By Maria Lisella
Beverly King has met hundreds of brides (not to mention a few bridezillas she'd rather forget) during the past 20 years as Wedding Coordinator at Jolly Beach Resort & Spa in Antigua (pronounced An-tee'ga), but when U.K. native Paul Varela contacted her on behalf of himself and his betrothed, Polly Hart, King was smitten.
"It is rare when a man takes over the wedding party arrangements so I was impressed from the start with this couple." King emailed the English couple countless times and it was Paul who answered the queries.
"We both always wanted to visit the Caribbean and after researching the best location decided on Antigua, due to a number of things: cost, wedding locations availability, reviews of the various islands, climate and recommendations from friends and family, all of whom suggested the Antigua would be the ideal location," says Paul.
But why the four-star Jolly? Says Paul, "We chose Jolly Beach for two reasons: we had children under the age of 12, which some other resorts would not allow to attend and secondly, and most importantly, one of our friends was married at Jolly Beach and could not recommend it highly enough."
As is her custom, she did not hold back advice to the bride regarding the pitfalls of wearing stilettos in the sand, (she advises wedding slippers or wedges until they can safely switch to high heels), or a fussy wedding cake dress that can be so uncomfortably hot it could make a damsel faint.
Color schemes are another matter. King leaves this task to Jolly's latest asset – Antiguan artist Mark Brown whose color palette is broad and nuanced. "The first time I met him he was draping columns and walls transforming a very ordinary space into something fantastic," she recalls. Besides Jolly's original Silver Wedding package (including documentation, ceremony witnesses, license, one-tier wedding cake, Champagne and tray of hors d'oeuvres for four persons), Brown creates Tropical and Classical packages embellished with customized décor and details.
Brown's handiwork at Paul and Polly's wedding at the Hammock Lounge was accomplished in a morning's time as his lickety-split team worked against forecasts of an unwelcome guest, Hurricane Isaac, which was setting his sites on the island.
Set at the south end of the property, the Hammock Lounge is a gazebo-like structure, large enough for dancing and dinner yet secluded from pools, casinos, restaurants and resort activities. Since the groom is a passionate diver, Brown mirrored a theme that already appeared on the couple's invitation, he created a below-the-sea- feeling throughout the decorations.
As a few journalists shadowed the couple for two days, they took the chance to head out for a short trip around the island that morning and accidentally met up with Paul the groom who hitched a ride not to escape (at least not entirely) but to simmer down at a gym at a nearby resort with one of his friends, one of the wedding guests.
Around that time, Polly was secluded at the Spa along with bridesmaids and other wedding party members, primping for the unpredictable weather forecast, yet trying desperately not to think about it.
Besides the normal Big-Day-Jitters, everyone's nerves were just a bit frazzled with predictions about the arrival of that unwelcome guest named Isaac – when or if he would hit; would he have the grace to skip over Antigua; or would the wedding be delayed; would he spare the couple a wet and wild wedding? Intermittent showers never let the couple breathe a sigh of relief up to the last minute.
With the rainbow that followed, it's no wonder lovers still swoon at the sight of Caribbean's aqua blue sea and miles of pink-sand beaches such as you find in Antigua. More than 80 percent of U.S. travel agents still rank the Caribbean and The Bahamas as the overwhelming favorite among their cruise wedding clientele.
The largest of the Leeward Islands, Antigua is a 108-square mile limestone and coral island known for its numerous coves, bays, 365 white sand beaches and clear turquoise-colored waters. Its sister island of Barbuda (Bar-byew' da) is about 60 square miles and is just 27 miles northeast of Antigua.
Paul arrived earlier than Polly – actually everyone arrived earlier than Polly who finally alighted from a Jolly Beach Resort vehicle with all three bridesmaids in stunning turquoise – the white sand under their feet.
By then we all had a chance to admire the turquoise palette highlighting a décor of themed ceiling draping, chairs with sashes and tablescapes with matching overlays and bold two-foot tall glass columns of seashells.
The weather threatened, the hurricane simmered to a "tropical storm" that shifted, rose, diminished, and returned while billowy dark clouds added more drama to the event but brought no heavy rain. As the couple exchanged their vows, a sunbeam streamed down on them – a harbinger of good times to come on a memorable day.
Blessed with a phenomenal location, Jolly Beach Resort & Spa is among Antigua's most well-known properties that has grown from one building in 1969 (a former Holiday Inn) to now include more than 400 rooms and a spa that caters to all guests but especially to bridal parties.
Two-story accommodations are set back from the shore, surrounded by tall palm and coconut trees, pink and white oleander bushes, rich red flamboyant and bougainvillea climbing competing for your eye while providing an uninterrupted view of the Caribbean Sea from just every room (some have a fraction of a view of unmistakably clear waters).
Jolly Beach Resort & Spa is an affordable option that counts among its natural and most spectacular features –a mile-long beach a few steps from your door – the stretch is hugged in a cove, breaking intermittent waves.
Apart from Wedding Packages, Jolly has a bouquet of romantic extras -- just for honeymooners who have tied the knot within the past three months of their booking [be sure to present your marriage certificate of marriage upon arrival].
When newlyweds arrive in their room they'll find a bottle of sparkling wine, fresh cut garden flowers, a $40 voucher for a Couples Massage at the Palms Wellness Centre, a $50 voucher per couple toward a Wadadli Cats Cruise, and a 25 percent discount for matching souvenir key rings with their photo.
Mark Brown Wedding Packages for weddings of 50 guests or fewer starting at $2,700. Call 866-905-6559 or visit www.jollybeachresort.com. For general information, visit www.antigua-barbuda.org |
