Pleasure & Tom
Easy and non-traditional, this couple’s elopement embraces the which means of laid-back island magnificence.
Images by Brent Beckles
As former private trainers, Pleasure and Tom discovered widespread floor by the very factor that brings them essentially the most happiness: health.
“We went to the identical fitness center for our personal exercises, and I had my eye on him. However it wasn’t till we bonded over the identical transfer that we lastly spoke,” begins Pleasure.
“After our first interplay, I noticed I hadn’t requested for her title,” says Tom. “So, the following day I requested and we stored speaking. Ultimately, I invited her to dinner and we wound up spending plenty of time collectively.”
Having met proper earlier than the pandemic hit, Pleasure and Tom ended up programming their very own exercises in his driveway, marking the start of their relationship.
“I broke the fitness center rule!” Tom laughs, referencing his personal decree to not date somebody from the fitness center. Trying again now, each he and Pleasure are glad he did.
Whereas most proposals include flower petals, flashing cameras, and an encore of buddies or household, Tom stored issues easy and spontaneous.
Residing in Florida, the 2 had all the time been spoiled with lovely surroundings. However when Tom noticed a Florida sundown too good to move up one night, he requested Pleasure to go for a stroll alongside Indian Rocks Seashore. Completely unsuspecting and sporting a Halloween t-shirt, Pleasure hardly had time to understand what was occurring earlier than Tom knelt down and requested her to marry him.
Pleasure replied with an enthusiastic “sure!”, which was adopted shortly after by applause and cheering. To the couple’s shock, their intimate proposal had been unexpectedly celebrated by a bunch of onlookers.
“We heard a bunch of cheering behind us and it was a bunch of ladies renting a seashore home,” recollects Tom. “One girl even sprinted down the seashore simply to share the photographs they took from the balcony!” A blessing in disguise contemplating they’d each left their telephones at house.
“We’re very informal and I’m not an enormous fan of photographs, so I didn’t even take into consideration that,” explains Tom. “I simply love her in all of her types; tremendous informal, no make-up on. She’s lovely.”
When the time got here to decide on a vacation spot for his or her nuptials, the pair thought-about unique locations just like the Maldives, earlier than choosing Saint Lucia’s allure, comfort and surroundings. Wanting a location that provided greater than only a seashore view, Sandals Grande Saint Lucian — with the towering Pitons, Caribbean Sea and luxurious mountainscapes within the background — was an ideal match.
Beaming, the newlyweds take a second to soak all of it in.
With the assist of their onsite marriage ceremony planner, Lynn, the couple remained worry-free all through the abroad planning course of. Not solely did Lynn and her staff safe the Over-the-Water Serenity Wedding Chapel and a neighborhood officiant for the couple, she even pre-arranged for additional items of marriage ceremony cake and a bottle of champagne to be delivered to the couple’s suite, post-wedding.
“We needed to elope and never take care of the planning, stress or bills of the marriage,” says Pleasure. “So, we selected Saint Lucia and it was simply the 2 of us. Neither of us have ever regretted that.”
The marriage day itself was intimate and memorable. Pleasure and Thomas exchanged handwritten vows with the ocean as their witness and stored the decor and florals totally impartial, permitting the pure surroundings to steal the highlight.
Images by Brent Beckles
“We each teared up after we exchanged our vows,” admits Tom. “And I hadn’t seen Pleasure till she walked down the aisle. It was certainly one of my favourite moments.”
Regardless of Tom’s reluctance for a primary dance, the 2 selected Over and Over Once more by Nathan Sykes and Ariana Grande and shared a particular second on the chapel’s sundeck. Following the primary dance, the couple loved mild hors d’oeuvres, champagne and a cake chopping ceremony.
Pleasure and Thomas shared an intimate first dance on the sundeck of the Over-the-Water Chapel.
“Our marriage ceremony cake was a two-tier, gluten-free carrot cake,” says Pleasure, chatting with the resort’s culinary choices. “I’m gluten-free and dairy-free, however I all the time felt taken care of. At any time when we sat down, our servers would instantly ask for dietary restrictions. They modified all the pieces and knew which dishes I ought to keep away from. Everybody was extremely educated.”
Impressed by a Sandals Weddings Instagram put up, Pleasure introduced the letter C, in honor of their final title, as a cake topper and her personal association of ornamental flowers to adorn the cake with. As is custom, the couple introduced the highest layer house however broke the principles as soon as once more by digging into the frozen leftovers two months later for Tom’s birthday.
“We stored an additional piece frozen so we may have it on our precise anniversary. However we needed to take pleasure in it earlier than then, too,” says Pleasure.
After exchanging their vows, the couple kicked off their honeymoon and celebrated for a couple of extra days in Saint Lucia.
“I loved the truth that we had no different calls for past simply the 2 of us and will do something we needed in the course of the day,” shares Tom.
The couple reduce a gluten-free carrot cake with impartial florals.
One in every of their prime honeymoon highlights: JJ’s Speed Boat Tour. Providing a complete exploration of Saint Lucia, the tour featured sulfur mud baths, waterfalls, snorkeling hotspots, and a neighborhood lunch dive with the island’s finest — and strongest — rum punch. Even the boat trip noticed its personal model of Caribbean flare.
“Our tour information was referred to as No Issues, and he had music taking part in whereas we have been on the boat,” says Tom. “When discovered Pleasure taught Zumba, he had her stand up within the entrance of the boat and choreograph a dance for everybody!”
For {couples} contemplating a vacation spot marriage ceremony at Sandals Grande Saint Lucian, Pleasure and Tom’s recommendation is obvious: embrace the convenience and great thing about getting married within the Caribbean.
“It was the very best choice we ever made! Particularly eloping and selecting Sandals and the vacation spot. They make it really easy, stress-free and plan all the pieces so you may spend essentially the most time collectively.”
With minimal stress and most leisure, their expertise was a dream come true. From the welcoming employees to the enchanting surroundings, Sandals offered all the pieces wanted for a picture-perfect celebration.
Images by Brent Beckles
Images by Brent Beckles
