When love meets paradise, you get a wedding like this one. Set against the turquoise waters and lush rolling hills of St. Lucia, this destination wedding at the stunning Sandals Grande St. Lucia Overwater Chapel was nothing short of magical. With only 30 of their closest friends and family in attendance, this couple crafted an unforgettable, intimate celebration focused on connection, adventure, and the beauty of the Caribbean. From their Hinge love story to a dreamy engagement in Texas, every moment led perfectly to this sun-soaked celebration — complete with pastel hues, a sunset catamaran cruise, and dancing the night away in a tropical pub. It all came together with the expert assistance of 2 Travel Anywhere! Keep on scrolling for some beautiful highlights of this celebration!
Chelsea + Ryan
Sandals Grande St Lucia Overwater Chapel
Guests ~ 30
Budget ~ $10,000 – $20,000
How did you guys meet?
Chelsea: We actually met on Hinge! We were in our mid-30s and it was in the middle of Covid. We met up for our first date at a brewery and sat there for six hours!
Tell us about your engagement!
Chelsea: Ryan proposed on our three-year anniversary at the cutest venue in Frisco, TX . He told me we were going to dinner to celebrate our anniversary, and an uber would pick me up to take me to the restaurant. There were people standing outside the door as if they were waiting for a table. One opened the door for me, and I rounded the corner to walls covered in vines and greenery decorated with stringing lights, chandeliers, and hanging plants. There were Will You Marry Me marquee letters and a heart shaped out of balloons that Ryan was standing in front of. There was was a photographer there to capture the whole thing.
What was the vision for your wedding?
Chelsea: We wanted a destination wedding where we could spend quality time with all of our people. This alone weeded out the pressure of inviting people we didn’t necessarily want there but family would have.
What was your theme and what inspired it?
Chelsea: We knew we wanted either an overwater chapel or a golf course on the water, so at that point, it was just finding the right place. We landed on Sandals because of their inclusive excursions as we have a pretty active bunch!
What details were used to create your theme?
Chelsea: Pastels are my favorite. We didn’t want any colors that would take away from the views of the ocean and rolling hills in the background.
Where did you splurge? Where did you save/DIY?
Chelsea: Our splurge was we took all of our guests on a sunset catamaran cruise of the island. The catamaran had a full bar and dinner included that was prepared on the boat. We worked with the Sandals wedding planning team on all of our options. That alone made it so much easier, because there were only so many things you could choose from within the package without importing additional items, which made the process so much less intimidating. There also wasn’t anyone having to coordinate the food, flowers, etc. This made our wedding day a breeze. My MOH made our bouquets and boutonnieres ahead of time to ensure our colors were on theme, and we packed them up on a carry on and traveled with them. This alone saved us A TON! No one noticed they were fake. In fact, we have several people compliment Sandals on how pretty they were. When we told them we brought our own, they asked, “How did you get them through customs?”
What words of advice do you have for couples in the midst of their planning?
Chelsea: No one is going to notice the table decorations or the flowers you or your bridesmaids are carrying. Be present that day, because it all goes by so fast. Don’t sweat the small stuff and let it all ride. Only invite who YOU want to be there. This isn’t about appeasing anyone else. This is the only day you’ll get, so let it be yours. If you’re flying, pay the money and fly first class! They will take care of your dress.
Can you share any special moments or highlights from your wedding day?
Chelsea: We danced the night away in the pub on site with all of our friends, and it will be one of my favorite memories of all time. I didn’t worry about my hair or my dress, and it was perfect.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your wedding?
Chelsea: I would do a destination wedding in every lifetime. There are so many sweet memories we have that we never would have made with a traditional wedding and 3x as many people.
One thing’s for sure: if love is the destination, St. Lucia was the perfect place to start forever. Huge thanks to this couple for sharing their day with us!
