Thinking of a getting married in sight of the beautiful Caribbean waters of the U.S. Virgin Islands? Find out the facts about St Thomas and St John destination wedding requirements.

Which Island
St Thomas is a mountainous island 13 miles long and 3 miles wide. This bustling island has been an important merchant port for hundreds of years. St Thomas offers travelers shopping, nightlife, posh resorts and plenty of sunshine.

A short few minutes by ferry away, St John is nine miles long and four miles wide, two-thirds of which are owned by the Virgin Islands National Park. For those seeking natural beauty, tranquility and gorgeous views, St John will certainly please couples.

For couples seeking a destination wedding of fun and excitement, St Thomas may be the best bet. For a destination wedding of peace and relaxation, St John can fulfill this requirement.

Legal Requirements
First of all couples need to file an application of marriage license for their destination wedding. This application should be the first step taken because a wait time of 8 business days for processing exists. The good news is that the application is good for one year and no blood test is required.

In order to file a marriage application for a destination wedding, couples should contact the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands.

Application Requirements
U.S. Residents are not required to have a passport to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands. Proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate will suffice.

Proof of Marriage Dissolution: Divorced individuals must submit a copy of their divorce decree. Widows or Widowers must submit a death certificate of the deceased spouse.

To download a PDF of a marriage application and to access a brochure that highlights the islands and offers a list of wedding vendors visit the VI Department of Tourism at http://www.usvitourism.vi/en/home/vi_weddings_honeymoons.html

Fees
Couples must pay $50 for the marriage application fee and $50 for the marriage license for a total of $100. If couples wish to be married by a judge an additional fee of $200 is required. Personal checks are not accepted.

For those wishing to be married in another location on island, couples will need to contact the ceremony location to find out the necessary fees.

Wedding coordinators can help couples plan a US Virgin Islands destination wedding from afar. Planning sites such as this one offer these services: http://www.fantasiaweddings.com/

For a guide to getting married in the U.S. Virgin Islands, visit Frommer’s link. http://www.frommers.com/destinations/virginislands/0092020891.html