• DATE & TIME: If you can avoid weekends and holidays then do so. If you are coming in on a cruise ship on a weekend or holiday then it is best to have your wedding as early as possible to avoid crowds. Typically it will take about 45 minutes to get from the cruise ship to the court house (if needed) and to most wedding locations. Check with your cruise ship to find out what time you can reasonably be off the ship (different than docking time). If you can be off the ship by 9:15am then you can easily make a 10am wedding.
• If you are coming by cruise ship note that SOME cruise ships do not change their clocks to our time zone. Please ask your cruise ship to verify St. Thomas' time in relation to your cruise ship time. Otherwise you could think you are getting off the ship at 9am to find that it is 10am on St. Thomas! This is applicable fall to spring (beginning of Nov to mid of March) when we are one hour ahead of the US East Coast.
  From spring to fall we are on the same time as the US East Coast. ( EST )
  
• The courts are open- ( can now bypass going to the court house with E filing )
  8am to 5pm Monday to Friday
  Saturday 10am to noon.
  Sunday 9:30am to 11am.
  Holidays - times vary - good to call ahead -
  Check here for a list of St. Thomas holiday dates.
  
• Holidays and Weekends at court house...
  There is a $150 extra fee for going to the court on Saturdays, Sundays and most holidays by appointment only. If you are staying on island then you can go to the court house days before your wedding.
  If you are coming in on or near a holiday then call ahead to verify the court house hours ahead of time - 340-774-6680 (ext 6207) or ask for marriage license department.
  The court house is closed on some holidays all day.
  
  

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Step #2 ~ Check Availability

• Email weddings@islandweddingservices.com to check availability for your dates for your wedding officiant, photographer, boats, & helicopter. Let us know what locations you are interested in having your ceremony and estimated number of guests.
  

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Step #3 ~ Reserve services

• Reserve your wedding officiant, photographer, boats, helicopters etc by filling out our reservation form. Don't be concerned if you don't know what extra services that you need right now. You can simply start with a wedding officiant and add services along the way.
  

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Step #4 ~ Marriage License Court House Paperwork

• Go to our legal forms page for complete instructions on filing your courthouse documents..

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Step #5 ~ Transportation

• Have our Island Wedding Services team pick you and your group up at your hotel or cruise ship, escort you to the court house to pick up your marriage license, and take you to and from your wedding destination. See transportation options or reserve with our packages.
• You will want to have your island transportation in place before you come. Taxis operate shuttle style picking up and dropping off passengers as they go. It would be daunting to get off a cruise ship with out transportation set in place.
  
• If you are staying at a hotel, even if you are renting a car for the week, it is a good idea to have a driver for your wedding to alleviate any stress with driving - plus you may want to have some champagne at your wedding! Ask about luxury SUVs with chauffeurs.
  

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Step #6 ~ Extra Touches

• We handle everything from simple weddings to island spectacular! Check out our flowers, romantic touches, champagne, beach picnics, cakes, catering, arches & aisles. Check out our extras page for music, restaurant recommendations, salons, and more. Many of these items you can order straight off of the reservation form or simply email us for your additions. If you are unsure of items you need just get the reservation form in with the date and location and you can add extras via email as you plan.
  

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ONCE ON ISLAND :

If you are coming in on a cruise ship note that SOME cruise ships do not change their clocks to our time zone. Please ask your cruise ship to verify St. Thomas' time in relation to your cruise ship time.

Also if you are coming by cruise ship you will want to have your transportation pre-arranged.
There will be taxis when you get off the ship however they will be multi passenger vans taking people in groups to designated tourist areas. See step #5 and contact us for transportation options before you arrive.

Step #7 ~ Court House Stop (can skip if vow renewal or symbolic)

• Once you are on island a quick trip to the court house will be required to pick up your marriage licence by the bride and groom only. If you are staying on island then you can do this the days before your wedding date to get it over with.
• Before arriving on island you would have already mailed or uploaded your marriage license and application (step 4) and have called in to make sure they received it and everything is in order. They must have the paperwork in at least 8 business days before your wedding (sometimes can be waived).
• At the court house you will both need to be present and bring your photo IDs. If you want to arrive separately you can do so if you don't see each other before the wedding.
• Please note that this is a court house and you should be dressed appropriately otherwise they will turn you away. No tank tops, short shorts, swim wear, flip flops, or bare feet. Casual wear such as shorts and skirts are fine as long as they are at appropriate lengths. Some sundresses with tiny straps have been turned away so if you are unsure then it is not a bad idea to bring along a spare shirt or cover up such as a sarong just in case.
• When entering the front door there will be a security officer at a desk. Very important to say "good morning" or "good afternoon" to the security officer and anyone in general upon entering a room, taxi, store etc. It's a local custom.
• Security guard will ask you for your phone. Have it ready for him and have it turned off.
• At the marriage license desk again say "good morning" or "good afternoon" to the clerks.
• Let them know you are picking up your marriage license. Have your photo IDs ready.
• They might ask you the name of your wedding officiant. We will send that to you a few weeks before your ceremony in our final confirmation email. If you didn't get it then ask us.
• If every thing is in order then they will have you swear in and will hand you three copies of your license to bring to your wedding officiant.
• Whew - that's done! (:
  

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Step #8 ~ Get married (: Yippeeee

• Once on location your wedding officiate will greet you and answer any questions you have.
• Make sure you have your rings, marriage license from court house, and balance due for services.
• The wedding officiate will use the ceremony on the ceremony page unless directed otherwise in advance. Let us know ahead of time if you would like to add your own vows.
  
• If you have poems or readings then it is a nice touch if you have a friend or family member read. Otherwise the wedding officiant would be happy to add any special touches to your ceremony.
• Let us know ahead of time if you would like the wedding officiate to refer to you by nick names, shortened versions of your names, middle names etc. Otherwise during the ceremony you will refered to you by the first names on your reservation sheet.
• Do not over dress! It is the tropics - full black tuxes and large thick dresses will be unbearably hot. Also note that if the bride wears a veil and there is wind then if turn into a wind sock and become annoying to control.
• After the ceremony your minister and two witnesses will sign your paperwork.
  If it is just the two of you don't worry about the witnesses. We can have your driver, or photographer sign the paperwork or there is always a couple near by who are more than happy to do so. Witnesses do not need to be up close, they can observe from a distant.
• Gratuities for services - i.e. minister / photographer / captain / pilot are not required but appreciated. (15% to 20 % is customary) If you ordered a package and are unsure just ask us ahead of time.
  

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Step #9 ~Marriage License Back to the Court House

• You will be legally married after you say "I do". After your ceremony your marriage license (now signed by the minister and witnesses) will need to go back to the court house for final processing.
• You can take it back or have your minister do it for you for an extra handling fee of $35 (includes 2 copies of your license and mailed priority with tracking for US addresses). Add $10 for non-US addresses.
• If you take your license back to the court house yourself then you will walk off the island with your final papers.
  Copies of your license are $3 per certified copy. We would recommend getting at least 2 copies.
• If you go to the court house on a weekend or after 3pm on weekdays then they will require a money order or cashier's check made out to the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands for your copies ( recommend getting that before coming to St. Thomas). A money order for $9 will get you 3 copies of your license. They will not allow cash after cashier is closed.
• If your minister handles the paperwork then your license will be mailed to your priority with tracking. You can expect it within 3 weeks of your wedding day.
• Another option is to mail it in once you get home.
  If you are getting married on a weekend or holiday you may not have the option to go back to the court house as it may be closed. If you are staying on island then you can do this days after the ceremony.
• If one or both of you are a not a US citizen then you will most likely need to get an Apostile. This is an extra certificate that authenticates the marriage license for your country.
  When you get home mail a certified copy of your marriage license with a raised seal along with a cashiers check made out for $25 US dollars to:

  Lt. Governors Office
  #18 Kongens Gade
  St. Thomas, VI 00802
  
  They will mail it back to you first class mail.
  If you are staying on island then you may take your marriage license to the Lt. Governors office yourself. If you are lucky they can complete it while you are here. Otherwise, it will be mailed to you.
  If you have any questions regarding the Apostile then call 340-774-2991 and tell them you have a question regarding Apostiles and they will transfer you to the correct department.
  

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Step #10 ~ You are married. Live happily ever after.

• When you get home you can send us one of your favorite photos along with your comments to post on our Happy Couples page. We appreciate the opportunity to handle your wedding.