on, we dare you.

The best part of the wedding – well, other than marrying the love of her life, of course. You're welcome, Sarah, as that little detail was missing from our interview! But seriously, Sarah says the whole thing was completely stress-free. And with wedding planning now being a whole industry, and many a bridezilla created along the way, that sounds pretty much like the dream to us.

How easy is it to get married in Jamaica?

If you're considering a destination wedding, there's probably one question sitting at the back of your mind: “But how on earth do you organise a wedding from another country?” For Sarah, it was surprisingly simple. The resort's wedding coordinator took care of everything, from arranging her hair appointment to organising the flowers and setting up the ceremony. In fact, Sarah says it took around an hour to organise everything.

That's it. An hour.

When you think about how long some couples spend choosing flowers, chasing suppliers and trying to coordinate different parts of their wedding at home, that's quite a contrast. And it meant that when the actual day arrived, there was nothing left to worry about.

Just enjoy it.

A wedding without the wedding-day stress After the ceremony, Sarah and her guests had a private dining experience, with the wedding coordinator decorating the space for them. It wasn't about putting on some huge, elaborate production. It was personal, relaxed and, most importantly, stress-free.

And isn't that what you want?

You've already made the big decision to get married. You don't want to spend the day wondering whether the flowers have arrived or whether the table decorations look right. You want to actually remember the day.

Why Jamaica works so well for a wedding

After hearing Sarah's story, it's pretty easy to see why Jamaica has become such a popular destination for weddings and honeymoons. The island is practically made for it. We're talking warm Caribbean evenings, palm trees, beautiful beaches, turquoise water and sunsets that don't need a filter. And the resorts are set up for it too. There are properties across Jamaica offering dedicated wedding planners and wedding packages, so much of the organisation can be taken care of for you.

You can get married barefoot on the beach, in a tropical garden or somewhere overlooking the sea. And then there's the fact that your wedding and your holiday can all happen in the same place. Which brings us nicely to...

The resort becomes part of the experience. This is probably one of the biggest reasons we love the idea of a resort wedding. Your wedding doesn't have to be just one day. If your friends and family are travelling all the way to Jamaica with you, why not make the whole trip part of the celebration? Arrive. Settle in. Have a few drinks together. Get married. Celebrate. Then carry on enjoying the island. There are lively resorts where everyone can meet up for dinner and drinks, quieter adults-only properties if you want something more intimate, and plenty of all-inclusive options where you don't have to spend your holiday worrying about who's paying for what.

Food? Sorted.

Drinks? Sorted.

Beach? Right there.

It's hard to argue with that.

And when the wedding is over... This is where Jamaica really earns its place as a honeymoon destination.

Jamaica Honeymoons

After months – or, more realistically in this climate, years – of wedding planning, you probably want your honeymoon to just relax, right? One of the best things about getting married in Jamaica is that you don't necessarily have to move on once the wedding is over.

Your honeymoon has already started. No packing. No airport transfer the next morning. No checking into another hotel.

Just more Jamaica.

More beach.

More sunshine.

And most importantly, more rum punch.

Your honeymoon can be exactly what you want it to be. Want to sped your entire wek not moving from that sun lounger? Why not!  Want something more adventurous well, there's plenty to see. In Negril, you've got the famous Seven Mile Beach, laid-back beach bars and those spectacular sunsets. Then there are the cliffs, where you can spend an evening at Rick's Cafe, watching the sun go down and the more adventurous visitors jumping into the Caribbean below.

Sunset at the Palms

Sarah stayed at Sunset at the Palms in Negril, an adults-only all-inclusive resort surrounded by tropical gardens. And it's not your typical huge resort. The rooms are set among the trees in a kind of tropical treehouse style, giving the property a more intimate feel. There's a private beach club across the road, restaurants, bars, pools and plenty of space to simply switch off.

It's easy to see why it appealed to Sarah and her husband when they were looking for somewhere they'd never stayed before. And for couples getting married there today, the resort offers wedding options including ceremonies in the tropical gardens and celebrations on the beach, with a wedding coordinator helping with the details.

Of course, a lot has changed since Sarah's trip in 2009 – but the reason she chose the resort in the first place still feels pretty relevant.

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