How did Matt propose? My husband, Matt, proposed in St. Maarten. We were spending a long weekend on the island with my parents. He and my dad had some errands to run after our day on the beach, so my mom and I stayed back at our house. We decided we would meet back up at the house and head out for drinks and dinner (later I found out he was actually setting up the location for the proposal). My dad came back to pick us up, however he was without Matt. He said we would pick Matt up on the way. As we drove to pick Matt up, I knew something was going on, but didn’t want to get my hopes up, as this moment was 6 years in the making. We drove down to the Lowlands in St. Maarten (the complete opposite direction of our dinner plans), which is a quiet, romantic, and secluded area with only a few beaches. My parents and I pulled over to the side of the road, and my dad parked the car. I could see a path leading to the beach, and it was lined with candles. My heart was racing with excitement and anticipation. As I walked down the sandy, dimly-lit path, I could see Matt waiting for me. We exchanged hellos and small talk; then he led me down near the water to a white blanket covered with candles and what appeared to be champagne chilling (he apparently had no doubt what my answer would be). Without getting into every detail of his speech, he eventually got down on one knee, opened a small red box, and popped the question, just as the raindrops started to fall. I, of course, accepted and we moved the celebration back to my parents place, and then had dinner at our favorite restaurant, Temptation. We traveled over to Viceroy Anguilla the next day to start planning our wedding.
Standout Memory of the night: I honestly cannot say there was one standout memory of our wedding night. The entire night was a dream come true for both of us, however if I had to mention a few moments, I would start with my dance with my dad. It was a tear-filled moment in my life I will treasure for as long as I live. We also had fireworks after dinner, which were a big highlight for everyone. We had the time of our lives at our reception with all of our favorite people in the world, dancing, laughing, and making lasting memories which we will cherish forever!
Honeymoon Location: We stayed an extra week at Viceroy Anguilla once all of our guests left. We also ventured to St. Barths and Pinel for the first time.
One piece of advice that you could give to other couples: Be in the moment. Take a second to stop and look around and appreciate all of the little intricacies & details that took so much time to plan and organize. Look at the centerpieces, the place cards, the programs, the cake, the napkins, the room, the décor, the flowers, etc. Live in each minute of the night!
Wedding Dress: Peter Langner – purchased at Mark Ingram Atelier, NYC
Groom’s Tux: Hugo Boss – purchased through the Short Hills Mall, NJ location
Bridesmaids’ Gift and Groomsmen’ Gift: Bridesmaids’ Gift – Shoes to be worn for the wedding. Groomsmen’s Gift – Ties to be worn for the wedding
Something borrowed and something blue: My something borrowed was a money bag that my great-grandmother sewed by hand and gave to my cousin for her wedding (one of my bridesmaids). My great-grandmother made one for each of her grandchildren and my cousin was the baby in the family and was the last to receive a money bag. My great-grandmother was the heart of our family so it was a very sentimental and special piece for me to have with me on my wedding day. My something blue was a small Judith Leiber crystal heart which held our wedding rings for the ceremony.
Why did you choose this location: We traveled to St. Maarten many times during our relationship and were originally going to look to have or wedding there. However, there was not an ideal location which met all of our wishes for our wedding. We traveled to Anguilla as a family for lunch one afternoon during one of our St. Maarten trips and fell in love with the island. Friends of ours recommended looking at the Viceroy after traveling there for a family vacation. As soon as we set foot on the property, we knew this was where we wanted to have our wedding. It was our perfect paradise: the décor, the rooms, the amenities, the landscape, the pools, the restaurants, the location… the Viceroy is our version of heaven on earth.
Tips for a destination Wedding: We had our rehearsal dinner on Meads Bay Beach. We did wish lanterns on the beach and had steel drums playing in the background. We also had a bonfire with smores and rum punches be served throughout the night. It really was an incredible night and the wish lanterns were an absolute hit for all ages. Some great spots on Anguilla are Blanchards, the Straw Hat, Veya, and Bankie Banks. We also swam with dolphins (a somewhat new attraction on Anguilla); it was definitely a worthwhile experience.
Testimonial: If we were to say one thing about our experience with Fred Marcus, it would be that the guys really became part of our group. Andy, Alex, Jayson & Edwin were all very professional and personable. Even though they were working, they took the time to get to know us more than just taking our picture. They were extremely friendly to all of our guests and a true pleasure to work with.