Welcome to the Lovetripper Mailbox! We get questions, questions, questions from our readers about everything from great honeymoon spots and romantic getaways to regulations for a destination wedding and etiquette concerns. Send us your question (don't worry; we won't use your name or post your email address); we feature many on these pages every week!

Happy travels, Paris & John

I am getting married in the DR on New Year's eve.  I am looking for a listing of judges that I could contact in advance to arrange for the ceremony. Can you help me?

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Unfortunately we don't have a list of Dominican judges. Usually the best way to reach the judges is through the wedding coordinator at the resort where you'll be staying (or through an independent wedding planner if you won't be married at a resort.) She'll be able to help you locate a judge in the area and help with you with paperwork requirements, translation requirements for your documentation, etc.

Most of the coordinators like notice at least two weeks in advance; the time is usually needed to reserve the judge and to make sure the paperwork is in order. The DR will require each of you bring single status affidavits, in Spanish; these are issued by the Dominican consulate closest to your home. Here you'll find some additional info on the paperwork requirements. If you work with a planner in the DR, she'll be able to help you with the paperwork (which is especially helpful if you don't speak Spanish.)

To hold down costs, you might want to check with the all-inclusives about their wedding packages. Breezes Punta Cana (part of the SuperClubs chain) offers FREE weddings to their guests; the free package includes your paperwork, a small cake and champagne for two, and a decorated wedding site. Best wishes!

I would like to get information about a CATHOLIC wedding in the Caribbean and if you can help us organize it. We are interested in a simple yet tasteful ceremony in a five star hotel. We are flexible with the date but it has to be before August 2004. At this point we don't have an idea if we are going to have any guest but if we do it won't be more than six people.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! Unfortunately we can't help you organize your wedding; we are solely a destination wedding magazine and don't do any planning. We'd suggest that you work with a destination wedding planner who is located on the island where you'll be married. It's great that you are getting a head start; planning a religious wedding does take a little longer but a wedding planner can help you with all the paperwork.

I need contact infomation about someone who can perform a wedding ceremony in Punta Cana for friend who will be there. They just want a nice ceremony. It doesn't have to be legal as they will get married back in USA for real. They are staying at Bavaro Beach Resort.

If the couple isn't worried about the legal requirements (which in the Dominican Republic involve translated papers, a single status affidavit, etc.), they should be able to easily set up what is actually a vow renewal ceremony (just a wedding without the paperwork). We don't know any independent planners in the DR but Bavaro does have someone on staff who handles wedding arrangements.

I've just come across your site and have found it very informative. However, I'm interested in finding out some information about the US Virgin Islands. My fiancé and I are planning on eloping very shortly and was wondering if you happen to know about any indigenous type wedding ceremonies and/or beach resort type places that have huts for you to sleep in on the beach. We're looking for something very secluded and primitive. If you have any ideas I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! You might check out weddings on St. John; 2/3 of the island is covered by national park and is very secluded. There are also several types of camping on the island including tent camping. We were there about three weeks ago and talked with Stacy Mulcare of Ceremonies of St. John (www.usviwedding.com, ceremonies@attglobal.net). They can do an island wedding with an island blessing and can perform weddings all over the island (including in the national park). Best wishes with your plans...and be sure to drop us a note and let us know how the planning goes!

I am trying to find a place to get married---your web site has been very valuable. we were thinking of going to Mexico, because we wanted an elevation change where we could have the ceremony up high, overlooking the water. But, we live in Texas and family would have trouble getting there. Do you have any connections/ideas as to upscale places in Austin/Travis Lake/Texas Hill country that meet that criteria? Your help would be so much appreciated.

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! One place that comes to mind is Lakeway Inn (www.dolce.com); they're up over Lake Travis and have some great views plus excellent dining options for an upscale reception. Some of the boat companies also do charters for weddings and receptions right on the water; the Flagship Texas leaves from Lakeway Inn and Austin Party Cruises (www.austinpartycruises.com) has charters on Lake Austin. A good source of Austin wedding info is Austin Weddingpages (www.austinweddingday.com); it's a print magazine available in most larger bookstores and they also have info online.

I saw one of your articles on line about destination weddings in Cozumel. This is the type of wedding I am currently trying to plan for myself. I was looking for someone that I would be able to go through to help as a planner with suggestions on the many choices of destinations & arrangements for ceremonies. Do you know of people in your line of work that you recommend ? I thought maybe there was someone more specialized for destination weddings than going through the local travel agency or wedding planners. Thanks - I like your website.

Thanks for your nice note! Are you especially interested in Cozumel? We've got a feature article on Stephanie, a Cozumel wedding planner (who was a destination wedding bride herself!) Happy travels and congratulations! Paris

Dear Love Tripper,
We really want to get married in St Stanislaus Church in Altos de Chavon (we visited 5 years ago). How do I contact the church? Please help - any advice would be appreciated.

We love that little church! We were there recently while staying at Iberostar Hacienda Dominicus (809-688-3600, www.iberostarcaribe.com). St Stanislaus Church is a beautiful spot for a wedding. We talked with the hotel and they said that the local wedding planners can make arrangements for weddings at the facility. Are you going to be staying at one of the nearby properties (Iberostar or Casa de Campo)? Both have onsite coordinators to help with the paperwork. If you need more info on the requirements for weddings in the Dominican Republic, you'll find a rundown at the end of this article of ours. Best wishes...and let us know how your planning goes!!

Looking for a waterfall location for a wedding. Can you help?

Are you looking for a US location or outside the country? A wedding site called The Ruins in Jamaica (near Ocho Rios) does weddings and receptions. It's beautiful with several waterfalls coming down through tropical forest. Best wishes!

The materials I've read don't say anything about how the bride gets her hair done on her wedding day? So you have any information on that?

For destination weddings, many resorts have salons that offer bridal specials; these can sometimes be arranged to be done in your guest room or in the salon. Many resorts offer bridal beauty packages with hair and makeup sessions (and sometimes massage). Everyone wants to help the bride look and feel her best!

I'm in the US but I have many relatives in the UK I want to invite to my Caribbean wedding. Any ideas on a good island to pick? Also, what's a good island for low cost? How is St. Lucia?

There are several islands with good air connections to the UK. We were recently in Jamaica and there were far more UK visitors there than we'd seen in the past because Air Jamaica is now flying from both Heathrow and Manchester. Antigua and Barbados have good UK air connections, too. Budget-wise, the islands with the lowest costs are the Dominican Republic (which has many all-inclusives), Jamaica (also many all-inclusives), Cancun and Cozumel, and the Bahamas.

St. Lucia is absolutely beautiful, especially the south side of the island and the resorts near Soufriere. Your UK guests would have good air connections there, too. You might check out the prices at some of the properties...many are having sales these days. Best wishes!!

I would really like to have an outdoor ceremony and reception. I am having a hard time finding affortable places in the Northern/Southern Virginia area for this event. If there is anything you can do to help, I would greatly appreciate it.

You might try contacting Frankee Love, a wedding planner we recently profiled in Lovetripper. She has planned many outdoor weddings throughout Virginia and might have some good tips. Best of luck and best wishes!!