Why Choose a Destination Wedding in Montego Bay Jamaica
Thinking about planning a destination wedding in Jamaica? The Caribbean is a dreamy place to jet off to for the wedding of your dreams. The culture is rich, the vibe is laid-back and welcoming and the views of the glittering Caribbean are extraordinary! One of my personal favorite wedding venues in Montego Bay Jamaica is Round Hill Hotel and Villas. After working with one of my couples at this lavish resort, I absolutely fell in love with it! I also picked up a few insider tips about what it takes to host your wedding at this stunning venue. So, if you want to create an unforgettable destination wedding experience for you & your guests on the stunning island of Jamaica, keep reading for more!
Obtaining a Marriage License for Your Wedding in Jamaica
First things first, you’ll need a marriage license for your destination wedding in Jamaica! Although hosting a destination wedding in Jamaica can feel like a hop skip and jump away from the US, you have to remember that it is still classified as a wedding outside of your home country. With that, there are certain specifications to follow in order to make your wedding ceremony legal at home.
First and foremost, you and your partner must both be in Jamaica at least 24 hours before your wedding ceremony is to take place. Weddings in Jamaica do not require blood tests. Furthermore, marriages that take place in Jamaica, according to Jamaican law, are legally recognized as marriages in the US. To obtain your marriage license, you and your partner should contact your wedding planner or the Registrar General’s Department at least two weeks prior to your wedding ceremony.
In order to obtain your marriage license, you will need to present the following information.
- Each person must present their birth certificate, which must include the father’s name or further information that substantiates the same
- Each person must present an official photo identification such as a passport or driver’s license
- You will each need to list and declare your occupations
- If either person was married before, a certified final divorce paper or death certificate of the deceased spouse must be presented
- Once your wedding ceremony is performed, the marriage officer will present you with the signed marriage license. With that document, an official marriage certificate can be obtained through the Registrar General’s Department online service at the Registrar General’s Office in Jamaica.
- Additionally, all relevant fees must be paid in order to receive your certificate. Currently, The processing fee for a marriage license in Jamaica is four thousand Jamaican dollars (or, approximately $50.00 USD).
Having a Symbolic Wedding Ceremony in Jamaica
If, for any reason, the process of obtaining a marriage license proves tricky or time-consuming, your other option is to hold a symbolic wedding ceremony. Many couples opt to host a symbolic wedding ceremony when getting married abroad. This option tends to save time, paperwork, and the intricacies that come with getting married outside your home country. For a symbolic wedding ceremony, you can get married in a courthouse wedding at home before jetting off to Jamaica. Once in Jamaica, the ceremony you select with Round Hill Hotel and Villas will purely be symbolic (not legally binding). Which gives you the ability to create private, personalized vows for your friends and family to witness!
Selecting Round Hill Hotel and Villas for Your Destination Wedding in Montego Bay
As I mentioned above, I absolutely fell in love with Round Hill Hotel and Villas as a premier venue for a destination wedding in Jamaica. At this venue, you’ll find top-notch service that hones in on your personal wedding day vision. That means, no cookie-cutter resort-style weddings (you know what I mean!). Round Hill Hotel and Villas works closely with their couples to plan their multi-event destination weddings. Covering everything from customized menus to exclusive bookings, assigning you dedicated wedding specialists, and helping you find any additional professional wedding vendors!
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You’ll also find that Round Hill Hotel and Villas is a one-stop shop for a multi-event weekend wedding. This means you won’t have to worry about hosting your welcome party, rehearsal dinner, or after-party off-property. In total, there are eight unique spaces located on the Round Hill Hotel and Villas property. Each space can be used to accommodate your guests for any event of your choosing. Their event spaces range from indoors and are fully climate-controlled to terrace and even beachside! Thus creating an expansive variety of spaces for you to plan your multi-event destination wedding in Jamaica! I am going to break down the venues on the property a bit more below. But you should know, that Round Hill Hotel and Villas is able to accommodate weddings of up to no more than 200 guests.
Traveling to Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Montego Bay Jamaica
Online Passenger Declaration
The first thing that you and your guests need to know about traveling to Jamaica for your destination wedding is the online passenger declaration. All U.S. citizens are required to present a valid U.S. passport when traveling to Jamaica. But, you will also be required to show proof of anticipated departure from Jamaica. In addition to a valid passport, an online passenger declaration will be required for entry into Jamaica as of September 1st, 2023. It is mandatory that every traveler entering Jamaica complete the Online Passenger Declaration form before traveling. This will be important to communicate to all of your wedding guests. Preferably when you send them the invitation to your wedding at Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Montego Bay.
Public Airport
Are you arriving at Round Hill Hotel and Villas via the public airport? Here are step-by-step directions for your arrival. Upon leaving the airport and clearing the roundabout, you’ll continue left onto Queen’s Drive until you arrive at the Mt. Alvernia Prep School. After which you will get to the stop light at Howard Cooke Boulevard. Continue on the highway, making a left turn onto Alice Eldemire Drive. At this time, you will pass the Montego Bay Community College. You will then approach a stoplight, where you will take a right turn onto Bogue Road. Continue straight on Bogue Road for several miles until you cross over the Great River Bridge. Continue straight. At this point, Round Hill is approximately 3 minutes away. The Main Gate entrance will be on your right.
Private Airport Transfers
If your arrival will be via the private airport, the resort is happy to make arrangements for a private transfer to Round Hill. They do recommend that all transfers be pre-booked. In order to arrange a private airport transfer, you can contact Round Hill’s airport concierge at airportconcierge@roundhill.com. When using a private transfer, you will first need to clear customs. From there you will proceed to desk proceed to desk #19 in the arrival hall. From there, the airport concierge team will meet you in order to escort you to your transportation to Round Hill.
Club Mobay VIP Airport Service
For an additional fee Round Hill Hotel & Villas can arrange the services of Club Mobay. Which is an expedited airport process upon arrival and departure in Montego Bay. Additionally, guests will have access to Club Mobay’s VIP lounge, where they can enjoy snacks and refreshments.
Spaces Available for Your Wedding at Round Hill Resort and Villas in Montego Bay Jamaica
Round Hill Hotel and Villas is a stunning resort and wedding venue in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Their vibe is elegant, and tropical, and highlights the beauty of Jamaica. Weddings hosted at Round Hill Hotel and Villas can accommodate up to 200 guests in total. All in all, Round Hill Hotel and Villas offers a total of six unique spaces for your wedding. Additionally, these spaces are available for your pre and post-wedding events. Each space can be used in any number of ways. So I’m going to break them down for you by event.
Wedding Welcome Party
Hosting a welcome party is a wonderful way to get your guests mixing and mingling upon their arrival. Creating an atmosphere of fun, before your wedding day arrives. Additionally, hosting a welcome party for your guests is a great way to show them how much you appreciate them. Your guests have committed to taking the time to travel, in order to attend and honor you on your wedding day. Saying thank you to them with a welcome party filled with delicious cocktails and small bites or even welcome bags, is taking that extra step to enhance your destination wedding experience as well as your friends and family’s role in your love story. If you’re thinking about creating a more immersive experience out of your destination wedding at Round Hill Hotel and Villas in Montego Bay Jamaica, there are three extraordinary spaces that can be used to welcome your guests.
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The first is the Hanover Room. This space can accommodate up to 80 guests for a cocktail reception. 80 guests for a plated dinner experience, or 50 guests for a buffet meal experience. The Hanover Room sits on the hillside of the resort, just above the shoreline. Which means you and your guest will enjoy a sweeping view of the sparkling waters of the Caribbean. Additionally, the Hanover Room is enclosed with floor-to-ceiling Frech windows and is fully climate-controlled. Providing a space that is protected from the elements while also giving you and your guests amazing views of the island’s shore.
The second option for hosting your welcome party at Round Hill Hotel and Villas is the Infinity Pool Sun Deck. This beautiful sprawling outdoor space is open and surrounded by the natural rugged rocks of the ocean. In addition to a gorgeous view, you’ll also enjoy the sounds of the waves crashing against the rocks in the distance. All while you mix and mingle with your guests for the first event of your destination wedding experience! The Infinity Pool Sun Deck is able to accommodate up to 160 guests for a cocktail reception. Inquire with your planner about available setup space if you intend on displaying & distributing your guest’s welcome bags. The setup of an additional table may reduce the total capacity for your guest count. So it will be important to have this information in advance!
Lastly, the final option for hosting your wedding welcome party at Round Hill Hotel and Villas, the resort offers the Hanover Terrace. This space can accommodate up to 80 guests for a cocktail reception. 80 guests for a plated dinner. Or up to 50 guests for a buffet dinner. The Hanover Terrace at Round Hill Hotel and Villas is a private stone terrace with lush views of the hillside rainforest AND the blue-green waters of the Caribbean. This space is a literal canopy of tropical foliage. If that doesn’t sound dreamy enough, the resort provides glowing lanterns to create magical ambiance for your wedding welcome party!
Hosting Your Rehearsal Dinner
Many couples hosting a destination wedding experience opt for a wedding welcome party and a rehearsal dinner. After all, this may be the first time that you, your wedding party, and your immediate family members are all gathered at Round Hill Hotel and Villas before your wedding. Making it the perfect opportunity to rehearse your ceremony before your big moment arrives.
You may be wondering if you need a welcome party AND a rehearsal dinner, and that’s really up to you. Whether you decide to host both events or just a welcome party that is rolled into a rehearsal dinner will depend on your total budget. You will also need to factor in your guest’s arrival. And discuss any further intricate details that need to be sorted out with your planner. It is definitely doable to make your wedding welcome party at Round Hill Hotel and Villas your rehearsal dinner. But it might just be that a small rehearsal dinner the night before your wedding is best.
In the event that you decide to host a separate, more intimate rehearsal dinner at Round Hill Hotel and Villas before the night of your wedding, I highly recommend selecting one of the three options. The Hanover Room, The Hanover Terrace, or the Georgian Room.
If you wish to host your rehearsal dinner indoors, Round Hill Hotel and Villas offers their Georgian Room. It’s simplistic in a way that is entirely elegant and features views of the Round Hill Estate and the turquoise waters of the Caribean. The Georgian Room is an intimate, soft lift, and great for those fun pre-wedding conversations with your wedding party and close family members. For your rehearsal dinner, The Georgian Room can accommodate up to 120 guests for a plated dinner. Or 80 guests for a buffet-style dinner.
As mentioned above, The Hanover Room is perched just above the shoreline of the resort and is fully enclosed and climate-controlled. This space can accommodate up to 80 guests for a plated dinner. Or up to 50 guests for a buffet meal.
The last option for hosting your rehearsal dinner at Round Hill Hotel and Villas is the Hanover Terrace. This outdoor space is perfect for a sunset dinner after walking through the specifics of your wedding ceremony. For a full dining experience the night before your wedding, THe Hanover Terrace can accommodate up to 100 guests for a plated dinner, and up to 80 guests for a buffet-style dinner.
Wedding Ceremony at Round Hill Hotel and Villas
Most couples that choose to plan a destination wedding in a seaside town like Montego Bay Jamaica, are hoping for that dreamy view of the glittering waters from the beach. Where the sea meets the shore, gently washing over the white sugar sands of Montego Bay, Round Hill Hotel and Villas offers its couple’s wedding ceremonies on the beach. Saying I do on the sun-kissed sand, overlooking the Caribbean is a beautiful way to start your forever.
Round Hill Hotel and Villas wedding ceremony space on the beach offers seating for up to 100 guests. The versatile space on the beach can be set up according to your wedding day vision. It’s a gorgeous space for saying I do with your toes in the sand, evoking the feeling of Jamaica’s laid-back free spirit. While getting married on the beach is one of the five wedding ceremony spaces offered at Round Hill Hotel and Villas, there are four additional selections available for your unforgettable wedding ceremony. Here are the full details!
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The second option for an outdoor wedding ceremony at Round Hill Hotel and Villas is on their Spa Lawn. If you are dreaming of a beach wedding but have a higher guest count, you’ll be happy to know that this space can accommodate up to 250 guests for your wedding ceremony! It also provides that gorgeous, picturesque backdrop of the sea, creating an idyllic setting to say I do in paradise!
Round Hill Hotel and Villas wedding ceremony space on the beach!
There are three additional spaces at Round Hill Hotel and Villas to host your wedding ceremony. Each space is best suited for weddings with less than 100 guests. The first is the Infinity Pool Sun Deck, which can comfortably accommodate up to 70 guests for your wedding ceremony. This glittering outdoor space provides views and sounds of the ocean below. I will note that the Infinity Pool Sun Deck is a long narrow space at the resort, so, in order to maximize your space you will need to work with your wedding planner to arrange the most optimal seating for your guests!
Your second option for hosting an intimate-sized wedding at Round Hill Hotel and Villas is to hold your wedding ceremony on their Hanover Terrace. This space is best suited for weddings with up to 70 guests and also provides amazing views in every direction!
Lastly, if you are searching for an indoor option to host your wedding ceremony at Round Hill Hotel and Villas, you can select the Hanover Room. This space is best suited for up to 60 guests for your wedding ceremony and it is perched just above the shoreline, with sweeping views, but in a space that is protected from the elements and fully climate-controlled!
Cocktail Hour
While you are off capturing your wedding photos in paradise, hosting a cocktail hour is a great way to keep your guests mixing and mingling. While also serving up deliciously crafted cocktails and small bites. It’s a wonderful way to create a transitional event from your ceremony to your reception and a great way to break the ice between your guests! Your cocktail hour at Round Hill Hotel and Villas can be held in the Georgian Room. This room is perfectly suited for bringing your guests in from your beachside ceremony before ushering them off to your reception space! All in all, this space can host up to 110 guests for a cocktail hour. If you are interested in hosting your cocktail hour & reception in the same space, talk to your planner about use of the Spa Lawn.
Wedding Reception at Round Hill Hotel and Villas
You’ve said I do, now it’s time to celebrate for the rest of the evening! Where are you going to serve your guests unforgettable flavors of the Caribbean while dancing all night long? There are two fabulous options for hosting your wedding reception at Round Hill Hotel and Villas. The first is the Spa Lawn and the second is the Hanover Terrace.
The Spa Lawn, which is an expansive verdant lawn is an outdoor location with panoramic views of the Caribbean and the 18th century Great House. The Spa Lawn is ideal for large-scale weddings because it is able to accommodate up to 250 guests for a plated dinner or a buffet meal. Additionally, although this space is entirely al fresco, it can be tented to protect your guests from the elements.
The second option for hosting your wedding reception at Round Hill Hotel and Villas is the Hanover Terrace. This space can accommodate up to 100 guests for a plated dinner experience. Or up to 80 guests for a buffet meal. This space is ideal if you are hoping to take in the stunning sunset views of the Caribbean on the night of your wedding!
Hosting an After Party
The last way you to create a complete experience from your destination wedding at Round Hill and Villas is with an afterparty! So many couples want to keep the party going long after their reception has closed. And who can blame them? How often do you jet off to paradise to say I do to the love of your life? Round Hill Resort and Villas offers wedding after parties, on the beach! I couldn’t possibly think of a better way to close out the wedding day of your dreams than with a nighttime celebration in the sand.
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