Zee Best Breakfast! Voted best breakfast on the island. Authentic, fresh-baked French pastries, light-as-air crepes and scrumptious lunches. Open daily in two locations; Simpson Bay and Marina Port-de-Plaisance with a lovely view of the marina.
"I Do" Island Style!
By Pat Cantor
Just imagine St. Maarten/St. Martin for your tropical destination wedding. What could be more beautiful than wedding pictures taken at sunset with the sea and sand as your backdrop?
Perhaps exchanging vows on a mega-yacht, having wedding photographs taken underwater at your favorite dive spot, or being draped in an ethereal white gown on the terrace of a luxurious villa or the grounds of a five-star hotel. There are so many choices. Plus you have all the amazing amenities one would expect on an exotic tropical island with European flair — fabulous food, beautiful hotels, fun excursions, and excellent resources to combine a beautiful wedding with a great vacation and honeymoon.
A popular island feature for weddings is the incredible tax-free/duty-free shopping. Stock up on beautiful things for your home, select your attendants' gifts and even choose your wedding rings. Touch of Gold specializes in precious and semiprecious gems, designer jewelry, elegant watches, accessories and gifts. Little Switzerland offers watches, fine crystal and china, as well as perfumes and jewelry. If emeralds are your favorite stone, stop by Colombian Emeralds. Omni has a large selection of diamonds and stones as well as gold. You'll find diamonds, mounted and loose, as well as designer jewelry and fine watches at Ballerina. Fifth Avenue has an exclusive selection of designer handbags, accessories and perfumes. Boolchand's is a great "his/hers" store with jewelry, watches, electronics, computers and more.
To look and feel fabulous on your wedding day, St. Maarten/St. Martin offers sophisticated, world-class beauty and spa facilities. Hairlusions by Marie-Antoinette, Body by Bonnie Louise will pamper you with everything from hair and makeup to facials and massage. L'Aqualigne offers a chance to unwind and indulge in a sensual, therapeutic full body treatment, and The Good Life Spa offers couples massages for a chance to spend some quality alone time before the ceremony.
Of course, you and your guests will want to party and play as part of your celebration as well. Aqua Mania offers great trips to the outer islands, cocktail and dinner cruises, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving, and lots of fun stuff for the kids. The very sexiest place to host your rehearsal dinner or bachelor/bachelorette event is definitely Bliss. For dining, dancing, drinking and lounging, Bliss is a memorable venue and a very elegant destination for locals and visitors.
You also need to consider how to actually "get married" here. It's rather easy on the Dutch side and more difficult on the French side, although you can certainly party and entertain your guests on both sides of the island. The legal requirements on the island are a bit more complex than in the United States. While you can certainly do it on your own, it is highly recommended that you consult a wedding planner. They will take care of everything for you.
The "Godmother of Weddings" is Jean Rich, one of the best wedding planners on St. Maarten/St. Martin. With 30 years of international event planning and 18 years of living on island, Rich brings a high level of expertise, vision and individuality to your wedding. Drawing on a proven team of creative local talent comprising the island's best bakers, floral designers, photographers, musicians and others, her motto is "If you can dream it, I can make it happen." Certain flowers can be very expensive on a tropical island, but as Rich wants each bride to have what she loves, she creates special "work arounds" that still deliver lots of style. One bride wanted all fresh red roses, so Rich designed table arrangements using red heart-shaped boxes filled to the brim with freeze-dried rose petals. It was perfect and very cost effective.
For any couple, this is a once in a lifetime event, and Rich wants each of you to have beautiful memories of the most special day of your life. Whether you wish to arrive at your beach ceremony on horseback or depart sailing into the sunset, contact Jean Rich at wedinsxm@caribserve.net or visit her website at www.stmaarten-beachweddings.com.
Sint Maarten Marry-Me is one of the largest, most professional wedding planning companies on St. Maarten/St. Martin. In partnership with their sister event planning company, Artemia Event Planners, Sint Maarten Marry-Me offers expanded event services for spectacular weddings.
From traditional to more "off the wall," Sint Maarten Marry-Me designs each wedding around your special wishes. Cruise weddings, both on board and on land, are gaining popularity, and Sint Maarten Marry-Me is now the official representative on the island for The Wedding Experience, a U.S. company specializing in cruise weddings. Other popular settings are the island's mega-yachts and beautiful hotels. Sint Maarten Marry-Me is the exclusive wedding planner for the gorgeous new Westin Dawn Beach Resort and Spa. They also work closely with La Samanna, Sonesta Maho, Sonesta Great Bay and Oyster Pond. All have lovely beaches and are beautiful backdrops for weddings. Most offer special bridal packages if you are hosting your wedding on site. Sint Maarten Marry-Me also has excellent relations with the luxury villa managers. A private villa is a wonderfully intimate spot for the wedding and reception. For more information contact customerservice@sintmaartenmarry-me.com.
Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Dutch St. Maarten
The amended law on Dutch St. Maarten still involves paperwork and proper documents, some of which you will need translated into Dutch. Non-resident couples must be at least 21. If divorced, you must have a valid divorce certificate. You'll need copies of your birth certificates, photocopies of your passports, two forms of picture ID and two original photos. You can expect to pay about $300 for government and administrative expenses. At least 10 days in advance, you will need permission from the Lt. Governor of St. Maarten for temporary resident status and publication of your marriage bans.
For more information contact the Office of Civil Registry, Sualiouga Road #6, Philipsburg, St. Maarten. Phone: 599-542-2457 Fax: 599-542-4267
Start your new life together on an island paradise. Sint Maarten Marry-Me promises to help make your dream wedding a reality with personal assistance every step of the way.
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Zee Best Breakfast! Voted best breakfast on the island. Authentic, fresh-baked French pastries, light-as-air crepes and scrumptious lunches. Open daily in two locations; Simpson Bay and Marina Port-de-Plaisance with a lovely view of the marina. 
Just imagine St. Maarten/St. Martin for your tropical destination wedding. What could be more beautiful than wedding pictures taken at sunset with the sea and sand as your backdrop? 
A popular island feature for weddings is the incredible tax-free/duty-free shopping. Stock up on beautiful things for your home, select your attendants' gifts and even choose your wedding rings. Touch of Gold specializes in precious and semiprecious gems, designer jewelry, elegant watches, accessories and gifts. Little Switzerland offers watches, fine crystal and china, as well as perfumes and jewelry. If emeralds are your favorite stone, stop by Colombian Emeralds. Omni has a large selection of diamonds and stones as well as gold. You'll find diamonds, mounted and loose, as well as designer jewelry and fine watches at Ballerina. Fifth Avenue has an exclusive selection of designer handbags, accessories and perfumes. Boolchand's is a great "his/hers" store with jewelry, watches, electronics, computers and more.
To look and feel fabulous on your wedding day, St. Maarten/St. Martin offers sophisticated, world-class beauty and spa facilities. Hairlusions by Marie-Antoinette, Body by Bonnie Louise will pamper you with everything from hair and makeup to facials and massage. L'Aqualigne offers a chance to unwind and indulge in a sensual, therapeutic full body treatment, and The Good Life Spa offers couples massages for a chance to spend some quality alone time before the ceremony. 
You also need to consider how to actually "get married" here. It's rather easy on the Dutch side and more difficult on the French side, although you can certainly party and entertain your guests on both sides of the island. The legal requirements on the island are a bit more complex than in the United States. While you can certainly do it on your own, it is highly recommended that you consult a wedding planner. They will take care of everything for you.
The "Godmother of Weddings" is Jean Rich, one of the best wedding planners on St. Maarten/St. Martin. With 30 years of international event planning and 18 years of living on island, Rich brings a high level of expertise, vision and individuality to your wedding. Drawing on a proven team of creative local talent comprising the island's best bakers, floral designers, photographers, musicians and others, her motto is "If you can dream it, I can make it happen." Certain flowers can be very expensive on a tropical island, but as Rich wants each bride to have what she loves, she creates special "work arounds" that still deliver lots of style. One bride wanted all fresh red roses, so Rich designed table arrangements using red heart-shaped boxes filled to the brim with freeze-dried rose petals. It was perfect and very cost effective.
For any couple, this is a once in a lifetime event, and Rich wants each of you to have beautiful memories of the most special day of your life. Whether you wish to arrive at your beach ceremony on horseback or depart sailing into the sunset, contact Jean Rich at 
From traditional to more "off the wall," Sint Maarten Marry-Me designs each wedding around your special wishes. Cruise weddings, both on board and on land, are gaining popularity, and Sint Maarten Marry-Me is now the official representative on the island for The Wedding Experience, a U.S. company specializing in cruise weddings. Other popular settings are the island's mega-yachts and beautiful hotels. Sint Maarten Marry-Me is the exclusive wedding planner for the gorgeous new Westin Dawn Beach Resort and Spa. They also work closely with La Samanna, Sonesta Maho, Sonesta Great Bay and Oyster Pond. All have lovely beaches and are beautiful backdrops for weddings. Most offer special bridal packages if you are hosting your wedding on site. Sint Maarten Marry-Me also has excellent relations with the luxury villa managers. A private villa is a wonderfully intimate spot for the wedding and reception. For more information contact 
The amended law on Dutch St. Maarten still involves paperwork and proper documents, some of which you will need translated into Dutch. Non-resident couples must be at least 21. If divorced, you must have a valid divorce certificate. You'll need copies of your birth certificates, photocopies of your passports, two forms of picture ID and two original photos. You can expect to pay about $300 for government and administrative expenses. At least 10 days in advance, you will need permission from the Lt. Governor of St. Maarten for temporary resident status and publication of your marriage bans. 
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Start your new life together on an island paradise. Sint Maarten Marry-Me promises to help make your dream wedding a reality with personal assistance every step of the way. 
