Why Aruba is the Best Gay Wedding Destination in the Caribbean

Aruba is known for its powdery white sand beaches, friendly people, safety and convenience, and perfect weather year-round (we are outside the hurricane belt so no surprise tropical storms here), which makes it a safe bet for anyone planning a destination wedding. But did you know Aruba is also the perfect gay wedding destination? Here are some reasons why you and your partner should have your beautiful beach ceremony at sunset on the One happy island!

Local Community and Safety

Our local community boasts more than 90 nationalities, welcoming all race and religions, and we pride ourselves on this diversity. With our Dutch roots –Netherlands being the first country to legalize gay marriage in 2001- Arubans, and especially those that have lived abroad, have a cosmopolitan worldview and an open-minded and progressive mindset not commonly seen in other Caribbean islands. Here, a gay couple can walk around hand in hand, and they won't be stopped and questioned unlike in other Caribbean islands where one can be prosecuted for this. Aruba is a safe destination overall and one of the safest in the Caribbean according to the UN.

LGBT travel-friendly Resorts

The best gay vacations are the ones where the destination is well-trained and has the experience to handle a diverse group of guest. We have luxury TAG certified beach-front resorts such as the Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort Spa and Casino, Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa, and the adult -only Brickell Bay Beach Club & Spa Boutique Hotel.

TAG approved means that these resorts have trained their staff in accepting diversity in guests and also on the work floor by employing LGBT staff.  The abovementioned resorts are all IGLTA members as well as the Renaissance Aruba Resort & Casino, Divi Resorts and the Ritz-Carlton, Aruba. In Aruba, we do LGBT vacations right.  

Activities and Shopping

There are a lot of advantages to having your wedding ceremony here. Besides the pristine white beaches and the perfect weather, Aruba offers so much other fun in the way of romantic experiences. Couples can explore the natural beauty of Aruba by going horseback riding, taking a jeep island tour , hopping on a party bus, discovering the underwater world by scuba diving or snorkeling, enjoying a sunset sail or shopping in upscale malls. At night, relax and have a drink in our premier gay bar Jimmy’s Place or dance in hip LGBT-friendly nightclubs such as Gusto and UpStairs. Or check out the newly opened 297 restaurant that turns into a trendy lounge at night. In Aruba, your gay trip will definitely be one to remember!

Wedding planners and Same-Sex Ceremonies

Aruba has excellent wedding planners that can fulfill beautiful same-sex ceremonies on the beach. One wedding planner took gay weddings to a whole other level with a specially dedicated website for gay wedding ceremonies: Indira Maduro director of GLweddings.com:

“LGBT travelers hear that Aruba is a friendly island in general, not per se gay-friendly but just friendly first and foremost. Once they get here, then they can indeed confirm that we are an LGBT-friendly destination, and through that word-of-mouth, we are now known as an LGBT friendly destination, as well as a great gay wedding destination”.“We share our island with our guests, and they feel like they’re family and that they belong here, it’s their second home. They themselves then become ambassadors for Aruba, and that is how we have so many repeat visitors".

“I think that in the next 10-15 years, we will not be talking about specifically gay, lesbian or straight couple weddings, we will just be talking about weddings. Just like interracial couples weren’t accepted a few decades back, now it’s completely normal. It’s just a matter of time.” Indira Maduro, GLweddings.com

Memorable ceremonies from GLweddings.com

Indira: “It’s a gay couple from California that visits Aruba regularly, and they chose Aruba for their wedding ceremony. They could have easily have gone to Hawaii especially because there they can get legally married, but instead, they chose to fly all the way to Aruba, with their guests, and all that just because they fell in love with our island Aruba. They had their official wedding back home and held the wedding ceremony on Eagle Beach in front of Costa Linda Beach Resort. It was a very tasteful and elegant wedding, and they gave me lots of freedom to design their dream ceremony”.

“Another memorable ceremony was a few years ago with a lesbian couple. Their friend contacted me without one of the girls knowing, and we set up a horseback riding trip to the Natural Pool. During that trip, the girl proposed to her soon to be fiancé and then also married her right then and there. It was a beautiful surprise”!

If you and your partner want to have your wedding ceremony in Aruba, please contact one of our LGBT specialized wedding planners: Indira Maduro from www.glweddings.com or Fernando Mansur from http://www.houseofmosaicaruba.com/. For more reasons why Aruba is the Best Wedding destination in the Caribbean visit our blog: Top 10 Reasons to have an Aruba Destination Wedding

Congratulations from the One happy island!