The U.S. Virgin Islands hold a real advantage for family destination weddings: U.S. citizens don’t need passports. That alone removes one of the biggest hurdles when your guest list includes kids, in-laws, grandparents, and anyone who’d rather not navigate the international travel paperwork. Add in the white-sand beaches, the calm Caribbean water, the U.S. dollar as currency, and U.S. cell service that just works, and you’ve got a Caribbean wedding destination that genuinely makes life easier for multi-generational groups.
The three main islands—St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John—each have their own personality, but they share a coastline that’s been delighting families for generations. Whether your nieces and nephews want to snorkel right off the resort beach, your parents want a quiet stretch of sand for morning coffee, or your toddler needs calm, shallow water to splash in, you’ll find it here.
Below are the top family friendly destination wedding venues in the U.S. Virgin Islands, plus the cost data, package details, and travel tips you’ll want before booking. Our Certified Destination Wedding Specialists can help you plan every detail.
Top Family Friendly U.S. Virgin Islands Wedding Resorts
A truly family friendly resort in the Caribbean is one that has built its programming around guests of every age, structured kids’ clubs, suite layouts that fit families of four or more, dining variety that pleases picky eaters and adventurous palates alike, and wedding teams that know how to run a multi-generational celebration.
The U.S. Virgin Islands wedding venues lean more boutique than the mega-resorts you’ll find in Mexico or Jamaica properties, which means the family-friendly category looks a little different here. Instead of waterparks with multi-story slides, you get spacious suite hotels with kitchens, beachfront properties with calm protected coves, and resorts where the natural setting itself is the entertainment.
The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas

The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas sits on a 30-acre estate overlooking the Caribbean and brings polished, family-aware luxury to the Virgin Islands. The Ritz Kids program runs daily activities for ages 5 to 12 with island-themed crafts, beach exploration, and culinary classes. The catamaran on-property is a hit with adventurous teens, and the two private beaches give younger kids calm, swim-friendly water.
Suites are spacious, and many include club-level access with breakfast, snacks, and evening canapés, a real win for families who want flexibility around mealtimes. Wedding venues here range from oceanfront ceremony lawns to elegant indoor reception spaces. The wedding team is also well-versed in coordinating multi-generational celebrations, including welcome parties, sail-day excursions, and reception timelines that work around younger guests’ bedtimes.
Learn more about The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas and get a free quote today >>
The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef

The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef sits on a bluff overlooking St. Thomas’s Morningstar Bay, with multiple pools, a beach, and family-friendly programming throughout. The recently redesigned property features modern, airy rooms, including suites that comfortably fit families with kids. The resort’s Westin Family program includes age-appropriate amenities like cribs, strollers, and kid-friendly menus.
Wedding venues are versatile and dramatic, from oceanfront lawns to chic indoor reception spaces. The Sunset Lawn is a favorite for golden-hour ceremonies. The wedding team handles everything from intimate family ceremonies to larger receptions, and the resort’s central location makes it easy for guests to take a quick taxi into Charlotte Amalie for shopping or excursions.
Learn more about The Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef and get a free quote today >>
The Westin St. John Resort Villas

The Westin St. John Resort Villas is the only major resort on St. John, sitting on a stunning 47-acre property along Great Cruz Bay. The villa-style accommodations are a major plus for families. Villas have full kitchens, separate living areas, and multiple bedrooms, which give extended families the space and privacy they need across a wedding week.
The resort’s beachfront pool is also the largest in the Virgin Islands and a real magnet for kids of all ages. Snorkeling right off the beach gives older kids and teens an easy adventure. Wedding venues take advantage of the resort’s natural setting, couples can exchange vows in the signature beachfront gazebo, on the lawn overlooking Great Cruz Bay, or right on the calm sandy beach. Easy access to the Virgin Islands National Park makes for unforgettable wedding-week excursions.
Learn more about The Westin St. John Resort Villas and get a free quote today >>
The Buccaneer Beach & Golf Resort

The Buccaneer Beach & Golf Resort is a historic family-owned property on St. Croix with three private beaches, an oceanfront 18-hole golf course, and a deep family-friendly tradition. The resort has been welcoming families for over 70 years, and that experience shows in the details: kids stay free in many room categories, the on-site Tot Spot offers supervised programming for younger guests, and active families can play tennis, snorkel, kayak, and golf right on the property.
Wedding venues here are gorgeous. Couples can choose from three different beaches, the resort’s signature gazebo, or scenic garden settings. The Estate Hill venue offers panoramic views of the Caribbean for ceremonies that frame the island’s natural beauty. The Buccaneer’s wedding team works closely with couples to coordinate events that include kids, golf-loving uncles, and grandparents alike.
Learn more about The Buccaneer Beach & Golf Resort and get a free quote today >>
Bolongo Bay Beach Resort

Bolongo Bay Beach Resort is a family-owned all inclusive resort on St. Thomas, sitting along a beautiful crescent of soft sand. The casual, welcoming atmosphere comes from being family-run for decades, and that personality extends to how the staff treats families. You genuinely feel like part of the family during your stay.
The on-site water sports center provides complimentary kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel gear, and small sailboats, which keep active kids and teens entertained for hours. The calm protected bay is great for younger swimmers, and the family-friendly all-inclusive package keeps things simple for guests planning their travel. Beachfront wedding ceremonies here are also stunning, with turquoise water and palm trees as your backdrop.
Learn more about Bolongo Bay Beach Resort and get a free quote today >>
Secret Harbour Beach Resort

Secret Harbour Beach Resort is a quiet, all-suite property on St. Thomas’s east end. Sitting on a perfect crescent of beach with calm, swimmable water, the resort feels intimate and tucked away from busier resort areas. Each spacious suite includes a full kitchen and stunning ocean views, which gives families room to spread out and the option to cook in occasionally to manage costs across a longer stay.
The protected bay is one of the best swim beaches on St. Thomas for younger kids, and snorkeling right off the beach gives older kids and teens an easy adventure. Wedding ceremonies happen on the beach with the calm Caribbean as your backdrop, and the smaller scale of the property means the wedding team can give every couple personalized attention. This is a great pick for families wanting a quieter, more home-like wedding setting.
Learn more about Secret Harbour Beach Resort and get a free quote today >>
Carambola Beach Resort

Carambola Beach Resort is a peaceful, secluded property on St. Croix’s north shore. Set along Davis Bay’s protected curve of beach, the resort feels like a tropical escape with rainforest-covered hills, calm water, and a relaxed pace that lets families truly disconnect.
The smaller scale of the property keeps things personal and lets younger kids explore safely. The on-site dining is family-friendly, the championship golf course nearby is also great for older relatives, and St. Croix’s hiking trails and snorkeling spots give active families adventure options off-resort.
Wedding ceremonies can be held on the beach, on the resort’s open-air pavilion, or even in scenic outdoor locations overlooking the bay. For families wanting a quiet, scenic wedding away from busier resort areas, Carambola is a wonderful choice.
Learn more about Carambola Beach Resort and get a free quote today >>
Best Areas in the U.S. Virgin Islands for a Family Friendly Destination Wedding
Each of the three main islands has its own family-friendly personality. The right choice depends on what your group enjoys most.
St. Thomas
St. Thomas is the most accessible of the three islands and is home to Cyril E. King International Airport (STT). The lively beaches, shopping in Charlotte Amalie, and a wide range of family activities make this island a great pick when your guest list spans every age. The Ritz-Carlton, Westin Frenchman’s Reef, Bolongo Bay, and Secret Harbour all sit on this island.
St. Croix
St. Croix is the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands and offers a slower, more authentic Caribbean experience. The lush rainforests, historic Danish architecture, and quieter pace make this a great fit for families who want adventure off-resort and a more relaxed energy on it. The Buccaneer and Carambola Beach Resort are the family-friendly picks here.
St. John
St. John is the smallest and most pristine of the three islands, with about two-thirds of the land protected as Virgin Islands National Park. Trunk Bay and Cinnamon Bay are among the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, and the eco-conscious atmosphere makes this island a great pick for families with older kids who’d love hiking and snorkeling. The Westin St. John Resort Villas is the main family-friendly option here.
More Information for Planning Your Family Friendly Destination Wedding in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Pulling off a wedding that works for guests of every age takes thoughtful planning, but the U.S. Virgin Islands make it easier than most Caribbean destinations. Below are the cost details, package guidance, and travel notes to help you build a celebration that everyone enjoys.
U.S. Virgin Islands Destination Wedding Cost at Family Friendly Resorts
Based on real data from couples we’ve helped plan a Caribbean destination wedding, couples typically spend around $10,705 total in the U.S. Virgin Islands and surrounding Caribbean destinations, well below the $36,000 average for a traditional U.S. wedding. It can run slightly higher than the average cost of a destination wedding in the Caribbean because most U.S. Virgin Islands resorts are smaller and more boutique in nature. Hotel costs average $2,082 per person per wedding (around $4,164 per couple), based on a typical 5-night stay.
Caribbean wedding package tiers:
- Complimentary or deposit-only: Available at many resorts with qualifying room blocks.
- Low: $1,100 to $2,500.
- Mid: $3,000 to $5,500.
- High: $6,000 to $13,500+.
The no-passport advantage often makes Virgin Islands destination weddings cheaper for guests overall: domestic flights tend to be more affordable, there’s no passport renewal cost, and groups don’t have to worry about international travel logistics. Suite-style resorts with kitchens (Westin St. John, Secret Harbour, Carambola) also help guests manage food costs across a longer stay.
U.S. Virgin Islands Family Friendly Destination Wedding Packages
Wedding packages at family-friendly U.S. Virgin Islands resorts typically bundle the ceremony setup, an on-site coordinator, sparkling wine toast, wedding cake, and bouquet/boutonniere. From there, you can add private receptions, custom menus that include kid-friendly options, photography, live music, or themed entertainment.
Most resorts also coordinate add-ons that work well for family weddings, like sunset catamaran cruises that double as a welcome event, snorkel excursions for older kids and teens, or beachfront welcome parties. The wedding teams understand that the celebration extends beyond the ceremony itself and help shape the whole wedding week around your guest list.
U.S. Virgin Islands Destination Wedding Travel Information
U.S. citizens don’t need a passport, just a government-issued photo ID. International guests will need a valid passport. Most guests fly into Cyril E. King Airport (STT) on St. Thomas or Henry E. Rohlsen Airport (STX) on St. Croix. From St. Thomas, the ferry to St. John runs every hour and takes roughly 20 minutes.
Travel planning tips:
- Book non-stop flights when possible to minimize travel time with kids.
- No passport needed for U.S. citizens, but bring a passport if you have one for added flexibility.
- Confirm whether your resort offers cribs, high chairs, and connecting suites in advance.
- Lock in your room block early; family-friendly USVI resorts fill up during winter and spring breaks.
Working with one of our Certified Destination Wedding Specialists means group flights, transfers, and room blocks all get coordinated together so families travel as smoothly as possible.
U.S. Virgin Islands Family Friendly Destination Wedding FAQs
Which U.S. Virgin Islands resort is best for families with young children?
The Westin St. John Resort Villas is a strong pick for families with young kids thanks to its villa accommodations with kitchens, the largest beachfront pool in the Virgin Islands, and easy access to calm, protected beaches. Bolongo Bay on St. Thomas is another great fit, with its all inclusive convenience, complimentary water sports, and casual family-run vibe.
Do I need a passport for a U.S. Virgin Islands family wedding?
No. U.S. citizens, including children, don’t need a passport to travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands. A government-issued photo ID is required for adults; children typically just need a birth certificate. This is one of the biggest practical advantages of choosing the USVI for a family wedding versus other Caribbean destinations.
Are the wedding ceremonies kid-friendly at these resorts?
Absolutely! The wedding teams at all the resorts above know how to handle ceremonies that include young children, from flower girl walks to fussy infants. Many resorts will arrange supervised programming during the ceremony itself if you’d prefer a child-free ceremony followed by a kid-inclusive reception, or schedule the timing around nap and bedtime for younger guests.
Plan Your Family Friendly U.S. Virgin Islands Destination Wedding Today
A wedding that brings every generation together in the Caribbean, without the international travel hassle, is one of the smartest moves you can make for a family-focused celebration. The U.S. Virgin Islands deliver white-sand beaches, calm protected bays, suite-style resorts that fit families, and resort wedding teams who genuinely know multi-generational events.
Whether you choose the polished luxury of The Ritz-Carlton, the villa comfort of The Westin St. John, the family-run warmth of Bolongo Bay, or the historic charm of The Buccaneer, your celebration will work for everyone you love. Fill out our online wedding planning form and speak with one of our Certified Destination Wedding Specialists to get personalized resort recommendations and a free quote. Let’s plan a U.S. Virgin Islands wedding that the entire family will remember.
About the Author

Maggie Sabin
Maggie started as the SEO Manager at DestinationWeddings.com in 2024, where she works to drive organic traffic and conversions while creating meaningful, SEO-optimized content for the website. Previously, Maggie's career spanned from Human Resources & Recruitment to teaching at international schools for almost 10 years. Maggie spends her free time traveling, learning new languages, reading non-fiction books, working out, going to the beach and spending time cuddling her dog, Lola!





