The notion that love can discover us in probably the most sudden of locations is actually true for Shantoura and Nathan who met fatefully at their firm’s health club. Upon first assembly, the pair saved issues strictly skilled. However from the surface trying in, there was little doubt {that a} spark — and loads of good hearted banter — existed between the 2.
Based on Shantoura, “This man can be hogging all of the health club tools! That’s how I met him. We’d usually discuss within the health club, in that context, after which had a strictly skilled friendship at work.”
Nathan remembers the identical scene from his personal viewpoint: “I used to be on the machine and she or he comes over, headphones blasting. So I requested her to take off her headset and made the introduction, after which she began asking questions concerning the machine. It was all very pleasant and flirtatious, however not approaching the road.”
Regardless of their fast-growing friendship, romance wasn’t within the playing cards for Shantoura and Nathan simply but. Over the subsequent decade, Shantoura would briefly relocate with the corporate from Atlanta to California and again once more, though she didn’t determine to let Nathan in on her return instantly.
“He stated he observed me within the hallway and thought ‘Huh, that’s bizarre, I do know she left the state,’” recollects Shantoura. With Shantoura again on the town, the 2 picked up proper the place they left off. However this time round, Nathan requested Shantoura on their first official date and, protected to say, the 2 haven’t regarded again since. After just a few extra years of attending to know each other, Nathan lastly popped the query within the consolation of their house and the marriage planning was formally set in movement!
First on the couple’s to-do record was to discover a venue and vacation spot. Shantoura and Nathan had by no means stayed at a Sandals Resort previous to their marriage ceremony weekend, so the 2 leaned into recommendation from mates who had. “All of our mates who have been advocates of the Sandals model at all times spoke so extremely of their experiences. It was referred from folks we trusted in our good friend circle,” recollects Shantoura.
With their sights set on Sandals, Shantoura and Nathan needed to additional slender down the choice to one in every of 17 Luxurious Included® resorts.
“The more durable determination was the place can we go?” says Nathan. “Shantoura discovered two or three locations. Barbados was one. Curaçao got here up, and Saint Lucia. However she saved going again to Curaçao. After we regarded up the island itself, we noticed the attractive structure of the downtown and the bridge.”
Situated within the Southern Caribbean, Curaçao is wealthy in pure magnificence and options desert landscapes with rocky coastlines carved alongside azure waters. The colourful-colored metropolis of Willemstad, the island’s capital, serves as an epicenter for Dutch, English, Latin American, Asian, and Afro-Caribbean cultures. A testomony to the profound melting pot that’s Curaçao, “I like you” is usually heard throughout the island in 4 languages, together with Curaçao’s native language, Papiamento, making this the right locale for a destination wedding.
“For me, there was additionally curiosity in what they have been creating by the Sandals model,” says Shantoura. “Bringing improvement to that island is large. I wished to assist that and I’m so glad we did.”
Sandals Royal Curaçao is without doubt one of the model’s latest resorts, which brings the Sandals assortment to a complete of 17 Caribbean escapes. That includes quite a lot of Sandals firsts, together with a two-story infinity pool and eight brand-new restaurant ideas, Sandals Royal Curaçao provided Shantoura, Nathan, and their 12 marriage ceremony company countless methods to enjoy paradise.
“With out a lot info on the resort on the time, we have been offered on the model after which the island. After we lastly did get to see the resort, it didn’t disappoint.” says Nathan.
With marriage ceremony planning high of thoughts, the couple wished to make sure they’d a trusted workforce that might convey their imaginative and prescient to life — even after they have been 1000’s of miles away.
“We wished a vacation spot the place there have been individuals who have been actually well-versed at taking good care of an occasion as a result of if you’re at house, you may’t detach,” says Shantoura. “Sandals simply naturally bubbled as much as the highest.”
From preliminary telephone calls to the marriage weekend itself, the wedding team at Sandals Royal Curaçao was devoted to exceeding the couple’s expectations. Upon arrival, Shantoura and Nathan shortly jumped into trip mode with an in depth itinerary that was centered round exploring Curaçao. Whereas the 2 adventured throughout the island — whether or not it was biking the Santa Barbara Property, cruising round in a Mini Cooper, or taking a non-public e-bike tour by downtown Willemstad — the Sandals Weddings Group finalized all the small print and started important prep for the upcoming large day.
“My Sandals marriage ceremony planner made positive to cross each T and dot each I. It was very reassuring and affirmative, in order that smoothed it out for me,” recollects Shantoura.
For the second half of their keep, Shantoura and Nathan resided in a Swim-up Butler Suite. Designed for max privateness, this luxury nook suite featured eating and dwelling areas, two bogs, a Tranquility Soaking Tub™ for 2, and 270-degree panoramic views of the ocean, palm backyard, and full resort. With daylight coming in from each angle, it’s the final hideaway for the 2 lovebirds.
Previous to the ceremony, the Weddings Group helped the couple host an attractive sundown welcome celebration, full with conch fritters, Blue Curaçao cocktails, and a trio of singers who coated basic R&B and neo-soul artists. A nod to the island’s wealthy tradition, the workforce additionally used conventional brightly-colored dolls, often called Chichi (which means “large sister” in Papiamento) as distinctive decor components and presents.
When the company lastly settled into their seats overlooking the ocean, the cool coastal breeze and heat air set the scene completely. Surrounded by 12 of their closest mates, Shantoura and Nathan stated “I do” beneath a grand white construction, draped in billowing chiffon and secured with blooming preparations of dusty pink roses and white hydrangeas.
Among the many most magical, heartfelt moments of the whole weekend was when the bride made her grand entrance. Sadly, Shantoura’s dad couldn’t journey to hitch the couple, so Nathan determined to satisfy Shantoura half-way down the aisle to stroll by her aspect. “I saved saying ‘Oh, my household isn’t going to be right here,” displays Shantoura. “However when Nathan got here and bought me within the heart of the aisle, I used to be like ‘Wait, my household is right here. You might be my household.’”
Shantoura’s mom and finest good friend have been additionally unable to attend, so the bride discovered a particular technique to carry them each together with her. Conserving with the “one thing borrowed, one thing blue, and one thing previous” traditions, Shantoura wore a brooch from her mother and a blue ankle bracelet from her finest good friend.
As soon as the 2 had formally tied the knot, the actual celebrations started! Friends mingled over crimson and white wine, champagne and Mint to Be, and Berry Completely satisfied Collectively signature cocktails, earlier than sitting right down to an island-inspired dinner. Choosing from Sandals Splendid Marriage ceremony Menu, the newlyweds served a hearty Surf & Turf and snapper ready by the resort’s world-class cooks.
“I don’t suppose anybody left meals on their plate!” stated Nathan. “Between the meals, the drinks, the leisure for the night time — the reception was simply superior. You couldn’t ask for a greater night.”
To align with the couple’s ethereal, and dreamy imaginative and prescient, the group sat for dinner at a protracted Captain’s desk embellished in stunning hydrangeas, roses, and blush pampas.
Regardless of all the joy, Nathan and Shantoura didn’t hesitate to replicate on the distinctive service and onerous work of the Weddings Group. “They labored tirelessly,” remembered Nathan. “They made it really feel like we have been the one ones on the resort for the ceremony and the reception. I couldn’t thank them sufficient and to see how pleased it made her. It was stunning, it was excellent.”
The remainder of the night adopted a toast-music-dancing-toast-music-dancing sample. As for the dance ground, let’s simply say it was something however quiet. Sparklers and glowing bistro lights illuminated the house, whereas the leisure crew saved everybody on their toes. Relatively than having one musical act, the couple reserved a DJ and a saxophonist! One spotlight for the couple was when their mates introduced in a soul prepare line and everybody broke out their favourite junior highschool dance strikes. “I used to be laughing, busting my intestine, dancing,” laughed Shantoura.
To say the weekend was one in every of magic, celebration, and a lot love, solely begins to scratch the floor. When requested what recommendation they’d give {couples} planning a destination wedding at Sandals Royal Curaçao, the reply got here naturally to Shantoura and Nathan: “Stay within the second. Don’t waste your time worrying concerning the little stuff. You’ve gotten one second along with your bride or groom — take pleasure in that. Stay it up. Be within the second. Be with your folks. As a result of when it’s throughout, you have got footage nevertheless it doesn’t examine. If you give attention to the recollections you make, it’s a special expertise.”
