Tropical Thanksgiving Wedding

Thanksgiving Day was a unique day to hold a wedding. Unique as well was the setting for the ceremony, the beautiful island of St John USVI.

Annie and I came to be invited to the wedding, as she is a good friend of the bride and the bride’s family. Annie was also commissioned to paint signs for the wedding. The signs were both decorative and informational directing people where to go, the menu board and where to smoke the cigars that were given out at the reception.

They looked great and really added to the tropical feel of the wedding. And of course they are great keepsakes for the bride and groom.

The piece de resistance was Annie’s wedding topper sculpture, a stunning clay likeness of the bride and groom and a smaller sculpture of their beloved dog. Folks commented that the likeness of the sculpture to bride, groom and dog was amazing.

Justin and Kate were married on the waters edge in a moving civil ceremony. Most decorations were provided free of charge by Mother Nature. In the background were Round Bay and the lush green hills of St John. Brown pelicans put on a show for the guests diving into the clear waters in search of dinner. A turtle also surfaced between Kate and Justin during the ceremony.

The bride wore a stunning bridal gown, whilst the groom and groomsman were dressed in island casual. Where else but St John would the groom attend his wedding barefoot?

The ceremony was short as it was hot in the late afternoon sunshine and a rapturous round of applause resonated off the nearby sea cliffs as the groom kissed the bride.  A conch shell was blown to announce the happy moment.

As many guests had come from far away, Hawaii, California and New England. The reception was at Shipwreck, an open air restaurant in Coral Bay.The decorations scattered throughout the restaurant were incredible artistic, but at the same time minimal. Found natural objects were used for the table numbers and centrepieces.

On arrival each guest received a miniature bottle of local rum. There was a place for messages in a bottle, and a polaroid for fun pictures.  It was an informal fare and laughter and chat filled the air. In a corner of the open-sided restaurant a well-known local duo, Lauren and Bo played popular tunes. Speeches were made, comments were shouted and all had a great time. The food was superb, such a small kitchen turned out delicious plate after plate of fine food. 

After the live music ceased the boom box took over and belted out tune after well-know tune. It is hard work dancing in the tropics as the perspiration is soon dripping off all parts of your body. Annie coerced me to dance and we were soon burning up the floor.

Some things are the same wherever you are in the world and the dance floor was almost entirely a man-free zone. Why is it that it is usually only the women that get up to dance?

The crowd started to thin a little after 9pm and soon after Annie and I took our leave and said our goodbyes. We had a great day, and I met a lot more new folks.