Getting Married
You will need to obtain a marriage license application through the Territorial Court of the US Virgin Islands in St Thomas. After filling it out and getting it notarized, you will then have to return it to the court offices and wait at least 8 days after your application has been accepted. There is no residency requirement, but the bride and groom must appear together to pick up their marriage license.
If either the bride or the groom is divorced, a Decree Absolute must be produced. This legal document says that the divorced party is now free to marry another. Both bride and groom must be at least 18 years old.
To be married by a judge in a civil ceremony on St. Thomas, you must make an appointment. The fee for the judge's time is approximately $200; the marriage-license fee is $50. Contact a wedding planner on St. Thomas for further options regarding who will perform the ceremony and where it might take place.
Getting married in St. Thomas is very much like getting married in any US state. St. Thomas businesses accept the US dollar. People speak English, and with tourism being their major industry, residents want to make it easy for you to get married on their lovely island! If you are a US resident you will not need a passport to go to St. Thomas, but you are encouraged to bring proof of US residency and a photo ID.
Why St Thomas?M
- Luxurious, all-inclusive resorts
- Duty-free shopping
- Fabulous nightlife
- World-class villas
- Tourist friendly
- Wedding planning is easy
- Many outdoor activities
- Exciting locations for your wedding
- Boundless beauty
- Relaxed atmosphere
Location is Everything
Drake's Seat, 1,500 feet above Magens Bay, provides a nearly 360-degree view of the island. Getting married at Drake's Seat would bring any couple's love to new heights. Heart-shaped Magens Bay is the island's social epicenter. It is the Caribbean's busiest port and is surrounded by one of the world's most beautiful beaches. Yachts line the harbor located near the capital city of Charlotte Amalie, the largest city on the island. Consider renting a yacht for your wedding and sailing the Caribbean for your honeymoon.
Known for its fantastic shopping, fine restaurants, and high-end resorts, the capital city features all-inclusive venues that will cater to all your wedding needs, even down to supplying you with a wedding coordinator. Alternatively, you can rent a villa for your wedding and plan your nuptials yourself.
If you enjoy mountainous terrain and would like an amazing city view, ride the 700-foot Paradise Point Tramway. Up to 10 people can fit in a tramcar, and if your wedding party is small, there is no reason why you cannot get married on the tram.
Board the Atlantis XV submarine and get married amid a school of colorful tropical fish. For those landlubbers that appreciate underwater beauty but fear a leaky hull, consider a wedding and reception at the Coral World Marine Park & Observatory at Coki Point.
Moving away from the capital, you will find quaint coastal towns dotting the island. Frenchtown is a fishing village settled by immigrants of the French island of St. Barthelemy. St. Anne's Catholic Church sits on the hillside overlooking the fishermen who unload their daily catch at the harbor. This would make an ideal setting for your wedding ceremony.
Red Hook is another town to consider. It is a busy village that caters to boaters. Many of the charter fishing boats and sailboats that originate in St. Thomas leave from Red Hook. Great restaurants and bars can be found here, plus shops that cater to the boating community. A couple who wishes to wed onboard a chartered boat may become well acquainted with the locals.
The possibilities for your nuptials are nearly as endless as the beauty you will find as you explore this amazing place. A destination St. Thomas wedding will be an unforgettable, elegant adventure leading you to a lifetime of happiness.
