This page (left to right): Three-tiered wedding cake flush with florals; Jennifer's wedding bouquet. Opposite page: Adorned beachfront altar before the ceremony 30 sandals royal barbados aisle to isle Jennifer and Greggory let the serene Caribbean sun set the pace. After years of planning for the big day, they finally took a well- earned honeymoon break in the islands, just them two. And like that, the wedding came and went, leaving them free to share memories in peace while enjoying the all-inclusive lifestyle they sunk into in Barbados, friends and family sending envious texts wishing they were still on the islands with them. Waking up with the rising sun, they’d scroll through their camera rolls and relive every micro-moment from their wedding, step out for a dip in the sea, send thank-you texts, and share memories with family back home. All while the pampering continued. Their Butler Suite in Saint Lucia took care of every need and craving, ensuring their fairytale kept writing itself — right there in the sand. Without family and friends around, Jennifer and Greggory were completely free to focus on their own schedules, which did include catching up on well-earned rest. Afterwards, they reconnected with couples massages, an off-resort speed-boat excursion, and lots of tanning under the sun. I asked them what it was like to come back home to their nor- mal routine after being in an all-inclusive paradise for nearly two weeks; getting back to chores, dishes, alarm clocks, plac- es to be, no more butler team bringing them their favorite drinks and anticipating their every want and need. The answer? Rough. “We were driving at sunrise a week later,” Greggory says, “and I told Jennifer, I’d trade anything to be back on that island.” When I asked if they would change anything, the answer was sim- ple, "to slow down and enjoy it as much as possible." Their advice for couples planning a destination wedding in the islands? Start early. Give guests at least a year to secure flights and take care of passports. Do your own research so you know the type of look and feel you want, then share that vision clearly with your wedding planning team. And most importantly? Let go and relax. They’ll bring your vision to life to the smallest detail. Just like that, the couple who met by chance at the University of Alabama during a late-night outing forever tied their futures beside the sea — and now have the photos, memories, and keepsakes to prove it. The friends and family who supported them every step of the way were there not only to witness it, but to enjoy a true va- cation of their own. They laugh while recounting one moment in particular: spotting a relative at the Loyalty and Travel desk — mid- stay — trying to extend his trip before it even ended. “He didn’t want to leave,” they say, still laughing. Their story isn’t really about logistics or decor. It’s about that rare, steady feeling of being looked after on the most important day in a couple’s life. Sandals gave them just that, and helped turn their wedding into a memory that lives forever.
