Pleasure & Tom
Easy and non-traditional, this couple’s elopement embraces the that means of laid-back island class.
Pictures by Brent Beckles
As former private trainers, Pleasure and Tom discovered widespread floor by way of the very factor that brings them the most happiness: health.
“We went to the identical health club for our personal exercises, and I had my eye on him. Nevertheless it wasn’t till we bonded over the identical transfer that we lastly spoke,” begins Pleasure.
“After our first interplay, I noticed I hadn’t requested for her identify,” says Tom. “So, the subsequent day I requested and we saved speaking. Ultimately, I invited her to dinner and we wound up spending quite a bit of time collectively.”
Having met proper earlier than the pandemic hit, Pleasure and Tom ended up programming their very own exercises in his driveway, marking the starting of their relationship.
“I broke the health club rule!” Tom laughs, referencing his personal decree to not date somebody from the health club. Wanting again now, each he and Pleasure are glad he did.
Whereas most proposals include flower petals, flashing cameras, and an encore of pals or household, Tom saved issues easy and spontaneous.
Residing in Florida, the two had at all times been spoiled with stunning surroundings. However when Tom noticed a Florida sundown too good to cross up one night, he requested Pleasure to go for a stroll alongside Indian Rocks Seaside. Solely unsuspecting and sporting a Halloween t-shirt, Pleasure hardly had time to comprehend what was taking place earlier than Tom knelt down and requested her to marry him.
Pleasure replied with an enthusiastic “sure!”, which was adopted shortly after by applause and cheering. To the couple’s shock, their intimate proposal had been unexpectedly celebrated by a gaggle of onlookers.
“We heard a bunch of cheering behind us and it was a gaggle of girls renting a seashore home,” recollects Tom. “One lady even sprinted down the seashore simply to share the photographs they took from the balcony!” A blessing in disguise contemplating that they had each left their telephones at dwelling.
“We’re very informal and I’m not an enormous fan of photographs, so I didn’t even take into consideration that,” explains Tom. “I simply love her in all of her varieties; tremendous informal, no make-up on. She’s stunning.”
When the time got here to decide on a vacation spot for his or her nuptials, the pair thought of unique locations like the Maldives, earlier than choosing Saint Lucia’s allure, comfort and surroundings. Wanting a location that supplied greater than only a seashore view, Sandals Grande Saint Lucian — with the towering Pitons, Caribbean Sea and plush mountainscapes in the background — was an ideal match.
Beaming, the newlyweds take a second to soak all of it in.
With the help of their onsite wedding ceremony planner, Lynn, the couple remained worry-free all through the abroad planning course of. Not solely did Lynn and her workforce safe the Over-the-Water Serenity Wedding Chapel and an area officiant for the couple, she even pre-arranged for further items of wedding ceremony cake and a bottle of champagne to be delivered to the couple’s suite, post-wedding.
“We wished to elope and never cope with the planning, stress or bills of the wedding ceremony,” says Pleasure. “So, we selected Saint Lucia and it was simply the two of us. Neither of us have ever regretted that.”
The marriage day itself was intimate and memorable. Pleasure and Thomas exchanged handwritten vows with the sea as their witness and saved the decor and florals totally impartial, permitting the pure surroundings to steal the highlight.
Pictures by Brent Beckles
“We each teared up after we exchanged our vows,” admits Tom. “And I hadn’t seen Pleasure till she walked down the aisle. It was one of my favourite moments.”
Regardless of Tom’s reluctance for a primary dance, the two selected Over and Over Once more by Nathan Sykes and Ariana Grande and shared a particular second on the chapel’s sundeck. Following the first dance, the couple loved gentle hors d’oeuvres, champagne and a cake chopping ceremony.
Pleasure and Thomas shared an intimate first dance on the sundeck of the Over-the-Water Chapel.
“Our wedding ceremony cake was a two-tier, gluten-free carrot cake,” says Pleasure, talking to the resort’s culinary choices. “I’m gluten-free and dairy-free, however I at all times felt taken care of. At any time when we sat down, our servers would instantly ask for dietary restrictions. They modified the whole lot and knew which dishes I ought to keep away from. Everybody was extremely educated.”
Impressed by a Sandals Weddings Instagram submit, Pleasure introduced the letter C, in honor of their final identify, as a cake topper and her personal association of ornamental flowers to adorn the cake with. As is custom, the couple introduced the high layer dwelling however broke the guidelines as soon as once more by digging into the frozen leftovers two months later for Tom’s birthday.
“We saved an additional piece frozen so we might have it on our precise anniversary. However we wished to take pleasure in it earlier than then, too,” says Pleasure.
After exchanging their vows, the couple kicked off their honeymoon and celebrated for a number of extra days in Saint Lucia.
“I loved the incontrovertible fact that we had no different calls for past simply the two of us and will do something we wished throughout the day,” shares Tom.
The couple minimize a gluten-free carrot cake with impartial florals.
One of their high honeymoon highlights: JJ’s Speed Boat Tour. Providing a complete exploration of Saint Lucia, the tour featured sulfur mud baths, waterfalls, snorkeling hotspots, and an area lunch dive with the island’s finest — and strongest — rum punch. Even the boat trip noticed its personal model of Caribbean flare.
“Our tour information was known as No Issues, and he had music enjoying whereas we had been on the boat,” says Tom. “When came upon Pleasure taught Zumba, he had her rise up in the entrance of the boat and choreograph a dance for everybody!”
For {couples} contemplating a vacation spot wedding ceremony at Sandals Grande Saint Lucian, Pleasure and Tom’s recommendation is evident: embrace the ease and sweetness of getting married in the Caribbean.
“It was the finest determination we ever made! Particularly eloping and selecting Sandals and the vacation spot. They make it really easy, stress-free and plan the whole lot so you possibly can spend the most time collectively.”
With minimal stress and most leisure, their expertise was a dream come true. From the welcoming workers to the enchanting surroundings, Sandals supplied the whole lot wanted for a picture-perfect celebration.
Pictures by Brent Beckles
Pictures by Brent Beckles
