4 minute read

I DO

Nestled in one of the world’s most romantic regions, Anguilla’s gorgeous properties, deserted beaches, fabulous cuisine and simple wedding license procedure make it the best choice for a destination wedding or special event of any size, budget or persuasion.

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blair + dan

Photography: Carly Landolt @Carlylandoltphoto

MMY FIRST VISIT to Anguilla was with my family in 2006, and I've been fortunate to visit a dozen times since. I fell in love with the island's beaches, food (Straw Hat’s seafood pasta!), rum punches and – most importantly – the people. Dan and I started dating in 2016, and after years of hearing me gush over Anguilla, we went together for the first time in 2019. It was clear how quickly Dan shared my admiration for what a special place Anguilla is. A couple of days into our visit and after a great lunch (and Bushwackers!) at Tropical Sunset, we first discussed the idea of spending the rest of our lives together and what a dream it would be to make that commitment to each other in Anguilla.

In 2019, Dan proposed to me, and our dream wedding was set into motion with the help of the team at The Agency Anguilla! Following the global pandemic in 2020 and a difficult postponement in 2021, we finally experienced our dream wedding with our family and friends as we celebrated at Straw Hat on Meads Bay on May 28th, 2022.

blair's love letter

This is a love letter to Anguilla. This is a love letter to her people. This is a love letter to her 33 beautiful beaches, especially the ones I haven't seen. This is a love letter to the sounds of the waves crashing when her sun wakes you at 5am and to the same waves when they mingle with calypso music a few hours later. This is a love letter to my husband, to our family and to all our incredible, wonderful friends. This is a love letter to shit gone wrong, and to happenstance, and absolutely everything made so perfectly right again. This is a love letter to sleepless nights, and to worries and nerves and hard work and stress and patience and the support system that has carried us through and always will. This is a love letter to rum punch, and dancing, and floating in the sea, and bougainvillea, and sunsets that embrace you with love from the ones who went before. This is a love letter to my favorite people, in my favorite place on the best day of my life.

A very Caribbean reception! wedding

AANGUILLA BEACHES-THEMED TABLE décor and a barefoot reception – featuring dishes like seafood spring rolls, baconwrapped plantain skewers, Carib beer and, of course, rum punch! (If you plan to have your reception by a pool or by the beach, glass is not allowed.) Straw Hat recommend that parties bring their own branded cups, which can be recycled and taken home as souvenirs.

KEVIN ARCHIBALD OF KSharp Media thinks the reason why Anguilla is the perfect wedding destination is because ‘Anguilla is in the heart of the Caribbean. And because we are famous for our gorgeous beaches and picturesque scenes. We have many different services that are needed for weddings: photography, video, amazing venues, live entertainment, bands, great singers, hair and makeup artists, photobooths, professional event and wedding planners, florists, décor designers, and even dancers if you want them. You name it, Anguilla can provide you with whatever you need for your wedding or special event. And there are so many great spots in Anguilla to take photos and make videos.

You’ve heard it before and you will hear it again, what really makes Anguilla special is the people – and you can be sure that whoever you get to help you with your wedding they will make it an enjoyable and memorable experience.’

wedding tips

GETTING MARRIED IN ANGUILLA IS EASY

Especially if you work with a knowledgeable, professional wedding planner like Blue Sea Anguilla who specialise in intimate, authentic weddings and other important celebrations like vow renewal services, signature birthdays or special anniversaries.

NEED TO KNOW

It only takes two business days from your arrival and presentation of documents to process your license, and then after a brief legal procedure, you can marry as soon as, and wherever you want – on the beach, at your hotel or villa, at a restaurant, in a church, on an off-shore cay or even on a boat! The simple and inexpensive requirements – which include paying stamp duties and marriage license fee ($280 approx) – will be handled by your planner or resort. If either party has been married before, don’t forget to bring your original divorce decrees (translated and notarized if the original version is not in English). Contact Blue Sea Anguilla for more information on getting married in Anguilla.