THE BEGINNING OF A ROMCOM
Jamar: I’ll at all times bear in mind the day we met by way of mutual associates. I used to be taken by her magnificence and the way in which she laughs so simply. There have been some issues happening on the time, so we didn’t go on a primary date for some time. After which, out of the blue, she contacted me.
Whitney: He may not have identified it, however I stored tabs on him after we met. He made an enormous impression on me along with his smile, banter, and persona. The chemistry was plain.
Jamar: The romcom began. We knew straight away the place our relationship was going. She was all the things I wished in a spouse. She’s my finest pal. She’s stunning inside and outside. We love being with one another. There was no want to attend a very long time to get married.
Whitney: We talked in regards to the form of wedding ceremony we wished earlier than he even proposed.
Jamar: We briefly entertained the concept of a standard wedding ceremony. However the extra we appeared into it, the extra we agreed that we didn’t need all the things that comes with it. The distributors. The meals. The associated fee.
Whitney: {Couples} speak about household drama, make-up points, all of those little issues that get in the way in which of the aim of the marriage. The bride and groom wind up exhausted from making an attempt to make it good for everybody however themselves.
Jamar: To not point out the honeymoon planning, too. We had been on the identical web page with what we wished and what we didn’t need.
Image: Sandals Grenada the place romantic escapes and dream weddings change into actuality.
A WEDDING ESCAPE ENTERS THE PICTURE
Whitney: I’m fairly positive I introduced up the concept of eloping, however we each had been considering the identical factor: we wish to give attention to one another and luxuriate in what’s vital to us. Plus, I’m an introvert and couldn’t think about Jamar and me in the course of the largest second of our lives in entrance of a crowd of individuals — some we would not even know very effectively. That and the expense and the stress, it didn’t appear enjoyable.
Jamar: And bear in mind, we had been speaking about all of this earlier than I gave her the engagement ring. We simply didn’t know where we would elope.
Whitney: After he proposed, I used to be speaking with a pair who’s been to all of the Sandals destinations, and the spouse mentioned, “Whitney, that’s the place it’s best to get married.” I began wanting on the totally different areas, imagining us in each, and noticed Sandals Grenada.
Jamar: She showed me the pictures and my response was, Oh, my gosh. It appeared so serene and tropical and distant.
Whitney: We may get married on a Caribbean beach, spend per week in luxurious, and never fear about something.
Jamar: And we’d already be the place we wished to be for our honeymoon. All we’d must do is go. We may have a neighborhood reception at a later time for family and friends.
Whitney: I arrange a gift registry and webpage by way of The Knot, so family and friends may plan a yr upfront to attend our reception right here in Colorado. Individuals requested me, “However when is the precise wedding ceremony?” And I’d say, “Properly, we’re eloping to Sandals.” Numerous these folks mentioned, and so they nonetheless say, “Oh, I want we’d performed that.”
Jamar: We’re each meticulous planners, so the choice to be married at Sandals was a aid. As soon as we booked our journey, that was it. We didn’t really want to plan something.
Whitney: There was a time after I thought a vacation spot wedding ceremony should be difficult, however we discovered it’s simply the other. The marriage groups at Sandals have organized lots of of weddings and so they take pleasure in it, so I figured we should always allow them to deal with ours. Let’s simply anticipate going to this superb oasis. My solely concern was that our wedding ceremony garments may wrinkle throughout our flight.
Jamar: For the subsequent few months, all I considered was waking up in a luxurious suite alongside the Caribbean Ocean — and being there with Whitney.
Whitney: Brides speak about having a marriage imaginative and prescient. I had greater than a imaginative and prescient. I may have a look at actual photos of real Sandals weddings on the seashore the place we had been going to be married.
Picture by Lauren Finch
THEY STEP INTO A DREAM
Whitney: We landed in Grenada … and all the things grew to become actual. Right here we had been, on this stunning, lush island, surrounded by the ocean. I stored considering, “That is actually it. I’m right here. That is the place I’ll be marrying my husband.”
Jamar: Yeah, I felt this sensation as quickly as we acquired there, like, ahh, we are able to breathe.
Whitney: After we stepped into the Sandals foyer, the butlers and wedding ceremony planners had been there to greet us. They made us really feel like royalty. We knew all the things was going to be OK.
Jamar: They gave us shot glasses engraved with “Mr.” and “Mrs.” after which led us to the highest-level butler suite — simply unimaginable, with a large toilet, an ensuite pool, and an ocean view. The employees gave us whole privateness, but each time we got here again to the suite we discovered they’d performed one thing particular for us.
Image: Italian Oceanview 1 Br. SkyPool Butler Suite at Sandals Grenada
Whitney: They’d depart snacks, like cheese and recent tropical fruit. They’d draw baths whereas we had been out and depart cute towel artwork on the mattress.
Jamar: We actually didn’t must do something upfront of the marriage, besides style muffins.
Whitney: Properly, we did go over a couple of gadgets with the marriage planner.
Jamar: Oh yeah, that’s once we selected purple velvet.
Whitney: We additionally selected an actual spot for the ceremony — a cove tucked subsequent to an enormous cliff alongside Pink Gin Seaside. They went over each element: the place to face, find out how to stroll on heels over the sand, the place we may have our first dance. To at the present time, I don’t bear in mind the music we picked. Do you?
Picture by Lauren Finch
Jamar (laughing): Hmm. No. However I do bear in mind being on that seashore and my stunning spouse in her phenomenal gown. The butlers and wedding ceremony planners had been there to cheer our first kiss. I used to be excited to be in that spot, collectively, understanding we had been married. It was like, nothing else issues.
Whitney: That’s after I realized, “That is precisely what I’ve at all times wished.” I’ve this nice man who cares deeply for me … and I acquired to marry him in paradise.
Jamar: On the finish of the ceremony and our mini reception, we went again to our suite to vary garments.
Whitney: After which we walked right down to Tipsy Turtle Pub for shepherd’s pie and beers. It was good to simply loosen up and share our ideas with none highlight. W
Jamar: The following morning we woke as much as breakfast on our terrace. Our honeymoon began proper there. All of it got here collectively for one of the best 9 days we may ever think about.
Whitney: A pal of ours desires to elope, however her fiancé desires a standard wedding ceremony. We maintain saying, “Go. Belief us. You gained’t have a single remorse.” This can be a time in life the place it’s OK to consider what’s finest for the 2 of you.
Jamar: You possibly can have a reception later.
Whitney: I’ll at all times be capable of say that in the course of the largest second of my life, I used to be precisely the place I wished to be. I used to be current with my husband. My husband was current with me. We had been on this superb island — and nothing else mattered.
Picture by Lauren Finch
Your love story deserves a setting as breathtaking as Sandals Grenada. Should you’re dreaming of a stress-free, all-inclusive wedding ceremony in paradise—identical to Whitney & Jamar—our knowledgeable planners are right here to make it unforgettable.
Begin your journey on our inquiry page and let’s plan your romantic escape at present!