6 August 2014
Amanda Statham tracks down where celeb couples wed, honeymoon and hang out in the Caribbean
St Lucia
Film star Matt Damon and wife Luciana recently retied the knot at Sugar Beach a Viceroy Resort, one of the Caribbean’s most exclusive getaways. Fifty guests were invited to the nuptials, arriving by private jet no less. They tied the knot at sunset, with the groom wearing a tan coloured suit and flip-flops and her in a cream-coloured gown with a sequined belt. Post-ceremony, the posse enjoyed a cocktail reception on the beach with tiki flame torches. The filmstar rented out the entire resort for a cool $1 million for a weekend.
This is also the resort where Poppy Delevigne (Cara’s big sis) and husband-to-be James Cook spent quality time shortly before their London wedding. They hid away in a suite at the gorgeous getaway, which spans a lush hillside sweeping down to a crescent of golden sand guarded either side by the iconic Piton Peaks.
Barbados
A magnet for celebs, Barbados has welcomed a string of famous couples to its silky sand shores. Westlife popstar Kian Egan married actress Jodi Albert at a private beachfront villa, which was decorated with tropical flowers, including a floating floral arrangement in the pool. The aisle was bordered with fresh flower petals and they exchanged vows beneath a coral stone Pergola, before moving on to Simon Cowell’s private villa for their reception and dancing until dawn to the island’s top reggae band.
The Brit-favourite island is also where model and make-up artist Jemma Kidd chose to marry the Earl of Mornington. The pair exchanged vows in the grounds of Holders House, her parents’ plantation, surrounded by a gaggle of party-loving friends and family who ensured the celebrations went on well into the early hours.
The island’s most famous resort, Sandy Lane,is where celeb couples like footballer Wayne Rooney and wife Coleen like to check in for some rest and romance. It’s also where you’re likely to spot Simon Cowell; he took girlfriend Lauren Silverman there for a pre-baby break and rumours are rife they’ll be tying the knot on the platinum coast this year.
Necker Island
Ex-boyband member and reality TV star Nick Lachey tied the knot with Vanessa Minnillo during a sunset ceremony at Sir Richard Branson’s private island home in the BVI. Thirty-five guests flew in for celebrations, which lasted a whopping four-days
Necker was also the scenic setting for Sir Richard’s daughter Holly’s marriage to Freddie Andrews, on the exact same spot where her mum and dad wed in 1989. This ceremony took place amid ruins, however, as a fire had swept through the Great House (you remember, the one where Kate Winslett helped rescue the billionaire’s mum from the flames) a couple of months before and was attended by royals Princess’ Eugenie and Beatrice.
If you fancy a Necker wedding or honeymoon, you’ll be pleased to hear The Grand House has now been completely rebuilt, including the vast lounge with comfy sofas, fully stocked bar for favourite cocktails and a crow’s nest on the roof with a Jacuzzi (the ideal place to sip those cocktails at sunset). The island can accommodate 30 people (including six more Bali villas dotted around)
Turks & Caicos
The Bond movies often went to the Caribbean partly because such an exotic location was just what audiences wanted in the drab early 60s when James Bond came of age. Moreover, the super spy's author Ian Fleming had a holiday home, Goldeneye, in Jamaica and it was here that he wrote many of his bestselling books. The Goldeneye estate is now an exclusive clifftop resort in the village of Oracabessa, about 20 minutes’ drive from Ocho Rios.
Movie star Bruce Willis married model Emma Hemming at his home on Parrot Cay, a dreamy private island resort with villas in the Turks & Caicos. More recently, film stars Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner tied the knot on the beach at Parrot Cay. The bride wore a cream, empire-line gown with a turquoise sash and the couple spent their first night as Mr & Mrs in Bruce’s luxury ocean-front villa, complete with four-poster bed and butler service.
Loved-up filmstars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were rumoured to have tied the knot at Parrot Cay last Christmas after spending New Year at the home of fashion designer Donna Karan, who has a private estate on the island. However the gorgeous duo were simply enjoying some time out in paradise.
Bahamas
The Bond movies often went to the Caribbean partly because such an exotic location was just what audiences wanted in the drab early 60s when James Bond came of age. Moreover, the super spy's author Ian Fleming had a holiday home, Goldeneye, in Jamaica and it was here that he wrote many of his bestselling books. The Goldeneye estate is now an exclusive clifftop resort in the village of Oracabessa, about 20 minutes’ drive from Ocho Rios.
The world’s most famous pop diva Mariah Carey chose to wed TV actor Nick Cannon on seven-mile Windemere Island off Eleuthera, where she had a beachfront, threebedroom villa worth a cool $5 million.
The property could only be reached by helicopter or via a bridge with an armed guard. Guests (around 25 flown in by private jet, natch) checked into Pineapple Fields Resort before heading to Windemere the following day to witness the couple exchange vows on the terrace of her villa overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Two tanks of Maine lobsters were flown in for the wedding breakfast.
In contrast, actors Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem had a hush-hush, low-key wedding at a friend’s house in the Bahamas. Apparently only family members were invited and the starlet wore a Galliano gown.
The most romantic resort in the Bahamas is One&Only Ocean Club an exquisite getaway on aptly named Paradise Island Drive on Nassau, where the likes of Cindy Crawford and Beverly Hills 90210 star Jason Priestly have tied the knot and honeymooned.
Fergie, lead singer in the Black Eyed Peas, and hubby Josh Duhamel extended their honeymoon by checking into the vast Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in the Bahamas to hang out with Michael Jordan. This mega resort, which features a dolphin cay, 141-acre water park, dozens of fine dining options including Nobu and towers with luxury rooms and enormous aquariums, has also attracted the likes of film stars Pierce Brosnan and Salma Hayek.
Jamaica
Round Hill Hotel & Villas is one of the chicest hotels in the Caribbean, so little wonder it’s a hot spot for celebrities weddings, honeymoons and trysts. The likes of Fred Astaire and John F Kennedy have passed through, now ‘slebs like US actor Taye Diggs and Broadway star Idina Menzel chose to honeymoon in the Ralph Lauren-designed villas. Dule Hill from the West Wing and actress Nicole Lyn also chose to tie the knot and ‘moon at Round Hill.
Boxer Lennox Lewis married Miss Jamaica runner up Violet Chang at William Knibb Memorial Baptist Chapel, Falmouth on the island. Two hundred guests attended who were treated to a rendition of the classic ballad "Our Love Is Here To Stay" before the ceremony ended and the couple partook of the age-old custom of jumping the broom. The reception was held at Good Hope Country House a Georgian plantation constructed in 1755 that is situated on 2,000 secluded acres. As the day wore on, attendees convened at the 7th hole of the Cinnamon Hill Golf Course on the grounds of the Wyndham Rose Hall Resort, where a six-course banquet was served.
Mustique
Sir Paul McCartney chose an intimate ceremony with just a few close family and friends when he married Nancy Shevell on the Grenadine isle in 2013. Rumour has it they stayed at Mick Jagger’s six-bedroom mansion. Princess Margaret famously loved to holiday on Mustique and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have enjoyed some loved-up holidays on the star-studded isle too, although last year Kate holidayed there with baby George and her family at £14,000-per-week villa Rocina
