By Tara Bradley, Jill Fergus, Erika Hueneke and Susan Moynihan
Think a tropical event has to be expensive? Think again. We scoured the Caribbean to find 20 hotels that offer wedding-worthy settings without breaking the bank. From Aruba to Tortola, enjoy magnificent locales, attentive staffers and room rates that start well under $200 per night.
Adventurous couples love Jungle Bay Resort's rustic flavor
Jungle Bay Resort & Spa - Dominica
Dominica is called the Nature Isle for its plethora of waterfalls, hot springs and black-sand beaches. Soak up the setting in one of 35 eco-style, stilted wooden cottages built into the hillside, with perks like outdoor showers and hammock-strung balconies. Intrepid couples can hold their ceremony on the hotel's stone beach, reached via a cliff-hugging wooden walkway with a dramatic backdrop of waves crashing against rocks. Or make it easy and exchange vows poolside, where a simple flower arrangement of pink ginger and birds of paradise sets the tone. On the deck of the Ocean Cabana bar, sip rum punches spiced with nutmeg before heading to the Pavilion (built around a huge royal palm tree) to celebrate over spicy chicken creole, shrimp in coconut sauce and fresh passion-fruit cheesecake.
Rooms from $179, summer season; $209, winter season.
Sibonne Beach Hotel - Turks and Caicos
Providenciales' Grace Bay Beach is widely considered one of the Caribbean's finest, with 12 miles of powder-soft sand backed by translucent waters. The charming, two-story Sibonne sits right in the center of it, featuring 30 rooms and a separate one-bedroom apartment just 30 steps from the sand. Why can you get so close? The hotel was the first built on the beach, long before the influx of high-end hotels hit the island. Say your vows on the sand, dressed up with a conch-shell-lined aisle and a floral arch. Then move to the wide wooden deck of the ocean-facing Bay Bistro for a feast of grilled lobster, barbecue chicken and smoked conch chowder, the house specialty.
Rooms from $110, summer season; $145, winter season.
Tensing Pen - Jamaica
Situated on the western edge of Negril, Tensing Pen is a secret among savvy travelers. Guests stay in 15 clifftop cottages and suites, ranging from simple garden-view rooms to treehouse-like bungalows that open to the sea. All are equally charming, with thatched roofs, bamboo furnishings, romantic netting-draped beds and terraces that overlook the rocky bluff facing the sea. Weddings take place on a stone patio fronting the water. (Don't be surprised if the owner's dogs, a pair of rhodesian ridgebacks, stroll in to watch the proceedings.) The varied menu lets you customize your three-course reception at the waterfront Seasong Hut, with options like smoked marlin quesadillas and Black River shrimp with green curry and basil -- washed down with plenty of Red Stripe, of course.
Rooms from $116, summer season; $184, winter season.
| Timothy Beach Resort - St. Kitts St. Kitts is known for its informal vibe and friendly population. Timothy, a 31-room hotel in the shadow of a lush hill on Frigate Bay, captures the island's essence while providing appreciated niceties like terraces and full kitchens in the condo suites. Weddings here are small, casual affairs. You could get hitched on the resort's beach or at a number of secluded coves within a 10-minute drive, but most couples prefer to say I do at the end of the dock, adorned with floral garlands and an arch. Hold your reception on the patio of the Sunset Cafe, just steps from the water, as guests sip tropical drinks and enjoy a buffet of West Indian dishes, including stewed chicken, steamed snapper, peas 'n' rice and macaroni pie. Keep an eye out for playful vervet monkeys that live on the island. Rooms from $110, summer season; $140, winter season. |  Low-key weddings are the specialty at Timothy Beach Resort. |
>>> Next Page: Best Beach Values - 20 Chic Caribbean Hotels from $95 per Night
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