With plenty of sunny days and miles upon miles of pristine beaches, Barbados attracts many couples who want to get married in a tropical setting. A Barbados wedding — like other Caribbean weddings — is one for the books, no matter which luxury resort it takes place.
We’ll help you start your destination wedding planning journey with this list of the top wedding venues in this tropical paradise.
5 Best Wedding Venues in Barbados
Barbados is in the easternmost part of the Caribbean region. It’s a place where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean sea. And if you’re dreaming of holding your special day here, here are the top wedding venues.
Sandals Royal Barbados
Dover Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in Barbados. And along its sugary-sand beaches, you can find Sandals Barbados. Like with other resorts owned by the brand, you can get a complimentary Sandals Barbados wedding when you stay there for a minimum of three nights.
A personal wedding planning team will help you iron out the details of your tropical wedding — which you can hold by the beach or inland. Among those included in the package are the bridal bouquet and the groom’s boutonniere, one-hour cocktail reception, romantic turndown service, and marriage document preparation, among others.
If you want to “test drive” your wedding, you can book a 3-night stay for $250 per night and experience what it’s like staying at the world-class resort.
A quick 15-minute drive from the airport, Sandals Barbados boasts decadent amenities and enjoyable activities. It has 20 gourmet restaurants, 14 bars (including a rooftop and swim-up bar), 11 pools, and 6 whirlpools. The most exciting part is that you can double the fun and romance because staying in this all-inclusive resort means getting access to the nearby Sandals Royal Barbados.
Price starts from $278 per person per night (pp/pn). This is tantamount to $834 per person for three nights.
Sugar Cane Club Hotel And Spa
Sugar Cane Club Hotel and Spa is in the northwest Bajan city of Speightstown. Providing respite for couples and an intimate wedding venue for those engaged, it’s a three-star property with a posh garden and an outdoor pool. They also offer a full-service health spa, a steam room, and a state-of-art fitness center, among others. And when you want to try Bajan cuisine and rum, they offer two unique dining options. As for your accommodation, your choices are a penthouse, garden view suite, two-bedroom suite, oceanview suite, and a garden view room.
Though on the smaller side, this hotel and spa takes pride in its peaceful location in the countryside. It also provides daily shuttles to the beach and Almond Beach, its sister resort. Additionally, it’s a short trip away from popular tourist spots in the area — including Godlings Bay and Farley Hill National Park.
Their wedding package is available at $900. It’s inclusive of transfers to and from the registrar’s office, registrar fees, license and marriage certificate, fees of the officiating minister, and costs for the ceremony proper, including a one-tier wedding cake, bouquet, buttonhole, and a bottle of champagne. Add $230 for their honeymoon package.
Sandy Lane
Ritzy and oh-so-beautiful, Sandy Lane Resort will let you walk down the path to marriage in style. Boasting over 60 years of industry experience, you’ll receive top-rated service as soon as you step into the property, which you can find on a mahogany grove and overlooks a crescent-shaped white-sand beach in St. James Parish.
Hailed one of the most prestigious resorts globally, it’s home to over 110 suites and rooms, a 47,000-square-foot luxurious spa, exceptional restaurants that feature various cuisines, and a total of 3 gold courses.
However, if you wish to be married in such an opulent resort, be prepared to spend. They have one of the more expensive Barbados wedding packages: The basic fee is $2,500. It covers wedding planner services, floral decorated wedding pillars, a wedding cake good for 8 people, fees and logistics for the marriage license, stamp duty, and registration of your marriage certificate, among others.
If you’re catering for up to 50 people, your bill will go up by $6,250. And if you want a local band to provide great music during your big day, it will cost you another $5,000.
Sugar Bay
Looking for family-friendly resorts where you can hold your dream Barbados wedding? Sugar Bay, located in the capital city of Bridgetown, is the venue you should book.
It’s an all-inclusive resort that offers top-rated dining, modern accommodations and amenities, and exciting watersport activities. When you choose Sugar Bay, you’ll be a few steps away from a mesmerizing ocean lagoon and a pleasant strolling distance from the popular South Coast Boardwalk.
Youngsters attending your big day will have fun in many activities hosted by the resort’s Kids and Teens Clubs. For adults, bars and restaurants, curated excursions, and the relaxing Karma Spa await.
For your wedding, prepare to exchange wedding vows and rings at a beachfront wedding location, complete with a beautifully decorated arc. They offer free wedding services if you book any oceanfront honeymoon suite (or higher) for at least 7 nights. This package already includes a professional wedding coordinator (maximum of two hours’ worth of service), a marriage certificate, an officiant, recorded music, a bouquet, a boutonniere, and breakfast in bed after the wedding.
As the prices go up, you can avail of more inclusions such as government fees, round trip transfers to the licensing office, sand ceremony, turndown service, room upgrade, live music, a private beach dinner for two, and pre- and post-wedding photo shoots. Their most expensive offering comes at $3,316.
Fairmont Royal Pavilion
Set on the sparkling Alleyne’s Bay beach on the west coast of Barbados, Fairmont Royal Pavilion is a low-density upscale resort comprising 72 oceanview rooms and a gorgeous 3-bedroom family-style villa.
Exclusive for adults, it’s a romantic resort it offers unobstructed views of the Caribbean Sea, which becomes even more magical by sundown. Apart from a long stretch of beach, a huge outdoor pool, and a jacuzzi, they also offer non-motorized watersports like paddleboarding and kayaking — free of charge. Motorized aquatic activities come at an additional cost.
Two restaurants and bars provide a satisfying dining experience. But if you prefer a more romantic and intimate one, you can have your dinner served by a butler right in your room.
Boasting great architecture and picturesque Caribbean views, Fairmont Royal Pavilion is another stunning venue for a destination wedding. Their package covers marriage license fees, personalized wedding coordinator services, bouquet and boutonniere, two-tier wedding cake, a bottle o champagne, and clergyperson services.
Pricing and availability are available upon request on their website.
Barbados Wedding FAQs
Now that you know some of the most recommended Barbados wedding venues, it’s time to know the answers to commonly asked wedding-related questions.
How much does it cost to get married in Barbados?
Holding your big day in Barbados can be relatively more expensive than in other Caribbean destinations. A Barbados destination wedding cost averages about $7,000 to $10,000. This already covers the ceremony, accommodation, airfare, and legal fees (which cost about $300).
Can US citizens get married in Barbados?
Barbados weddings held according to the laws of Barbados are legal and recognized in the US.
Keep in mind that whether you’re having a legal wedding or a symbolic ceremony, you must arrive at the Caribbean island country two business days before the occasion. If you’re having a legal wedding, you must obtain a marriage license at the Ministry of Home Affairs and provide proof of valid entry into Barbados.
What is the best month to get married in Barbados?
In any destination wedding, weather plays a huge part. Remember that the dry season in Barbados is from December to April. But as it’s also the high season, booking and planning everything well in advance is advisable.
You can also consider May, which has a low percentage of rain and a time when hotel rates and airfares are cheaper.
Is Barbados a good place to get married?
There are a lot of reasons why this Caribbean gem is a good place to tie the knot. Any Barbados wedding is incredibly beautiful, given that the island has scenic views of the Caribbean Sea. Even if you’re tying the knot in a garden or an event place in any of the posh resorts we mentioned, the experience will still be wonderful.
