Snorkels and Signs
“I think I bought this snorkel at a grocery store,” I told my husband Greg as I unpacked the shoddy children’s pool toy with my scuba mask and fins. We decided to spend a recent Sunday at Cramer’s Park in a class to improve our snorkel skills. Well, I must have cleared the ocean water from that crappy snorkel 100 times before the end of the class. Each time a wave came along or I tilted my head slightly too far in one direction, I had a mouthful of water. Now that I live on an island, it was time to invest in an ocean-worthy snorkel.
Cindy, Captain Miles Sperber (owner of Caribbean Sea Adventures) & Ashley
Soon after, my boss Cindy and I had just spent a long Saturday working a wedding. So she nicely shifted our weekend to Sunday/Monday and arranged for us to sail to Buck Island and snorkel with Caribbean Sea Adventures. Because we provide concierge services to clients of SunCelebrations and Vacation St Croix, it is important for us to be in-the-know on island activities and be able to make recommendations from personal experience. Cindy and I ended up rushing just to make the boat that morning, so I had no time to stop into a scuba shop and again toted the kid’s snorkel along. Luckily, Caribbean Sea Adventures had the boat stocked and I was able to borrow a good one.
Scuba Cindy heads to the ocean floor
Cindy, a former crew member on Big Beard’s sails to Buck Island, was an excellent guide during our snorkel. Although we spent part of it pelted by rain, it was calm underwater. We saw vibrant fish, gorgeous coral and a host of barracuda. Because Buck Island is a marine park, it is well marked with underwater signs. Some note the snorkeling path, others caution that touching coral kills it, while others denote types of coral commonly found on the reef. Cindy and I shared a laugh about a question she often received while leading snorkel tours of tourists, “why wasn’t there a squirrel fish right next to the squirrel fish sign?”
Ashley & Cindy - A great day at the "office"
Next stop was Chenay Bay for a beach barbeque. Just as we pulled up to the resort and we were finishing our rum punch, I accidentally knocked Cindy’s cup off the stern of the sailboat. Not wanting to litter, I dove in after it. Since the cup was clear and impossible to see underwater, I decided to make amends with Mother Ocean by picking up other pieces of trash on the shallow bottom.
Ashley explores the reef at Buck Island Reef
A great day with Captain JP aboard Wavedancer
I was delving down for what looked like a sock when nearby I saw . . . a snorkel! Partially covered by seaweed, but otherwise I had found a pristine, adult snorkel by US Divers.
Another opportunity to snorkel came up not long after. Our friend Chuck, owner of The Palms at Pelican Cove, invited us to join him for a night snorkel off the shore near his home. While we practically had to drag Greg and Cindy to get in the ocean at night, all of us were excited to see what nocturnal creatures would be out. We happen to pick a night with a strong ocean surge, making it next to impossible to swim. We managed to see and touch a couple of amazing things – a sea star and sea cucumber. A few fish looked panicked by the crazy current, but for the most part everything was in-hiding.
Barracuda!
Chuck said that of the 250 plus snorkels he’s taken off the Palms beach, the conditions that night were the worst. A sign we should probably have accepted – when sea life is swimming for cover, you probably should be too! However, it was a great experience for the three of us to get accustomed to the ocean at night for future snorkel and scuba diving adventures.
Complementary rum punch hits the spot after snorkeling!
Lessons learned:
- Use pool toys in pools, not oceans.
- Take “professional development” days off with your colleagues.
- Care for the earth and enjoy when a good deed comes back to you.
- Appreciate the kindness of new friends.
- Take adventures that push you out of your comfort zone.
- Watch for signs, in the ocean and in life.
Two great reasons to celebrate
I couldn’t pass up the chance to blog about something exciting we have to celebrate here on St Croix… afterall the blog is called “Celebrate St Croix”! And actually we have two great things to celebrate today.
The first is something that’s near and dear to my heart (I’ve done some volunteer work with sea turtle conservation) – the release of a rehabilitated hawksbill sea turtle who was injured last year at one my favorite beaches – Sandy Point. Sandy Point Wildlife refuge is one of the few truly pristine beaches left in the Caribbean. It is only open from 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday from roughly October through the end of April. Why, you ask… Well, because it is critical nesting habitat for the endangered leatherback sea turtle and heavily used for nesting by our local hawksbills and greens too. It seems that this unlucky girl was minding her own business, laying her eggs in the sand when she was happened upon by a group of feral dogs. Sadly, her front flippers were so mauled that eventually one had to be amputated.
A group of volunteers aid in the release of a rehabilitated sea turtle on St Croix
However, the wonderful biologists of US Fish & Wildlife that monitor the wildlife refuge found her, brought her to local veterinarian Paul Hess at Island Animal Clinic, who stabilized her, and then they enlisted the help of The Turtle Hospital, a non-profit institution on Marathon Key where she spent a year gaining strength and rehabilitating. Yesterday, with the help of American Airlines, who donated her flights both ways, and the many friends she has gained along the way – our little sweetie was returned to her native St Croix and released into the waters of Sandy Point. A success story made possible by kind people who volunteered time and resources to do the right thing in our community – a true reason to celebrate! For more information read the full article here
Another thing that Crucians are celebrating today is the passing of legislation to ensure that Cruzan Rum stays here on St Croix. Cruzan Rum has been produced on the island of St Croix for over 200 years by the Nelthropp family. While they don’t own the brand anymore – they still run the plant and make the run that not only becomes Cruzan Rum, but also the base rum for many other brands as well. In fact, only 25% of the rum they produce is branded as Cruzan - the rest is sold as “bulk rum” and is used as the base of other rum products. Its that good. Recently, our government entered into a 30-year deal that was the driving factor in bringing a new state-of-the-art plant to produce rival Captain Morgan rum to St Croix. Last night, the legislature passed a similar bill that gives a similar 30-year deal providing bonds backed by rum tax rebate monies. It also allows for the development of the plant and to bring it up to EPA standards. (It had been grandfathered out of certain requirements in the past which effectively had allowed it to release untreated effluent into local waters). So, I’m celebrating the fact that Cruzan will remain Crucian… and they are going to clean up their act in the process!
“So where is paradise?”
Ashley Bouzianis April 09 Bride and SunCelebrations Marketing/Event Coordinator
*Announcing an “Ask Ashley” FREE conference call to answer all your questions about destination weddings from a bride who has been there. Please plan to dial-in Thursday, October 22 at 7 p.m. EST/6 p.m. CST Click here to register! Already have questions in mind? Feel free to e-mail your questions beforehand (ashley@suncelebrations.com).
“So where is paradise?” Hundreds of strangers asked my husband Greg and I as they walked up the driveway of our moving sale in Texas earlier this year. “St. Croix!” we happily replied.
After taking several trips to our paradise and getting married on-island, we thought selling most of our belongings before moving to St. Croix would save on shipping. So we held a “moving to paradise” garage sale (complete with palms trees on our signs scattered around town), listed our stuff on Craig’s List or eBay and hit consignment stores.
We gave our remaining items to charities. Our DVDs went to a veteran’s hospital, while my stuffed animal collection went to less fortunate children in Central America. So far we have yet to need or want a single item we let go of (not even the two-thirds of my shoe collection I swore I couldn’t live without)!
Just as our three-day moving sale sold out in a matter of hours, everything about our move to St. Croix has fallen perfectly into place. From jobs to living situations, the stars have aligned in our favor! First and foremost, my new job as marketing /event coordinator of SunCelebrations.
Since my first phone consultation with SunCelebrations owner Cindy Clearwater, I was confident we were two peas in a pod. She’s a smart, savvy, no-nonsense business woman, which is precisely what a bride wants in a wedding coordinator! With my background in events, public relations and marketing, I set a high bar for the job. After a call and correspondence, I decided SunCelebrations was the right fit to coordinate my wedding.
Cindy’s first in-person activity with our wedding party was the ceremony rehearsal. She began giving instruction and as some side conversations continued among our large and social group, she stopped to get everyone’s attention in a polite but assertive manner. Perfect! Someone else to say the things that need to be said for our wedding to run smoothly, without me being labeled a dreaded “bridezilla!”
To all bride-to-be’s, I cannot tell you how priceless it is to be free of stress on your wedding day. My husband and I actually got to sit down and eat dinner just like the other guests at our wedding reception (which I have heard from countless brides is a rarity)!
Getting my hair done for the big day
On my wedding day, my job entailed getting pampered at the Carambola spa and taking in every moment with complete confidence the details were taken care of. Not by my bridesmaids or family members (they were on vacation too), but by competent and experienced professionals. Our wedding day was perfect!
So days after the big day, my new hubby and I met Cindy for happy hour at Fort Christian Brew Pub in Christiansted and told her we were considering relocating. Moving to paradise was something we had talked about since we first started dating! Cindy mentioned that I may be a good fit for her SunCelebrations team, which was just the jump start we needed to start seriously planning our move. Ever since, she has been an invaluable resource and friend during our transition.
Manicured nails are a must for perfect wedding pics!
Now that we’ve settled into a place on the east end of the island and Greg is also working, I’m ready to dive into destination weddings. I look forward to working with SunCelebrations, a business I truly believe in. Cindy is an incredibly talented event planner who is only limited by the fact that she can only be in one place at a time. I am confident my first-hand experience as a destination bride combined with my event planning background will lend itself well to SunCelebrations.
Ashley & Greg are Moving to St Croix!
October 2009 Issue featuring article "St Croix: A Virgin Isle to Call Home"
This month’s issue of Caribbean Travel & Life magazine features an excellent 6-page article on the prospect of moving to St Croix. The author turns out to be a friend of a friend and, as a result, many of the faces and places in the article are familiar to me. Well that and living on a rock that measures 6 miles (at its widest point) by 24 miles, you get to know most places and faces. Its perfect timing, because this is also the month that April 2009 St Croix Wedding clients, Ashley & Greg, move to St Croix!
The article highlights some of my favorite places and really gives a good view into our island lifestyle.
The opening 2-page photo of Christiansted Harbor and the seaplane is simply breathtaking. Its overlaid with the interior title “Bohemian Rhapsody”. I guess that is a good description. The island definitely has a bohemian feel, particularly for the expats or what locals call “Continentals”. Here, life is a little less materialistic, a little slower. Acceptable “business casual” attire includes shorts and flip flops. We savor meals, slowly. We sit back and enjoy life. We take the time to connect with our friends and lend a helping hand when needed. We hit the beach on a regular basis. And most importantly, we develop a strong sense of community. Life is good.
Whether you are interested in moving to St Croix or just visiting, I highly recommend picking up a copy of this month’s magazine. You can even download it to your computer for only $4.99 The article includes hightlights and info on Buck Island, Zebo’s Wine Bar (one of my favorite hang outs that features an amazing menu of locally grown organics), The VI Sustainable Farm Institute (another favorite place of mine), Restaurant Bacchus (yep you guessed it, I love this place too … and owner Natalie Collins also does bridal hair for us!), a high-adrenaline Jeep Tour to the Annaly Bay Tide Pools, and hands-down my favorite spot for St Croix weddings - Carambola Beach Resort & Spa (if you’re interested in staying there, be sure to contact us for our discounted rates!). Truly, it’s a great read and reminded me just why I live here in America’s Paradise.
Ashley & Greg wed at Carambola Beach April 2009. photo (c) Quiana L Duncan
It also reminded me that Ashley & Greg will be here soon!!! They’re taking the plunge and moving from Dallas to St Croix after having fallen in love with the island while planning their St Croix Destination Wedding. Ashley & Greg were lucky enough to make two scouting trips to the island during the planning process. With a background in PR and events, Ashley did most of the planning herself and hired SunCelebrations to step in and coordinate her wedding day with our Week of Wedding Planning Package. This gave both Ashley & Greg the opportunity to not only have the wedding of their dreams, but to also spend time with their guests and ENJOY their day. Ashley had a detailed vision and specific guidelines for what she wanted. By communicating that vision in detail to us, we were able to ensure that she was relaxed on her wedding day and able to simply focus on getting dolled up and walking down the aisle.
After working with Ashley on her wedding, I had thought to myself, “Wow, I would love to have her on my team, she’d make a great wedding planner”. So, when she told me that it was official that she and Greg were moving to St Croix, I offered her a position as an outside consultant. Ashley will be joining our team at the beginning of October and will bring to the table a fresh perspective as a former destination bride herself!
Stay tuned for more on Ashley’s move to St Croix and an upcoming chance to participate in a free conference call ”Ask Ashley” open to our clients and perspective clients. Contact us today for more information!
Yes, I’ve updated our blog AGAIN
phew – the curse of a designer is that you are never satisfied lol. I’ve updated to a new blog theme which is IN PROGRESS, but I wanted to get the core up ASAP as I noticed that when I moved my old blog theme over to the new version of WordPress, the “comments” link was gone. So, I decided to update to a more functional theme and will finish stylizing and making it more in brand when I get a chance. This week, however, the majority of my efforts are focused on selecting paint colors for my new apartment – complete with an office – yeah!!! I LOVE having a home office, but am so ready to not just have my office (which is growing and growing) in my house, but in its very own room. One where I can efficiently store all of our supplies and decorator items completely out of view. Bliss! Since I’m so drawn to color the entire house will definitely resonate that love. Below is my color palette – let me know what you think!
New Apartment Color Pallette
I’ll be using the sandy beige for the main walls in the living room, with the blue for accenting this really cool “alcove” where I’ll put a bookshelf and chair for a little reading nook. Furniture is beige and accented with bright, tahitian patterned pillows in blue, teal and coral. The kitchen will be a soft bamboo green with white cabinets and appliances. The office will have the same color scheme as the living room with the end wall in the blue & the closet painted blue inside as well. (left open with shelving for supplies). The bedroom will be the beige with a bright coral accent wall. Ahhhh the best part of living in the Caribbean is that playing with color is totally acceptable.
… Now to motivate myself to get painting – eek!
Yes … You can wear white after Labor Day (especially at your beach wedding)
When planning wedding attire for a tropical beach wedding in the islands, there are some things that you should keep in mind in order to keep yourself, your hubby and your wedding party comfortable and happy during your big day.
Beachy Brides: Even if you are having a casual beach wedding, you don’t have to give up on that formal dress you’ve always dreamed of – just be sure that the dress suits the environment. Most weddings on St Croix happen about an hour before sunset, and though its breezy, its still quite warm on the beach.
Dos:
- Choose strapless, spaghetti straps, halter or wide straps – show some sun-kissed skin!
- Choose natural fabrics like silk or light and flowing fabrics that breathe like chiffons.
- Think about sophisticated, classic and sleek lines.
- Pay attention to the back of your dress – ornate backs, beadwork, open-backs show a little skin and look beautiful in pictures.
- Check out Dessy.com’s Destination Wedding Dress Trend Report http://www.dessy.com/wedding-planner/dress-trends/ or check out their Destination Wedding collection http://www.dessy.com/wedding-dresses/
- Have a bridesmaid or family member practice bustling your dress in advance. Every dress bustles differently, and those darn little eyehooks can be hard to find. Have someone practice bustling your dress a few times and be sure to have them on hand before the first dance to hook you up.
- Kick off your heels. Heels just don’t work on the beach (they don’t work well on lawns either). There are so many options today when it comes to flip flops – from beaded and bejeweled to flips that leave a “just married” imprint in the sand. You can even accessorize your feet with some foot jewelry. Be sure to keep your foot attire in mind when fitting your wedding dress – you’ll want it to not drag on the ground when you are barefoot. Fun idea: Have a beachy spa day with your bridesmaids and treat yourselves to pedicures. The day before your wedding, have them help you paint an exotic Henna stain on your feet. You can get kits and ideas (be sure to practice in advance) here: http://hennatattoo.blogspot.com/search/label/henna%20kit
- Have a second dress. This is a growing trend that we really love. Have a second white, less formal, lighter and more comfortable dress for after the formalities (usually once photos are done following cake cutting). You’ll be cooler and so much more comfortable when you change and it will signal to your guests that the party has really kicked in. True Celebrity-style!
- Make sure your bathing suit matches the line of your dress! There is nothing worse than big bright tan lines on your wedding day! Be sure that the bathing suit you wear on the beach matches the line of your dress. And give that same direction to your bridesmaids!!
- Wear TONS of sunscreen. The sun in the tropics is strong. Tank tops and other shirts can also create those dreaded tan lines, so before your wedding day, be sure to be kind to your skin. Drink lots of water, wear at least a 30spf and reapply, reapply, reapply, reapply. This goes for your groom and wedding party too! Photoshop can fix your photos if there is a mishap, but try to avoid it in the first place!
- Accessorize! A simple and elegant piece of jewelry can really set off your wedding dress. Consider a local piece of jewelry – St Croix is known for its amazing jewelry artisans.
ib design "Circle of Life" collection
You can incorporate larimar (the azure blue Caribbean stone) for your “something blue”, pearls or other beachy elements. We’ve even had couples exchange “Crucian Bracelets” as part of their wedding ceremony! For apres ceremony, paper parasols will keep the sun off add a little flare to your pics.
- Some of our favorite jewelers on St Croix are
ib design (Kenny Chesney wears one of Whealon’s St John bracelets!) , Sonya’s (creator of the original St Croix Hook) and Crucian Gold - Looking for some real bling? Consider renting jewelry for you and your bridal party from Adorn Brides
Don’ts:
- Wear a long train – dragging your train down the beach is sure to pick up “hitchhikers” (pieces of seaweed, stones, etc) as you walk down the sandy aisle. Choose a chapel length or short train if you really can’t go without.
- Get burned!!! I can’t stress this enough. Sunscreen and the shade are your friend. Burns not only look bad in your pictures, but they are uncomfortable and unhealthy. Don’t ruin your wedding day by being over enthusiastic with tanning and neglecting good skincare!
A cool Groom is a happy Groom (groomsmen too): I can’t stress enough that you should not only think about the look and feel you want for your wedding, but also how your wedding party will feel wearing it. Consider the heat and humidity at a beach wedding and also consider whether your reception will be al fresco, dining outside under the stars, or will it be in an air-conditioned venue.
Dos:
- Again, choose natural fabrics and avoid synthetics. 100% Cotton and linen breathe keeping your guys cooler, more comfortable and preventing excessive sweat stains.
- If you really want your guys in suits or tuxes, keep them in linen or cotton light summer-weight suits. Consider having them wear short sleeve linen shirts underneath so that after portraits, they too can get comfortable.
- Consider cotton shirts with ties. They still have a smart, clean look but are cooler than jackets.
- Guayaberras. Guy-a-whos?! Guayaberras!! Traditional Latin American linen wedding shirts. These shirts are usually embroidered down the front and were traditional wedding attire in hot, steamy climates. The look beautiful on the beach and are the perfect touch for a casually, elegant beach wedding. Try matching the embroidery thread to your wedding colors for an extra pop of color.
white linen Guayabera
- For a fun, casual style wedding, have your groomsmen wear tropical-style shirts in the same pattern or for a little extra fun, have them pick out their own.
- Have your guys go barefoot or wear nice leather sandals. These can still look smart with a formal suit. (just be sure to leave out the socks!)
Don’ts:
- Expect your groom and/or groomsmen to keep jackets on for the reception.
- Don’t forget about the heat! Choose synthetic fabrics like rayon.
- Don’t leave your groomsmen standing on the beach for half an hour waiting for you. Plan your hair & makeup preparations carefully, giving yourself plenty of time to avoid running late. Sweats stains will creep into your wedding photos.
- Resources:
http://www.theguayaberashirtstore.com/
We LOVE Tommy Bahama: http://www.tommybahama.com/TBG/Men/Wedding.jsp
photo (c) Kelly Greer Photographer
For the Bridesmaids:
Again, light weight, no more than 2-layers and natural fabrics are ideal. Think bright colors or jewel tones inspired by the natural surroundings. Also think about the type of flowers you would like them to carry. I think that flowers that contrast with the dresses pop and look stunning in pictures – think bright orange & reds with a turquoise or deep blue dress. Or lime-green cymbidium orchids against a navy dress. If you’re getting married in the tropics, there’s no need to be afraid of color!
- Give your bridesmaids direction with color, but allow them to choose a style and neckline that flatters their figure.
- Choose colors that pop and compliment your theme.
- Remind your bridesmaids to wear a bathing suit that matches the neckline of their dress!
- Give your bridesmaids the gift of sunscreen!
- For more casual beach weddings, consider giving your girls some color direction, but letting them go and pick out their own sundresses.
- For a more dramatic look, consider long, flowing, chiffon gowns in your theme colors.
- Accessorize your gals with simple pendants that compliment the neckline of their dresses.
Don’ts
- Go too formal. There’s a reason you are having a beach wedding!
- Forget to have fun! Don’t let the stress of “the perfect wedding” take the fun out of planning. Keep your inner bridezilla at bay.
- Resources:
We love the fun, colorful patterns of Lily Pulitzer http://www.lillypulitzer.com/
J. Crew’s style and fabrics are great for tropical weddings http://www.jcrew.com/AST/Navigation/Wedding.jsp
For your guests: Be sure to give your guests at your Destination Wedding a little direction too so that they pack just what they need. For island elegant, semi-formal weddings specify that gentleman should wear jackets and ties, ladies in gowns or cocktail dresses. For more casual weddings suggest button down shirts for men and sundresses for the ladies. To incorporate your guests into your theme – recommend a color for guests or request that all gentlemen wear tropical shirts. We’ve even done weddings where the bride & groom requested that everyone wear flip flops and the invitation included a note that there would be a “best flip flop” parade and contest at the reception. Guests had a blast coming up with some really unique footwear. How fun is that?!
Remember, if you’ve already chosen to have a destination wedding, you’re already “thinking outside the box”. Have fun with it and keep the comfort of your wedding party and guests in mind when planning. They’ll thank you for it and you’ll all enjoy yourselves that much more!
Sun & Smiles,
Cindy
all photos courtesy Kelly Greer Photographer and Quiana L Duncan Photography
Special thanks to Kelly Greer Photographer and Quiana L Duncan for their amazing photos! All weddings above are from our previous SunCelebrities (TM)!
What a busy summer!
It seems as thought I’ve had to deactivate and activate my blog 100 times – ugh. But, I think that yahoo webhosting finally has a streamlined connection with WordPress, so hopefully smooth sailing ahead!
In the mean time, I’ve been working hard no the newly enhanced website as well as new planning tools for our brides and grooms! We’ve been diligently investigating new services and products that are in keeping with the great customer service and value that we expect from all vendors who works with us.
One of the services that I recently came across and partnered with is one that i’m really excited about! AdornBrides.com – did you see the Sex and the City movie? Its kind of like Bag, Borrow or Steal (the service that Jennifer Houston used to rent her expensive designer bag) that was featured in the movie – but instead its for fine jewelry! You really can look like a celebrity bride at a reasonable price … and your bridesmaids can too! They have free style consultations and a great collection of jewelery
… And the best part – our clients get a 10% discount! Promo Code PVGXKZ21 AND if you book more than 4 mos in advance there are even deeper discounts. For destination brides – they will ship to you in the states before you leave, you send the jewelry back in the boxes provided when you return. How easy is that?!
Visit our website for more details on how to rent fine jewelry
… and remember renting is repurposing and a “greener” practice!
Celebrating Earth Week: Tips for a Greener Wedding
… Below is a reprinting of my blog entry from April 21st 2009, due to a technical difficulty, past blog entries were deleted. But this one was worth reprinting!!
An eco-tourism paradise: St Croix has plenty of green!
In honoring Earth Week 2009, here are a few of the ways that we at SunCelebrations are committed to keeping our island and our earth a little more green, as well as some tips for you to “green up” your wedding!
- In our office, we print as little as possible. As most of our clients are far away – we do most all of our planning via email and the internet – we are able to keep the majority of our correspondence and files electronic. Our Service Guides and portfolio are electronic pdf files and we use MS Outlook and OneNote to keep it all organized.
- When we do need to print – we use recycled paper – including really cool Banana Paper – and we print on both sides.
- For faxing, we use efax.com services. Again, keeping our files electronic. We can “fax” documents right out of our email and receive faxes as pdfs. These are kept in electronic folders on the main computer and are only printed if necessary.
- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle is truly our motto! We repurpose decorator items for weddings. This also saves costs for our brides (reduces shipping costs when things are already here!). All of our weddings are unique, so we look at new and different ways to use items. For instance, most of our vases can also be used as candle holders!
- Speaking of candles… we have been investing in LED “votives” to rent to clients. These are an excellent alternative to traditional candles for a couple of reasons. Candles are typically made of petroleum products (unless you are purchasing “greener” beeswax or soy which are a little more costly), they also tend to blow out at outdoor venues. Today’s LED candles stay lit (for up to 48hrs) and are so lifelike they even flicker. LED lights use 1/10th of the power of incandescant lights, come in fun colors and are convenient to use at outdoor venues that may lack outlets. By renting LED candles, you can also avoid shipping costs. We even recycle the spent batteries! To purchase LED candles for your wedding visit:
100 Candles.com – Candles, Candle Holders, Soy Candles and more! - Gift bags are super popular with destination brides. It’s a nice way to say “thank you for travelling so far to celebrate with us” … we encourage our brides to purchase reusable shopping bags for their gift bags! They come in lots of fun colors, are very inexpensive and promote the use of reusable shopping bags. We love www.papermart.com They make great beach bags too!
- Buy local!!! For gift bags and other items, we encourage our brides to purchase from local vendors on St Croix. Again, being eco-savvy also means being economical. Buying local avoids a lot of shipping costs for our clients. It’s also a nice way to promote our local economy and to offer a keepsake or memento of the islands.
- Use Local flowers. We work with a very talented local florist, Gloria Powell of www.antilleslilies.com She is an expert at using local flora for weddings! She is versed on what is blooming at different times of the year and incorporates them into the flowers along with the color scheme and bride’s style. It can get very pricey shipping flowers here (they have to be flown in) – so this is a fantastic way to save some money and also get a really unique bouquet or arrangement. My brides are always thrilled with her artistry.
- Promote local farmers. Local produce simply tastes better and is better for you! We have recently teamed up with the chef at the VI Sustainable Farm Institute www.visfi.org – an ICO and USDA certified organic farm. They have been producing monthly “Slow Food” dinners that sell out in a heartbeat and so we’ve added them to our roster of chefs for private functions. We’re so excited to be promoting not only whole, organic foods, but also great people doing GREAT things in our community.
- And lastly, if you already have your home set up and aren’t in need of another toaster – consider requesting your guests make a donation in your honor in lieu of gifts. There are so many deserving local charities on St Croix as part of your legacy, leave a positive lasting impression by offering help to those who live here. Some of the excellent charities that we support are:
- FirstBook a grassroots charity committed to literacy by providing underpriviledged children in our community with BRAND NEW reading books. Ask us about donations directly to the local St Croix Chapter.
- St Croix Animal Welfare Center supports the homeless animals on St Croix and provides humane education to local schools and the community. I have 2 shelter babies – Teleulah & Boddhi. The SCAWC works with stateside “no kill” shelters to place even more animals in loving homes. If you would like to participate in their “Pets from Paradise” program and escort a puppy or kitten to a shelter in the states, contact us for more information. The shelter in St Croix will meet you at the airport, the shelter in the states will meet you upon arrival. Its so easy!!
Boddhi
- Teleulah
A Touching Family Celebration
… Below is a reprinting of my blog entry from April 8th 2009, due to a technical difficulty, past blog entries were deleted.
Last night I had the honor of coordinating a very special wedding at Carambola Beach Resort. The bride & groom spent a significant amount of time planning a beautiful small destination wedding celebration for 16 of their closest friends and family. It had a very cute, yet elegant theme with aqua and deep blue colors to match the beautiful caribbean sea with starfish accents. But, what touched me the most was the thought and time that went into creating a ceremony that celebrated the blending of their two families.
Both the bride & groom each had been married previously and each had two young girls. They spent a lot of time crafting a touching and beautiful ceremony with Reverand Lindsay Houston that reflected the blending of two families into one. The four girls in gorgeous aqua dresses made up the wedding party. Children are always a delightful addition to a wedding party, but in this ceremony it was so much more special as they were an integral part of the celebration. Chairs for the guests were arranged in a circle so that during the ceremony, guests could stand together, holding hands and forming a circle of support… another reflection of the important part that family plays for this couple.
During what I found to be the most touching part of the ceremony, the bride and groom not only exchanged rings with each other, but gave each girl a necklace that symbolized their joining as a family. There were lots of giggles from the girls and tears from the guests (and me!). It was so clear that this was already a cohesive and happy family unit. This was a celebration of the love and permanent bond that they now shared with each other. It was heartwarming to see the way the two oldest girls (one the bride’s daughter, one the groom’s) worked together, clearly as sisters, to bustle the brides dress. I noticed from the time that I met them before the wedding that these were already 4 sisters, a Mom and a Dad. The wedding was just the formality.
The reception was equally joyful and family oriented. All 18 guests sat around one large table. My favorite moment was between the appetizer and entree being served. The photographers and I looked up and saw lots and lots of bubbles floating through the air as the whole family of 18 laughed and giggled and blew them up into the air. It was a magical moment of joy and family togetherness. A memory that I’m sure they will cherish all of their lives. Its one I know that I will remember very fondly.
Blending families can often be a challenge. Likely there are hurt feelings along the way. Making the choice to acknowledge as part of the ceremony that this marriage is not just between the Bride and Groom, but also a union of children and family, is one that I think will strengthen and bond the new family. A symbolic exchange of necklaces – or even a beautiful locally crafted bracelet like the Infinity Bracelet at ibdesign – is such a wonderful way to continually remind the child that they are loved and welcomed into this new life.
My warmest wishes for a long and happy life full of joy and celebration go out to this wonderful new family.
Girlfriends of the Caribbean – A Girlfriends Getaway
… Below is a reprinting of my blog entry from April 4th 2009, due to a technical difficulty, past blog entries were deleted. But this one was worth reprinting!!
Last week was so much fun! I finally stopped and took some time to smell the frangipani and marvel in the beauty that is St Croix.
I always enjoy having visitors to the island, because it offers an opportunity to see the island through new eyes and a different perspective and also gives me the chance to share the home that I’ve fallen in love with. Last week, following the growing trend, my girlfriends decided to descend upon St Croix for a long weekend vacation. It all started with my dear college friend Deseree. We have been talking about the possibility of her moving down here and helping out with SunCelebrations and she needed a break from the daily grind. So she finally chose a 4-day weekend to visit. Next thing I knew, she mentioned that her sister-in-law, Shelly, wanted to join as a getaway for her birthday… I said “absolutely, more the merrier”… so Annette and then Missy joined on too. And while we were planning, I happened to get an FB instant message from another college friend – Barbara. I told her that the girls were planning to come down and she should join up – so she booked her ticket the next day for a week. She arrived on the Sunday before the rest of the gals who arrived on Thursday. This was just perfect as both Barb and I dive, but the others don’t… so we took advantage of the great weather and dove every morning until their arrival. Here’s a chronicle of our adventure to inspire your girlfriends getaway – enjoy!!
Day 1 – Barb arrives:
Barb arrived on a very busy day for St Croix – so many choices of fun things to do! There was the Chili Cook Off to benefit the United Way out at Divi, The Starving Artists Fair and my favorite, the Slow Down dinner out at the VI Sustainable Farm Institute. So, I picked her up at the airport, we threw her suitcase in the trunk and got on the road. First we stopped at the Starving Artists Fair for the last hour. Jamesie and the All Stars were playing. I just love them!! They are a “scratch band” who play authentic Virgin Islands music called “Quelbe”. Its kind of like Crucian folk music and is sort of like a Caribbean Blue Grass. Its fun, lively and just makes me happy every time I hear it. Both Barb and I were a little hungry, but didn’t want to spoil our appetites (we were heading to the Slow Down dinner), so I introduced her to Caribbean pate (pat-AY). These are deep fried dough pockets with a savory filling of beef, chicken, salt fish or conch. Delish! We had them with some homemade hot sauce and homemade ginger beer. A perfect intro to island life.
We brought a bottle of my favorite - Red Guitar
After walking around a bit and checking out some vendors, we headed up into the “rainforest” (really a humid tropical forest but lets not get technical) to the VI Sustainable Farm Institute at Creque Dam farm. I had told Barb she was in for a treat, but she had no idea! The Slow Down dinners have quickly become an island favorite and are offered once or twice a month by invitation – and they sell out FAST! I was so excited to have finally been invited to one that was not on the same night as a wedding I was coordinating (jeez guys could you please check MY schedule LOL) so I went ahead and bought tickets. Now, knowing Barb, I knew that not only would she enjoy the organically grown and locally produced 6 course gourmet meal – but she’d love the farm itself too! After all, Barb was expecting 23 baby chickens upon her arrival back home. The VISFI is such a magical place. Tucked into a breathtaking valley on the West end of St Croix, Ben Jones has carefully crafted his dream of having a self-sustaining farm institute that teaches others in our community and abroad how to live more in synch with the environment and create a health lifestyle. I’m always impressed when I got out there that these folks truly practice what they preach. The community center was built with sustainable hardwoods that were harvested by an environmental and employee conscious company in Guyana. The farm itself is powered by solar and wind generated power (but don’t worry folks, they have Wi-Fi!) and is surrounded by organic farm beds. They are both ICO and USDA certified organic – the only farm in the Caribbean with this well-earned status.
Founder Ben Jones tells us about the next course
The meal was AMAZING! We brought our own wine – my favorite “Red Guitar” mmmm and each course was narrated by founder Ben Jones. He explained the menu items and told us a bit about how they were farmed, and about the plants and the farm itself. Our first course was an organic bruschetta appetizer that was to-die-for, followed by a rabbit soup.
This was the first time that I tried rabbit (tastes like chicken!). I grew up with bunnies and so had a little trepidation, but figured I’d be adventurous. It was good. That was followed by a yummy organic salad and the main course of our local Senepol beef with local root vegetables. Dessert was a local pumpkin cake with a sauce from a plant that I can’t remember but it was moist and excellent. I HIGHLY recommend snagging tickets to the next Slow Dinner if you can. They aren’t cheap – go for about $60pp, but the proceeds benefit the farm programs and the meal and atmosphere are so worth it. This is a truly enjoyable slow , dining experience. www.visfi.org
Days 2 – Diving the pier:
Well, I have a confession to make. After all my years living and diving on St Croix, I had never been diving at the Frederiksted pier. So, my great friends Kelly & Kevin Culp took us out for a late afternoon shore dive. Holy cow – have I been missing out!!! This was an absolutely amazing dive and hands down my favorite dive spot on the island! There were SO MANY FISH… this is also the place to see octopus and seahorses. We didn’t see either of those that afternoon, but we did see a very large green sea turtle happily swimming along, schools and schools of brightly colored fish (I won’t bore you with ALL the names), and baby trunk fish that look like polka-dotted marbles (so cute!). It was a great dive and we followed it up with a casual beachside dinner at Coconuts with Kevin’s parents who were also visiting.
Days 3-5
Diving with N2 the Blue. I usually dive with SCUBA because its easy for me to jump on the boat in Christiansted. But, they were full the morning I called and Barb and I had rented equipment from N2 the Blue in Frederiksted for our shore dive at the pier the day prior… so we called them up first thing in the morning and totally lucked out as they had spots for us on their boat (they only take out 6 divers max). Derek and Anna, the owners are great. Derek had actually certified me as a diver years ago when he worked for Cane Bay Dive Shop, but I hadn’t dove with him since. Derek was our dive master and Anna, his wife, captained the boat. They were so warm and welcoming and best of all RELAXED that we ended up diving with them all week and loved every minute of it. We dove the deep wrecks out at Butler Bay (AWESOME) and reefs off the west end (we had to stay West due to the swells that week). Saw lots of turtles, rays, schools of fish – lots of good stuff. I HIGHLY recommend diving with N2 the Blue. Fantastic! Thanks guys!!
… continue on Day 5.
Barb and I finished up our morning dives – changed into dry clothes and headed to the airport to pick up the girls!! Let the GIRLFRIENDS GETAWAY begin!! We made a quick stop at Plaza Extra to load up the cooler with CRUZAN RUM and some mixers to meet them at the airport. Yes folks, we were bartending in the parking lot at the airport -
Beach sign at the Palms - designed by yours truly!
you’ve got to love that kind of a welcome when you get St Croix! We met the girls, got their luggage and gave them a cocktail, then headed over to the Palms at Pelican Cove . I simply love this place. When friends and family visit – this is where I have them stay. Affordable, beautiful and I strongly believe the best customer service on the island. Owners Chuck and Joyce live on property and truly make you feel like a guest in their home when you stay there. General Manager, Julie Printy, is fantastic and always has a huge smile for everyone. Pat and Dickie are there to welcome you with a cool rum punch at the front desk. Rooms have been recently upgraded with new furniture from
Indonesia and all rooms have ocean views. Its about a 100 step walk at most to the beach. You have a great view of Buck Island and dining is literally beachside. As someone with an animal science degree, I also love their dedication to the environment and conservation of their active sea turtle nesting beach. I’ve worked directly with Chuck and Joyce on conservation efforts and applaud them for all that they do to improve their property and keep it safe for our endangered sea turtles. Chuck is also an avid snorkeler and personally leads snorkel tours through the reef on the property (see Day 6).
After changing into more comfortable beach attire, we all headed over to the bar and had an early dinner along with more rum! I had the fish and chips which were sooooo yummy!! That night we all relaxed and had an early night.
Day 6
The girls relaxed in the morning beachside, I had some work to catch up on, needed to talk shop with Deseree and took my adorable new kitten Boddhi to the vet for his second shots. My vet just opened her new hospital and the day before had won an award for her dedication to the environment. Sugar Mill Veterinary hospital is not only beautiful and state-of-the-art, but totally green and powered with solar and wind. Oh and I have to give props to my friend Kevin Culp who headed up the project. Great job!!
Say Cheese!
That afternoon, Chuck had invited us to join him and some other hotel guests on a snorkeling adventure to a spot he had “discovered” out East near Pt Udall (the easternmost point of the US). Yes, the owner of the hotel took a caravan of guests, including some lively gals, snorkeling just because he loves to. Not only did he lead us out there, guide the tour and have a cooler full of beer for us afterwards, but he provided each of us with a photo CD of the adventure the next day. Chuck, you rock! This was a great little spot, sheltered by barrier reef (that surrounds 3/4 of the island).
Squid are so beautiful
We saw lots of little fish swimming among the coral heads, a school of squid and some trunk fish (my favorite). A great time was had by all.
After the snorkeling, we stopped at “America’s Cheeseburger in Paradise” a fun, inexpensive and casual spot with the best – yes you guessed it – burgers! Later that evening, we headed downtown to walk around and drink some suds at the Ft Christian Brew Pub where local band Lumbergh was playing. Good times!
Day 7
A gorgeous day at Sandy Point
Some of the girls decided to take it easy and hang at the beach then do some shopping downtown. Today was also Shelly’s birthday, so Barb, Shelly and I joined a couple of my friends at the world famous Domino Club for breakfast – eggs, biscuits and sausage gravy – oh yum!! Of course, we took some time to see the “beer drinking pigs” and then we headed off to Sandy Point. Hands down the most beautiful beach on St Croix.
Picnic lunch at Sandy Point with yummy sandwiches from Schooner Bay Market
Sandy Point is a wildlife refuge and only open from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday from approximately October thru May. Its closed May through October because it is critical nesting habitat for the endangered Leatherback sea turtle. We spent the day floating in the warm Caribbean Sea and body surfing, had lunch on the beach (you have to bring it in, there are no facilities – this is a truly pristine beach) and headed back to meet up with the rest of the gang for a sunset sail.
Girlfriends set sail
One of the gals, Annette, gets a bit sea sick, so she opted to stay at the Palms on dry land and relax beachside. Not too shabby. The rest of us headed into Christiansted to jump on board Caribbean Sea Adventures’ 26-passenger sailing trimaran, Wave Dancer. And we lucked out too because for us it was a private sail!
A spectacular Caribbean sunset
Originally, we had planned to head out on the World Ocean School sailing schooner the Roseway but it doesn’t do sunsets on Saturdays.
However, we were all thrilled to death with Captain JP and his crew who pampered us with bottomless cups of rum punch and ordered up one of the best Caribbean sunsets that I’ve seen in awhile. Kudos to JP and crew!
Chocolate cake at Savant - Happy Birthday Shelly!
After the sail, we picked up Annette and headed off for Shelly’s birthday dinner at one of my favorite restaurants – Savant. Not only does it have excellent food (and you MUST try the charbroiled calamari) but, its got some celebrity style as well. Owner Tom Miller’s wife Kate (Bartoldus) Miller was a movie set designer on films like Town & Country, Unbreakable, The Sixth Sense, Fallen, Chasing Amy & 12 Monkeys. She designed and sculpted the super sexy back patio that is like dining in a garden amongst the ruins of an old plantation. The booth benches are sculpted into the wall. Its got this Moroccan, Southern feel that just oozes romance.
Picture Time!
I absolutely love dining here, sipping wine from their great wine list and have several events lined up here over the next few months. And the girls totally agreed that it was just super fab! We dined on an eclectic mix of Caribbean, Mexican, Thai fusion until our bellies were full and then topped it off with decadent chocolate cake, complete with birthday candle.
Day 8
Its always sad to see friends go. We made a trip to the local warehouse store to pick up the obligatory Cruzan Rum and travel boxes to check on the plane (fyi our USVI Dept of Tourism has a deal with the airlines so there is no additional baggage fee for booze boxes!). We also stopped at the grocery store to pick up bottles of locally produced Miss Anna’s hot sauce which makes great gifts. The drive to the airport was lively and as we waived goodbye, I knew they were planning their next St Croix Adventure as they said “Next time we’ll be here for the whole week!”.
If you’d like more information on the activities mentioned above or would like for us to put together your own customized Girlfriends Getaway to St Croix contact me cindy@suncelebrations.com or visit our website www.suncelebrations.com and check out “Group Travel”
