Why Here?
Discerning couples who want more than a destination wedding in a box head to the Cayman Islands for the ultimate in hospitality and tropical romance. Whether you choose to marry at a smaller resort or a five-star hotel, this destination has the resources to cater to every couple’s personal style, guest list size, and whim. Not to mention the backdrop is absolutely gorgeous. Think tranquil turquoise waters, and sugary white sandy beaches dotted with palm and pine trees.
What to Know?
- All three islands are home to a wealth of reputable wedding vendors, from full-scale event planners to photographers, florists, and bakers, so there is little need to BYOV.
- High season begins the week before Christmas and goes through April 16. Avoid hurricane season, which is May-November.
- There is no live/outdoor music allowed on the island on Sunday, which means that if you are saying “I do” beneath a tent on the beach or poolside on a Saturday, your band or DJ must wrap it up by midnight.
- The Cayman Islands is practically the safest destination in the Caribbean, which makes it a great destination for multigenerational families.
Highlights for Guests
What’s nice about the Cayman Islands is that your guests have plenty of options should they have some downtime in between wedding events. Stingray City is just a 10-minute catamaran boat ride away, where adventure seekers can swim with tropical fish and snorkel among the reefs. At the Turtle Farm at Boatswain’s Beach, kids and adults alike will marvel at hundreds of giant turtles and other creatures of the deep. For landlubbers — and shoppers — there is also historic Georgetown, where sparkling jewelry retailers abound.
Marriage Requirements
Residency Requirements: None
Necessary Documents: Non-residents need a marriage license, letter from authorized marriage officer, proof of citizenship and age, proof of marital status (legal divorce decree or death certificate, if applicable), Cayman Islands Immigration Department pink entry slips, and two witnesses
Island Plus: Your event planner or hotel can arrange for an officiant to come to you for all the paperwork, and then he or she can go to the courthouse to get everything certified, so you’ll be free to tend to any last-minute details.
Best Places to Get Married in Grand Cayman
The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman Recently opened in December 2005, the Ritz has brought five-star luxury to the Cayman Islands. Poised on the famous Seven Mile Beach, ceremonies and receptions can be set up on the Great Lawn, by the sea on the hotel’s private beach, or in a the 9,000-square-foot Cayman Islands Royal Ballroom. The Ritz is staffed with an in-house team of four floral designers, as well as a pastry chef to create your wedding’s requisite bouquets and confections. What’s more, Silver Rain, a La Prairie Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, has a menu of indulgent spa treatments that not only celebrate the energies of water, but are guaranteed to wash away any last traces of prewedding stress or jitters.
Wedding Packages: $3,400-$20,000
For more info: RitzCarlton.com
Hyatt Regency Grand Cayman Also on Seven Mile Beach, the Hyatt Regency is ready to host your wedding on its rooftop sun terrace, boasting panoramic views of the island. You can also marry here toes-in-the-sand or on the Turtle Pool Deck, which is perfect for smaller groups. Both the terrace and pool deck are lined with whitewashed British Colonial columns, providing a gorgeous contrasting backdrop against the clear blue sea. From a tropical buffet to a four-course, sit-down dinner, the catering staff can accommodate up to 200 of your closest friends and family.
Wedding Packages: $1,350 – $2,700
For more info: GrandCayman.Hyatt.com
Grand Old House If you love the beach, but also want a little formality infused into your day, this plantation-style site will do the trick. Perfect for indoor or outdoor weddings, the Grand Old House features a seaside gazebo (perfect for oceanfront vows or your own private sweetheart table), plus enough space to seat 150 in its air-conditioned, elegant dining rooms and on its quaint screened porch; or 130 on the site’s Water’s Edge patio. For rehearsal dinners, the Wine Room comfortably seats a party of 10 against a backdrop of wall-to-wall wooden wine cellar racks
Wedding Packages: $590-$2,500
For more info: GrandOldHouse.com
The Great House at Pedro St. James The Grand Cayman’s national historic site is also a gorgeous place to wed. Situated on seven landscaped acres on the water, the Great House is a restored three-story eighteenth-century house with stunning mahogany verandas that your guests can stroll through as your tented reception takes place below. This picture-perfect setting can accommodate up to 800 for an over-the-top affair complete with a fireworks finale.
Wedding Packages: upon request
For more info: PedroStJames.ky
Rum Point Home to the best mudslides on the island (think signature drink), Rum Point is situated on the opposite side of the island’s Seven Mile Beach. This spot has a casual beachside bar and grill (great for a laid-back rehearsal lunch or reception), an adjacent resort to accommodate your guests, and a convenient whitewashed pier that juts out into the crystal-blue sea for a vow exchange directly over the water.
Wedding Packages: upon request
For more info: GrandCayman.Hyatt.com
The Reef Resort Whether you want to sneak away a deux for the most private of nuptials, or arrive with your entire family in tow, The Reef can accommodate up to 120 people. This all-beachfront-suit property is a stress-free destination courtesy of in-room whirlpool tubs, four-post king-size beds, private balconies, and its own beach bar. Ceremonies can take place on the dock, while the party begins on the beach or in the resort’s air-conditioned restaurant overlooking the sea. Bonus: This site only hosts one wedding per day, so you are guaranteed the staff’s undivided attention.
Wedding Packages: $1,995-$5,095
For more info: TheReef.com
The Westin Casuarina Resort & Spa For luxurious amenities combined with a laid-back vibe, look no further than the Westin. This four-star hotel has everything you need to put together a formal wedding (the beachfront Governor’s Ballroom, a preferred vendors list, and a deluxe banquet menu and wine list), plus the means to make you — and your guests — feel like you are truly on a tropical island (think swim-up pool bar, full-service spa, and oceanfront dining options specializing in lip-smacking Caribbean fare).
Wedding Packages: upon request
For more info: WestinCasuarina.com
