Why Barbados is the Perfect Island for a Destination Wedding
If there is one thing I can talk about for hours, it’s the love I have for my home country. As a Barbados wedding planner and event planner for over a decade now, I have seen our little island come together in full spirit over and over again. Today, I want to share why I believe Barbados is the perfect location for a destination wedding - whether you are local or flying internationally. I would love to share what Barbados has to offer (both in terms of logistics and inspiration!).
But first, who are you taking advice from? I’m Jeanette, the wedding and event planner here at BCJ Events. I tend to work with couples who love to dream big, and want to infuse culture into their events, but also don’t want to get weighed down with the actual logistics. Rest assured, that’s what I’m here for. You can learn a little bit more about my journey and experience here, but the easiest way to connect is to head to my contact form here.
Planning a Wedding in Barbados
There are so many factors that make Barbados an incredible destination wedding location, but being a wedding planner, I would like to talk about the logistics first! Compared to other destinations, you can have a beautiful outdoor wedding in Barbados all year long. We never have winter, just rainy and dry seasons, and usually tents are your best bet for any occasion!
First, we have direct flights from most of the other eastern Caribbean islands which are literally just a hop, skip and a jump away. For international guests, we also receive direct flights from Florida, New York, and London, and Manchester so it’s a relatively easy island to get to, no matter where you and your guests are flying from! It’s also easy (and safe) to get around the island. There are many transportation options to shuttle you around the island - from buses to luxury options like limousines and vintage style cars. If you choose to rent a car in Barbados, the road network is dense enough that you either drive inland or around the coast (ie. it’s very, very easy to get around!).
While we are talking about logistics, I would also like to take a moment to point out that the marriage license process is incredibly simple (and yes, as your wedding planner I can help you with this!).
Hosting a Destination Wedding in Barbados
If you and/or a majority of your guests are traveling to the island for your wedding, Barbados is a great destination. We have a wide variety of accommodation at different price points (from luxury accommodations to Airbnbs) and different sizes (from small villas to entire resorts). When you plan a destination wedding, making sure your guests have options is a key part of being a good host. You want them to feel comfortable from the moment they start planning that there will be something on the island for them. They will likely want to make a vacation out of it!
While your guests enjoy their vacations, here are just a few of the things they can feel inspired to do (and eat!) during their trip to Barbados. Barbados offers a variety of attractions both on sea and land (from more solo activities like surfing, jet skiing and paddle boarding to great group activities like renting a catamaran, going on the Atlantic Submarine or even visiting Harrison’s Cave (our famous underground cave!). On land we have places like Cocohill Forest, Andromeda Gardens, The Animal Flower Cave, and Hunte’s Gardens - just to name a few!! Personally, I always love putting together a unique welcome event or custom recommendations for each group coming to the island. The sky's the limit!
Are you a foodie? If you want to try a taste of local fare, we have something for everyone. Oistin’s, Martin’s Bay and Cuz’s Fish Shack are a few major hot spots, but there are a plethora of hole in the wall places and rum shops where you can eat some bajan food and interact with the locals. When it comes to fine dining we have many, many restaurants from those that offer a twist on local cuisine or any international fare (like Indian, Italian, Thai & Sushi!). You and your guests won’t go hungry in Barbados.
Bringing Local Flair into your Barbados Wedding
Although we don’t necessarily have a lot of specific traditions in Barbados, most of my couples who want to bring in some bajan culture into their wedding. Most will include some Barbados/Caribbean music into their reception, but that’s really only one option! Others will include some local Barbados favors (read more about these next), and some will bring in some delicious local culinary delights and cocktails!
When it comes to cocktails, we are the home of Rum, so a rum sour always makes for a good signature cocktail. For couples wanting something a little more unique, we have quite a few top mixologists on the island who can create something special for your wedding day. Personally, a Mimosa or Mojito is always my jam.
As far as your wedding day meal goes, the sky's the limit with both local and international cuisine. My personal favorite is always grilled snapper or swordfish. Anything with a bit of curry is always magic for me. For dessert, you can choose a traditional wedding cake or a local favorite like a decadent bread pudding (the one from Champers will make your mouth water!).
Local Barbados Gifts
As you can likely tell, I’m incredibly passionate about supporting local businesses on the island, as we are home to some incredible talent here. I personally love when my couples gift their guests local favors, we have anything from pottery, art prints, candles, jewelry, miniature bottles of rum and beyond! I absolutely love gift giving, and you can learn more about my process and individual gifting services here.
Working with a Local Barbados Wedding Planner
I sincerely hope that this has given you just a taste of what Barbados has to offer when it comes to planning your destination wedding. We have a variety of wedding venues depending on your vision (you can read more about my favorite Barbados wedding venues here). Lastly, working with a local wedding planner is absolutely crucial to the success of any event. I’ve personally seen it time and time again. If you are ready to start planning, I would love to learn more about your vision. You can learn more about my wedding planning and coordination services here, or connect with me here to book a complimentary consultation.