Not only do I love what I do for work, it comes with all kinds of great perks. Like sometimes the Jamaica Board of Tourism invites you to come tour the best of their island and wines and dines you, and I’m not gonna lie…it’s pretty awesome! I’ll try to give you the run down here of what you need to know about if you’re considering a destination wedding in Jamaica….
Round Hill is where you want to go if you’re looking for a grown-up, glamorous, beach summer camp of a getaway. Just try to picture where Ralph Lauren would vacation in the Caribbean and you’ll be there–he owns a villa there and designed all of the rooms in the hotel. It’s absolutely beautiful and relaxing and all of the things you want from a resort but I think what makes it distinct is it’s playful vibe. Everyone we encountered, from the staff to the guests, were there to have a good time. Even James Beard award-winner, Chef Maginley, who treated us to a full tasting of imaginative riffs of local foods sourced from local farms and the best of worldwide markets, finished his run with pop rocks firing off in our desserts. And gosh…it would be an amazing place for a destination wedding… There are several locations throughout the property where you could have a ceremony, dinner…heck, a full weekend’s worth of events in different (beautiful) places each time. And you and your guests would be sure to have a blast in all the time in between.
Half Moon, a Rock Resort in Montego Bay is another Jamaican destination worth knowing about. This is the resort the Queen and family visits as well as a go-to for American royalty like the Kennedys (Jackie O wrote her will there), and more recently, we stayed in the villa that Tyra Banks stays in. I see the draw of the place… It’s pretty fabulous and still somehow retains this down-to-earth sense that makes it all the better. I’m pretty sure they have just about anything you could think to want on the property….ride horses in the water, swim with dolphins, great food, child care, you name it they’ve got it.
If you’re looking for something more intimate and quiet Tensing Pen might be a great place to check out. It’d be a great place to unplug and unwind and have a smaller wedding. And yes, you recognize this from the recent J.Crew shoot…
Oh and there are so many more places to explore in Jamaica! We got to jump off cliffs in Negril…
Explore waterfalls and gardens…
My personal favorite was the peaceful ride down the Martha Brae River with the guide who softly sang Bob Marley without a care in the world. Jamaica was a dream, and it would be the perfect place for your dream destination wedding.
Photography: Joy Thigpen (using Contax and iPhone) | Camera Rental: Contax Rental
