Last Updated on June 22, 2020 by Amanda Stancati

Traditionally, the holidays, the New Year, and the coming of Valentine’s Day signal engagement season. December remains the most popular time to get engaged, with the most couples saying “Yes” to tying the knot; some are even thinking of reciting their vows with a beach as their backdrop. According to a 2014 survey by Wedding Bells magazine, 15% of Canadian brides are planning on having a destination wedding, up 3% from last year, and nearly doubled since 2009.

Our travel experts act as the liaison between brides and resorts, working to book the groups and passing families on to wedding coordinators at the resort to finish the planning. Sandals and Beaches resorts have emerged as favourite brands for destination weddings, offering fantastic value and personalized service.

Sandals is a family-owned brand with 24 properties in 7 countries including Antigua, Bahamas, Grenada, Barbados, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and Turks and Caicos. There are around 13,000 employees at 21 resorts: an impressive number of people attentively catering to the needs of their guests.

Sandals offers services for “weddingmoons” (weddings where honeymoons start the moment you say “I do”), vow renewals, and “familymoon” weddings where two families are united and “I do” becomes “we do.” All of these celebrations are custom-tailored to clients’ needs.

Planning a Destination Wedding?

Sandals offers the following free destination wedding inclusions.

There are 6 pre-designed themes, each with their own inclusions to choose from, or you can build your own customizable package. The basic “Beautiful Beginnings” wedding package is complimentary when you stay 3 nights or more in any room category, a value of $500. In addition to the inclusions listed above, clients who book the Beautiful Beginnings will also receive an orchid boutonniere and bouquet, a beautiful table set for 8 with linen and centerpiece, and a two-tier white fondant cake, all in a magenta colour-scheme. Other themes include menu and place cards, table runners, photo and video packages, and ceremony structures and can be viewed online. Or, design your dream wedding from scratch and choose colours, flowers, décor, cakes, and more from a wide selection.

Sandals has partnerships with professional photographers and videographers. (Note: Use of third party vendors for photography or other services that are offered by Sandals is prohibited.) They also have a catalog of items to choose from – from cupcakes to centerpieces- to build the wedding of your dreams. If you’d like to take advantage of the gift registry service, guests can choose to contribute to the honeymoon, candle light dinner, adventure tours, spa, or gift shop buys. Plus, within the Sandals registry, clients also receive a wedding website, wedding blog, email announcements, online photo album, and RSVP tool.

Step by Step

Professional wedding experts help you step-by-step to make every detail perfect.

1. Reserve your accommodations and wedding date and time. Sandals offers the “Love Nest” luxury suites for love birds, with exclusive amenities, luxurious bathrooms, plush terry robes, hand-embroidered Egyptian cotton duvets, and a personal butler.

2. Submit the correct documentation required for your wedding license and marriage certificate, as well as fees and application. Schedule a marriage officer to officiate your wedding.

Note: Each island requires that you reside on the island before you get married, usually 48 or 72 hours before. They also require different documentation. Your wedding coordinator will make this process stress-free and answer any questions.

3. Communicate all your wishes for the ceremony and reception to your wedding coordinator to execute.

For more information about destination weddings at Sandals resorts, call 1-800-665-4981 to speak with one of our wedding experts.