The Caribbean’s warm waters and beautiful scenery provide an ideal backdrop for destination weddings. In fact, in 2022, 18% of destination weddings took place in the Caribbean, according to a recent The Knot Real Weddings Study. But for LGBTQ couples, planning a destination wedding in the Caribbean requires being careful about the choice of location, since some islands have restrictive laws and not all hotels are welcoming.
The good news is that there are several islands where diverse couples can stage a memorable destination wedding, with a variety of hotels and planners promoting their services.
Destination Wedding Options in U.S. Territories
The simplest LGBTQ+ destination wedding destinations are those with the least legal restrictions — namely, the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Both legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, in line with the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Obergefell v. Hodges. As a result, the process is relatively easy; there is no waiting period to get married, and both destinations are home to hotels and suppliers that can help plan the special day.
Hotels in San Juan promoting LGBTQ+ destination weddings include Hotel El Convento, a member of Historic Hotels of America that’s set in a former convent in Old San Juan, and Condado Ocean Club, which is centrally located in the popular beachfront Condado neighborhood.
Coqui del Mar Guest House, meanwhile, serves a largely gay male clientele in the Ocean Park neighborhood and can also help advisors and travelers with the wedding planning process — the property’s website features detailed information about wedding requirements, along with a Gay Wedding Directory that lists businesses serving the segment.
Local wedding planners include Puerto Rico Destination Weddings, which describes itself as a “110% gay-friendly company” and vets all its vendors and local businesses and restaurants to assure a welcoming experience. Wedding photographer Nilka Gissell also provides services to diverse couples and lists her recommendations for the best LGBTQ+-friendly wedding venues on her website.
In the U.S. Virgin Islands, LGBTQ+-friendly properties include The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas, which has a lovely seafront wedding ceremony space, while planners include Island Mike Weddings, which maintains a section on its website devoted to LGBTQ+ weddings.
Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino has multiple wedding venues for couples to choose from.
Credit: 2024 Marriott InternationalSymbolic Wedding Ceremonies in the Caribbean
There are some destinations where legally recognized LGBTQ+ marriage ceremonies don’t take place, but where welcoming hoteliers and suppliers are more than happy to arrange symbolic ceremonies for visiting couples.
In Aruba, for example, LGBTQ+-friendly properties offering wedding packages include Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino and Embassy Suites by Hilton Aruba Resort, where couples can tie the knot inside or on the beach. And at Hilton Aruba Caribbean Resort & Casino, where twosomes can upgrade their stay by reserving the Sunset Concierge, which provides access to a private beach dining experience.
In Curacao, meanwhile, Renaissance Wind Creek Curacao Resort has more than 8,500 square feet of event space and offers wedding and honeymoon packages for all couples.
LGBTQ+ couples looking to stage a large-scale wedding may want to consider the 76-room Zemi Beach House, a luxury property in Anguilla that offers ceremonies on the beach or in its Zemi Thai House Spa courtyard, as well as the option to buy out the entire property. And on the Honduran island of Roatan, Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort & Spa offers nearly 6,000 square feet of wedding and event space.
To make it easier to master the many details of a destination wedding in the Dominican Republic, Club Med Punta Cana has partnered with wedding planning company The Bisutti Group to offer LGBTQ+ destination wedding packages that can include a variety of amenities and experiences. In addition, Club Med staff is certified by Canada’s Rainbow Registered accreditation program for LGBTQ+-friendly spaces.
