Destination Weddings

A destination wedding is one in which a wedding is hosted, often in a vacation-like setting, at a location to which most of the invited guests must travel and often stay for several days. This could be a beach ceremony in the tropics, or a simple ceremony at the home of a geographically distant friend or relative. Destination weddings have increased exponentially in growth over the past 5 years, with the majority of growth occurring in the Caribbean.

The most popular destination wedding location in the Caribbean is Jamaica, with weddings hosted at resort hotels and luxury villas. A villa in Jamaica provides the ultimate combination of privacy and attention to detail, where you and your guests are catered to for days on end. Many destination weddings include a week-long stay where guests enjoy a wedding and a vacation.

One of the reasons that destination weddings are so popular is that a destination wedding is often less expensive than a traditional wedding at home. Properly planned, a destination wedding can not only save you thousands (or even tens of thousands) off the cost of a traditional wedding, it can also turn your wedding day into an unforgettable vacation for you and your guests.

Destination weddings are usually one quarter the size of traditional weddings, with 20 – 50 guests attending. While large hotels are popular with large wedding groups, for a smaller wedding (under 20) many couples prefer to have their wedding in the more intimate setting of a villa. In some cases, destination weddings can use both a villa and a hotel, with the ceremony and reception held at the villa and the majority of the guests staying at the hotel.

Villa Weddings

Why are villas the number one choice for destination weddings?

Nothing can possibly compare to the sheer pleasure of having your own private oasis to share with family and friends on the most special day of your life. Formerly the exclusive domain of celebrities and the ultra-rich, villa weddings are the fastest growing segment of the destination wedding market. Golden Clouds Villa weddings are ideal for groups of 24 and under since all the guests can be accommodated on site with all the amenities of a resort hotel. A wedding villa is yours to enjoy, and your wedding planner will ensure that the villa is prepared exactly the way you want it with every detail taken care of.

One of the main reasons why villa weddings are becoming increasingly popular is that they are stress-free when compared to almost any other wedding. At Golden Clouds, weddings are managed by our wedding planner, Ms. Norma Ellison, who ensures a level of personalized service that cannot be matched by hotels. A typical Caribbean hotel has hundreds of guests, and while they may value your business, they cannot ensure the level of service, privacy, discretion, and attentiveness that your need, and deserve, on your wedding day.

Why choose a villa instead of a hotel?

Villas can provide a very high level of personalized service, since they are dealing with only one client at a time. Unlike hotels, it is almost impossible for a villa to lose your reservation or overbook the property. Plus, hotels often have a range of hidden clauses, service fees and additional charges that you may not expect. Villa wedding contracts are straightforward and provide the greatest assurance of cost control, privacy, and overall enjoyment of your wedding/vacation.