84 aisle to isle sandals saint vincent and the grenadines The clear blue waters, the breeze, the intimate feel — it was a place she’d been imagining long before she even knew it existed. A setting so stunning rarely needs much, but it’s the bride’s vision that turns a beautiful space into something very special. Kari’s aesthetic was tropical-meets-classic. For the welcome cocktail, she leaned into those vibrant island col- ors — hot pinks, sunset oranges, deep greens — and signature drinks with fun names like “The Blushing Bride.” In contrast, she wanted her wedding to favor the timeless look: white florals, soft accents, delicate greenery — a clean, elegant style that let the seascape shine. And with great beauty comes great responsibility. Coordinating florals and logistics meant working with vendors from a dis- tance, which the on-site Sandals wedding team made happen with seamless ease. “Everyone was incredible,” Kari says. “And oh my gosh, when we finally met Roshard and Joyce in person, they were just like family. It was like we’d known them forever. They even showed up on the dance floor at the reception.” The ceremony was breathtaking. Kari was a vision in white as she walked down the aisle, fresh flowers in hand and the Caribbean sea gently shimmering around the chapel. They’d seen photos and done the walk-through, but nothing had prepared her for how it would feel in that moment. “Somehow, even after seeing it all, I was still surprised,” she says, smiling. As the sun set, energy shifted. Cocktail hour blurred into a dance party, with guests already on their feet before dinner had ended. The DJ played a mix curated by Kari and Ryan, each song prov- ing itself a big hit on the dance floor. The night was theirs. Of course, no Sandals wedding is complete without a couple of surprises, and there were still a few no one saw coming — like a prank first look with Ryan's best man. The real first look came lat- er, landing exactly as she’d hoped. “The dress was a total secret. It was hard, but his face when he finally saw me…” she pauses, “I’ll remember that forever.” There were other highlights, too. One particular outing took them inland to Dark View Falls, where they posed for photos in front of double cascading waterfalls. Another day brought them out to the Tobago Cays, something Kari had been looking forward to. “The only thing I told Ryan we had to do was see turtles,” she says. And her wish came true — twenty of them, gliding through the clear water. They spent the rest of the day island hop- ping, with grilled lobster and cold drinks ready for them at one of the stops. Now back in North Carolina, the glow still hasn’t worn off. “We’ve probably watched the wedding video like forty times,” Kari admits. “At this point, it’s our favorite rom-com.” Ryan grins. “We keep talking about going back. Maybe we’ll move there,” he jokes. And if you ask them what stood out most? It’s not the chapel, or the cake, or even the Carnival-inspired dance mo- ment where Ryan — wings and all — took over the dance floor. What stuck with them is something a little harder to photograph. It’s the feeling. The feeling of being seen, of being celebrated in a way that made them feel truly understood. “It was everything we wanted and more,” Kari says. What stuck with them is something a little harder to photograph. It’s the feeling. The feeling of being seen, of being celebrated in a way that made them feel truly understood. “It was everything we wanted and more,” Kari says. This page: Ryan leans in, smiling. Opposite page (top to bottom): Aerial view of Sandals Saint Vincent and The Grenadines; Kari and Ryan share a kiss.
