Even though it’s currently winter (actually, probably BECAUSE it’s winter), I wanted to post a recent St. Thomas destination wedding. Lauren & Dan opted to have a small wedding ceremony in St Thomas – specifically on a place called Water Island in the USVI.
Water Island is a lovely island only accessible via water taxi or boat just a short 10 minute ride from St. Thomas. Water Island is known for it’s beautiful white sandy beaches (known as Honeymoon beach), no automobiles and relative isolation away from the more industrious St. Thomas. The majority of the island consists of private homes with just a couple of restaurants/bars and a very small convenience store.
Lauren & Dan wanted their wedding to be part of a larger family getaway so it was more of an elopement/family vacation. Lauren chose this specific spot for her wedding due to the amazing blue/green color of the water on Honeymoon beach. As part of their planning and the fact recent hurricanes had damaged the only “villas” on the island, they rented the largest house on the island. Overlooking the West Gregerie channel, the house is a short walk to Honeymoon beach and boasts 5 bedrooms, a separate two story guest suite with 3 bedrooms and separate MIL suite. It was the perfect location for not only their family to all enjoy their time together, but me, my girlfriend and kids as well.
The entire week of their destination wedding was amazing. They opted to have their ceremony on a Wednesday at 11:30am. This is when the water looked it’s best but also makes for very interesting photography as the sun is at a very inconvenient location. However, with the white sandy beach below them, the photos turned out amazing as the sunlight reflected back up, filling in the shadows. We were treated to a background of blue/green tropical water, anchored sailboats in the bay, their family and a few onlookers (to which I joked I would be sure to include any man thongs should they be close by). After the ceremony, there was a low-key catered reception under a tent right on the beach.
Our wedding portrait session was done the next day as it got closer to sunset. Lauren is a fabulous professional photographer as well and had literally said she wanted 2 photos. The blue/green water and a dramatic sunset photo. Other than those 2, I could play all I wanted. This is when I feel I do my absolute best work! Being able to play with artistic & lighting techniques really opens up my world to deliver amazing photos.
Here are a few photos from Lauren & Dan’s St. Thomas destination wedding. As always, if you want to know more about their wedding or want to discuss having me photograph yours, please reach out here.
Bridal Gown – Saavi Formalwear
Flowers – Roses Too
Caterer – Dinghy’s bar & grill
Officiant – Island Mike
