Weddings on Bonaire

[DustyC]

Anyone have any experience with them? Suggestions?

 

[Lorenzoid]

Sorry--we got married on Curacao and honeymooned on Bonaire.

 

[Aviyes]

Depends on who you are inviting. If small wedding and all divers, go for it. However, I think it would be a boring island for a destination wedding for non-divers. Also, can't think of many beaches or venues that would support a mid-sized wedding party on Bonaire, though The Plaza Resort probably comes close. I would choose an island with better sand beaches and more shore or beach activities for the non-divers.

 

[uncfnp]

When I looked into it a few years ago it was a bit more complicated then with some other destination wedding islands. And a resident we were friends with also discouraged the idea.

 

[DustyC]

Sorry--we got married on Curacao and honeymooned on Bonaire.

Might be open to that too, well, the opposite. We're staying for 2 weeks in December, our travel partners are only doing a week. We're thinking about surprising them Friday afternoon with a wedding since it's pretty much our closest friends. We don't have the second week's lodging, or air, booked yet, so I'm open to switching the second week to Curacao

 

[Trailboss123]

If you are on Facebook, I would encourage you to friend and to post here: Bonaire Expats and Visitors

You will get a lot of good responses from those really in the know. @UltimateDiveTrucksBonaire will also be a good resource.

 

[Lorenzoid]

When I looked into it a few years ago it was a bit more complicated then with some other destination wedding islands. And a resident we were friends with also discouraged the idea.

Ah, you must be referring to the legalities. We avoided all that by signing the paper in front of some suitable official at home, and separately putting on a show for our island guests that was a wedding in every sense but legal.

 

[uncfnp]

Ah, you must be referring to the legalities. We avoided all that by signing the paper in front of some suitable official at home, and separately putting on a show for our island guests that was a wedding in every sense but legal.

Yes you are right. I had not looked at it from the option of just a ceremony. To be legally married in Bonaire, at that time, required a fair amount a prep work and becoming a temporary resident.

 

[DustyC]

Legally, it looks simple, just send a few documents in that I already have on hand. This is my 4th trip to the island with a big group (I'm the organizer) and we'd want to do it at the villa we're staying at. Mostly looking for a wedding planner that we could meet with through the week, plan a simple ceremony, then have everyone leave the villa for something while they come in, set it up, then come back and surprise everyone with it.

 

[drrich2]

InfoBonaire.com has a page on getting married on Bonaire. Delfins has a free eBook - the Ultimate Bonaire Wedding Destination Guide. Some business called I Do Weddings Bonaire can do it. There's also Wedding Planners Bonaire.

I hope you'll post a report back to this thread if you do this; it could serve as a handy reference.

Richard.