The wedding we have for you today was held in a tropical paradise that has virtually guaranteed sunshine year round, with beautiful white sand beaches and fields of palm trees. The islands of Turks and Caicos may be a beautiful destination, but planning a wedding on an island does have challenges, as you'll hear below! Captured by Brilliant Studios, the bright pops of coral throughout this wedding complement the azure of the ocean so well.
Keith and I knew of each other through mutual friends. But, it wasn't until we joined our friends on a party bus to the Hamptons that we started talking in 2006. Keith took me on a surprise getaway to Turks and Caicos. He proposed the day before my thirtieth birthday. We were on the balcony at the Seven Stars Resort watching a wedding when he got down on one knee to ask to marry him. New Jersey weddings tend to be very big and pricey. We wanted a small, intimate wedding with a laid back feel and we love Turks and Caicos. We wanted to share our love of the island with others. Our invitations went out 2 months before the wedding, and I made sure to send out save the dates and make a website as soon as I got engaged so people would start saving. I decided to use burlap and chevron as my theme. My colours were coral, teal and sand. I wanted a modern and relaxed vibe and I also use beach elements like starfish to tie all everything together. We had a local band play at out wedding. Correy Forbes. He was great! We used the hotel wedding planner, Laura. It was very challenging to get married on an island. I had to keep reminding myself that I was not in NJ and that modern amenities might be difficult to get there. People are on "island time " and are way different than my fast paced lifestyle. It would take awhile for people to respond to you and explaining your vision over an email is very hard. Some vendors do not have websites so you have to rely on reviews when hiring people. It was definitely different. Certain flowers cost a lot of money or wouldn't survive the heat of the islands. Travelling with a wedding gown, favours, decorations were also difficult. Shipping would cost too much so I made sure to bring extra luggage. I also called the airlines ahead of time to make sure they had a closet for my wedding dress! The major way I overcame the challenges was to relax and remember it is about marrying the man I love and not the details that matter. The best decision we made was choosing Turks and Caicos. Everyone loved the island! The most memorable thing was spending the weekend with everyone we love. We had both sides of the family able to meet and hang out. It was a wedding that no one will ever forget. If we had advice, it would be to: Do it! People will complain but small weddings are the best. Spending quality time on a vacation with everyone is more personal then a local wedding with too many people. Photography & Videography: Brilliant Studios | Venue: Seven Stars Grace Bay | Wedding Planner: Laura at Seven Stars | Florist: Flowers by Ernst Jansen | Stationery: Thinking Paper | Bridal Gown & Bridesmaid Dresses: Bijou Bridal | Groom & Groomsmen Suits: Island Importer | Shoes: Tommy Bahama | Hair Stylist: Geraldine Burtshi | Make Up: Ann Clift Northcote | Decor: Etsy
