July09

Oh, the possibilities are practically endless. I definitely second Petunia's suggestions of Cuzzins and Gladys'. Great local food like roti ( my favorite ) as well as more exotic dishes such as goat and oxtail, but you can get a chicken sandwich or hamburger, too. Iggie's is also fun and right on the water. And plenty of room to move around. How about here: St. Thomas Skyride to Paradise Point - Ride The View - Home Your tour will probably take you here anyway. If you click the To Do button you'll see a link to dining. There are lots of cruise ship passengers who go up there because it's right across the street from the dock. And up a mountain. You can take a tram (there's a charge) or you can drive up there. Tickles is also close to your price range and it's on the water in Crown Bay, but there isn't a beach. It's in a marina and there are usually quite a few locals hanging around. They don't have their own website, but this is from a blog: Tickles Dockside Pub - Winner of Best of St. Thomas 2008 Award Hook Line and Sinker in Frenchtown may be a good choice for you as well. A warning though. In September it can be oppressively hot in there. If there's a breeze, it's great. The last time I was there which was about 2 years ago there was no a/c. It's right on the harbor in Charlotte Amalie and you can watch the seaplanes take off and land. Hook Line & Sinker, Seafood Restaurant - Frenchtown St. Thomas, Virgin Islands Caribbean If you want to go to Red Hook on the east end of the island then maybe Duffy's Love Shack. I think every visitor to the island winds up there at least once: Welcome to the Islands! Or if you're really serious to sticking to $15 p.p. then try Burrito Bay Deli. It's across the street from Duffy's in American Yacht Harbor. There's no table service. It's a counter where you order and you grab your own drink. There are actually very few tables inside, but there's a long counter outside where you can sit and there's also a few picnic tables between the building and the docks. I used to have breakfast there almost every morning when I dropped off the FH for work. It's, in my opinion, the best value for your money on the island, but there are absolutely no frills. It's deli paper and plastic cutlery. You can order ahead and have the food waiting for you. They don't have a website either but this will give you a good idea and a link to their menu. It's over a year old, but I doubt much has changed: St. Thomas Restaurants, Bars, St Croix Restaurants, St John Restaurants, Virgin Islands Restaurants and Bars, Dining out St Thomas, St John Dining out, St Croix Dining out, Restaurant guide for St Thomas Sorry if this is overwhelming, but during my time of living on St Thomas I obviously ate out more often than I cooked.

Hi Sherri Thanks for taking time to reply to me while you're on vacay. That must have been quite a long flight. I'm still attempting to compose an e-mail to send to your business, but I really don't know where to start. I'll figure it out. Hope you have a great time in Alaska!

Sherri I don't think Water Island is going to work. But we'll see.....I think I should probably send you an e-mail about your services. I'll try to do just that over the weekend.

If we even have music we decided on Close to You by the Carpenters. We're goofy that way and our guests would expect something like that from us. I'd love to have a steel pan player or maybe just use the original recording or there's a ukelele player named Jake Shimabukuro ( I know, it isn't the Israel K guy who does Rainbow) who does a really nice instrumental version.

I used to work as a travel agent up until about 6 years ago so I know a lot has changed since then, but some things never do. As far as I know airlines no longer pay commissions to agents so that's why they sometimes charge a small fee. They do have access to all you have access to and then some. Remember if you have difficulty with any of your arrangements relating to travel, rental cars, hotels or the like, an agent has a little more pull than just an individual. Especially if that agent or agency does a lot of business with the specific vendor you're doing business with. The vendor will feel more inclined to make someone happy who books multiple times over the years than just one person who only books maybe once in their lifetime. So research agencies who are specialists in where you want to go. Some agents and agencies are very specific such as a cruise only agency. Also, if problems do arise, what would have been your headache becomes her headache. Seems worth it to me. Cheers!

I was pretty much living with my FI from the day we met. I know, sounds funny, but I was working and living in a bed and breakfast and he checked in. Then about six weeks later we decided to get an apartment together because I was looking to move and needed a roommate to be able to afford the place where we lived. 3 years into the relationship and we have yet to even have a real argument. Some people are just meant to be together.

Try a daysail charter out of Red Hook. The smaller sailboats usually only take 6 passengers or you can book the whole boat for yourselves. Most of them will offer a half day charter since full day charters leave around 9 in the morning and get back about 4 in the afternoon. If you're interested I can send you some links to some of the boats I know first hand. Also, you could hire a driver to take you out to the little touristed west end and north sides of the island. Indigo is a beautiful restaurant about mid island with spectacular views. Although lots of cruiseship passengers do it, parasailing might be a good way to commemorate your big day.

Great. Now I'm reading these posts. I'm not supposed to be here!!!!! Oh well, it seems like I'm in great company.

I've been reading posts on this board for over 5 hours today. I posted my newbie message this morning and someone commented it would become addictive and OMG 5 hours later.......I haven't done anything I was supposed to do today. I haven't even really stepped outside and now I hear thunder. I can't keep this up until July 2009. FI (<-- I learned that abbreviation today) will be furious and leave me for someone who isn't internet addicted. Is there an Internet Anonymous meeting I can go to? I hope it's online!!!!

Petunia I think we may have been seperated at birth. I had emailed the man who owns the place on Water Island where we wanted to have the wedding to ask him if Gladys's caters. Food wise I like them about the same, but I've always gotten better service at Gladys's and I'm sure you know service on St Thomas is very hit or miss. When I first moved to St Thomas I lived just up the hill from Cuzzins so I had lots and lots of meals there and worked them off by walking back up the hill. Chris (my fiance) and I are probably going to end up just having who ever shows up show up. We still have quite a few friends on island and if we do get to move back then I suppose it won't be a destination wedding, but whatever. We're now thinking of contacting a couple of different places to see if we could have our "party" there. Latitude 18 being one and Hull Bay Hideaway being another. They're both more our style. We were thinking about Sopchoppy's (I think it's been renamed, but not sure) too, but I think that might just be a little too public, but that's where we would hang out after work and holds tons of great memories. The rumors had just been confirmed about Poor Man's being sold about the time we moved off the island. I heard they were going to try to class the joint up for the tourists. I used to work at Pirate's Cove and I think that would be a good place if it wasn't down in the mosquito infested lagoon. I've also heard they're rebuilding. I've been reading the V.I. newspaper online as well as some message boards and it really makes me want to move back sooner rather than later. Do you get to go to your timeshare often? I wish I had some plans, but I think we may be winging it as we go. But that's also why I came to this forum. Hoping for ideas and inspiration. Ehhh, I'm just not much of a planner. Besides, who really cares about a 40 year old bride prancing around in a marshmellow fluff dress? Not me!! How come you're waiting until 2010 if I may ask?

We'll have been together for 4 years when we get married. Because of the very expensive place where we were both looking for an apartment we decided to move in together "to share expenses" two weeks after meeting. Shhh....don't tell my mom!

I'm so sorry about the loss of your father. My dad passed away several years ago and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of him or miss him even though I had been living away for quite some time. That said-- I used to work up on Mackinac Island in Michigan. While it isn't Hawaii, it is a very beautiful place and there are tons of hotels and restaurants and bars and things to do. No cars. Only bicycles and horse drawn wagons/carriages and lots and lots of boats. Also, Michigan has quite a few wineries (sp?) and while it isn't tropical I'll bet some of them hold weddings. Also, what about Florida as a compromise? I live in Fort Lauderdale and there are tons of couples from around the country who come here for their weddings on the beach. My fiances parents lived in Hawaii for a time and when they visited us here they commented on how much it reminded them of there. But, in September there's a big chance for hurricanes, but the prices are cheaper! Just remember, the wedding is only one day and regardless of where it is it will be one of the happiest occasions of your life. Good luck to you.

Thanks for all the greetings!

Yvette This place is also great. It's mostly a locals and boaters hangout and it's just across the water from American Yacht Harbor. A quick taxi ride and tons of fun. Check it out while you're on St Thomas Latitude 18: St Thomas Restaurant, Latitude 18 degrees USVI

Petunia We aren't really sure as of yet where we're going to hold either the ceremony or the reception. We thought about the pavillion at Honeymoon beach but there are going to be a few older people as well as northerners who may need some A/C breaks, but Honeymoon beach was our initial thought for the ceremony and reception. The reception is definitely just going to be a party. We're thinking traditional island food and a local band or maybe even just a bbq and plenty of cheap Heinekens and Cruzan Rum. Nothing fancy for us.

Hi I was wondering how many of you might be over 35 and getting married for the first time. I'll be 40 and my husband to be will be 36. I never really thought I'd get married and I'm thinking that maybe it's keeping it a little less stressful for me since I hadn't been planning for a wedding ever in my life as well as being older (more mature I'm sure is definitely the wrong way to phrase it Haha) as well as going away to have the ceremony. Any thoughts on how age affects planning?

Ahhhh, Poorman's Bar. That place brings back so many memories. It's also where my fiance and I had our first kiss Also, Duffy's is a tiny little place right in the middle of a blacktop parking lot, but the party spills out all over the place and the music is loud and everynight there's a different theme/special. Check out the weekly local paper here: paper.vidaily.com and you'll see the ads for Duffy's.

Since you'll be on St John I would assume you probably wouldn't want to wander too far from the ferry in Red Hook which should give you tons of options as that's where the majority of bars and restaurants are clustered on the island outside of Charlotte Amalie (town). Duffy's Love Shack is a lot of fun and usually filled with young locals and tourists. It's in a parking lot across the street from the ferry. There are also quite a few places at American Yacht Harbor. Some are outside and others have inside and airconditioned which can be a blessing. You'll have fun wherever you go. The locals are mostly the friendliest bunch of people you'll ever meet and since it looks like you'll be going in October you shouldn't have too much trouble with places being overcrowded.

Good Morning I'm brand new here and I posted my first message in Newbies, but thought I'd hop on over here and say hi. We're planning a wedding on Water Island and was wondering if anyone else has considered this location. If that doesn't work out (and it may or may not) then there are a few places on St Thomas we love and would be more than excited to have our wedding at any one of them. I used to live on St Thomas (and hopefully will be going back to live in the fall) so if I can be of any help to anyone I'm more than happy to give my opinion. I've been lurking so I know there's plenty of USVI help on this board which is fantastic. So, hi and I hope to get to know you all soon.

Hi Ashley I'm sure you're wedding will be spectacular. You've picked the perfect location. Congrats!

Good Morning I'm Kate and I'm another St Thomas wedding. Our wedding is going to be in July of 09 hence the very clever user name. We met when I was working in a bed and breakfast on St Thomas and Chris checked in. He was moving to the island to go to the University. We've been together ever since. His education only lasted one semester, but he got me for life! We left the island to work on yachts and now we're living in south Florida when we aren't living on a boat. I'm taking a little break from yachting but Chris is working on a lovely yacht which doesn't travel very much so he gets to come home every night. We haven't exactly decided on a location yet, but we're thinking of Water Island because it's pretty private and secluded. But the place we wanted may or may not be booked. I've still got to get that figured out. The owner of the place is being kind of vague, but if he doesn't want us then I'm sure there are dozens of others who will gladly accept our money. We're hoping we'll be back living on the island before our wedding so that should make things much easier. We had wanted to get married in the BVIs on Jost Van Dyke but the logistics of that we're a little too much for me to handle and staying in the USVI will be easier for our guests. We decided on a destination wedding because our families are spread out all over the place and neither one of us is very attached to the places where we grew up (me southeast Missouri, him northern Illinois). Anyway, just wanted to introduce myself and say hi and congratulations to all the other brides (and I assume a few grooms) to be as well as the newlyweds. Have a fantastic weekend!!!