By Carol Bareuther

The perpetual summer and passionate warmth of St. Thomas, St. John and St. Croix make the islands superb backdrops to your wedding. The islands fly the American flag, meaning legal requirements are few. And first-class hotels, romantic beaches and professional wedding planners can ensure that your wedding ceremony, reception and honeymoon will be as delightful as your dreams will allow.

The options are countless. You can walk barefoot up a sandy aisle on a breathtakingly beautiful strand of sand with the "Wedding March" played by a steel-pan musician. Exchange vows surrounded by garden greenery, Caribbean-style, with an African jump-the-broom ceremony followed by slices of West Indian black cake. Don a breathing helmet and submerge beneath the seas at Coral World Marine Park for an underwater ritual. Fly off in a helicopter. Jet away on a yacht. Steal away to a secluded offshore cay. Or wed traditionally in a centuries-old house of worship.

Island hotels offer soup-to-nuts options for receptions from two to 200. Choose a private patio, an airconditioned ballroom or a poolside venue. Talented caterers can provide simple refreshments or elaborate sit-down dinners. Musicians and entertainers can add to the fun, whether you opt for a jazz combo, a contemporary guitarist, or fire eaters and Mocko Jumby dancers.

What You Need to Know

Start early . Begin planning your USVI wedding at least two months in advance. The first step is to request an application from the Territorial Court of the U.S. Virgin Islands. Call the Clerk's office at 340-774-6680 or write to Clerk of the Territorial Court of the Virgin Islands, P.O. Box 70, St. Thomas, USVI 00804. Some island wedding planners offer the required forms in downloadable mode from their websites.

Get the proper papers . There are no residency or blood-test requirements. If either party is divorced, though, you'll need to provide a certified true copy of the divorce decree stamped with a seal and generated by the court office in which the divorce took place.

Bring certified checks along. The marriage application fee and the marriage license fee are $50 each. Eight days after all papers and fees are received and notarized, the court will issue your license. No personal checks will be accepted.

Pay the preacher. If you are planning to be married in the court by a judge, available by appointment Monday through Friday, you'll need to pay another $200. Religious ceremonies are also an option, but must be arranged directly with the church.

Ask for assistance. Independent and hotel wedding planners on the islands can help with preparations.

Read on. For more information, call 800-372-USVI for a copy of the "Getting Married in the United States Virgin Islands" brochure.