This year, we are seeing an influx of weddings, as many had been postponed in 2020 due to the pandemic. However, as we dive into the year 2021, it seems like the new wedding trend is “destination weddings.” With COVID-19 still around, this has been the perfect opportunity for couples to indulge in their biggest wedding dreams: having a warm and tropical setting to say “I do.”
One tropical place, in particular, that comes to mind is the U.S. Virgin Islands. The USVI is a stunning destination and is easily accessible because of the many direct flights from the states. Another great access advantage is that there is no need for a passport. That’s right! You only need a driver’s license to access this gorgeous island!
So now that we’ve gone over access, it is essential to think about the next steps. It can be frightening to think about everything that goes along with a wedding, however, with Blue Sky Luxury Travels, we are there with you every step of the way to make planning for your big day “easy breezy.” We are here to help organize all of your accommodations, services, transportation, activities, etc. These can be anything from booking your villa or resort, finding a world-class chef, or finding fun activities to do on the island during your wedding weekend.
We also know that many couples worry about the expense that comes along with weddings. But to help ease some of this worry, our company works solely off commission and does not charge you an extra fee for our service.
Now, let’s talk about size. If your wedding party size is 15 people and under, then you have an endless amount of options between St. John and St. Thomas. Many villas offer five bedrooms, and the staff will not charge an extra event fee due to your small party size.
If you are thinking of a larger wedding with closer to 30-50 people, then your options can be more limited. Don’t worry, there are still some great villas available!
There is a seven-bedroom villa on St. John, which has been described as “dazzling” in the Architectural Digest and offers ample space for your party. There is also a nine-bedroom villa in St. Thomas, which provides you with your own white, sandy private beach on Megan’s Bay Beach.
Also, we have a 5 bedroom on St. John that will allow for up to 50 people. It has a stunning ocean view and faces west for gorgeous sunsets over St. Thomas.
If this is still not big enough, there is also the option of The Ritz Carlton on St. Thomas. Yes, this is a hotel, but they also offer Residences. These are villa-like accommodations that come with a full kitchen, living room, laundry room, half bath off the kitchen, multiple balconies and large bedrooms each with en-suite bathrooms. This option would allow you to also soak up many of the hotel amenities as well, such as having two pools, two beaches, many restaurants, full-service cabanas, and close access to the ferry ports.
The Ritz Carlton on St. Thomas-Ceremony Packages
The most popular ceremony package at The Ritz is their “Beach Dreams” ceremony package. It comes with everything you need to enjoy the best day of your life with your loving family and friends.
- *Officiant for the wedding ceremony
- *Wedding ceremony performed at a beach venue or sea grape trees with personalized wedding coordination services
- *Beach arch with fabric draping and two small floral arrangements
- *Signature bouquet and specialty boutonniere
- *Photography for the wedding ceremony
- *One hour of digital photography to include 72-100 digital images with ownership of images on DVD/cD-roM and a personal website
- * Marriage license processing and courthouse fee
- *Court concierge and round trip transfer to territorial court for the marriage license
- *A dedicated events manager to assist with planning all details throughout the planning phase and wedding day
The cost for this package starts at $4,000. The Ritz also has three other luxurious wedding packages to choose from, ranging from $5,500 to $10,000. One includes a romantic 1.5-hour sunset cruise aboard the Lady Lynsey with an open bar to the new couple! Contact us for details on these beautiful ceremony packages.
For the reception based on Ritz Carlton’s 2021 Banquet Menu, the wedding couple may expect to spend, on average, $220.00 to $350.00 per person for an evening reception, which is exclusive of the 24% service charge (no tax).
This range may include hors-d’oeuvres and beverages for the cocktail hour, plated or buffet dinner, wedding cake, and an open bar for the event. All of the Ritz’s menus are a la carte.
The reception’s cost depends on what you select from their banquet menus. Below are some sample estimates based on 60 guests.
- *Chilled and Hot Hors D’oeuvres – Starting at $595.20
- *Buffet Dinner – Starting at $11,160.00
- *Four-Course Plated Dinner – Starting at $7,960.80
- *Four Hour Open Bar – Starting at $6,180.00
- *Six – Nine – Twelve Inch Wedding Cake – Starting at $1,615.00
- *Common Reception Decorations – Starting at $2,955.00
There are many more options to allow you to customize your dream wedding at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas. Let us know what kind of wedding you are looking for, and we can help tailor it to your needs.
If a destination wedding is something that you are looking for in 2021 or 2022, then reach out to us to help make your destination wedding a reality!
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