There’s perfect symmetry in standing side-by-side to exchange vows with St. Lucia’s twin peaks, the Pitons, as the backdrop; and there’s no better place to get that view, those unforgettable wedding pictures, that immersive experience of being surrounded by the beauty of the Caribbean — than the Celestial Terrace at the Jade Mountain resort.
The terrace at the pinnacle of the architecturally stunning resort, literally built off the side of a lush tropical mountain, has 360-degree views and is linked by a long, open bridge practically designed for dramatic processions. A sunset ceremony with up to 50 guests can flow seamlessly into a reception at the ope-air Jade Mountain Club that shares the terrace’s spectacular views. As the band plays into the evening, out come the stars — millions of them — then a moonrise over the Pitons. Simply spectacular.
Jade Mountain has just 29 rooms, while the sister beach resort at the base of the mountain, Anse Chastanet, adds another 49 — large enough to accommodate a destination wedding, but small enough for true intimacy. A beach wedding at neighboring Anse Mamin takes full advantage of the resort’s 600 acres: bride and groom can arrive by boat at this quiet stretch of volcanic sand for a completely private ceremony and reception.
The singular ‘Sanctuaries’ at Jade Mountain live up to their name in every conceivable way: open on one or two sides to the gentle breezes coming off the Caribbean Sea, these uniquely designed guest villas have private infinity pools, canopy-draped beds, open-air showers, and head-on views of the Pitons and the sea.
Butlers (called “major domos” here) are attentive but unobtrusive, and your heart’s desire is just a call away — room service, drawn baths, in-room massages, and more. Spacious enough that some have hosted small weddings themselves, the Jade Mountain Sanctuaries offer an unparalleled and unforgettably romantic retreat for couples on their wedding night. You’ll be tempted to never leave the room, but when you finally do these sister resorts offer endless activities for an extended St. Lucian honeymoon, from chocolate-making to mountain biking through an active cocoa plantation and a sunset jazz cruise where you can raise a champagne toast to many years of health and happiness in the shadow of the Pitons.
>Written by: Bob Curley