Love is Love
Weddings at Hermitage
I’ve done a lot of weddings here at Hermitage. The first big one was my sister’s, when I was a teenager and wore an English morning suit with my ponytail tied in a ribbon. The most important was my own, when I wore white linen.
If I could share a scrapbook of all the ceremonies over the years, you would find notes on elopements and Hollywood producers, a bride with a basket of yarn, and a sailor who gave his lady a ring he had bent from a ship’s nail. To this day, crystal pendants still hang in the mango tree, left there by bridesmaids to throw little prisms of light across the porch.
There have been weddings for a hundred and weddings for two; in sunshine and rain, at sunset and sunrise. I don’t have any anecdotes, just a million happy memories.
The laws of St Kitts and Nevis do not yet recognize same-sex marriage. At Hermitage, we take a simpler view: love is love, and every couple is welcome to celebrate it here.
Where the Day Can Unfold
There is no single wedding setting at Hermitage. Ceremonies have taken place in the Great House, in the gardens, on the south porch, beneath the mango and breadfruit trees, beside the water lily pond and among the royal palms.
The East Garden works especially well for drinks and light entertainment after a ceremony, while dinner might be served on the dining verandah, on a more intimate porch, or somewhere more private depending on the size of the group.
Some couples also choose to include the beach or old Cottle Church as part of the day.
We can help you think through the setting, meal, music, flowers and other details so the different parts of the day fit together naturally.
From Hermitage to the Beach
Some couples choose to keep the whole day at Hermitage; others include another part of Nevis as well. The beach and old Cottle Church can both become part of the day, whether for the ceremony, photographs or a change of scene before everyone returns to Hermitage.
We can help with transport and timing so the different parts of the day fit together comfortably.
Food Becomes Part of the Wedding
Wedding meals at Hermitage can be shaped around the size and mood of the day. We have served dinners on intimate porches, in guest rooms, across the full dining verandah, and outdoors in the gardens.
The food can be à la carte or buffet-style, with menus built around the couple, the season and what the kitchen can do well. Drinks might begin with rum punch or cocktails in the garden, followed by dinner by candlelight.
Flowers are usually cut from our own gardens, and we generally prefer to work with what is growing on Nevis rather than import decoration simply for the sake of it.
Music and the Details
The music can be as simple or as lively as the wedding calls for — a string band in the garden, a solo musician, a DJ or a larger band later in the evening. We can help arrange local musicians and work through the timing so the different parts of the day flow naturally.
We can also help with photographers, hair and make-up, transport and other details.
How Planning Usually Unfolds
- Tell us what you have in mind
Start with the approximate dates, number of guests and the kind of wedding you are imagining. It does not need to be fully worked out. - We look at what fits
We can talk through accommodation, possible ceremony settings, meals, music, transport and the other parts of the day. - The shape of the wedding begins to emerge
Once we know what matters most to you, we can begin putting the pieces together — where people will stay, where the ceremony might take place, how everyone moves through the day and where they come together afterwards. - We work through the details
As the date gets closer, we can help coordinate things such as car rentals, local transport, photographers, hair and make-up, flowers, musicians and island activities for the people staying with you. - Then everyone arrives
By then, most of the practical work has been done. The rooms are ready, the tables are being set, the flowers are being cut, and the wedding can begin.
This is a guide to how a conversation usually unfolds, not a fixed or contractual process.
Helpful Things to Tell Us
When you first get in touch, it helps to know:
- your preferred dates, or approximate time of year
- roughly how many people you expect
- whether you would like guests to stay at Hermitage
- whether children will be part of the group
- any dietary requirements or mobility concerns we should know about
- whether you already have ideas for the ceremony, meal, music or other parts of the day
- whether you are working with a wedding planner
- how you and your guests expect to travel to Nevis
You do not need to have everything decided. A rough idea is enough to begin.
Tell Us About Your Wedding
Questions Couples Often Ask
Can our guests stay at Hermitage?
Often, yes. Rooms, cottages and villas allow family and friends to stay close while still having space of their own. Availability depends on your dates, so it is worth asking early.
Do you offer fixed wedding packages?
No. We prefer to shape each wedding around the couple, the number of guests and the kind of day you have in mind.
Can we hold both a ceremony and a meal at Hermitage?
Yes, depending on the size of the wedding, the time of year and availability. We can talk through where the ceremony, drinks and meal might each work best.
Can you accommodate dietary requirements?
Yes. Let us know in advance and the kitchen will do its best to accommodate them.
Can we arrange a visit before deciding?
Absolutely. If you are coming to Nevis before the wedding, we would be happy to show you around and talk through the possibilities.
Is Hermitage suitable for a small wedding or elopement?
Very much so. Some of the most memorable weddings here have been the smallest ones.
How far ahead should we enquire?
As early as you can, particularly for high-season dates and if you would like several rooms or cottages for your guests.
We Would Love to Hear from You
Tell us what you have in mind. You do not need to have everything decided — a date, a rough guest count and a few ideas are enough to begin.
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