Tie the Knot in the Scenic U.S. Virgin Islands
by Tom Wuchovich
 You're
in love. You've found the perfect mate and now it's
time to take the big step - marriage. The trend these
days is to combine a wedding with a honeymoon…that
is, get hitched in a place that you can also spend some
quality time together - a place that's affordable, still
exciting and beautiful.
Where,
you might ask? A Caribbean island is the biggest buzz
on the wedding/honeymoon scene.
Getting
married in the U.S. Virgin Islands also makes sense
for several reasons. First and foremost, it's U.S. territory
and that means the legal requirements are the same as
those in the states. Couples need to apply for the marriage
license on island and arranging for the ceremony, i.e.,
can be done through local wedding planners usually at
less than the cost stateside.
Moreover,
you're dealing with individuals who speak the same language,
accept U.S. dollars and offer expert advice on local
customs as well as recommendations for special packages.
There's also a booklet distributed by the USVI Department
of Tourism called Getting Married in the United States
Virgin Islands that covers everything you need to know.
What's
left. Deciding which island should be the site of your
nuptials. My recommendation? St. Croix, the largest
of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and probably the least known.
Just over 40 miles away from St. Thomas and St. John,
it offers many of the same amenities: great beaches,
spectacular accommodations, shopping, interesting historical
and natural sites. Best of all, it's less crowded than
St. Thomas but a little more cosmopolitan than St. John.
The
history of St. Croix dates back to 1493 when Columbus
sighted the eastern tip of the island near what is today
called Cottongarden Bay, Nearby, at Salt River Bay,
he dispatched a small party for fresh water but they
were attacked by warring Carib Indians. One Spanish
sailor was killed and all the Caribs were either killed
or captured. Columbus never set foot on the island,
but named it Santa Cruz. It remained a Spanish possession
until 1600 when the French arrived and forced a small
number of settlers to flee. The French renamed the island
Sainte Croix.
The
flags of seven nations have flown over the Virgin Islands,
and St. Croix was under Danish rule when the U.S. purchased
it, St. Thomas and St. John for $25 million in 1917.
For the small sum of $25 per acre, the U.S. acquired
an 84-square mile island of natural beauty that now
boasts a population of more than 55,000 (larger than
its more famous Neighbor, St. Thomas), and where tourism
is again on the rise.
The
island is a panoply of brightly colored vegetation -
ironically, most of it imported - and ringed with beautiful
soft sand beaches. Inland, the St. Croix is quite hilly
and divided by a small range of hills that affects the
weather. On the western side, rainfall is more plentiful
and has spawned a thick, green rain forest. The eastern
end of the island is more arid and consequently, less
vegetation grows there.
Christiansted,
on the eastern shore, is the capital, and is a quaint
collection of historical homes and buildings that house
shops and attractions, nightclubs and restaurants. In
the busy season, tourists flock to the boutiques and
bars and to the restored area adjacent to the old fort
that once guarded the harbor.
 Arcades
and stone buildings that were built centuries ago when
the Danes owned the island have been preserved, and
that heritage can be see first hand by a visit to the
Government House and the area around the wharf, which
are part of the Christiansted Historical Site, administered
by the U.S. National Park Service.
The
wharf is clogged with shops and shopping centers like
Kings Alley. Tourists mingle throughout the area, looking
for the good bargains, and snapping up the famous St.
Croix "hook bracelet" that was designed on
the island and has become its signature piece of jewelry.
Lately, a new stone, larimar, which is turquoise in
color, has been added as an extra incentive. It would
make a nice gift for the wedding party.
By
contrast, Frederiksted, the other major city on St.
Croix, is more laid back and less commercial than Christiansted.
Fort Frederik on the waterfront at the northern end
of town has been restored and houses a museum. Other
buildings of particular charm include the Old Customs
House and the Apothecary Hall on Queen Street. Most
cruise ships call and Frederiksted and offer excursions
to Christiansted.
While
the two towns are the cornerstones for visitors, there
is a great deal more on the island to see. Because of
its relatively small size, a tour takes less than four
hours. High on the list of sights should be the Whim
Plantation, where those jenny cakes made of flour and
sugar, are baked daily. Not far from the plantation
is St. George Village Botanical Gardens, constructed
over the remains of an early Arawak Indian Village.
The garden is filled with dazzling vegetation, including
the largest mass of scarlet poinsettias. It is a popular
place for weddings.
 To
toast the island and your wedding vows, stop at the
Cruzan Rum Factory and sample its wares. The rum is
distilled and bottled on the island, and tours are given
daily, and so are the samples. Rum can be purchased
at the company store.
For
the more water oriented, Buck Island is a must see,
Once a pirate haunt, it also is managed by the National
Park Service, and the snorkeling along the island's
reef is magnificent. The reef is home to elkhorn coral,
brain coral, staghorn and finger coral, as well as gorgonians,
sea whips and sea fans. Angelfish, Queen Parrotfish,
Spadefish and coral crabs abound. Buck Island tours
usually last four hours and there are a number of boats
that can be chartered, including Big Beard's Renegade,
which offers half-day and full-day excursions.
Hotels
are plentiful on the island, and will fit any budget.
In Christainsted, the Hotel Caravelle, a small European-style
hotel, is moderately priced and is in the center of
downtown activity. The Hibiscus Beach Hotel, a Caribbean-style
property, is directly on the beach and provides a magnificent
view of the Caribbean Sea. It offers an all-inclusive
package and has been called "Exquisite…a real
value," by Frommer's Guide to the Caribbean. The
Buccaneer, more upscale, and with its own golf course,
has been named "One of the World's Top Fifty Tropical
Resorts" by Conde Nast Traveler. Check with your
travel agent or wedding planner for packages at these
distinctive properties. (...BACK)
Want
information on getting married in the U.S. Virgin Islands?
U.S.
Virgin Islands Division of Tourism
1270 Ave. of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
(800) 372-USVI
www.usvitourism.vi
Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands
P.O. Box 70 Charlotte Amalie
St. Thomas, USVI, 00801
(809) 774-6680 |
