So you have decided to tie the Knot in Jamaica but not at a Hotel. There are many other venues you can choose from on the island. All you need is a passport, be in the Island at least 24 hours, pre-apply for a marriage license at the Ministry of Justice. As a local wedding planner I want to educate visitors as well as locals about weddings.

Some alternatives are Gardens, Beaches, Waterfalls, Restaurants, property belonging to a friend or relative, Villas, church chapels, yachts, Lighthouses, etc. These venues offer a more relax atmosphere for you and your guests. You can even rent some of these venues for the entire day. You may ask why choose an alternative to the hotel wedding package? The Hotels create these wedding packages for every couple, this may not work for you.

You want to create your own wedding design with your local wedding planner. This may not be possible at hotels because they have guidelines and rules. Some hotels will try to personalize their wedding package to accommodate your wedding ideas. However, there are limits and that where you may need an alternative. Be adventurous!

Most of these venues can be used for the entire wedding day. They offer both a location for the wedding ceremony and the reception. At a Garden or Villa location you are have no guest limits. They are private and secured. Using your theme these venues can be transformed into your the wedding site of your dreams. This is what makes them unique you have the freedom to create your style. You may not get this with an ordinary wedding package.

The decor can range from tents, umbrellas, torches, love-seats, charivari chairs, swag, ice sculptures, coconuts, local flowers and plants. Your wedding can be fabulous, you call the shots.

Here are some venues I could think of in Ocho Rios:

• Dunns River Falls
• Cranbrook
• Coyaba botanical Gardens
• Shaw Park Botanical Gardens
• sea grapes Cottage
• High hopes
• The Ruins

In Negril

• The Negril Lighthouse terrace
• Tensing Pen
• Rick's Cafe
• Xtabi
• Moon dance Villas
• Negril seven miles Beach strip
• Beach house Villas
• Rockhouse

In Montego Bay

• Rose Hall Great House
• Day O Plantation
• SeaGrapes villas
• Skylarking Catamaran Charter
• Round Hills resorts
• Silent Waters

Hope this article helped.