A Perfect Match

Over the years, Turks and Caicos has received numerous accolades, marking the country as one of the top tourist destinations in the Caribbean.  Now, Turks and Caicos is ready to add another award to their list, but it is up to you to honor them with it:  the Best Place to Hold Your Destination Wedding. 

If you have always dreamed of a destination wedding, but dismissed the notion because you thought it would be too much of a hassle to pull it off, think again.   A little research will prove that with some careful planning, a wedding in Turks and Caicos is not only doable, but affordable as well.

Pros and Cons

Planning your nuptials can be stressful, especially if you don't feel comfortable utilizing the help of an event manager.  True, a destination wedding may not be for everyone, even if they truly believe it is what they want.  The included list of pros and cons may help you to decide if planning a wedding in Turks and Caicos is the ideal way to spend your special day.

Pros

• Cost. While many people envision a wedding away from home as being very expensive, a Caribbean wedding can actually save you money - with airfare included. This is because destination weddings tend to be smaller affairs at which less people attend, therefore costing you less money in table arrangements and cuisine. Numerous resorts also provide wedding and honeymoon package promotions, thus improving your savings even more.
• Weather. The average temperature in Turks and Caicos ranges from between 80 and 84 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. Rain showers do occur, but they are usually over before they begin.
• Planning. When you arrange a destination wedding, you traditionally select an event planner (or one is allocated to you by your resort when you buy a wedding package from them). This helps ensure that every aspect of your nuptials is attentively considered by a specialist.
• Friends and Family. Planning a destination wedding means that you can reduce your guest list - you don't need to feel obligated to invite a relative you aren't that close to, or your fiancé's supervisor.

Cons

• Cost. While arranging a destination wedding, many couples may feel that they are required to pay for all travel expenses for their entire wedding party. If you decide to cover all these expenses, a Caribbean wedding will undoubtedly require a larger budget.
• Weather. Turks and Caicos does lie in the infamous hurricane belt, which means that it is imperative to take into account that organizing a wedding during hurricane season (which runs from the beginning of June until the end of November) presents a slight risk.
• Planning. Not being able to check out venues and hand select wedding decorations may make some brides feel as though they have lost control over their big day.
• Legal issues. Procedures concerning marriage licenses could differ from those you would come across back home. Gaining a marriage license in Turks and Caicos demands time, so a rapidly scheduled wedding may not be doable.
• Family and friends. All the people you hope to see at your wedding may not be able to attend a destination wedding.

Why Choose Turks and Caicos?

Turks and Caicos is a great place to plan a destination wedding because of the variety of options available.  From a secluded and peaceful ceremony to a boisterous shindig, couples are able to plan the type of wedding that best suits them - without having to compromise a beautiful setting.  

One thing to consider when you plan a destination wedding is what you and your guests will do when you aren't attending the wedding.  This is especially true of Turks and Caicos, because the total wait time before you may be issued your marriage license could be up to five days. Luckily, there are numerous attractions and activities available to keep everyone occupied.  Organize day trips to sites such as Wades Green Plantation and the Turks and Caicos National Museum; plan a snorkeling or fishing expedition; go hiking, play golf, or just relax in the sand.  Whatever the activity, you'll soon realize that the best reason to choose a Turks and Caicos wedding is the opportunity to get everyone you care about together for a great vacation. 

Local Wedding Customs

Couples will find that the numerous cultures around the world carry varying ideas of what a wedding event should include. Many brides today are looking towards alternative cultures to design events pleasing to their tastes rather than what most people to be traditional. Many brides will discover that merging different traditions will work best for their wedding needs. If you are considering your wedding in Turks and Caicos, you may be attracted to including some of the nation's traditions to your big day.

The easiest practices for you to incorporate into your wedding would be offering traditional Turks and Caicos cuisine at your reception . An example of an excellent dish would be conch and rum punch.

Types of Ceremonies

Whether you choose an indoor or outdoor venue, plan a ceremony that is large or small, extravagant or low key, your wedding in Turks and Caicos can be whatever you want to make it.  Many couples who head to the Caribbean for their big day often choose to marry on the beach or in a tropical flower garden, but other possibilities include historical homes and plantations, at sea, or on a hill top.  Wherever you are located, consider working a sand ceremony into the mix.  The way a sand ceremony works is that the bride and the groom each hold a vial of different colored sand that they will simultaneously pour into a new, clear, container.  This represents two separate lives joined together to create one, and is a great way to acknowledge that your first day of married life was spent on a beautiful island. 

Budgeting

While a Caribbean wedding typically costs less than an extravagant celebration held in your hometown, it is still important that you dedicated some time to creating an appropriate budget for your big day. Sit down with your fiancée and build a list of everything you imagine you will be investing money in, listing them in order of necessity. These items might include the catering, venue, photographer, and wedding dress, among countless other things. After doing a bit of quick research, allocate a price limitation to each item, then total everything up. This will provide you with a general figure of how much money you can expect to spend. Take into account that this number will probably change as you shop for your big day, and the organized list of key items will enable you to know immediately what things you can cut back on and which items you can't live without.

Requirements

During the process of planning a wedding in Turks and Caicos, it is important to take into account that the procedures involved in obtaining a marriage license in this country may be different from the requirements you are accustomed to.  Time is of particular importance.  Couples must be on the island for three days before they can apply for a marriage license at the Registrar General for Special Licenses, and then wait  between two and three more days before they can wed while the office processes the paperwork.  Necessary documents include certified prints of birth certificates, death certificates, divorce certificates, adoption certificates, and photo identification.

Your wedding day will be one of the most significant days of your life, why not go the extra mile to make it everything you dreamed it to be?  A wedding in Turks and Caicos will certainly provide that for you.  Just envision getting married on a warm day amid the palm trees, with the sounds of the nearby ocean. With a little hard work and a passionate determination, any couple can turn their Turks and Caicos wedding fantasies into a reality.