All about us

Exotic but accessible, Grand Cayman is emerging as a first-class, affordable destination wedding location, and Cayman Weddings will ensure that your wedding day is all you ever thought it would be. In business for 25 years, this family business has performed over 6500 wedding ceremonies , each as unique as the bridal couple

Founded in 1982 by Vernon Jackson, OBE, JP , Marriage Officer, Cayman Weddings was the Cayman Islands’ first wedding planning company, and now has three marriage officers on staff. Managed and now operated by his wife, Francine, a Civil Registrar of Marriages, the company offers weddings from an intimate beach setting to the glamour of Pedro St James Castle.

“Simply Weddings” a division of the company specialising in cruise weddings is managed by daughter Joy Basdeo, MBE, JP also a Civil Registrar of Marriages.. Cayman Islands law allows you to be married the same day you arrive on the island, making it a popular choice for cruise weddings.

Vernon, Francine and Joy perform over 300 marriage ceremonies per year for couples from all over the world. and they are the company of choice for residents in this very international community.

Each wedding includes all the legal requirements required by this British colony. A Registered Marriage Certificate , the legal document produced by the Government of the Cayman Islands which is valid internationally, is provided within 3 working days of the ceremony, and either mailed to you or delivered to your hotel.

Couples come from all around the world to experience the dream of a sunset wedding against the background of the turquoise water of the Caribbean sea. Other popular locations include the Queen Elizabeth Botanic Park, Pedro St James Castle, and even Hell, West Bay!

Your wedding ceremony should be as special as your love and Cayman Weddings have a variety of non-denominational, secular or spiritual ceremonies to choose from, all written by Vernon , a gentle warm-hearted man with a sense of romance that comes from 56 years of wedded bliss. Or you may choose to write your own vows, a personalised script of the ceremony is part of your package.

Champagne on the beach? Definitely. Our vendors are all professionals, in keeping with the integrity and personal attention which is the hallmark of our company. We can provide other essentials such as witnesses, photography, videography,, wedding florals including special order flowers, and delectable wedding cakes from our own baker.

Each of our weddings has the full attention of a wedding planner who is there throughout the ceremony. Your wedding planner can tell you about Caymanian wedding customs, and those extra touches which make your wedding day truly memorable. Wedding packages start at US$650. We also offer renewal, commitment and engagement ceremonies.

Visit our website at www.caymanweddings.com.ky or email us at weddings@candw.ky. For cruise visitors email mywedding@candw.ky See our blog at www.joyofweddings.blogspot.com for a light-hearted look at all things wedding-related from an experienced Caymanian wedding specialist. Credit cards accepted, deposit required to book your date and time.

Now accepting bookings through 2009.

The Encore Bride

Today I did a wedding for an “encore” bride who is 23 years old. That was a bit unusual, most of my brides who are getting remarried are quite a bit older, maybe in their 40’s, 50’s or 60’s, although I once did a wedding for a bride who was 82 years old, and marrying her childhood sweetheart. That was a real love story. Engaged before World War II, they had been separated, married other people, and both spouses had subsequently died. Now they were getting married with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren around them.

I must admit I have a soft-spot for encore brides. Whatever your circumstances, there has to be a lot of love and trust involved to take that big step a second, and sometimes a third time.

Whatever your age, a second wedding should be just as beautiful, and perhaps even more meaningful than even the first. For this reason, I use different vows and a different ceremony for my “encore” couples.

This weekend I did a beautiful encore wedding for a Scottish couple visiting Cayman. They were fortunate to be attended by a brother and sister-in-law, and to have a daughter, son-in-law and three adorable grandsons in attendance. Since I always have “wedding” bubbles for the children we had a great time with the bubbles, and the grown-ups enjoyed the “bubbly”.

The bride was resplendent in a champagne cocktail length dress, with a matching lace and feather bandeau for her hair. She carried a hand-tied bouquet of champagne and cream roses. She looked very elegant, and could be the poster-girl for my idea of an encore bride.

I think what struck me the most was the palpable sense that this couple had come full circle and were so comfortable with themselves and each other. They truly bore out the words of the ceremony which say “We celebrate today, the outward symbol of an inward union of hearts.”

Long life, health and happiness to all the encore brides out there…you deserve it, grab your happiness with both hands

The Role of Children in Your Wedding Ceremony

As a mother and grandmother, I must admit I like to do wedding ceremonies which include blended families, and I try to write the children into the ceremony whenever I can. This little boy was the ring-bearer at a wedding earlier this year, and carried the rings in this conch shell I provided. We took this picture so he could use it for "show and tell" at school.

A beach wedding on Seven Mile Beach is ideal for a casual wedding with children. They enjoy playing in the surf and searching for shells and other stuff. One of the easy ways to involve children in a beach wedding is to use "the blending of sands" ceremony. This is appropriate and meaningful, instead of the "unity candle" ceremony.

Sometimes parents choose to give the children a small token like a bracelet or a pendant on a chain, immediately after the exchange of rings. This makes them feel a part of this new family, and establishes their important place in it.

Traditionally we use flower-girls and ring-bearers, but if the children are bigger than more thought needs to go into an age-appropriate role, including getting them to actually have a speaking role in the ceremony. Since I give my couples a personalised script of the ceremony, this becomes anotheer memento of their very important day.

What's in a Name?

In January 2007 I was appointed as a Civil Registrar of Marriages for the Cayman Islands. I had been a Deputy Civil Registrar for 12 years, but this meant I would have my own Register. This is a picture of me receiving my certificate of registration from the Honourable George McCarthy, OBE, JP, the Chief Secretary of the Cayman Islands, while his office manager, Mrs Christine Wright looks on. I am one of two Civil Registrars in the Cayman Islands, my mother, Francine Jackson was the first Civil Registrar appointed.

My position is also known as Marriage Officer, Wedding Celebrant, or Wedding Officiant. What it means is that I am registered in the Cayman Islands to perform marriages.

Once I have officiated at a wedding, there are 3 copies of the Marriage Certificate. One certified copy is given to the couple, one is kept in my office in what is known as a Marriage Book, and the other is filed with the Registrar of Marriages. I always encourage couples to get a copy of their Registered Marriage Certificate. This is the legal document they must have as proof of their marriage when they go home. Usually I mail it to them within 5 days of their marriage, but sometimes if they are staying in Cayman for a couple of days, I drop it off at their hotel or condominium.

European couples often find they have to get an Apostille stamped on their Registered Marriage Certificate. This is a form of authentication which is only issued by the Governor's Office. Most times I arrange this for my couples.

Some of my local couples call me "Judge", this is because in their country a judge, or magistrate is allowed to perform marriages. I am a Justice of the Peace, which is a lay magistrate but I don't sit on the bench in our courts, although I could sit as a magistrate in some of the courts like Juvenile Court, or Traffic court. I am also a Notary Public, and I find this useful in my work as a Civil Registrar.

Lastly, I have an MBE (Member of the British Empire). This was awarded by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services to the Cayman Islands.

Quite often I have potential clients ask for my credentials. I think this is fair. The other thing I get asked is how many weddings I have performed. So far this year (as of 11/26/07) I have done 71 weddings, by the end of the year I will probably have done 100 or so.

What you might not know is that my mother and father are also Marriage Officers. As the owners of Cayman Weddings, they were the first wedding planners in the Cayman Islands. Between them they have done over 6500 weddings in 23 years! So you see, I am carrying on a fine family tradition, and one which I enjoy very much.

Vow Renewal Ceremony at Morritts Tortuga, Grand Cayman

This week I performed a vow renewal ceremony for a US couple, who were visiting for a week at the Morritts Tortuga timeshare complex in East End, Grand Cayman. Like many of my couples, they were accompanied by their children (13) and (6). As a wedding celebrant, and probably because I am a mother and grandmother, I love to do vow renewals which include a couple's children. When you think of it, this is such a special occassion to share with your kids, and creates such a good memory for all the family.

My bride M, knew exactly what she wanted and was a delight to work with. I was a little anxious, because the ceremony itself was to be a surprise for her husband C, but the children were in on and I do think C suspected what was going on. He was superb, even when he got handed the renewal vows he was supposed to say, and he said them with meaning!

M was very enterprising, and used her original wedding dress, not many women can pull that off! Her 6 year old strewed her path with flower petals, and her brother held the rings as they repeated their own vows in a ceremony full of meaning. The "boys" were casually elegant in melon coloured silk shirts and boutonnieres, while the little girl wore a wristlet, and her mom carried a hand-tied bouquet of brightly coloured gerberas accented with yellow roses.

They had booked a photographer to capture the ceremony, as well as to take posed shots for family and friends.

After the cermony there were toasts all around with sparkling cider, and M and C cut their cake and fed each other. Their cake was topped by a Lennox topper depicting two entertwined swans...very appropriate, as swans mate for life!

Then their white stretch limo arrived to take them to dinner at one of their favourite restaurants overlooking the water, the Lighthouse Club.

Is a Wedding Vow Renewal Ceremony for You?

Destination weddings have increased in popularity over the past five years, as the children of the “baby boomers” reach marriageable age. But what of the “baby boomers” themselves? The Destination Wedding industry is now experiencing a new wave, as older couples seek to renew their wedding vows, and make a recommitment to their partners. What better than to have a “Destination renewal of vows” often with good friends, or with grown children and grand children?

Grand Cayman is an excellent destination for vow renewal ceremonies. There are three main reasons which make this location popular. The first is its proximity to the US mainland, and the ease of air-travel to the island. The second is its beauty, and reputation as a safe and friendly vacation destination; and the third is the professionalism of its wedding services and vendors.

Most couples are looking for a fairly small event, very tastefully done, elegant, rather than elaborate. Grand Cayman’s wedding vendors meet all these requirements admirably.

A wedding vow renewal ceremony has three parts. First, the preparation… if you are very lucky, you might still fit in your original wedding dress, but most ladies will opt for something light and simple, befitting the tropical climate. Most gentlemen will want to chose something light and tropical as well, a crisp white shirt, worn outside the trousers, or perhaps something gaily coloured. Whatever you chose, flowers will enhance your outfits and make the occasion even more special.

For wedding renewals, tropical flowers, especially orchids, and perhaps a few roses for accent are popular nowadays, with strategically placed exotic blooms on lapels, or in the table decoration. Wristlets are currently more in vogue than the traditional corsages. Simple hand ties posies rather than cascading blooms catch the spirit of the event.

The second part of the renewal is the ceremony itself. Perhaps even more than a wedding ceremony, you should work with a wedding celebrant who is sensitive to your needs and your wishes, and who will prepare a ceremony which has special meaning for you as a couple. Some couples make their renewal ceremony a time of thankgiving, and therefore want it to have a spiritual bent. Most couples want a blessing on their marriage and their home.

Your ceremony can include contributions from a friend, a family member, or a child. This personalisation will make your renewal ceremony unique to you as a couple.

It is up to you whether you want to have your original wedding rings re-blessed, or use new rings, couples use either option. Some couples choose to write their own vows, or use the words of a song or a poem which has particular meaning for them, or you can ask your wedding celebrant to show you a selection of his/her standard wedding renewal vows. Most often nowadays, these vows are modernised versions of the standard wedding vows, which mention the need for listening, respect, and caring.

Most wedding celebrants will give you a renewal certificate which records the event, and which is witnessed by at least two guests, and signed by the wedding celebrant.
Your marriage renewal certificate is not a legal document, in that it does not have to be registered as a contract the way a marriage certificate does. Rather it is a symbol of an earlier agreement, in which two people renew their choice of a life partner.


Done well, a marriage renewal ceremony can be a very uplifting occasion for all involved, an outward symbol of a recommitment to a relationship which has weathered the ups and downs of life and remained strong and triumphant. In many ways it is often a sign that a relationship has entered a new, even stronger phase. Perhaps this is why so many couples are feeling the need to celebrate important milestones in an enduring relationship.

If you have been thinking of making a public statement to your friends and family, or just to your partner, you might want to consider renewing your wedding vows in the beautiful Cayman Islands, and of course, you’ll already be at one of the world’s favourite destinations for your Second Honeymoon.

What is a "Wedding Blessing" Ceremony?

Can we have a wedding ceremony although we're already married? I get this question from couples all the time. Of course you can, only it's not a wedding, or a renewal, but a blessing ceremony.

Sometime couples will have a civil ceremony in their own country, but they want the frills, the photos, the dress etc. as an exotic location like the Cayman Islands. My own daughter did this a few years ago. I wrote a special blessing ceremony for her which had contemporary, spiritual vows, readings etc. but which honoured the fact that her "real" wedding had taken place two weeks earlier. Her father walked her up the aisle, but he did not "give her away" he simply gave her the benefit of his arm and his protection on the way to meet her husband.

So, the rings, which they had been wearing for a few weeks? Each took off their wedding ring and handed it to the wedding celebrant (her grandfather!) who blessed them and handed them back so that each could place them back on the other's finger while repeating promises which they had composed.

Now the only thing they have to decide is which date to celebrate as their wedding anniversary.
Knowing my daughter, she'll celebrate both!

Your relationship is very precious, and your wedding ceremony should honour that. So if you want to have a traditional ceremony, or an un-traditional ceremony, find a celebrant who will treat you like the individual you are, and take your wishes into account.