Trini Bride's St Lucia wedding review with pics**

[trini bride]

I finally sat down and wrote a review. It is so hard to put everything into words. A little background. Hubby and I got engaged in St Lucia so we decided that we would like to share this beautiful island with our friends and family on our wedding day. We did not want a cookie cutter resort wedding ( no offense to anyone) so we decided to employ the services of a local wedding planner. So we explained to her exactly what we wanted. We wanted to make the wedding more than just a wedding day but a weekend of parties. We held a welcome party on the Thursday, got married on the Friday and had a goodbye brunch on Saturday. Talk about alot of work. Everyone pitched in to help out with the welcome party and brunch which were held at the villas where we stayed.

 

 

 

 

Wedding planner- Awesome Caribbean Weddings- A

We worked with Michele and everything came together in the end. She handled some last minute changes very well and everything turned out well.

 

Wedding location- The Pavillion. La Haut Plantation's owner's house

 

This location was beyond stunning. We saw the site the day of our wedding and it exceeded our expectations. The site sits on the hill overlooking the town of Soufriere. When we arrived on the island there were torrential rains and we were worried that our wedding would be rained out. Luckily by Friday there was not a rain cloud in site. The one thing that I was displeased about with regards to the site was the fact that after we paid a lot of money to rent the site we were required to pay the hotel extra money for a room for the bride and groom to get ready in. That should have be included automatically or at least available at the home. 2 hours before the wedding hubby and I decided to swim in the pool at the site in order to cool down and calm our nerves. That was the best decision ever. We did not buy into all of the wedding day superstitions concerning the groom not being able to see the bride before the wedding. He carried my dress through the airport so that completely threw out the tradition.

 

 

Sunset Cruise Catamaran- A

 

We transported all of our guests from Marigot Bay to the ceremony site by motor coach. So we decided that we would start the party early and transport everyone to the wedding reception via Catamaran. We had a such a blast on the boat. I prepared all of the music for the ceremony and reception and originally planned to play some mellow music on the cruise, well my guests were not interested in slow music. They wanted to party. So I turned on the soca and reggae music and we had an amazing time. Even my 90 year old Granny joined us on the boat and she got up and danced for a bit. Drinks were flowing like water and everyone was tipsy. We cruised for 2 hours then we made our way to the Rainforest Hideaway in Marigot Bay

 

The Rainforest Hideaway- A+

 

When we arrived at the dock infront of restaurant, the staff was waiting for us and escorted us off of the boat. Everything was set up so beautifully. It was so great to see all of the months of purchasing decorations, working on crafts, coming up with a vision in my mind and seeing it executed so wonderfully. We sat down to a 5 course meal and the food and service was as wonderful as we remembered it when we visited the restaurant during our first trip to the island the year before. The staff was extremely professional and attentive. At the end of the evening during the party they joined our guests in dancing. It was so cute. If you have a chance to visit St Lucia definitely visit this restaurant. The only minus was that I was eaten alive by mosquitos by the end of the night. The restaurant sits on a mangrove so I guess it's a prime breeding ground for mosquitos. I put together a basket in the ladies room with toiletries which included afterbite swabs. After I got bit I went to the restroom to apply the swabs and someone took the whole container with the swabs. I was so pissed. I specifically included a card which asked guests to only take what they needed not the whole darned thing! Luckily the restaurant had some repellant spray which I later applied.

 

Photographer- Emin Kuliyev- A++

We are so happy with the pictures we have received so far. His photograhps caputured the essence of our day and many of our friends who were unable to make it said that they felt that they were a part of the wedding after looking at the pics. Emin took pictures of us for 3 days and he worked a full 10 hours on the day of our wedding. I would definitely refer him to others. We were are so happy for him. When we returned we found out that he was voted Photographer of the Year by the AGWPGA. We are happy to have been his first destination wedding.

 

Honeymoon: 6 day sail to St Vincent and the Grenadines- Bateau Mygo- A

 

We chartered a sailing yacht for 6 days to take us from St Lucia to St Vincent for a week of sailing. We were upgraded to a catamaran and we could not ask for more. It was so nice to be on the open sea and have the ability to visit some of the more secluded islands. Our captain Ben was very nice and he would drop us off inland so we could have dinner and then pick us up when we were ready to go back to the boat.

 

 

Tips

Ladies try to bring as many if not all of the items you would need for the wedding. We took all of our decorations from chair covers to runners to holders for our flowers. Everything is expensive and overpriced on the island. When they realise that you are not from there all they see are dollar signs. By the end of the trip we were fed up with some of the blatant rip offs. During our TTD session we went to a village called Anse la Ray and a jerk started to curse us out because he felt that we should pay money to take our wedding pictures in their village. What the hell! We just ignored him, walked away and then proceeded to be followed and harassed by a local "crack head" who wanted us to pay him money to show us a good spot to take some pictures. Some villagers had to tell him to leave us alone. That definitely left us feeling very disgusted with the place.

 

During your wedding planning you may suprise yourself with what you are able to accomplish. I used to really enjoy crafting when I was younger but got lazy and hardly did anything for the past couple of years. The need to save money and have things done exactly the way I wanted it forced me to become crafty again. I prepared all of the flowers for the ceremony and reception and made my birdcage veil and head piece. Never under estimate what you are able to accomplish when you are under pressure.

 

During your day do not allow everything to go by in a blur. Take time to process your guests faces and expressions during your ceremony. It makes the day and your memories so much richer. I have seen so many brides who look like zombies on their wedding day and they say that it was all a blur.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[trini bride]

More pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to all of the ladies on this message board who selflessly continue to share valuable information and provide support.

 

Btw: I will be posting a number of my wedding items for sale in a couple of weeks.

[trini bride]

More pics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks to all of the ladies on this message board who selflessly continue to share valuable information and provide support.

 

Btw: I will be posting a number of my wedding items for sale in a couple of weeks.

[Geralyn]

Your pics are amazing the one of you and the hubby by the pool with the mountains in the background looks like a postcard...I am getting married in Jamaica but honeymooning in St. Lucia...can't wait!!

[~*petals*~]

Gorgeous pics! I love your birdcage veil! Congratulations on a beautiful wedding.

[~*Kathy*~]

Awesome review and amazing pics! I also love your birdcage veil, it goes so well with your dress. Congrats on your big day!!!

[meli122]

Your PICTURES!!!! They are sooo amazing so beautiful they almost look computerized. Wow, too gorgeous. Congrats!!

[fudgie]

Beautiful pictures!!!! What an amazing location. It looked so much fun, and the pictures really captured that. Oh, and I love your veil and the hat you wore

[vluv61109]

Trini Bride,

 

Thanks for the the review and tips. Great review... Your pictures are so beautiful.. It sound like you guys had a lot of fun. Congrats on your marriage!! I wish you all the best...

[sunstarsmoon]

Great review and pictures. Everyone looks like they are having an amazing time.