Tobago destination wedding: venues, logistics and drinks

A Tobago destination wedding gives you beaches, sunsets and a slower pace, but almost everything for the bar has to cross the sea first. Plan the travel, the freight and the paperwork early, and design the drinks for heat. Here is what to know about venues, the ferry and air bridge, legal requirements and bar planning.

Tobago wedding venues: beach, resort or villa?

Tobago's wedding guide site mytobago.info points couples to a mix of places: resorts such as Coco Reef and Magdalena Grand, village beaches such as Castara, quieter bays such as Englishman's Bay, and the popular Pigeon Point, where privacy is limited. Private villas are another option, and many have pools, terraces and space for a bar.

How the main choices compare for the bar:

Resort wedding packages vary a lot. Before you compare Tobago wedding packages, ask what the bar part includes: hours, brands, staff numbers and whether you can bring in your own bar team.

Tobago wedding villas: what to check for the bar

A villa wedding gives you privacy and your own timetable, but you are also the venue manager. Before you book, ask the owner or agent:

• How many guests the villa allows for an event, and whether neighbours need notice.
• Where the bar can go, and whether there is shade, a flat surface and a power point nearby.
• How much fridge and freezer space you can use for drinks and ice.
• Whether glass is allowed around the pool, and who pays for breakage.
• What time music must end, and whether the villa holds any noise permit.
• Where vans can park to unload equipment.

Getting there: the air bridge and the sea bridge

Caribbean Airlines is the only carrier flying nonstop between the islands, with a scheduled flight time of about 25 minutes. The ferry takes about three hours. Fares change, so check the airline and the ferry booking sites for your dates.

At the time of writing, the Trinidad and Tobago Inter-Island Transportation Company (TTIT) lists these ferry fares:

TTIT asks passengers to be at the terminal at least two hours before departure, and the check-in counter closes 45 minutes before sailing. Tickets bought online are valid only for the date of sailing.

Tip: Holiday weekends and peak periods get busy on both bridges. Book flights and ferry space for guests and vendors as soon as you set the date.

Shipping bar supplies to Tobago

If your bar team, glassware and equipment come from Trinidad, they will usually travel by ferry in a van. TTIT's freight rates for light commercial "T" vans are set by weight:

Rules worth knowing:

• A driver must sail with the van on passenger ferries.
• Trucks above 3,636 kg are not allowed on the passenger ferries.
• A vehicle without a driver can only travel on the cargo vessel, at TT$150 one way.
• LPG cylinders and dangerous goods are banned from passenger ferries. Dangerous goods on the cargo vessel must be declared 48 hours ahead.

Schedules change, so check TTIT's sailing bulletins before you book.

Marriage requirements for visitors

Under section 19A of the Marriage Act, when both parties are non-residents, each must be present in Trinidad and Tobago for at least three days before the marriage. ttconnect lists a Special Marriage Licence for visitors at TT$300, requiring valid ID (preferably a passport), proof of entry and, if relevant, a decree absolute or death certificate.

If you are using a President's Licence instead, ttconnect lists processing at 3 days in Trinidad and 7 days in Tobago. Contact the Registrar General's Department before you give notice of marriage. It has an office in Scarborough.

Note: This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with the Registrar General's Department before you travel.

Planning wedding drinks for Tobago's heat

Tobago is hot all year, and on sand in full sun it feels hotter still. Plan the bar around that:

• Start late afternoon. mytobago.info recommends it for cooler weather and a sunset backdrop.
• Order more ice than you think, and plan where it will be stored. Our guide to how much ice you need has the numbers.
• Serve lighter, longer drinks: spritzes, highballs, coconut water coolers and rum punch over plenty of ice.
• Put a water station next to the bar, and keep it topped up all night.
• Choose shatterproof glassware for sand and pool decks.
• Shade the bar. Bottles and garnish in direct sun spoil fast.

Our signature cocktail ideas include several built for heat, each with an alcohol-free twin.

Add a Tobago tradition

Tobago has its own wedding heritage. The Moriah Ole Time Wedding, a highlight of the Tobago Heritage Festival each July, re-enacts a village wedding with the Brush Back dance, fiddle and tambrin music. A tambrin band or a Brush Back moment at your reception is a lovely nod to the island. Our guide to Trinidad and Tobago wedding traditions has more ideas.

Your Tobago wedding bar checklist

1. Confirm the venue's bar rules and any fee for outside service.
2. Book ferry space for the bar team's van and flights for any staff flying over.
3. Plan stock delivery so drinks arrive chilled, not after three hours in a hot van.
4. Confirm power, water and ice storage at the venue.
5. Agree a rain and wind plan for beach or lawn bars.
6. Arrange guest transport back to hotels and villas after the reception.

Next steps

Tell us your Tobago venue, date and guest count through the quote form and we will build the travel, freight and bar plan into one quote.