If you've ever dreamed of marrying your sweetheart with the sun shining overhead, pristine sand beneath your feet & a gentle beach breeze in the air, a destination wedding in the Caribbean is ideal. While the tropical conditions on these islands are obviously conducive to a carefree big day, there are certain aspects of a wedding that require consideration & planning for a truly memorable celebration. Wondering what the top trends are for a ceremony in this exotic locale? These are just a few that brides- & grooms-to-be are buzzing about:
Location & decoration The exact location of a destination wedding ceremony depends largely on the couple's tastes & preferences. After all, this special day should reflect the eccentricities & unique qualities of their relationship. However, certain islands are attracting a significant amount of attention for these events.
Aviva Samuels, founder of Kiss the Planner, reported that St. Lucia is one of the hottest destinations right now for weddings & honeymoons. According to Samuels, many couples are attracted to this island because the Piton Mountains & botanical gardens both provide a breathtaking background. She mentioned Sandals Grande St. Lucia Resort & Spa as a top pick.
She revealed that another popular location is Antigua, which boasts a bevy of pristine white & pink sand beaches as well as a highly unusual wall of coves, coral reef & other striking natural wonders. It's no surprise that Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa came highly recommended from Samuels: It has been named the "World's Most Romantic Resort."
As far as the ambience goes, Travel Age & West reported that according to research by Sandals, brides-to-be are opting for sea glass, soft sand & other neutral color palettes. Additionally, Wedding Republic revealed that patterns, from playful polka-dots to classic stripes, are becoming popular for decor.
In terms of flowers, Travel Age & West noted that the Dendrobium Orchid is the most chosen blossom for island weddings.
Food & fun For guests, the food is one of the best parts of a wedding reception, so it definitely shouldn't be neglected. Many couples are choosing to incorporate local fare to support the region's economy while also giving the celebration an authentic vibe. According to Travel Age & West, Sandals' studies determined that the most popular flavor for wedding cakes is somewhat predictable: Caribbean Fruit. A considerable 40 percent of couples selected this flavor, while another 35 percent went with vanilla & 25 percent chose chocolate. Wedding Republic pointed to mini desserts as another alternative that many couples are turning to so that guests can sample a variety of treats.
Travel Age & West noted that another emerging trend is to have a live Caribbean band providing the soundtrack for dancing at the reception. Meanwhile, some couples are deciding to take a sunset cruise for an even more romantic celebration.
Attire & accessories Brides just want to have fun, & a destination wedding in the Caribbean presents the perfect opportunity to do just that. There's no reason to stick with traditional dress styles – more brides are opting to don an unusual gown that's more tailored to fit to their personality. Wedding Republic revealed that many brides are going for two-in-one gowns so that they can change up their look instantly between the ceremony & reception without having to run off to the dressing room. Dresses with pockets are also big for practicality reasons. With this convenient feature, you can easily keep a lip gloss or other small necessity on hand for emergency touch ups.
Couples are also getting more tech-savvy for their big day. Wedding Republic pointed out that social media is starting to play a prevalent role in these occasions, especially as brides look to share photos & other details with friends & family throughout the planning process.
