Amanda & Derek’s Tobago Getaway

The Meeting Amanda and Derek met through friends on a road trip from New York to Toronto, Canada, for a Caribbean festival. On the return trip, the two had eight hours to kill, and spent all of it talking… driving Amanda’s best friend, who was also in the car, quite mad. “We were so wrapped up in our conversation and listening to the Red Hot Chilli Peppers that we didn’t realize our car engine was smoking until our friends in the car ahead of us called to ask what was going on!” They soon became inseparable. Amanda found Derek to be passionate, intelligent, and loving, while he became enamoured of her kind heart, ambition, and magnetic personality. The Proposal Amanda had planned a surprise birthday party for Derek, but he neatly turned the tables on her with a surprise of his own. After getting her parents’ blessing, he dropped to one knee before friends and family at the party. Then they toasted with champagne and danced that magical night away. Ceremony and Reception Venues Derek and Amanda are New York natives with Trini roots, so naturally they chose to return to their motherland—Trinidad and Tobago—for their big day. They wanted an idyllic location where they could host an intimate celebration with friends and family, and the stunningly beautiful Ohana Villa in Bacolet, Tobago, proved to be just the spot. The gazebo where the ceremony took place stood on a cliff overlooking the sea, providing a magnificent natural backdrop. Fittingly, the name Ohana means “family”, something very dear to Amanda and Derek’s hearts. Ceremony Décor Amanda sees herself as chic and glamourous; she loves making a statement and doesn’t shy away from the bold. At the same time, she has a love and appreciation for soft, romantic and traditional elements. She knew that her wedding should combine these two facets of her personality. She placed her wedding plans into the capable hands of Jennifer Goberdhan Signature Weddings. The bride chose strong, vivid hues to create an atmosphere that was full of life, yet soft and romantic at the same time. The gazebo was draped in lush, bold florals that incorporated all the colours of a Tobago sunset. The ombre design was spectacularly put together. The sweetheart table was decked out in roses and fit for royalty. The floral centrepieces were a glorious mix of huge secret garden roses, white oriental lilies, baby’s breath, and a vibrant hydrangea to evoke drama. Ceremony Clothing The wedding dress went from simple to spectacular. It was designed by Madeline Gardner, with an elegant sweetheart neckline and a dramatic cascade of ruffles leading to a long, sweeping train. It was the perfect combination of demure and daring. Her bouquet, designed by Jennifer Goberdhan, was a combination of phalaenopsis orchids and secret garden roses, with a single elegant crystal detail. It was pure perfection. The bridesmaids were dressed in form-fitting, mermaid-style dresses in a beautiful dusty rose colour, while the groomsmen were dapper in navy blue suits and blush ties. Ceremony Jewellery Amanda paired the dress with timeless and elegant jewellery pieces: teardrop-shaped earrings and a matching solitaire necklace. It perfectly complemented her Vera Wang engagement ring. Her “something blue” was a single sapphire stone that rested beneath the diamond in her ring. The Cake The lemon-raspberry wedding cake was designed by Tracey’s Tempting Treats of Scarborough. “It was three tiers of heavenly bliss,” Amanda recalls. The Menu For the menu, the couple went with a Caribbean theme, with shrimp wontons, crab puffs, and chicken meatballs as appetizers, and Caribbean-style barbeque baked chicken or pan-seared salmon for the entrée. Guests enjoyed an array of desserts including mini cheesecakes, fruit kabobs, fruit cocktail trifles, ambrosia, and mango sorbet ice cream. The open bar served up a signature rum punch during cocktail hour, which the guests raved about. The Music The bride and groom are big soca lovers, so they made sure the DJ had the guests on the dance floor from start to finish. It was important for them to have all the soca classics, including a family favourite, the ‘Dollar Wine’. “We wanted a fun, laid-back atmosphere where our guests could really get loose… and boy, did they!” Must-Haves Once the moon and stars came out, the couple had their first dance as husband and wife to Ed Sheeran’s popular, love-affirming song, ‘Perfect’. It was a magical moment, as special effects done by Orin Orun Enterprises had them floating on clouds. Memorable Moments With a wedding as enchanting as this one, there were memorable moments aplenty, but the ones that will always hold a special place in Amanda’s heart include her mom’s first glimpse of her in her wedding dress and walking down the aisle with her dad. There was the sight of the couple’s son Jacob coming down the aisle with a sign saying, “Dad, here comes our girl!”. “Seeing my husband in tears during our ceremony was especially moving, and hearing my niece thanking all my guests for coming in seven different languages was amazing.” The night was spectacular, and truly one of the best nights of their lives.

Recommended Vendors Photography and Cinematography: Awesome Photography, awesomephotographytt@yahoo.com Décor and Bridal Bouquet: Jennifer Goberdhan Signature Weddings, jgsignatureweddings@gmail.com Catering: Country Style Catering by Vashti Ramlakhan, vramlakhan@ird.gov.tt Sound and DJ: Sieunarine Babwah – DJ DMX, sieunarineb8@gmail.com Hair and Makeup: Rebecca Reshiram, rebeccab.makeup@gmail.com