Tiki Beach Grand Cayman hosts its first wedding

Tiki Beach is Grand Cayman's newest ocean-side restaurant and bar. It opened on 29 May 2010, to much fanfare and its private cabanas, and other upscale features are proving popular with visitors and locals alike. Today I officiated Tiki Beach's first wedding, and I can see that it is soon going to be THE place for romantic beach weddings in Grand Cayman, especially for groups of either visitors or residents.

Taken from one of the terraces at Tiki Beach, over looking world famous Seven Mile Beach

I have always liked this particular part of Seven Mile Beach because it has a shallow, protected lagoon which makes it perfect for small children, or less-adventurous swimmers.

The bridal chuppah was set up on the beach, so the bride can make a grand entrance

The reception was held under one of several canopies over-looking the water

The Bride and Groom pose with their attendants

I like the fact that there is a lot of shade. This is really a perfect spot for an afternoon or sunset wedding. If you're just hanging out, there are lots of beach chairs, umbrellas and cabanas for rent. You can also sit around the huge bar in the middle of the restaurant which overlooks West Bay Road. The icing on the cake, for us locals, valet parking so you don't have to cross four lanes to get to the beach.

If you think Tiki Beach sounds like your place you can find them on Facebook under Tiki Beach, Grand Cayman for lots more pictures. If you'd like to talk about having your wedding there, call Joy or Peggy at 13459499933 and don't forget you can see many more beach weddings on Facebook at Grand Cayman Beach Weddings.

Grand Cayman Beach Weddings is on Facebook

This is probably my favourite Grand Cayman Beach Wedding photo. It was taken by my cousin, Patrick Groleau who is a wedding photographer in Maine. I have thousands of pictures of beach weddings in Grand Cayman, you have seen hundreds of them on this blog.

Sunset wedding, Governor's Beach, Grand Cayman

It occurred to me that when couples are looking for a spot for their Destination Wedding in Grand Cayman, they are not going to go through my 300 + blog posts. So I have created a page called Grand Cayman Beach Weddings on Facebook. Everytime I have a bit of time I dig into my archives and post one of the beautiful locations for a real wedding I have done in the past two or three years.

What I didn't except is that many of my couples have taken the opportunity to send me messages and to just say "hi". I hope that you will like my Grand Cayman Beach Wedding page and enjoy the memories I share when I think about all the brides and grooms that have made us at Simply Weddings - Grand Cayman part of their special day.

If you are just getting started thinking about a Destination Cruise Wedding, or a stayover, or resident wedding you can ask a question, send me a message, join the discussion, or just get involved with our Grand Cayman Beach Wedding community. Please visit our Facebook page and learn more about getting married in the Cayman Islands, and my company, Simply Weddings- Grand Cayman.

Cheers,

Joy

(aka Joy of Weddings)

Canadian Cruisers Chose Cayman for Double Vow Renewal

I broke my own rules today, because although I had one cruise wedding booked, there was no way I was going to turn down the chance to do a 25th anniversary vow renewal for these Canadian couples. Mary Molly Hydes beach was the spot we chose, since there were five cruise ships in the harbour and we wanted both privacy and shade.

This husband found Simply Weddings on the internet, when he and his friend decided to surprise their wives while on their anniversary cruise.

The ladies told me they had two days (!!) to find their dresses, but they looked outstanding.

They each had the Champagne Ceremony, and enjoyed a bottle of the Simply Weddings Bubbly.

I did separate ceremonies, different vows, and different readings for each couple.

I wanted today's vow renewal ceremonies to be the highlight of their Caribbean cruise, and to create a lasting memory they could tell their children and children about.

Looking at their champagne corks from the Champagne Ceremonies

I am a true romantic, and I love to do wedding vow renewal ceremonies. Sometimes, like today, a husband or wife will choose to add something personal and special to them, to the ceremony and this is fine. Twenty-five years of marriage is something very significant to celebrate and I enjoy the opportunity to be a part of this grand occasion. It gives me a lot of joy to share such romantic occasions with our visitors, on Cayman's beautiful beaches.

Do something special for your next wedding anniversary, call Simply Weddings for your own vow renewal ceremony (1345-9499933)

Louisiana Couple Marry in Romantic Sunset Grand Cayman Wedding

For this Louisiana couple it was all about the sunset, for their Grand Cayman wedding today. Although they were staying at Morritts in East End, they came down to Plantana condos on Seven Mile Beach where they said their "I do's" at 6:50 p.m. Just is time to get fantastic sunset pictures of Seven Mile Beach.

Quick cuddle, before their wedding ceremony at the water's edge, Seven Mile Beach

The bride and groom were relaxed for their Grand Cayman sunset beach wedding ceremony

Group shot of the family who came along to be a part of their Grand Cayman wedding.

We did it, and here's the proof!

Posing with Joy after the ceremony

The sun slips below the horizon, bring to a close another perfect day in Grand Cayman

Thanks to Sam Eliot for snapping these pictures on my Olympus 370 while I was busy doing the wedding ceremony. It was a pleasure meeting this whole group, and I hope they enjoyed their Grand Cayman vacation.

When you're ready for a Grand Cayman destination wedding or vow renewal, give Joy or Peggy a call (1-345-9499933) for your simple, elegant, personalized wedding from Simply Weddings - Grand Cayman Wedding Celebrants and Planners. We arrange all the services needed for your Grand Cayman wedding.

Building a DIY Chuppah for Your Grand Cayman Beach Wedding

Part of being a company which specialises in "simple, elegant and personalized" Grand Cayman beach weddings is being able to give the couple the details they want for their Cayman wedding. We have always been able to offer chuppahs and arches from other vendors, but lately the cost of both of these have skyrocketed to the point that I have almost been embarrassed to quote on these items.

Simply Weddings - Grand Cayman Wedding Celebrants and Planners have always been about giving great service, and great value for your Cayman Destination Wedding. So the challenge was how to build a DIY chuppah which would be portable, easily erected on the beaches we use yet elegant enough to fit the whole ethos of our company.

Fortunately for me, my husband is a DIY enthusiast. His job was the design of said chuppah, and my job was to find the materials. My secondary role was to research the findings of other DIY chuppah makers, and for this I turned to my colleagues on the Bridal Tweet Forums.

The biggest challenge was to find a way to anchor the bamboo frame in loose sand. Some people recommended tin pails filled with pea-gravel. This was the break through we were looking for. Unfortunately this method was simply too cumbersome, and difficult to transport over multiple uses. It did lead to a solution which was more in keeping with our circumstances.

Here is the finished frame. It can be dismantled and set up as an "arch" as well


Here is the frame done with silk flowers and leaves

This is a picture of the finished chuppah as I will use it for a garden wedding at my house. The chuppah covering can be changed as required. You can add fresh or silk flowers, or have no flowers.

Call Joy or Peggy to customise your Grand Cayman wedding (345)9499933 or email us here.
Simply Weddings - Grand Cayman Wedding Celebrants and Planners, your choice for visitor and residents' weddings in the Cayman Islands.

Take a Mini-break to Get Married in Grand Cayman

The Memorial Day weekend is over, and I thought it would be a good time to talk about how you can take a weekend break, and tie the knot in Grand Cayman. With just a little forward planning you can make your Grand Cayman wedding a simple, but meaningful event.

Having contacted me only a few days before, this couple from Chicago flew in on Saturday afternoon for their Memorial Day wedding. Peggy and I worked with them to provide transportation and witnesses for their simple wedding at Governor's Beach. The key to a weekend wedding is that we are able to apply for the Special Marriage License in advance, and pick it up once we have the couple's ship's cards or white immigration slips.

Saying their vows under the sea-grape trees, Governor's Beach, Grand Cayman

Grand Cayman is served by most large airline companies, American, US Airways, Continental, Delta, Air Canada and British Airways. In addition, Cayman Airways, the national carrier of the Cayman Islands provides flights to the island from five US gateways, including JFK.

There are several hotel chains which provide accommodation, including the Ritz Carlton, the Westin, the Marriott, Comfort Suites and Ramada. Additionally there are several smaller hotels which are locally owned and operated. Ask us for our recommendation, we do not accept commissions and recommend only those Cayman properties we can personally vouch for.

The newly-weds pose with their Certified Copy of the Marriage Register. Since they left the next morning, we will post their Registered Marriage Certificate to them once their marriage has been filed.

Champagne and bridal flowers are surprisingly affordable

Of course we hope you will be able to spend several days enjoying our beautiful island, but if you only have a couple of days we will be happy to make the arrangements for your Cayman wedding. Remember summertime in the Cayman Islands is a good time to get flight, and accommodation bargains. Call Joy or Peggy (1345-949-9933) or email us here.

Today I heard a really stupid thing about your Cayman Marriage Certificate

Your Marriage Officer signs 3 copies of your Cayman Marriage Register. The duplicate copy, seen here is filed with the General Registry immediately after your Cayman wedding

One of the questions I get asked most is, "Will my Cayman marriage be legal when I get back home?" The answer is a resounding yes, your Cayman Islands registered marriage is legal world wide.

It has come to my attention that one of the hotels in Grand Cayman who also offer wedding services, is telling clients that they have to purchase 5 copies of their Registered Marriage Certificate. This is not correct. This is a US$100 additional charge which is totally unnecessary.

The Cayman Islands Marriage law says that every Marriage Officer must give a couple whom he/she has married, a Certified Copy of the Marriage Register.

This is the Certified Copy of a Cayman Islands Marriage Register

Not every Marriage Officer gives a certified copy which is as nice as this one. This is not your legal marriage certificate. You get your Registered Marriage Certificate once your Marriage Officer has filed and registered your marriage with the General Registry. The General Registry is the public records office for the Cayman Islands.

Each couple that I marry with a Special Marriage License, will get their legal marriage certificate mailed to them within 7 - 10 days, at no additional cost as part of their Cayman wedding package.

The Registered Marriage Certificate has "secure copy" written on the reverse. On the front page, in addition to all the couples details, their witnesses names, and the Marriage Officer's name, it has the coat-of-arms of the Cayman Islands, and the raised seat of the Registrar General. It looks very official, and you will not get it confused with the certified copy.

What you need to do when you get home:

When you get home, you should go to the public records office in your city or town (the same place you would go to register a birth, or a death, usually) and let your county clerk know that you have been married. The public official will then make a notation in their records. He/She might take a photocopy, or in exceptional circumstances, keep the physical copy of your Registered Marriage Certificate.

If this happens, then you will be able to write to a Cayman marriage officer to get another copy. If you write to me at Simply Weddings we provide this service at a cost of $25. In all the hundreds of couples I have married, I have never heard of anyone needing five copies of their Cayman Islands Registered Marriage Certificate.

If you have a question about your Cayman Islands wedding, whether in the past, present or future you are welcome to contact me at the email above, or send me a Facebook message to www.facebook.com/SimplyWeddings-GrandCayman.


There is an additional step that couples from some European, Scandinavian, Asian, and South American countries must followed, called an Apostille. If you need information on whether you need an Apostille attached to your Cayman Islands Registered Marriage Certificate, call me at (345)9499933 or email me at mywedding@candw.ky

Couples from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom do not require an Apostille.