Wedding Inspirations: Heaven Sent
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- September 18, 2019
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- By : Stephanie Kernisant
If you’re currently planning your dream wedding, you’re probably like I was—spending hours searching through bridal blogs and celebrity events to compile more Pinterest boards than you’d care to admit. I can’t say it gets any better. The dream wedding, the house, bébés! We all love to look for a little inspiration when it comes to exciting events in our lives.
So, when I had the opportunity to travel to South Coast, Jamaica for a sneak peak of Sandals Resorts newest Aisle to Isle Wedding Inspirations, I jumped at the chance. White sand, blue skies, Red Stripe beer, alone time for mommy—here I come!
I arrived to a beachside kick-off party that was a toes-in-the-sand, rum-on-the-rocks kind of celebration. With charcuterie boards, flowing cocktails, the upbeat sounds of steel drums carried in the cool ocean breeze, and Over-the-Water Bungalows lit on the horizon, it was truly a spectacular welcome.
Each day unveiled a new inspiration, taking us through a variety of experiences created for wedding couples and their guests. Influenced by romance, the islands, sand & sea, gold, and even the Royals, each Sandals inspiration was infinitely magical and paid careful attention to every detail. Whether it was glowing candelabras adorned with dramatic florals in ‘Signature Statement’ or simply-chic white roses surrounding twinkling votives in ‘White Romance,’ there was a look to suit all different styles. These inspirations give you the ease of working with expert wedding planners and the flexibility of choosing elements from distinct looks to design a one-of-a-kind celebration—something I would have loved the option of for my own wedding.
The best part: you can satisfy your ‘pinning’ obsession by selecting and combining florals, cakes, linens, place settings, and more. And, you aren’t just limited to inspirations; you’re welcome to bring in elements and ideas of your own.
It was evident that this was unlike anything ever offered in destination wedding travel. It was unique, fun and, above all else, deeply personal. The message I kept hearing throughout my experience was that your dream wedding should be ‘inspired by love, created by you.’
While the décor was the sweet icing on the cake for each event, the ambiance—probably the hardest thing to accomplish—was the showstopper. It’s one thing to be able to dress up a table, but it’s another thing entirely to create a mood.
Coming together in perfect harmony, the expanded menus, themed bars and vast entertainment options are just a few of the upgrades you can choose from to impress your guests. With a skillful violinist, exuberant fire dancers and what seemed like endless fresh seafood and bubbly, the unique ambiance Sandals created was a wonderful surprise and the aspect I was most impressed by.
When it comes to the overall most memorable moment, I have to say it was probably walking up to the Over-the-Water Serenity Wedding Chapel for the first time.I hear it’s a guest favorite, and it’s no surprise why. Outside, the chapel looked like a vision in white, beautifully contrasting the vastness of turquoise ocean. The inside felt intimate and inviting, showcasing an aisle lined with periwinkle hydrangeas and large, glass floor windows to view the sea below. It was breathtaking.
The idea of a beautiful, exotic venue is probably the main reason you picked, or are considering, a destination wedding. Somehow, each inspiration accomplished the impossible feat of further enhancing the idyllic backdrops. Like a strand of pearls adds to a classic gown, shimmering lights strewn across lush tropical gardens and a dramatic, white frame arbor against the blue horizon lended to the beauty of the surroundings.
Likely one of the toughest decisions you’ll have to make throughout the process is selecting the ceremony and reception venues. A white-sand beach aisle? A gazebo in a tropical garden? A sunset bluff overlooking the sea? An Over-the-Water Serenity Wedding Chapel? The good news is you have plenty to choose from and it seems impossible to go wrong. You can even upgrade to a twilight hour ceremony or an off-site location.
While I may be speaking to receptions and ceremonies, the beauty of my stay was that it felt more like a ‘vacay-bration.’ A destination wedding is a getaway to share with your closest family and friends that is filled with multiple days of events manifested from pure imagination. Can’t you picture it—A tropical welcome party, an intimate and romantic rehearsal dinner, or an epic last hoorah with your entire wedding party?
Everything was incredible, but my first thought was how difficult it must be to plan each event and all the details. Of course, the event planner in me couldn’t help but ask. As it turns out, there is an entire Wedding Entourage that will work with your vision, budget and even the logistics. For my bride-and-groom-zillas out there, you can be as involved or laissez-faire about the process as you want. They’re ready to handle every single detail and create an entire itinerary filled with adventure, romance and relaxation, so all you have to worry about is soaking up every special moment in the Caribbean sun.
You can finally slow down the endless searches on random boards (at least for your dream wedding) and instead, peruse the Sandals and Beaches websites to your heart’s content for a look at all-new inspirations, award-winning resorts and more. Even if you weren’t at the fanfare launch event, Sandals also welcomes you to ‘test drive’ your wedding for a few days with your fiancé, a relative or best friend. You don’t have to commit—but, you probably will.
My dream wedding day may have come and gone, but there’s always room for a spectacular vow renewal in my life!