Pack your imaginary bags and travel with us to Gros Islet Quarter-the northernmost locale in St. Lucia’s for an intimate destination wedding. It’s a laid-back fête with simple beach details and a vibrant color palette blending tropical splendor with shades of Caribbean Sea. But our favorite detail? The fact that Emily’s bridal bouquet and all of the boutonnieres were made from sea shells that were collected over the years from family vacations. What a fun way to incorporate family memories! And with a picture-perfect backdrop that could most certainly be off the back of a St. Lucia post card, this destination wedding is sure to leave you feeling inspired. See all the pretty details fit for every mermaid at heart through the lens of Melissa Desjardins Photography below.
Even as I was shooting, what I was seeing through my lens didn’t seem real, the backdrop looked like something out of a painting. It has been my dream to shoot more destination weddings and travel to these amazing locations around the world, and Emily + Chris made that a reality. They knew right from the moment they got engaged (in Hawaii!) that they wanted a destination wedding. After lots of research, they set their sites on St. Lucia, specifically Gros Islet Quarter, a region which includes the island’s northernmost point. They would invite 23 of their closest family and friends to join them, which is probably one of my favorite things about destination weddings, they are intimate.Every detail in this wedding had meaning and was unique, Emily’s personality can truly been seen through it all. I’ll be honest, when she first told me her colors were blue/green iridescent, I had a hard time visualizing it, but how it all came together, it worked beautifully and surely made a believer out of me! It was the perfect blend of tropical paradise, ocean influences, and a whole lot of pretty. Basically, a mermaids dream! Everything was handmade, and all the shells used for the boutonnieres and the bridal bouquet were shells collected from Emily and her family over their many vacations over the years together. As a surprise to Em, her mother and sister even had some of her fathers ashes placed in the mermaid locket of the bouquet. He would have been proud and I have no doubt, he was most certainly there. The ceremony took place on the deck of Tamarind Villa, where we had the pleasure of living for the week, and it was amazing! The weather was very hot for the ceremony and barely a cloud in the sky, but everyone handled it very well. Yay for no rain, right?! After they were officially husband and wife, it was portrait time, and this is why Chris and Em are my ideal couple … they were willing to do anything for epic photos!! They trusted me and were down for anything, even if it meant bringing a ladder, driving down the dirt road to an unfinished massive house, and climbing down the wall to get in because everything is gated. This house was breathtaking, it looked like it belonged in Tuscany and the whole thing was empty! This resulted in some of my favorite portraits I have ever taken, I hope you love them as much as I do. It certainly doesn’t hurt to have such an adorable couple as these two and Emily, you were absolutely stunning!! You are stylish, beautiful, strong, sweet, and humble, you had a vision for your day, you knew exactly what you wanted and it was perfection. I hope you and Chris cherish these photos forever and one day can show your children about the day you two got married in St. Lucia!
Ceremony Location: Taramind Villa / Officiant: Danielle “LuLu” Bergasse / Reception Location: The Royal Beachfront Terrace / Caterer: The Royal St. Lucian / Photographer: Melissa Desjardins Photography / Event Planner: Awesome Caribbean Weddings / DJ: Martin Monplaisir / Musicians: Yannick James / Cake Designer: Cakes by Sandra / Dress Store: Lovely Bride / Gown Designer: Willow by Watters / Shoes: Ellie Wren Custom Wedding Shoes / Ring Designer: Milano and Son / Bridal Jewelry: Amy O. Bridal / Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist: Awesome Caribbean Weddings
