On April 14, 2016 Grant and I got married on the best beach in the world in Turks and Caicos! It was flawless from start to finish. Here is a simple how to guide so you can plan your own wedding in paradise.
#1: Delivery
Get everything delivered that you possibly can! I had the flowers, chef, photographer, and even the masseuse come to me on our wedding day. This made the entire process much less stressful. I arranged things via email a week before in the States so all I had to do was answer the door.
#2: Rent a Villa
I’m a huge fan of VRBO and Airbnb and prefer it to staying in a hotel almost every time. For our wedding I knew I didn’t want any different. My nightmare was to have bikini-clad beachgoers or a crying baby in the background of our beautiful wedding photos so we opted for a villa named Caribbaway which was literally SO perfect! What about the honeymoon night you ask? No worries, it has two private villas attached to the main house so there was plenty of room and privacy for everyone. With stunning views and a private beach it was everything we wanted for our ceremony!
#3: Conch Fritters
You’re not going to lose enough weight to make a difference in the days leading up to your wedding so you might as well relax and indulge! Eat as many conch fritters as possible (our favorite spot: Da Conch Shack.) They are the islands’ famous dish and so delicious. You will not regret it!
#4: Sunscreen
I can’t say this enough, especially on the face! No one wants a Rudolph nose in your wedding pictures. Reapply, reapply, reapply! You (and your photographer who spends hours editing) will be glad you did.
#5: Rest
Schedule in a few rest and relaxation days. We arrived to the islands on Tuesday and didn’t have our ceremony until Thursday so we had plenty of time to get acclimated and enjoy before the big day! Unfortunately on the way home we left first thing the next morning to get back to our barn celebration in Georgia. it wasn’t the best idea and in retrospect I would’ve rather had another day to unwind before heading to our celebration and honeymoon.
#6: Keep the Guest List Small
We only had our immediate family present at the ceremony and it was a very relaxing choice. Worrying about accommodations for several people can be stressful and time-consuming. Isn’t this why you’re having a destination wedding in the first place?
#7: Stay in the Moment and Enjoy
Don’t try to make everything perfect! Yes you will get sand in your expensive dress, yes the groom may be a little sunburnt, and yes your hair is going to have the windblown look but in the end it’s going to be SO perfect! You’re right where you need to be and you can’t go wrong getting married in the beautiful Turks and Caicos Islands!
Catering: Kissing Fish Catering
Villa: Caribbaway
Florists:Flowers by Environmental Arts
Masseuse: Spa Tropique
Photography: Brilliant Studios
Restaurants: Da Conch Shack, Coco Bistro
For more information on Turks and Caicos, grab this Fodor’s guide book.
Happily Ever After,
-Ray
Inspired Recipe: Mango and Pineapple Chutney by Immaculate Bites
This tropical topping will make you feel like you’re in the islands ‘mon. It pairs well with blackened fish or jerk chicken. I served it on top of ahi tuna steaks. OMG so yummy!
*Did you make one of our inspired recipes? We would love to see! Tag us in a photo of your yummy creation on twitter (@gypsysols) or Instagram (@gypsysols)
