| As a travel professional considering an exotic island | | | | a fantastic Ultra-All Inclusive Resort located on the |
| wedding was a logical choice, but having to convince | | | | fabulous Caribbean island of Jamaica! Not only were |
| a strong Catholic family was the challenge I faced! I | | | | they including everything in their package, but they |
| was never a traditionalist in the sense, and I have | | | | also offered a free wedding as long as we stayed at |
| attended so many conventional weddings with a | | | | the resort for 5 nights or longer. Unfortunately, the |
| church ceremony and post-reception in the past, I | | | | decision came down to a single guests issue, and |
| wanted to do something different and special for the | | | | because a few of our close family and friends did not |
| most important day of my life!Island weddings have | | | | have a significant other, that particular resort would |
| been around for quiet some time, but in my opinion, | | | | not have worked out for us.I realized that certain |
| they seemed to be perceived more for renewal of | | | | events in life happen for a reason, and once we |
| vows and second marriages, however, as our | | | | found out that the Beaches Resort in Varadero, |
| lifestyles change, we separated ourselves from | | | | Cuba also offered free weddings on the property, |
| tradition, and an exotic wedding on a spectacular | | | | and accepted singles, couples, and families as well, we |
| island seemed like a dream in paradise for me.I met | | | | knew our decision was the correct one! If anyone |
| the love of my life a few years ago in travel school, | | | | ever tells you the wedding application process is |
| and as our love for each other became apparent my | | | | difficult, get a second opinion! We went online and |
| only thought was, what if she doesn't want to have | | | | printed the resorts application form, faxed it off and |
| an island wedding? Knowing that her family is Catholic, | | | | in a matter of weeks we received a confirmation of |
| and tradition is very important to them, I thought to | | | | the selected date and time of the wedding |
| myself, was my ambition of having a romantic | | | | ceremony without any problems.When we arrived in |
| wedding on an island not going to be a reality?Even | | | | Cuba, the island location was exactly what we |
| though I expected the worst-case scenario, the | | | | remembered, and the clear turquoise beach rising and |
| family was very understanding and accepted both | | | | falling onto the soft golden sand brought back some |
| our wishes with open arms, so the rest was history! | | | | wonderful memories of our past visit! We checked |
| The planning for our special event had begun, and | | | | into our very spacious suite, and for the first couple |
| with some consideration we both agreed on having | | | | of days took part in the resorts endless variety of |
| our anticipated wedding on the exotic destination | | | | buffet and A la Carte dining, amazing entertainment, |
| island of Cuba. We had the privilege of visiting this | | | | and non-stop flow of mojitos and margaritas!Our |
| beautiful tropical island prior to our wedding, and we | | | | special day could not have come any sooner, and we |
| both fell in love with the extremely friendly culture, | | | | were amazed with the ceremony location on the |
| beautiful beach, and the spectacular exotic resort | | | | property! The garden wedding gazebo was |
| called Beaches, which is located on a peninsula in a | | | | romantically trimmed with aromatic exotic flowers, |
| small vacation town called Varadero, this is where we | | | | and bordered with swaying palm trees. As the |
| planned on having our special ceremony.The Beaches | | | | wedding ceremony commenced, I soon realized that |
| all inclusive resort was not our original choice, and in | | | | two dreams were fulfilled that day. I not only married |
| the beginning of our research and planning, we | | | | my soul mate, but we performed an exotic island |
| decided on the Sandals Montego Bay Resort, which is | | | | wedding, and became one in island paradise! |