It’s true that Caribbean weddings borrow from the traditions and customs of U.S. wedding traditions.   However, Caribbean heritage draws from African and European tradition, which means they have some customs of their own.   Caribbean weddings can have a special flavor all their own. 

One popular tradition is for the bride and groom to don their very finest clothes, and walk from the home to the church.  The point of this tradition is to announce and proclaim the wedding celebration.   Members of the community will line the streets as the couple comes by, admiring the duo.   Since guests are usually invited by way of word-of-mouth, it isn’t surprising that Caribbean weddings are open to whomever shows up, invited or not!

Ceremonies combine elements from Catholic, Mayan, and African traditions.  It is traditional that the bride’s father or parents take the bride down the aisle.   You won’t usually find a best man at a traditional island wedding.  The ceremony is followed by a reception, and is accompanied by gorgeous steel-drum music.

Traditional Caribbean wedding gifts include quilts and hand-made furniture.   Caribbean wedding presents are often hand-made, the gifts reflecting the gorgeous handiwork of talented island artisans.

When serving a reception dinner in the Caribbean, it is hard to go wrong with curried goat and spicy chicken jerky.   Don’t forget the fried plantains and conch fritters!   You’ll feel the island ambiance when eating these scrumptious island treats.

Caribbean wedding cakes are unlike any other; they’re unique to the islands.  They’re known as “Black Cakes,” and have a meaningful tradition associated with it.  Mothers pass the recipe to daughters, and the daughter is charged with improving the recipe in some way.   The idea is that each successive generation makes the recipe more delicious.

The cake has the same basic ingredients, no matter what: a pound of flour, brown sugar, butter, glazed cherries, currants, prunes, raisins, and 12 fresh eggs. ~ The cake has a delicious hard rum sauce, and the fruits are often left soaking in rum anywhere from 2 weeks to an entire year.

Once the wedding is over, the couple heads off on the Caribbean honeymoon.  The groom will often provide a secluded place to stay, or they may travel to a nearby island to get away.   Once their week of seclusion is over, they return home to begin life as a married couple.

Destination weddings are growing in popularity, offering advantages over the ordinary wedding near home.   It’s an opportunity to get married in an exotic locale, marking the occasion in a special way.   Guests can use the wedding as an opportunity to get away from their own lives for a short while, and enjoy a “mini-vacation.”   Puerto Rico is one fantastic option to consider for a destination wedding. [Puerto Rico weddings] have the advantage of feeling like an international locale, while actually not – Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory.   In addition, a Puerto Rico wedding has the potential to thrill your guests and take your breath away.

You can have your wedding in Old San Juan, where romance is in the air.   San Juan has been a beautiful destination for over 400 years.  Whether you’re admiring the quaint cobblestone streets or the Spanish architecture, you’re sure to get caught up in the romance.   You’ll treasure the wedding photos with these stunning backdrops. The destination of choice for many is the El Catedral de San Juan, but there are many options for you to consider.

The Botanical Gardens at the University of Puerto Rico features flora from all over the globe.   Of course, it doesn’t take too much imagination to see how stunning a wedding at botanical gardens can be!   You’ll find waterfalls, lakes, fountains and sculptures among the flora.

If you are an adventurer or a “greenie,” you might consider getting married at El Yunque.   El Yunque is a famous tropical rainforest, the only one in the U.S. National Forest System.  There are countless options, whether you want your wedding on a mountain, at a resort, or in the forest.  The nearest full-service resort is the Rio Mar Beach Resort.

Vieques or Culebra Islands are options to consider.   If you want something rustic and secluded, you won’t do better than Culebra.   Vieques is the place to go if you’re thinking “big” for your wedding.  The vegetation and beaches are bound to charm all of your guests, whether you’re in a mansion on Culebra, or a hotel on Vieques.

If subterranean is what you’re looking for, consider the Camuy Caves for your wedding.  The gorgeous caves are a unique place to get married, and there are plenty of places one can stage an intimate wedding.   With caverns as tall as 200 feet, you can stage a big wedding as well!  It will truly be a wedding to remember.