(This post is a continuation of a Destination Wedding Series using St. John and St. Thomas as an example)
It seems that customers in the wedding industry keep hearing the same message over and over: the price of weddings have gone down because people want less. Well, what if you still want the elaborate wedding on the beach and don’t want to cut out options due to budget? There are several resorts on both St. Thomas and St. John, but Caneel Bay really caught my eye. Resorts are ideal because they have a wedding coordinator and can help plan everything from the ceremony, reception, accommodations, and activities. Keep in mind that going with a resort is more hassle-free but at a bigger cost.
Big Fat Cake Co-Founder, Scott, is standing on a platform in one of several bays at Caneel Bay Resort
Caneel Bay grounds
When you enter Caneel Bay, you actually enter a national park first. We took a taxi there and immediately saw deer and ferret-like dogs roaming on their grounds. We were told that there would be lots of donkeys but we didn’t see a single one. There are seven beaches on this resort and each one is absolutely beautiful and not crowded at all. The resort is an environmentally-focused hotel founded by Laurance Rockefeller and even has a bomb shelter for some of their important guests. Just to name a few, Al Gore and President Carter have stayed there (not together!).
The most popular times to get married at Caneel Bay is between April-May. FYI, most of Caneel Bay brides make their decisions over the phone and arrive several days before the wedding.
The most common ceremony site is Turtle Bay for its privacy and breath-taking views. When you're standing at the point where the ceremony would occur, you can hear the water gently crashing up against the rocks.
This view is what you see when standing at the ceremony location. There are seven beaches at Caneel Bay.
The reception can happen at any of their restaurants, like Equator, and even at the Sugar Mill ruins. Reference the wedding photos on their site to see photos of a wedding setup. The Caneel Beach Terrace holds up to 250 guests but they can also accommodate smaller parties.
One of several reception location options that overlooks water and gardens
FYI, if you’re on Facebook, you can add yourself to the Caneel Bay fan page to automatically enter yourself into a chance to win a free four-night stay. This package valued at $4,150.50 includes a free four-night stay, complimentary Full American meal plan, and two ferry roundtrip transfers. A winner will be chosen on October 1st, 2009! Although I’d like to increase my chances by not telling anyone, I thought it would be an awesome story if one of our readers won the sweepstakes! 
If you don’t do Caneel Bay but would like to have your ceremony at one of the other many beautiful beaches of St. John, you should consult with a non-resort wedding planner.
Next, I’ll share about how to find a non-resort wedding planner in St. John and St. Thomas and advice that they would like to pass on to you!
