sherri

Wonderful report! Tho I don't personally know Angela, wedding companies of this nature are always willing to go that extra mile for their couples! A far cry from going thru a hotel. Thanks for sharing! To post pics you have to upload your pics to places like flickr.com or others, then up load the properties to this sight putting at the end. Hope this helps!

Yvette, Right on! Very pricey to say the least! Most wedding coordinators include the photography in their packages, so it shouldn't even be an added expense! There are a few people tho, that will choose their own photographer. In this case, the wedding coordinator is willing to work with you! I just did a wedding on Sunday morning where this happened. The bride hired Eric Johnson seperately!

Hi there! I honestly don't know of any sights that you can use here in St. Thomas/ St. John that don't involve sight fees. It is not on the part of the wedding company, but on the part of the sight that was chosen. Sorry about that!

Hope I can help some....Independant coordinators ARE truly independant! We have the option of fullfilling your requirements by choosing from many differant vendors! We use several differant ministers, photographers, cake bakeries, videographers, etc.. If you want someone specific, we will be happy to work with you! Sometimes a bride will hire her own photographer, for instance, then we provide the rest! Independant Coordinators are very flexible.

Welcome to the forum! Congrats on your engagement!

There are so many wonderful spots for weddings in both STT and STJ! Soltamargo, Nice pictures! Unique!

Oh, I so remember waiting for that ring! lol! Welcome to the forum! Hoping you pick St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands for your destination wedding!

Welcome to the forum! Congrats on your wedding!

I am not farmilliar with Blue Grass, but I noticed 3 differant names for contact. Are all 3 photagraphers? and who, out of them is the best, would be my questions.....I am not saying they are not good! I sure they are! Photographers I work with. Don Hebert-VERY well known on the island as THE best! Don does shoots for his wifes company, Weddings the Island Way, but does not advertise for weddings. He will consider doing weddings tho! He just put out a book Entitled "St. Thomas" with all shots of his work, written by "Gerald Singer". Eric Johnson- I already mentioned, and I really like his work. Bridget Gallagher Donna Brett and one other, but I don't know her last name.....oops! Most all have thier own websights. Hopes this helps!

I'd have to say that I'm with Petunia on this one! We have a multitude of choices in Restaurants and A-I's are very limiting! Katrina mentions about places closing up shop in August. I DO know some places close in September (peak of hurricane season), but still we have SO many places to choose from! I would choose a villa. They are private and you can hang out at the house or choose a place to go, your choice! Yes, you need a rental car, but this allows for ease of comings and goings and less costly for transportaion!!!! As for shopping this time of year, the only day town does not open if there are no cruise ships is Sunday. On Sundays, Sapphire beach resort has a beach party in the afternoon. What a better way to spend the day! Don't limit your selves! There is a LOT to see and do!

All 3 places are very nice places and very well known! ck out: Virgin Islands Now as Petunia mentioned and ck out the visitor forum, you will find a wealth of information! I spend a lot of time there and love it! I have to say that even the some of the hole in the wall places are very good as well! A lot of my guests love the little shack across from Coki Beach for West Indian food! Lots of wonderful choices!

Mmmm, Conch fritters, Conch stew, Mutton, Saltfish pate' as well as Beef and Chicken pate', Roti, fried Chicken, Jonny cake, Fungi, sweet potato (not like ours), Plantain, and much, much more! Cuzzins on back streat in town, Gladys's Cafe' also in town, Victors Hideaway in Sub base and many more places as well! Enjoy!

Too Funny! Most people that I greet when they come down always ask about seafood! Remember, locals love their chicken, mutton and much more! All restuarants offer the things you are used to in the states as well! Pasta dishes, steaks, chicken, ribs and more! So you seafood non-lovers....NOT to worry! LOL!

Just to add some thoughts! I was helping a girlfriend with her wedding and we went thru many options (trying to keep things affordable)! Blue Moon at Secret Harbor had some decent prices per plate, NOTHING like Frenchman's Reef in cost! We ended up doing this. She rented Ballagio Estate thru McLaughlin Anderson Vacation Villas. We held the ceremony at Magen' Bay and then went on the the villa for a catered brunch! If I recall right, the caterer charged $20 per person! They could have held the ceremony at the villa as well if they had chosen to and the villa owner was willing to work with us and did not charge extra as the guests were all staying there anyway! The Reef sounds way too expensive and like someone mentioned earlier, if you want that kind of service, you can simply do that back home! Good luck in your searches!

I have worked with Eric and he takes pride in his work. If you end up using him, please let him know how you found him!

coquetayloca, I believe a villa may be more cost effective for you! Good Luck in your search! Corinne, I believe I have done a wedding at your villa many years ago, but it had a differant name then. If I am correct, you are located off the first rd. once you are on the Peterborg rd, am I correct? I work for Weddings the Island Way.

Try Eric Johnson. I know him to be an excellent photographer! St. Thomas, St. John, Virgin Islands, Caribbean Wedding Photography by photographer Eric Johnson

Berliewed08, I am sure you are feeling a little disappointed, yet in your situation, it makes sense to change your location. Maybe in a few years, you can come down and do a vow renewal, just the two of you! That would be way cool!

Can't go wrong with STT or STJ! Both are wonderful! You can choose to have your own villa and all the privacy you choose, to hotel with extra amenities! Good Luck with your choice and CONGRATS!

Interesting! Loved the origanal post mentioning the various places to stay! Very nice! I manage 2 of the villas mentioned! As for STT, the hills are a great advantage as I see it! Views from everywhere! I spent a summer in Aruba and didn't like it, very flat and very dry! When looking at villas, you can always inquire about steps and ease of entrance! That will truly help in your choice of where to stay! I also think it wise to rent a vehicle! You can go when and where you choose with no stipulations! If I can ever be of help, feel free to PM me!

Wow! So many wonderful responces! Thank You everyone! LadyP, you made me laugh with your "unoffical bride"! Talk to me! lol! So glad you are "jumping the broom"! A tradition that many don't know about! I frequent another forum on the VI's which can help you with any information on STT itself! It is: Virgin Islands Now (hope I can tell you this)! Berliewed08, Yes, I have tried to look at that thread, but thus far, I haven't been able to get in! I have Broadband Internet, I am guessing it is time to update the computer! Will try the thread again! Thanks again, everyone for your warm welcome!

Congrats to the both of you! Are you getting married on the ship or on one of the island destinations? The cruise line you chose to be on is wonderful!

Hi everyone! To fill you in on who I am and what I do, here goes! I am a wedding coordinator for a company named "Weddings the Island Way" here in STT. I do not work in our office, I work only when I am needed. I truly love working for this company and am very proud of the product that they put out as well as the professional service! I have had opportunity to work for other companies, and have turned them down for lack of quality service. WTIW have several packages available and will make your day exactly what you've dreamed of! You can personalized your package choice or plan something entirely differant! Anything goes! I have been with WTIW for a little over 9 years now and have done well over 1000 weddings! And I'm not in the office!!! lol! I love keeping in contact with those who would like to do so and I enjoy hearing how "married" life is treating you! They can be found at: Destination island weddings on St Thomas and USVI I also have other jobs. One of which is managing 2 short-term villas in STT. One is named Rockworks and the other Stone Cottage! We get a LOT of honey mooners and I have even done weddings for my guests as well! I love managing the villas and meeting the people who stay there! With this job comes being a greeter, not only for the 2 villas I manage, but for approx. 50 other villas for our management company who does our bookings! The name of this company is: Mclaughlin Anderson Luxury Vacation Villas and they can be found at: Caribbean Villas: Caribbean Villa Rentals by McLaughlin Anderson Villas Virgin Islands As a greeter, I will meet you at the airport, you get your rental vehicle, and then you follow me to your villa of choice. I use walkie-talkies to tell you all kinds of information on our way to the villa, such as location of restaraunts, shopping, groceries, things to do, places to go! Once we arrive at the villa, we do a walk thru and then I will go over the STT map with you to give you a perspective of where things are that we didn't see on our way TO the villa! Then you are on your own to enjoy, and relax in your own house and pool with no interuptions from anyone else! After these 3 jobs, I sometimes fill in my extra time with doing construction jobs with my sweety as he is a contractor! I have learned a lot doing this and can do anything from tiling to pouring concrete!!!! Even this I enjoy, tho it is labor intensive to say the least!!!! lol! Most of all, I enjoy being helpful to those who choose to come and stay here in STT, no matter where you stay or what wedding company you choose! I want you to have a wonderful, positive experiance while here! Congratualations to all of you future brides! Sincerely, Sherri