ANTIGUA & BARBUDA TOURISM AUTHORITY

"Live Greener, Happily Ever After" is the theme of this year's annual destination wedding. promotion, June is Romance Month which highlights Antigua and Barbuda's strengths and unique selling points as a wedding and honeymoon destination.

 

This year’s winners, Jacqueline Adams and Ronald Critchlow, originally from the U.K. but current New York City residents, will arrive at the V.C. Bird International Airport on Thursday.

 

To kick off this year’s promotion, the couple will be expedited through Immigration and Customs, a system set up specifically for newlyweds during the month of June.  This pilot program will provide a red carpet welcome to couples, who either marry or honeymoon in Antigua and Barbuda during Romance Month.

 

"The honeymoon is one of the most cherished moments in an individual's life and the expedited process will demonstrate the destination's commitment to creating a memorable experience for couples who choose Antigua and Barbuda. This gesture of appreciation is expected to strengthen the destination's competitive position in the weddings and honeymoon market, one of the fastest growing niches in Caribbean tourism," said Colin James, CEO of the ABTA.  

 

Building on Antigua and Barbuda ’s recent accolades from About.com and Brides Magazine as one of the Caribbean’s top destinations for Weddings and Honeymoons, this year's “Green Themed” will focus on Sustainable Tourism.  In their commitment to reduce their carbon footprint on the environment, the couple will tour the island on scooters.

 

This year’s Eco Chic theme has already garnered significant publicity for the destination.  Journalists from The Green Bride Guide, the foremost Green Wedding Guide and Blog will be covering this year’s promotion.

 

The Northeast Living Lifestyle show, hosted by celebrity lifestyle expert and journalist, Mar Jennings will also cover the wedding and document a 9-segment TV show that will showcase the range of exciting attractions that the destination has to offer.

 

US Director Derede Samuel Whitlock said, "This year’s couple, like many others, who recycle, shop for organic food and conserve energy at home, want to symbolize their commitment to earth-conscious values by simplifying their wedding day celebrations. By finding ways to minimize carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming, these couples can “green their dreams” and help stem further depletion of the earth's natural resources."

 

This year's destination wedding is sponsored by Nonsuch Bay Resort, Colombian Emeralds, Indigo Event Planning, Mingles Hair Salon, Cheke's Scooter Company, Zia Photography, Quinn Farrara Liquors, ABS TV, and Philton's Bakery

 

Persons can meet and greet the couple on Friday 15th June at a special in-store reception at the Colombian Emeralds Store at Heritage Quay from 3p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

 

The wedding is scheduled for Saturday June 16th at the Nonsuch Bay Resort at 5:00p.m. The event will be broadcast live on ABS Television.