Turks and Caicos Wedding

Words by Jennifer Stein

Take the Plunge Caribbean Style

Words by Carolyn Steere

Land meets ocean in the most exquisite way at Grace Bay Beach as the powder white sand melts into the turquoise Caribbean sea. Indescribable beauty awaits you in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Getting there is easy – a one hour flight from Miami or 2 ½ hours from New York makes planning a destination wedding here a piece of cake. Your guests will be delighted with your selection as soon as they shed their sandals and sink their toes into the sand. The invitation to get wet is impossible to resist with the abundance of water sports that are available including reef diving, snorkeling, sailing, or fishing. It is also the ideal place to stroll a deserted cay (pronounced kee) to search for the perfect conch shell or sand dollar.

Weddings in Turks and Caicos are wonderful, colorful celebrations and planning is easy with the help of a local wedding planner or one of the many luxury resorts on the islands. Grace Bay Beach is peppered with a wonderful variety of properties including Ocean Club Resorts, which is comprised of two family friendly all-suite properties, Ocean Club and Ocean Club West, located just one mile apart. Ocean Club Resorts features a “Stay at One, Play at Both” policy which enables guests at either property to enjoy the amenities of the other. Adjacent to Ocean Club West is the 5-star Grace Bay Club with the combination providing accommodations for all tastes and budgets within walking distance.

For those who dream of taking the plunge on the sea, Sun Charters provides wedding services aboard the Atabeyra. The crew can also sail you out to a secluded cay where you can exchange vows accompanied by the sound of the ocean and tropical breezes.

In Turks and Caicos, you won’t be disappointed with the great cuisine. Restaurants such

as Lemon provide Moroccan inspired dishes. At Opus, you can sit at a candle lit mahogany bar and sip a glass of wine before you enjoy freshly caught lobster, fish or conch or a great steak. Another favorite: B’Stilla, try the crispy phyllo pastry stuffed with chicken breast, cinnamon, almonds and seasoned with an exotic blend of herbs and spices. Conch is an island specialty and especially good at the Seaside Café where you can pair any dish with an award winning beet mojito. Coco Bistro is another must try – where Chef Stuart Gray recommends the herb ravioli with conch or the emperors cut of beef. For beachside evening entertainment, the Caribbean’s longest Infinity Bar at the Grace Bay Club is our pick. Constructed of black marble, the bar stretches 90 feet from the resort to the shore creating the illusion that it is floating in the Caribbean.

Romance and relaxation await you in Turks and Caicos, be it a destination wedding, honeymoon, or for just a special getaway.

Photos courtesy of Ocean club Resorts