Have you been dreaming about a tropical wedding? With balmy breezes and exotic music of steel pans playing in the background? St. Thomas and St. John have some of the most beautiful wedding locations of any tropical destination. From a beach wedding on Magens Bay Beach, voted one of the world’s most beautiful beaches, to a wedding on a sailboat during a sunset cruise or to a location at one of the islands beautiful tropical gardens (Villa Botanica or St. Thomas Greathouse) your most memorable event can take place exactly as you have dreamed. Casual to formal, small or large, the choices are yours. And traveling to the US Virgin Islands does not require a passport allowing your guests, some of whom may not have passports, to attend the wedding.
Don’t know where to start?
Whether you decide to go it alone, organizing your own perfect wedding, or choose one of the many Virgin Islands wedding planners to help you, this information should answer many of the questions you may have.
Requirements for Getting Married in the Virgin Islands
If you plan to be married in the Virgin Islands you will need to obtain a VI marriage License. There are no residency or citizenship requirements, no blood test, no physical examination. The couple must appear in person at the courthouse when they pick up their license and must present photo IDs (drivers license or passport) at that time.
There are two forms necessary for you to fill out and submit to the court (you can download both forms at www.stthomasthisweek. com/weddings). Both forms must be typed. The Superior Court is very strict about the exactness of these forms. Forms that do not comply with the instructions will not be accepted by the Court.
An additional charge of $30.00 will apply if the license processor has to re-type any licenses. There must be no abbreviations (this includes states and months). You must fill out the confidential information at the bottom of the License and Certificate of Marriage form. Once completed, print the forms and sign in the spaces provided.
If you have been previously married, a certified copy of your most recent original divorce decree must be sent. The divorce must be final 30 days prior to the application date. The decree must show a raised seal or stamp. “Certified” means from the court in which you were divorced – not notarized. It must be an original certified copy.
If either party is widowed, a certified copy of your deceased spouse’s death certificate must be sent. The certificate must show a raised seal or stamp. “Certified” means from the Department of Vital Statistics in the state where the death occurred – not notarized. It must be an original certified copy.
The non-refundable processing fee for the marriage license is $200.00 and must be mailed with the application. Acceptable forms of payment include certified check or money order made out to the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. Court marriages in front of a judge are performed on weekdays by appointment and will cost around $200. There is an additional court fee of $150.00 if wedding date is on a Sunday or USVI Holiday. Religious ceremonies should be arranged directly with church officials.
The above items must be express mailed (faxed copies cannot be accepted) to the following address no later than thirty (30) days prior to your wedding day. Please follow up with a phone call to confirm receipt and get your license number. You will also need to schedule an appointment in advance to pick up the paperwork.
Superior Court of t he Virgin Islands
Post Office Box 70
St. Thomas, VI 00804
Telephone: (340) 774-6680
(ask for the Marriage License Department)
These documents will be kept by the license bureau in St. Thomas and will not be returned to the bride and groom.
You will receive a certified copy of your marriage license approximately 6-8 weeks following your ceremony. This document will be mailed directly to your home.
Want to Consult Some Local Experts?
Wedding planners are great resources. Their knowledge of the islands and weddings will make everything much easier for you. They can plan everything from simple to elaborate. They can customize your wedding allowing you to pick and choose the elements to suit your budget and wedding size.
Bolongo Beach Resort – St. Thomas
Bolongo Bay Weddings’ motto is “Be dazzled, not frazzled, with a stress-free destination wedding”. From unique ceremonies on their beautiful palm-lined beach to a sunset cruise on their private catamaran to an unforgettable event under the stars, your perfect day comes to life. Every wedding can be fully customized to create the wedding of your dreams. Their in-house wedding planner will help you plan your most important day from start to finish whether large or for just the two of you.
Caneel Bay Resort – St. John
For couples wishing simply to get away from the stress of planning a big wedding Caneel Bay has a package just for you. From a ceremony for just the two of you including flowers, cake, champagne and dinner for two to a gathering of thirty or more guests which takes place on one of their lovely beaches, they can put together a wedding that will remain a special experience that you and your guests will never forget. From casual to elegant…. small to large, Caneel Bay Resort is one of those special places offering special, memorable weddings.
For a complete list of local VI wedding planners, along with associated wedding suppliers (churches, photographers, cakes, flowers, rentals, etc) see our weddings page: www.stthomasthisweek.com/st-thomas/weddings.
Let us know below.