Destination Wedding: British Virgin Island

Did you think the United States had a monopoly on Virgin Islands? No, the British have their version, right next door. Unlike the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgins offer a more authentic Caribbean vacation. You won't find the throngs of tourists who just disembarked from giant cruise ships. While the pace is slower, many of the resorts are top-notch. The culture here is "sea-oriented."


Wedding facts

The British Virgin Islands have a three-business-day residency requirement before you can get a marriage license. While the documentation and other rules are not as complex as other parts of the Caribbean, it is probably advisable to hire an independent or resort-based professional wedding planner to help complete the paperwork.


When to go

Everyone wants to escape the cold winter in the United States, so Caribbean rates are highest then. In the summer (roughly from mid-April to mid-December), you can save as much as 40 percent off the winter high-season prices. The best bargains: shoulder season rates in late April and again in November.

What's the weather like? Steady trade winds modify the climate, keeping it from getting too hot in the summer. The rainy season, usually in the fall, has quick and heavy showers that may occur late at night or early in the morning. The hurricane season is from June to November.


Insider tips

Would you like to rent a Caribbean island just for the two of you? Necker Island is a 74-acre, privately owned island that can be yours for a mere $5,500.

Per day. And that's the off-season rate, which runs from May through November.

If this sounds too expensive, other islands in the British Virgins have more down-to-earth rates. Virgin Gorda, for example, has powdery white sands and a somewhat rustic feel. Only developed in recent years, the island suffers from slow service, and occasional power and water shortages, even though the main resort has its own water desalination plant.

The most common way to get to the British Virgins is from Puerto Rico. You can also take a boat from St. Thomas. Insiders tell us you can count on delays, and any boat trip should be taken with little or no luggage (it often gets lost). The best advice: Ask the resort for the best route to get there. U.S. currency is legal tender in the British Virgins.


Who to call

Call the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board at (809) 494-3134 for more information. Ask for the "Tourism Directory," a free pamphlet that has lots of good information.