Wow — I still can’t believe our wedding day has come and gone. It feels surreal. Now that the big day is over, there are so many things to look forward to: decorating our home, landscaping the backyard, and planning future trips together. I have Austin and Vegas coming up soon, but I really want more adventures with my husband. Maybe Key West, New Orleans, or Nashville? For now, though, I’m savoring memories of our incredible wedding week.
The wedding itself was absolutely perfect. If I could change one thing, it would be to eat more and take fewer shots at the reception — I haven’t done that since college and it was a rookie move for someone who doesn’t drink much. Other than that, everything went exactly as I hoped.
We chose a destination wedding mainly to save money and make the celebration feel like a weeklong vacation. In Colorado, you can easily spend $30,000 for a single-day wedding with average food. For our destination celebration, we spent under $10,000 for the entire trip, including wedding attire. We had 29 guests, which was the perfect size. Communication with the resort’s wedding staff was simple: a few conversations before the trip and a meeting the day before the ceremony. Destination weddings typically offer limited options for location, reception setup, and menu, which actually made decisions easier for me. I never had a rigid vision for every detail — I wanted to marry the person I love with a stunning backdrop and then celebrate hard, and that’s exactly what happened.
Finding the dress was an adventure. I tried dresses at several stores and even bought one on sale, but after discovering the Katie May Collection online I fell in love. I flew to LA to try the collection and couldn’t get enough of one particular dress. Social media even helped me connect with the designer. I loved it so much I stopped looking. For the veil, a reader kindly lent me her long veil after I had sent her a birthday cookbook, which was the exact look I wanted — I felt incredibly lucky.
For support, I wore a sticky bra that held up well until I danced and took shots; then it started slipping and I tossed it aside like a true mess. I did my own hair and makeup because I prefer to control how I look on big days. My stylist customized clip-in extensions for fullness and color matching, which made my hair look great. I also used natural-looking makeup that suited the beach setting.
The evening before, my now-husband stayed in a separate room — a cute tradition. We saw each other briefly the next morning at the gym and during brunch, but otherwise kept our distance the day of the wedding. My bridesmaids gathered in my room to get ready, while the groomsmen were ready in minutes. With limited outlets and mirrors, getting ready felt delightfully chaotic. I rode in a golf cart to watch everything come together, grabbed my dad, got emotional, and then pulled myself together to walk down the aisle.
Our friend Tommy, who introduced us, officiated the ceremony — it was meaningful to have him preside. He was nervous in the most endearing way. We wrote vows but ended up paraphrasing out of excitement, nerves, and heat. Mid-ceremony, the Jamaican minister had us sign the marriage license and asked us to touch lips briefly — an odd tradition, but we went with it. Our official first kiss afterward was memorable and perfectly timed.
My veil had a mind of its own and swept across faces as I walked down the aisle. After the ceremony we took photos while guests moved to appetizers and drinks. I’m so grateful for my maid of honor — she stayed by my side all day, helped with photos, and provided calm and direction. She looked stunning and was an incredible support.
I didn’t obsess over the bouquet, but after browsing Pinterest I found a look I liked. The resort substituted succulents with white and pink roses plus dusty miller, and it turned out beautifully. One benefit of destination weddings is showing an example and letting local florists create the bouquet — it worked well for us.
The ceremony and reception were right on the beach with ocean views. We had a sweetheart table, a few guest tables, cocktail tables, and a buffet. The hospitality team provided a variety of dishes — chicken, beef, pork, fish, rice, potatoes, and vegetables — and even accommodated gluten-free cupcakes on request. I partied so hard I never ate mine, which I regret.
Our reception turned into a shirtless, carefree party. One groomsman inspired others to lose their shirts, Nelly’s “Hot in Herre” played, and a pair of pants was even turned into shorts with a butter knife. While dancing I bustled my dress and accidentally broke it; friends improvised by tying a ribbon around me. The night was wild, and by 9:30 I was exhausted and in bed.
I was bummed to miss a late-night bar dance at the resort — a group, including my mother-in-law, went and danced on the bar. I woke up the next day with a college-level hangover and lasted until 4pm recovering, but the wedding was worth every moment and every sore head. Lessons learned: never do gallon-size vodka shots again.
Two days later we took a catamaran excursion to Margaritaville. The boat was a party, with snorkeling, ocean slides, trampolines, and cliff-style jumping. It felt liberating and childlike — I came away with bruises but a huge grin.
Would I recommend a destination wedding? Absolutely. It’s a longer celebration, a chance to spend quality time with close friends and family, and often much more affordable than a single-day domestic wedding. Not everyone can attend, but those who do make it special. Our resort — Secrets St. James/Wild Orchid in Montego Bay — was well kept with lovely pools and beaches. Service varied; some staff were exceptionally kind while others were less so. Food quality was mixed: a few standout restaurants and some slower service at casual spots. Overall, it didn’t overshadow the beauty of the week.
Most of all, I’m grateful for the time spent with my amazing husband, for laughing with friends, and for the small moments between ceremony and boat rides. I can’t wait to celebrate more weddings in this style and relive the joy of our destination celebration. The week was everything I hoped for and more — intimate, fun, and unforgettable.
