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A taste of what beautiful Grand Cayman has to offer for your intimate beach wedding, Whitehall Bay, Grand Cayman.

Add yourselves to this picture.  We are the Cayman Islands best known wedding celebrants and planners, catering to simple, elegant, weddings. Each of our packages include the legal requirements for your wedding, including the Special Marriage License.

We offer all inclusive packages for both cruise and stay over visitors.

Canada-Cayman Connection for this Sunset Beach Wedding

Some of my readers will know that my husband Sam, and I met at McMaster University in Canada back in 1971.  This bride works at McMaster University, so we had a little chat about how things have changed at our alma mater.  This couple were on vacation with their little daughter, and also visiting family in Grand Cayman.  They planned an elopement, no one knew they were getting married, in fact the groom's sister was told they were coming to Smith's Cove to have photographs taken.

This wedding was scheduled for 4:30 pm, and the couple were lucky to get some nice bright shots, as well as some fantastic romantic shots, which were almost sepia tone the light was so fabulous.

This wedding took place at My Secret Cove, but after the ceremony our photographer took the couple up on the little bluff  to get these panoramic shots that every body loves.  A bluff is an out-cropping of rock, near the water.

This groom planned a very special "secret dinner" for his Bride at the Ritz Carlton, Grand Cayman.  This is how he decribed it to me...

"(We had) a private serving of cool, moist  towels and champagne on the beach following our pictures, and were escorted from the beach ...in our transportation decorated in purple and white (the bride's favourite colours).  Purple and white rose petals lead a path through the suite to the balcony where we had a private table overlooking the ocean. Out table was beautifully decorated with purple and white rose petals, and had a centrepiece of purple roses and orchids.

A full dinner menu created by the Groom, and prepared by one of the hotel's chefs, included amazing Angus tenderloins and the couple's favourite desserts, cherry cheesecake and bananas foster.  This was topped off with more champagne and wine..."

Altogether an unforgettable evening, and a very happy young couple!

Red Roses, Blue Water at this Grand Cayman Beach Wedding

Many of my couples have to make the decision as to whether they want a sunset wedding, with the reds, oranges and purples of a Caymanian sunset, or whether they want a palette of shades of blue and turquoise.  This couple went for the blues.  This wedding theme was red, black and white and the couple got some unusual, and striking images.

Yvette doesn't do a lot of sepia, however, I thought this one was striking.

This couple had some special touches to both their cake and the bride's bouquet of red roses and black feathers.

Together, they made a very special wedding table

This was the last of my Thanksgiving week weddings.  It has been an extraordinary week, but very enjoyable.  It was also the very last wedding we did out of our old office.  That same day we moved into premises on the water at 215 North Church Street.  Not I can look out from my desk and see the beautiful water of Whitehall Bay, and George Town Harbour.  I can alse see the cruise ships come and go, and we are very easy to find, we are just across from the Burger King drive-through.

Dart's Park Shines for this Fun, Sunset Wedding in Grand Cayman

Earlier this month I officiated at a small, resident's wedding at the popular George Town location Dart's Park.  A couple of things made it special for me, since the family were our neighbours for many years and I watched the four brothers grow up and become fine young men.  So I was especially priviledged mto officiate at the youngest son's wedding.  I was also excited about doing a sunset wedding at Dart's Park, on the George Town waterfront.

There are many features about Dart's Park which I like.  There is seating for about 150 people in the amphitheatre.  Now that the trees have gotten bigger there is usually some shade even earlier in the afternoon.  There is a semi-circular stage for the actual ceremony, and with the sea and sky as a backdrop, you can leave it plain or decorate it.  Since you don't have to walk in the sand, ladies, including your Marriage Officer , can wear heels. :-)

Of course, the best part is that the booking fee for Dart's Park is only $10!  Truly a great community resource.

The other great thing about Dart's park is that you can get a variety of great shots around the park itself.

Marco Island to Grand Cayman Island for Wedding Vow Renewal

I really enjoy doing wedding vow renewals, and this one was no exception.  I had made a quick visit up to see my new grand-daughter in New Jersey, but I told these clients if they could wait until Sunday I could do it the same day I got back (thanks to Cayman Airways direct flight from JFK)

This couple are from Marco Is. Fl.  They had been to Grand Cayman on a cruise, and loved it, so as a very thoughtful anniversary gift the lady booked them to come back to her husband's favourite vacation spot. The ceremony  took place on a wide stretch of beach near Tiki Beach bar.

The ceremony took place at sunset on Seven Mile Beach, Yvette McField was the photographer.

After the ceremony I took them down to see my dad, so they could tell him how much they enjoyed the ceremony.  We found out that the husband and my dad had a lot in common, they both like to hunt and fish.  My dad regaled us with stories of his glory days of fishing and hunting on Grand Cayman, Central America, and the Florida Keys.

I have a feeling this couple will be coming back in a few years to enjoy another special Grand Cayman vacation.  I have promised to set them for a real fishing trip with some very special (t0 me) fishermen.

Irish Hand-fasting and Anam Cara Ceremony at Cayman Sunset Beach Wedding

When this couple from Las Vegas, Nevada asked me if I would perform a special wedding ceremony for them, I was delighted to comply.  They worked on their ceremony for several weeks, personalising it to suit their heritage, their beliefs and their relationship.  It was a great experience for me as well, as I had never heard of Anam Cara, and using the hand-fasting ceremony in this particular way was new to me too.

In addition to her bouquet, the bride carried a small blue pouch, given to her by her aunt. It held a small silver angel figurine and a crystal.  The burgundy ribbon in the hand-fasting ceremony came from the bride's paternal grandmother's sewing kit, her green Irish rosary was given to her by her maternal grandmother.  Since both grandmothers have passed on, the bride wanted to honour them, and have them "participate" symbolically in the ceremony, and she chose this way to honour their influence and their presence in her life.

The ribbons in a hand-fasting ceremony  are significant to the ceremony in that the colours are what the bridal couple choose to bring to the marriage. Each colour represents a characteristic.  The braiding of the cords is significant, as in Irish tradition it is thought that any bad luck or bad spirits get "lost" in the weaving or braiding. Braiding then, is supposed to prevent bad luck or spirits from finding you, and therefore many people choose to braid their hand-fasting cords.

This is what the bride told me about Anam Cara:  " Anam Cara was significant to us , as we started out as friends, and I love the tradition of one's soul finding its true match. I thought it was a beautiful thought, and we wanted very much for it to be a part of our ceremony, as we are friends above everything else, and as such, we truly have gotten through many challenges.

When it came to our ceremony, we didn't want it to be like everyone else.  We wanted it to be from the heart, to be meaningful, and to be rich with something that can also be passed down to our family in years to come..."

This was one of the most beautiful weddings I ever officiated, and it has definitely made my Top Ten Favourite Weddings.  It just shows how special you can make your wedding ceremony when you think about it and personalise it to include features of deep significance and meaning to you.

These images by Yvette McField, part of our Cayman Sunset Wedding package.  You can book Yvette for any wedding package through Simply Weddings.

A Romantic Sunset Cayman Wedding at Governor's Beach

This couple wanted the simplest of weddings, and asked me if I minded if they got married in their swimsuits. Of course I didn't mind.  I am a Civil Registrar of Marriages,  so I am not hung up on things being done according to anything but the Cayman Islands Marriage Law.  When it comes to things being done legally, then I am very strict about that, because I take my reputation and the reputation of the Cayman Islands wedding industry, very seriously.  Apart from that, its your day, and you can celebrate it any way you wish, in a ceremony which is meaningful to you.

If you are staying in Cayman for a few days after your wedding, left us know because you can pick up your Registered Marriage Certificate, which is your legal marriage document  from our office the next day.  Otherwise we will mail it to you.  The cost of obtaining your Registered Marriage Certificate, and getting it to you is included in all our packages, even or "no frills" basic wedding.

They met on-line, discovered they lived within blocks of each other, and she brought him to one of her favourite places in the world, to be married.

Sunset Cayman Wedding at Caymana Bay's Private Beach

Thank you to Sharon, the Mother of the Bride for sharing these photos with us.  We were quite excited to have a sneak peek at Camana Bay's private beach.  Caymana Bay has recently been talking to wedding planners about the variety of wedding locations their property can provide.  I am happy to share a few of these with you.

I never get tired of posting pictures of Seven Mile Beach, one of the world's top beaches.   Even though I see it several times a week,  I still feel awe when I look at  the natural beauty of the Cayman Islands.  Today is Earth Day 2011, and I hope we can always take care of the wonders we enjoy here in this little tropical paradise. 

Balmy Evening for this George Town Harbour wedding

I hope you remember to check the weather icon on my home-page, I check it myself, as this is my favourite time of year in the Cayman Islands.  Yesterday was a particularly nice evening for a wedding, and I went down to the new Seaview Condos to perform the ceremony for a young expatriate couple.  Since I hadn't done a wedding at this condo complex before, I was excited at the thought, and I was not disappointed.  Here are a few shots of the stunning views from the deck and pool area.

Do you know that all my couples have the opportunity to personalise their actual wedding ceremony?  Then we prepare a script which is unique to them.  There are three parts of the wedding ceremony which must be included by law, apart from that you can get as creative as you wish.

You can use the standard vows we provide, or compose your own vows.  Most couples use the standard vows which were written by my dad, Vernon Jackson, and which are very beautiful and touching.

After the ceremony we did the "champagne and cork" ceremony, and then the couple posed for the traditional "proof" and "We did it!" shots. 

We loved this Romantic Sunset Beach Wedding in Grand Cayman

Seated in among the sea-grape trees

This bride contacted me because of a recommendation from one of her friends, who had been married when she visited Grand cayman on a cruise.  The couple were from Plymouth, MN staying at the Ritz Carlton.  The idea was for them to walk down the beach to Governor's Beach and meet me so that I cothe uld do ceremony.  However when we arrived at Governor's Beach there was a big party going on with tents, and music and lots of people, so since we were a small group we moved a bit further down the beach to a spot near the Avalon Condominiums.

If you are in Grand Cayman as a stay-over visitor, and you want a sunset wedding or vow-renewal, call us.  We will be happy to arrange and officiate your wedding ceremony on one of our beautiful beaches.  We specialiser in simple, elegant, personalised weddings, wedding packages available.

If you are thinking of a Destination Wedding, Cayman-style...

This morning I was looking at an article which talked about a survey done by the Cruise Line International Association.  The fact that I was most interested in is that cruise weddings have increased 60% in the last ten years.

When you begin to consider a Destination Wedding or a wedding vow renewal, you will see that if you are travelling on a cruise ship you can usually have the wedding on-board ship or at one of the ports of call.  You can be married on board ship by the captain, if the cruise-ship is registered in a country which recognises all marriages in international waters.

Different rules apply for getting married in one of the ports of call.  Some countries have residency requirements ranging from 24 hours to a few weeks.  The Cayman Islands has no residency requirements, you can be married the same morning you arrive if you are visiting on a cruise ship.  The Cayman Islands is the easiest place to be married in the western Caribbean.  We have been catering to Destination Weddings for more than 25 years, when the Cayman Islands were still "the Islands that Time Forgot."

The reason the Cayman Islands has such a long history as a Destination Wedding location, is that we have a strong Marriage Law which was enacted in 1962 and which is based on English Law.  You never need to worry about the legality of your Cayman wedding.  Your Cayman Islands Registered Marriage Certificate is legal world-wide.

Whether you arrive on a cruise, or as a stay-over visitor, you have to be married by a Special Marriage License which cannot be obtained until you are physically on the island.  The easiest way to be married in the Cayman Islands is to contact one of the companies with a Civil Registrar/Marriage Officer, on staff.  Your officiant will do all the advanced work, including securing and checking your documents, and signing off on your Special Marriage License.  Everything will be ready, awaiting your signature when you arrive on the island.  This is very convenient when you are on a cruise and you only have a couple of hours to get everything done, and see a bit of George Town as well.

Stay-over visitors are equally well-catered to.  You can visit us at our Registry Office on North Church Street,  one of the capital's main streets or in some circumstances we will visit your hotel or condo to get the relevant information and signatures needed for your Special Marriage Certificate.

According to the survey mentioned at the beginning of this article, 23% of agents booking cruise weddings say that the top reason clients give for booking is "value".  35% of agents say their clients want to combine the wedding and the honeymoon, and a whopping 80% agents say that the Caribbean and the Bahamas are the top choice for a Destination Cruise Wedding.

Whatever you choice, you never have to compromise on quality when you choose the Cayman Islands for your Destination Wedding.   You can have all the features of your mainland wedding, and if you're bringing guests, well we love a party too!

Grand Cayman-Smith’s Cove in Top 10 Secluded Wedding Beaches!

We know that Grand Cayman has some of the best beaches in the world, and Seven Mile Beach is always making some travel writer's Top 10 list.  However, this week I see that Destination Wedding and Honeymoon magazine has featured Smith's Cove in it's Top 10 list of Secluded Wedding Beaches. I have hundred's of pictures of real weddings I have officiated at Smith's Cove, and it's even more secluded neighbour "My Secret Cove".  I guess it's just something about the rocks, and the starkness of the landscape, but my clients love this area even more that the delicate and panoramic views of Seven Mile Beach.

If there are children in your wedding party, Smith's Cove with its lizards, iguanas, "love-ants", rock pools and shells is the perfect place to explore.  If you let me know in advance that you have children in your party I will be sure to bring them a star-fish or sand-dollar as a souvenir.  We can usually find a way to include them in the ceremony.

These young men were travelling with their parents on a cruise, and had a great time at My Secret Cove.  A little known fact, Caymanian teenagers enjoy diving off the rocks at Smith's Cove, of course you have to know just where to jump off.

While I do beach weddings at Smith's Cove and My secret Cove every week for couples who arrive by cruise-ship to get married, these spots are just as popular for sunset beach weddings.

Be sure to let us know your preferred wedding location when you download the application form from this website, or have a look at some more Cayman wedding beach locations in our Gallery.  If you have other ideas for your dream Grand Cayman wedding, ask  us.  We live here, and we can find the location to suit each couple.

Peggy and I look forward to seeing you at the Simply Weddings office, George Town, Grand Cayman.  Residents welcome, ask about our resident's wedding packages for your simple, elegant and affordable Grand Cayman wedding.

My Secret Cove for a Romantic Sunset Beach Wedding

There were a couple of things which were different about this wedding.  The bride brought her own planner, and they arrived a few days early and made most of their own arrangements.  This is an option that you have, although most brides just turn the planning over to our wedding co-ordinator, Peggy.  Whatever you choose to do, remember we live here and we co0rdinate  around 200 weddings and vow renewals every year, so we are familiar with all the vendors and can get you the best prices.

Joy presenting the Certificate of Marriage

Because My Secret Cove is near to the popular wedding spot, Smith's Cove, you usually have the option of having pictures taken in both locations.  Wedding photography on the rocks at Smith Cove, with a sunset back-drop are extraordinarily popular with stay-over visitors and residents.

This little ledge is about 10 feet above the water, and a great spot for pictures

Calla lilies are a very popular choice for a bridal bouquet

This bride remembered her garter,  you would be surprised how many brides just forget they are wearing one.

Sunset at Smith's Cove, Grand Cayman

Enjoying a quiet moment at the end of a lovely evening

These pictures by Mari Abe, of Island Photo