Amanda + Ken's Sandals Halcyon Resort Wedding in Castries, Saint Lucia

My first international wedding adventure!

September 14, 2024, as we were wrapping up their engagement shoot I asked Amanda and Ken where they were planning on getting married and if they had hired a photographer (I usually do this with my engagement clients) and to my surprise they said Saint Lucia! But they didn't have a photographer yet. We had a brief conversation about how much I loved Saint Lucia because my husband and I had our honeymoon there. Interestingly enough, Ken and Amanda were planning to get married at the SAME resort we stayed at. I jokingly (but also seriously) said if they needed a photographer I would be more than happy to go back. After all, my husband and I have talked for years about going back for an anniversary.

A few months later Ken and Amanda hired me again to photograph their engagement party. At the party Ken came over and put his arm around me and asked me if I was still serious about traveling to Saint Lucia for their wedding. (OF COURSE!) He said "We obviously like you. We like your work. We want you there!" So I said "Yes, let's talk!" It was going to take some research and planning on my part but I was ready!

Months went by...

Babysitters lined up ✓

Passports ready ✓

Contract signed ✓

Deposit paid ✓

Customs paperwork for all my gear completed ✓

Flights and rooms booked ✓

June 5th was travel day. I was a nervous wreck. Did I pack everything? I probably quadruple checked my luggage. What if our flight gets delayed? What if they confiscate my camera gear? I read way too many horror stories online.

All the nerves and anxiety aside...we made it there with zero hiccups along the way.

Ken and Amanda could not have been more gracious and hospitable. They made sure we had time to relax, work and play. They planned a perfect schedule. Thursday was for travel, Friday was for fun (dealers choice), Saturday was the wedding and on Sunday they took us on a catered catamaran with all of their guests including taking us snorkeling and to a waterfall. And Monday was the dreaded but necessary travel back home.

The wedding day? Amazing. Hot but amazing. Amanda wowed everyone with her cathedral length veil, lace long sleeved dress, blinged out bouquet and custom lace boots. Their vows against the Caribbean waters and lush green mountains was a sight to behold.

We have beaches in Florida but those Caribbean beaches...they just hit different.

Take me back!