7 months ago
45
Love can lead us to the happiest events — and sometimes the happiest events can lead us to love. That’s what happened with Kim and Timmy. They met at a birthday party. It didn’t take long to discover that their personalities and humor meshed, launching them onto the road to an engagement and an island celebration where they would commit to eternal, everlasting love.
Photographed by Dwayne Watkins
Choosing a destination
Armed with a mutual passion for travel and adventure, Kim and Timmy had a dream destination in mind for their vows. “Jamaica was always on our wish list and neither of us had traveled there before,” says Kim. “We wanted to celebrate somewhere with beautiful water and sand. That’s how we found Ocho Rios in our search.” Kim and Timmy saw photos of an incomparable tropical backdrop with rivers, lush foliage, and cascading waterfalls. They marveled at spectacular stretches of pristine beaches and turquoise waters, beautifully and naturally tying together their vision for a dream Caribbean wedding.
Choosing the resort
While on the hunt for the perfect backdrop to their vows, one place captured Kim and Timmy’s attention: Sandals Dunn’s River. Nestled upon the most stunning beach of Ocho Rios the newest addition to the family of Sandals Resorts is unlike any destination on the island. It pays homage to Jamaica’s natural beauty with indigenous plant life and crystal-clear river water flowing through the property. Even the artisan coffees and the spirits at Dunn’s Rum Club come from local fields. Kim and Timmy noticed that within this pure Jamaican resort are luxurious innovations that would elevate their wedding week beyond expectations.
Planning the dream
The wedding team at Sandals Dunn’s River highlighted several unique wedding venues to Kim and Timmy, who chose a more intimate setting. Although they were unable to tour the venue beforehand, the couple-to-be confidently left the planning in the capable hands of their onsite wedding planner at Sandals. Then they turned their attention to the guests.
Photographed by Dwayne Watkins
Inspired by Sandals’ Blissful Beach curated design elements as a starting point, Kim and Timmy were able to personalize this look and make it their own. They pulled colors and floral ideas from this popular natural style to create an event that was uniquely them.
“We originally were going to elope,” says the bride, “but we decided to extend invitations to friends and family with no expectation of anyone coming.” When those friends and family members saw the gorgeous tropical locale and the convenience of getting there, Kim and Timmy soon had a group of 38 loved ones excited about joining the celebration — without the pre-wedding stress.
“Thanks to the wedding team at Sandals, the smallest details were taken care of,” Kim says. All Kim and Timmy needed to do was arrive at Sandals Dunn’s River. There, they would enjoy their dream wedding coming to life.
Curating the look
The bride wore an A-line silhouetted tulle gown with a light train that flowed spectacularly in the Jamaican breeze. The choice of a tan suit for the groom softly complemented the sand, waters and sky. The bouquet had an earthy, yet classic look, incorporating a variety of bleached ferns, dried wheat, and pampas grasses highlighted with a single rose. The boutonniere mirrored this look donned by the groom. “The bouquet and boutonniere were my favorite pieces,” says Kim, “because I always have loved a more natural yet elegant style.”
Photographed by Dwayne Watkins
The “I do’s”
“The simplicity of the decor that Sandals set up for us was perfect,” the bride says. The ceremony itself was held under a natural wooden pergola accented with white flowing fabric. As the bride walked along the flagstone path to the altar, Jamaica’s lush palms beautifully framed her.
More than three dozen friends and family members witnessed Kim and Timmy say their “I do’s” in the warm Caribbean setting. Looking back on the day, the bride tells us that the moment they were pronounced husband and wife will be one that she will cherish for all time.
Photographed by Dwayne Watkins
A sunset reception
For the reception, the couple wanted to keep the focus on the area’s natural beauty. The resort’s Oceanfront Terrace became the setting for their tropical sunset soirée. Lanterns and crisp white linens gave an elegant feel, while the neutral colors of the florals, pampas grass and dried palm softly married with the setting sun. The intimate group looked out over the beach while dining and dancing under the stars.
The honeymoon
One major perk of having a destination wedding is that couples can continue the escape without missing a moment while spending precious time traveling to a honeymoon destination. Kim and Timmy chose to extend their stay at Sandals Dunn’s River and went straight from “I do” to “I did.” “We had a wedding and honeymoon combination,” Kim says, “an all-in-one experience!”
Photographed by Dwayne Watkins
Sage advice
When asked what tips they would give future couples in the midst of planning their own big day, Kim and Timmy say, “If your wedding is at Sandals, you won’t need to stress. The resort wedding planners made sure everything fell into place for us, so we could fully enjoy our big day.”
One could say that celebrations are the cornerstone for this couple’s future having met at a birthday party. Considering they started with an elopement in mind and close to 40 guests traveled to be by their side in paradise, it’s likely that celebrations will be a family tradition that lives on for generations.
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