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How to Have an Epic Destination Wedding at Turks and Caicos
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You can never go wrong with a destination wedding at Grace Bay Beach on Providenciales. It is the most popular location for beach weddings or sunset boat ride elopements. There are several luxury charter companies that can sail the entire wedding party to idyllic cays like Water Cay, Fort George Cay, or Half Moon Bay.
We want you to have your dream destination wedding and the best experience possible in the country. So we’ve put together this quick guide to help you plan your big day and show you what our local establishments have to offer.
Obtaining a Marriage License in Turks and Caicos
Let’s begin with the legalities of your special day. Before the ceremony may take place, a marriage license must be obtained from the Registrar’s Office in Turks and Caicos.
If you are a cruise ship passenger, you can obtain your marriage license on the day of your wedding. However, keep in mind that arrangements still need to be made in advance.
To begin the proceedings, you must present a valid passport and original birth certificate, as well as proof of your current marital status. For more information on marriage license requirements, you can check out the full guide here.
How Long Do You Need to Be in Turks and Caicos Before Getting Married?
Planning your Dream Wedding
To make your wedding planning as stress-free for you as possible, we recommend hiring a wedding planner that is local to the area. Local wedding planners will not only relieve a lot of stress, but they will have all the inside information on what is possible for your event and can help you with anything from photography to design to entertainment and catering.
Tropical Destination Management is one of the well-recognized event planning businesses in the country that is in partnership with several reception locations and outside catering companies. Its mission is to provide you with the most memorable events possible.
Where Can You Get Married in Turks and Caicos?
You can hold your wedding ceremony at the local church, hotel or one of the best destination wedding resorts. You can also opt for a private vacation villa, yacht, chartered airplane, or one of our many stunning beaches or uninhabited cays.
A Minister or Justice of the Peace can officiate the ceremony at the location of your choice. Other than the officiant, you must have two witnesses at the ceremony.
If you are a Christian, we have local pastors from several denominations in the area. If you are of the Jewish faith, a local branch of Chabad Lubavitch hosts a visiting rabbi.
To receive a copy of your marriage certificate, you will need to complete the relevant documents from your marriage officiant, and it will then be mailed to your home address. Because records are retained in the Turks and Caicos Islands, there is no provision for marriages to be recorded in the parties’ home countries.
Getting in Touch with Florists for Your Wedding
Because most flowers are imported, local florists in Turks and Caicos offer a limited range of flowers. If requirements are expressed, flowers must be flown in or shipped in a chilled shipping container in advance.
There are a few flower shops in the area that provide wedding services. All decorations, as expected, are handcrafted from mass imported flowers, making each design and bridal bouquet ‘bespoke’ to an extent. Therefore, giving your selected florist or wedding planner enough notice is important.
If you do wish to use local flowers, our local blooms are bougainvillea, which comes in purple, pink, peach, white, or salmon, the yellow elder, the sky blue plumbago, beach morning glory, hibiscus, cork tree, and mahoe, royal poinciana, wood rose, several types of white lilies, and a variety of frangipani.
A local distinguished wedding florist in Grace Bay, who caters throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands is Flowers by EA.
Choosing your Wedding Photographer
Turks and Caicos is without a doubt the perfect backdrop for your wedding because of our turquoise waters and white sand beaches. We have several award-winning photographers and videographers who specialize in weddings.
Many of our local photographers provide wedding photography packages that include images of the married couple, groomsmen and groom, bride and bridesmaids, wedding party, and casual honeymoon shots.
Photo sessions at sunset and sunrise are popular in the country, and drone video footage is becoming a standard inclusion.
There are also outlying locations where taxis charge a higher fare if it’s unlikely to have a passenger on the return trip, so be prepared.
To capture your unforgettable moments, check out our highly sought-after photographers Brilliant Studios and Paradise Photography.
Deciding on the Wedding Music
Setting the mood of your event through music is key to a memorable evening. You can opt for either a local DJ, musician, or a band.
DJs are less expensive than live bands, and Turks and Caicos have a large range of them. For events, they usually have a stock of sound equipment and speakers. DJ Dayoh is one of the well-known professional local event DJs.
Live music options include anything from classic pop and rock to contemporary Caribbean and Reggae styles that are popular throughout the region. Bands and solo artists perform with instruments ranging from guitars and drums to keyboards and the unique local ripsaw.
Our top local musician is Lovey Forbes, whose genre has been influenced by Bahamian music and is generally referred to as true Turks and Caicos music. Sally Greenwood is a popular local vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, who plays a range of pop, rock, and blues. Jervon Laport is a saxophonist in the Turks and Caicos and performs at upscale events at resorts and venues across the country.
There are also several skilled professional solo violinists, pianists, and saxophonists on the island if you’re searching for a classical vibe with a more romantic ambiance.
Because music and electronic equipment are susceptible to the beach, sand, and marine environment, there is frequently a setup cost that covers transportation, stands, and outdoor elemental protection.
Hiring a Private Chef and Catering Service
Cuisine is one of the most crucial factors to consider when hiring a caterer or private chef for your special occasion, as each caterer has its own specialties. Menus range from local flavors to European and Asian cuisines, vegetarian and vegan options, American BBQ, Caribbean flavors, and more.
Many meals will feature fresh-caught seafood, including Caribbean spiny lobster, conch, and fish such as wahoo, tuna, mahi-mahi, grouper, and snapper.
Our local catering companies would be delighted to work with you to customize the right menu for your event. You can choose from a variety of arrangements, such as buffet style or plated. Packages often include skilled servers and staff as well.
Catering services may also provide shade tents, tables, and chairs, décor, lighting and hurricane lamps, silverware and place settings, crystal and linen.
Meanwhile, if your party is to be held on a yacht or aircraft, catering is also easy to arrange. You may have your orders delivered right to your marina or FBO.
If you have a particular restaurant in mind (including establishments at the resorts and hotels), consider inquiring about their catering services, as many would be happy to accommodate offsite parties.
For intimate occasions or smaller elopements, or if you’re staying in one of Providenciales’ vacation rental villas, you can hire a private chef for a single gourmet dinner or cook for you for the rest of your stay.
You can also arrange or reserve a full bar, drinks, and a bartender at an hourly rate.
Catering and private chef services you can look into are Caicos Catering, Gourmet Catering, 6ix Catering, and Avita’s Catering.
Where to Get Custom Wedding Cakes
There are a couple of small bakeries that specialize in cakes and pastries. Cupcakes and macarons are also available in elaborate arrangements. Almost every flavor and combination, including vanilla, chocolate, velvet, coconut, buttercream, hazelnut, rum, fruit fillings, and more, may be created by the local bakers.
Contact a local baker well ahead of time because some ingredients may need to be ordered and flown in. You’ll also want to schedule your cake tasting and plan your event date with your baker.
Check out the magnificent, customized celebration cakes and macaroons at From Scratch! Their cakes are handmade with real ingredients.
Booking a Private Villa for your Wedding
We have the finest luxurious studios and open-concept villas for rent at Aqua Divina, all with stunning views of Turks and Caicos. It’s here that you can share timeless memories of your celebration.
You and your wedding guests will undoubtedly love our beautiful patio, where you can hold your photoshoots or while away the time, or the clear pool, where you can sunbathe on comfortable chaise loungers, or even make use of our free onsite water sports facilities when you book your wedding villa today!
Contact us today and let us help you arrange the best experience for your destination wedding in Turks and Caicos.