Issue 4 - 2015
Including: - 2015 St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo Review - Green Weddings on St. Croix - Good to Chew Catering - See Better on Your Wedding Day
2015 St. Croix Caribbean
Wedding E xpo
With several convenient locations, we are just minutes from any hotel. You can find us at Airport, Seaborne, and Frederidksted Cruise Ship Pier. Budget offers hourly, daily, weekly and monthly rates. Ask about our special and convention rates!
wedding
VOTED BEST OF ST. CROIX 2010-2012
Special thanks to model Shanneka Spanner; Sandy’s Bridal and Special Occasions for bridal attire and bouquet; Hair Unlimited for bridal hair, make up and accessories; Denise Bennerson for photography.
Contents
Elegant St. Croix Caribbean Weddings | Issue 4 - 2015
On the Cover
Elegant Bride and handsome Groom mannequins did a great job this year of overlooking the St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo at Sunshine Mall - designed by Le Jolie and Creations 4 Celebrations
19 10 27
30
2015 St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo
The Role of Businesses in Caribbean Weddings See Better on Your Wedding Day Good to Chew
12 13 31 36
A Bride’s Wedding Dreams Green Weddings on St. Croix
A Cultural Cookbook Quadrille
Denise Bennerson, Photographer, Homeland Collections Portrait Gallery
stcroixcaribbeanweddings.com | 4
A Message from the Founder and Publisher Greetings! Brides and grooms are heading to St. Croix, Virgin Islands to experience the perfect place for their Caribbean destination wedding! And imagine, no passport required for U.S. citizens… who can come and enjoy the cool breeze blowing through the palm trees on their wedding day. What a wonderful year we have had! We have been hearing about the emergence of destination weddings to St. Croix. We are happy to be part of the fuel that drives weddings to the Caribbean. Elegant St. Croix Caribbean Weddings magazine is seen virtually worldwide via our website, and distributed on and off island. This year Homeland Collections Portrait Gallery along with the local community stepped up the wedding industry in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Caribbean by showcasing to the world an extraordinary weekend of activities at the St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo. We were happy to feature two fantastic professionals in the wedding industry - celebrities Chef Dana Herbert, owner of Desserts by Dana and winner of TLC’s Cake Boss: Next Great Baker, and Sandy Malone, owner of Weddings in Vieques and reality star of TLC’s Wedding Island. Attendees to the St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo included Virgin Islanders and others from the U.S. main land. You can read more about this grand event in this issue’s article “St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo.” After the St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo we asked one of the brides who attended what she felt stood out most in her mind. She stated, “I did not know there were so many wedding planners on St. Croix.” From her statement we felt that we had fulfilled one of the main purposes for the St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo to expose wedding professionals to the wedding industry and introduce brides and grooms to wedding professionals with great products and services to offer. We hope you enjoy the many informative articles in this issue. Read about the new trend in weddings known as “Green Weddings” on St. Croix. Learn about Crucian culture by reading about the “Quadrille.” There are many other wonderful articles. Enjoy! Last but not least, we would like to thank all contributors in this magazine and those from the St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo. “It is all the parts that make the whole” and we are grateful. Gracious thank you to our advertisers for helping us continue through our magazine spreading the word about weddings in the exotic and elegant Caribbean destination St. Croix. Please support our advertisers – give them a call. All in all… we are all one and we are in this together.. Welcome to St. Croix… ...the United States Virgin Islands.
5 | stcroixcaribbeanweddings.com
Denise Bennerson Denise Bennerson, PhD Publisher
Founder, Publisher Denise Bennerson, PhD Associate Publisher Randy S. Germain Contributing Writers Dr. Lisa Adams
Deborah Caines
Dr. Denise Bennerson
Chef Anton Doos
Shelli Brin
Randy S. Germain
Luz Browne
Annamaria Heyliger-Hector
Dr. Catherine Milligan Terrell Art/Advertising Amber Chancey For back issues email estcwbackissues@sent.at For editorial queries please write to estcwedqueries@sent.at For advertisement placement contact estcwadvertise@sent.at Address all correspondence to Elegant St. Croix Caribbean Weddings, Attn: Denise Bennerson, P. O. Box 3164, Frederiksted, VI 00841, Phone: 340-772-2386 Visit our website for more information: www.stcroixcaribbeanweddings.com. © 2015 St. Croix Caribbean Weddings. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission is prohibited. All projects described in this publication are for private use only. We accept no financial responsibility for errors in advertisement. Acceptance of advertising does not carry the endorsement of the publishers or associates of this magazine, nor the quality of service providers. Any information in this publication is not necessarily those of the publisher or associates.
Resources &Websites Photography Homeland Collections Portrait Gallery - www.homelandcollections.com
St. Croix History and Tourism St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo - www.stcroixcaribbeanweddingexpo.com Virgin Islands Department of Tourism - www.visitusvi.com St. George Village Botanical Garden - www.sgvbg.org St. Croix Landmarks Society - www.stcroixlandmarks.com
Culture and Events Crucian Heritage and Nature Tourism (CHANT) - www.chantvi.org Crucian Christmas Carnival - www.stxcarnival.com Annual Agriculture and Food Fair - www.viagrifest.org Elegant St. Croix Caribbean Weddings - www.stcroixcaribbeanweddings.com
Resorts and Hotels Hotel on the Cay - www.hotelonthecay.com Frederiksted Hotel - www.frederikstedhotel.dk Divi Carina Bay Beach Resort & Casino - www.divicarina.com Renaissance St. Croix Carambola Beach Resort & Spa - carambolaresortstcroix.com Chenay Bay Beach Resort - www.chenaybay.com Hotel Caravelle - www.hotelcaravelle.com The Palms at Pelican Cove - www.palmspelicancove.com
Greetings! “What a journey- Yes,” we did it. The St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo held on July 25, 2015 Sunshine Mall was a success. As you peruse the pages of our 2015 issue of Elegant St. Croix Caribbean Weddings, you will find page after page glimpses of extraordinary images of people, places and things relative to the St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo. Reviews upon reviews indicate that the goals and objectives of the Wedding Expo were accomplished. In fact, St. Croix has been transformed as an ultimate wedding destination in the Caribbean. To all sponsors, contributors, exhibitors, participants, media and by extension, to our many volunteers, we thank you graciously for making this grand event a success. “Yes, we did it” - it was Grand.
Randy S. Germain Randy S. Germain Associate Publisher
Photo: This Elegant and Beautiful Bridal Bouquet made the bride very happy. Denise Bennerson photographer.
“The event was wonderful and great for Hotel on the Cay. As a result of participating, we had eight bookings for events. We are so happy that we participated!”
Anestine Etienne, General Manager of Hotel on the Cay was one of the exhibitors at the St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo held on January 25, 2015 on St. Croix.
stcroixcaribbeanweddings.com | 8
442 Strand Street Frederiksted St. Croix, VI
The historic Frederiksted Hotel is centrally located in the town of Frederiksted. It is on the water front with a Caribbean Sea view and glorious evening sunsets. Walking distance to historical sights and the beach. Terrace is available for bridal wedding cocktails.
RESERVE AN APARTMENT TODAY!
Call us at 340-772-0500 Visit us online at FrederikstedHotel.com
WE BELIEVE THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN BENEFIT FROM A LARGE MENU OF INSURANCE COMPANIES, TO HELP IMPROVE YOUR FINANCIAL WELL BEING.
Lockhart’s Insurance Services
Our Location: 3907 Georgia Ave NW Washington DC 20011. Telephone: 202-829-6222 Fax:202-291-9452 Reach us at online : www.lisdc.com / www.insurancedistrictcolumbia.com For a proposal contact: BJ- bj@lisdc.com; Annabelle -annabelle@lisdc.com; Dwane -dwane@lisdc.com
WE PROUDLY OFFER: Automobile Insurance * Homeowners/ Condo/ Renters Insurance * Commecial General Liability* Commercial Property Insurance* Personal & Commercial Umbrella Liability* Bonding* Crime Insurance Professional Liability* Workers Compensation* Builder’s Risk* Special Events Coverage* Director & Officers Coverage Health Insurance- Major Medical* Annuities* Life Insurance
Insurance Carriers Represented:
An Agency Committed to Service
The Role of Businesses in
Caribbean Weddings
By Randy S. Germain By Annamaria Heyliger-Hector, MEd, CWS
One of the top wedding destinations is the Caribbean. Caribbean weddings are unique because of the many locations and stable weather. Social media is promoting and shining the spotlight on many never before heard of destinations and we need to be prepared. All of the businesses that participate to make that day a special occasion is made up of many small components. The main ingredients for example are the consultants/planners, photographers, videographers, caterers, musicians, beauty suppliers, travel agents, DJs, bakers, printers, and other related service providers. Destination weddings are a big part of our business and we have to be prepared in many ways to meet the needs of a variety of cultures and their
demands. We have a responsibility to keep our skills at the highest standards at all times and use the appropriate tools to market globally. While being globally oriented we have to be protective of the local culture as we promote the destinations. It is important to network in all tourism or small business events so that each establishment have an opportunity to make a contribution. There has been an increase in destination weddings and whether the families have roots in the Caribbean or are visitors we have to promote our products and services. A lot of repeat business is word of mouth so it is imperative to make the best possible presentation ever. As the owner of Evolve Consulting, the opportunity to work with different cultures through the
role of Officiant and event planner has been extremely rewarding. It has truly broaden my outlook and prompted me to improve my skills and knowledge base. I encourage anyone considering doing business to study your craft and become licensed, certified and seek membership in related global organizations. You command great respect when you can show your credentials and the ability to articulate factual responses to questions about your business. Do not limit yourself; strive to be distinguished! Annamaria Heyliger-Hector is a Certified Event Planner and Etiquette Consultant. Photo: This local Candies and Tarts Buffet/Bar was a big hit with the guest at a wedding in St. Croix! Denise Bennerson Photographer stcroixcaribbeanweddings.com | 10
We protect your wedding from unwanted guests.
Great Family Moments Happen at...
pests. No problem.
OLIVER EXTERMINATING 340-773-1630
Make sure your wedding day is perfect. Call us and schedule a pest treatment for your ceremony or reception location today. We provide subterranean termite treatment and tent fumigation.
QUALITY IS OUR RECIPE Sunny Isles Mandela Circle 778-5999 776-0477
A Bride’s
Wedding Dreams By Luz Browne
A Bride’s dream is to marry the love of her life and have a special wedding to remember. The first thing is to choose the perfect groom and both parties should seek marriage counseling before any final commitment of marriage. Secondly both persons should work as a team and include and plan all aspects of the wedding, which should take about a year. The need to have a good Event Planner is critical to the success of this special undertaking. That person has to be qualified with good experiences and should be a person who has excellent communication skills. The individual must also possess other skills as organizing and decision making, which should also be necessary competencies of an Event Planner. Another significant aspect of the process is developing an adequate budget which the bride and groom must agree upon, along with the Event Planner. The Event Planner will
prepare a checklist and create, organize, and develop a contract that will make the bride and groom comfortable, happy, and worry free. This will take on the complete wedding requirement and need from the start to finish. A bride must know firsthand that the person who is her Event Planner is able to deliver and execute this function. From cake to decorating of the wedding hall. In addition, it is important to secure your Event Planner as soon as possible. A good planner will meet with the bride and see what the budget is and what is important to make this day a once in a life time event. A Planner allows the whole family to enjoy the event worry free, and for those travelling time to enjoy a vacation at the same time. The Event Planner, along with the groom should fulfill all the needs, wants and desires of the bride to make that special day
one to always remember. The planning team should develop a theme which should create an environment that will have the bride in the mood or frame of mind that is extraordinarily exciting. A wedding can be simple or elegant, or both, and the couple should keep an annual celebration of the good time, along with selective family members. A person can get married almost anywhere and in different forms, however, here in the Virgin Islands, we do it island style, with a unique flare. Our climate allows us to be very creative and special, which is different from any other destination. A good wedding is a lifetime experience, where memories continue to live with the couple forever. Luz Browne is the owner of B’s Flowers, Party and Gifts. Photo: Here is our beautiful bride Rahema enjoying a moment on her wedding day next to the beautiful blue waters. Denise Bennerson photographer stcroixcaribbeanweddings.com | 12
Green Weddings on St. Croix FAQs for Engaged Couples
By Shelli Brin
What is a green wedding? It is when a couple is environmentally conscious about the way they host their event; that it is environmentally friendly on the place where they have their event. They take active steps to either minimize negative impacts and/or increase positive impacts on that destination. Something to keep in mind is that although we are talking about the wedding industry, this concept of ‘green’ speaks to beyond weddings. This speaks to the concept of a growing lifestyle brand of sustainability, the life-journey to an understanding of how everything is connected as a part of a heavily integrated global system.
13 | stcroixcaribbeanweddings.com
As the American population has already begun to notice how the environment has been impacted by human use, there has begun a major shift in American consumerism towards more sustainable purchasing practices.
Is it possible to have a green wedding on St. Croix? Of course it is. There is a growing number of couples that are already coming to St. Croix and local residents, searching for green wedding vendors and providers.
Why should I consider having a green wedding? Simple, we are an island eco-system. Everything on land affects the ocean which is a major food
and resource for island communities. Land use also affects freshwater sources.
How do I have a green wedding on St Croix? The two big questions that can help couples find out how to make their wedding more green on St. Croix: is it biodegradable or eco-friendly and does it keep the dollars spent in the local economy. A few more questions to ask are: where does it come from, and where does it go. Follow the bread crumbs all the way to the end. Research ways to reduce or even recycle the waste you produce.
Once these simple questions are answered, you will begin to develop a clearer picture of how to ‘green’ your wedding.
How do I find eco-friendly wedding vendors and/or products on St. Croix? It will take a little bit of asking around. Although there is no one-stop source for this information… as yet, a good place to start is talking with on-island concierge services including Department of Tourism Visitor centers. Having a local on-island wedding planner with good customer reviews will work greatly to your advantage as well. If you haven’t considered getting a wedding planner as yet, I
recommend it. Most often they have plenty of experience of who the good quality vendors and business are to use. Best part is they can customize your wedding to being eco-friendly and sustainable.
How do I know if my wedding vendor is really using eco-friendly practices? Well, keep in mind that St. Croix is still evolving into a convenient hospitality-oriented destination for having green weddings. So until many of the businesses go through that process of industry certifications that make it easy to identify them, word of mouth and referrals are still the number one way to find what and who you are looking for.
Featured Contributor Shelli Brin has worked in event management within the tourism and hospitality industry for about 10 years with a focus on Virgin Islands destination weddings, government and corporate meetings and conferences. She has coordinated over 140 weddings (including an underwater one and her own) between St Thomas and St Croix in addition to over 30 events in the Meetings Incentives and Corporate Travel industry. She is a member of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals, Public Relations Member in her Rotary West group, and plays a very active role in her husband’s organic farming business. As a native Virgin Islander, she is passionate about a sustainable local tourism industry and developing the VI as a prominent destination for Green Weddings in the Caribbean. Shelli Brin - Sustainability Professional, Event Planner, Wedding Planner
Photo Left: The wedding décor was beautiful with the addition of this Beach Themed Wedding Cake. Denise Bennerson, photographer Contributor Photo: Shelli Brin photo submitted by Shelli Brin.
stcroixcaribbeanweddings.com | 14
1
2
3
2015 St. Croix Caribbean
Wedding E xpo
By Dr. Denise Bennerson
4 5
6 8
9
7
On January 25, 2015 the St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo was held at the Sunshine Mall in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. What a journey! It was Grand! Participants included Brides and Grooms to be, TV’s TLC Celebrities Chef Dana Herbert, owner of Desserts by Dana, winner of Cake Boss: Next Great Baker and Sandy Malone wedding planner, owner of Weddings in Vieques and reality star on Wedding Island. They were wonderful! Chef Dana Herbert arrived early on island to prepare one of his wonderful wedding cakes for the St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo along with his assistant Robert Self. He shared his knowledge and skills with students at CTEC, St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center and their company Good to chew Catering Co. Chef Anton Doos III was instrumental in sharing their facility and preparing at the St. Croix Educational Complex. A VIP Reception was held on Friday, January 23, 2015 at the Frederiksted Hotel, located on the beautiful waterfront in Frederiksted. Activities started with the viewing a beautiful Sunset, music by DJ Swain and cultural entertainment by Ay-Ay Cultural Dance Company dancing Quadrille. The setting provided a wonderful means to meet and greet and start the weekend. Dana Herbert and Sandy Malone enjoyed and were given gift baskets. On Saturday, January 24, 2015 Sandy Malone presented a
seminar on, “Becoming a Successful Destination Wedding Planner” at Barry University in Sunshine Mall. Her advice was to start blogging and use the social media to get the word out about their business. She also informed attendees to get paid in advance. Sandy warned them about referring and bad mouthing their vendors. In addition, they should get photographs of all their events. On Sunday, January 25, 2015 the St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo was held in spacious Sunshine Mall. All reviews indicate it was grand. The brides and grooms registered and enjoyed meeting the Exhibitors and Sunshine Mall Stores while getting their Bridal Passport Signed. The grooms enjoyed their Man Cave furnished by Dial Rent to Own. The Bride Cake Dive was fun for all four brides while wearing aprons and gloves as they dashed into the wedding cake made by Sweet Bites to find the garter to win prizes.
Honorable mention to Bradley Christian for his contribution of a gorgeous Hibiscus Flower Arrangement for display. Chef Dana Herbert displayed his elegant and flavorsome wedding cake. There were many local and U.S. mainland wedding professionals showcasing and selling their products and services including Budget Car Rental’s stunning 2015 Ford Taurus car on display, a Food Court and a spectacular Fashion Show coordinated by Cyndee Frontal. Fashion Designers and bridal stores were Sakuri Bridal, Yemaya’s Color Improvisations, Delia Anderson, House Of Ettienne, Eagles Fashion, African Kraal Fashions, Jane’s Bridal with sophisticated models from Cyndee’s Models in the Isle and JG Management. Both Masters Ceremonies Terrance D. Joseph and Annamaria Heyliger-Hector kept the crowd entertained by presenting various performers and raffle winners. Everyone enjoyed the decor in Sunshine
The St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo winners were: Wedding Cake Competition De Cake Man, Keith James Tabletop Design Competition Cruzan Affair, LLC, Candise Cooke & Carlyn Bideau Bride Cake Dive Winner Aida Almestica Best Decorated Booth Je T’aime Decor, Lisa Lucien Bridal Passport Winner Lisa Ambrose stcroixcaribbeanweddings.com | 20
Mall by decorators Wanda Beresford, owner Le Jolie and Tamika Gant, owner Creations 4 Celebrations. We would like to thank everyone on and off island for their support. In addition, we would like to give kudos to the hard working committee members who helped champion forward the St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo event. Their suggestions and contributions were very much appreciated. We send a special thanks to Randy S. Germain for his continuous and tireless contributions and support. In addition we tremendously thank our sponsors: Homeland Collections Portrait Gallery
21 | stcroixcaribbeanweddings.com
Sunshine Mall Teddy’s Frederiksted Hotel Budget Car Rental Lydia Moolenaar Enterprises Integrity Women In Business Center Dial Rent to Own Ashley Furniture HomeStore Sweet Bites Caribe360.com Barry University West Indies Corporation
Photos courtesy of Denise Bennerson: 2- Beautiful Cake for the Bride Cake Dive made by Sweet Bites. 6- Chef Dana Herbert proudly glowing next to his beautiful and delicious wedding cake. 8- Honorable Mention- Bradley Christian’s Hibiscus Flower Arrangement designed and displayed by him.
Featured Contributor
Denise Bennerson is an award winning wedding photographer with Homeland Collections Portrait Gallery in St. Croix. Denise is also the publisher and Editor of Elegant St. Croix Caribbean Weddings. You can contact her at homelandcollections@fastmail.fm or 340-772-2386. See some of her work at homelandcollections.com.
Photos courtesy of Charles Peters: 1- Dana Herbert, Sandy Malone and Denise Bennerson enjoying a moment at the St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo VIP Reception at Frederiksted Hotel. 3- The four brides that participated in the Bride Cake Dive – ready for action with aprons and gloves! 4- This is the winner of the Best Decorated Booth by Lisa Lucien, Je T’aime Decor. 5- Winner Lisa Lucien receiving Best Decorated Booth certificate from Denise Bennerson. 7- Winner Keith James making acceptance speech after receiving Caribbean Wedding Cake Competition certificate. 9- Winners Carlyn Bideau speaking and Candise Cooke of Cruzan Affair, LLC after receiving Caribbean Tabletop Design Competition certificate.
1
2
3
4 6
5 7
8
9
2015 St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo 2 Blowing of the Conch Shell by Junie
1
Glowing and elegant Cyndee Frontel owner of Cyndee’s Models in the Isle was the commentator and organizer of the Fashion Show.
3 Budget Car Rental’s stunning 2015
4
Ay-Ay Cultural Dance Company dancing Quadrille.
6
Exhibitors and business owner of Add’A Touch.
7
Bride and Groom models wearing elegant wedding attire provided by Sakuri Bridal.
9
West End Masqueraders performing.
Bomba at the beginning of the St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo event invoking our Ancestors. Ford Taurus car was on display at the St. Croix Caribbean Wedding Expo.
5
Exhibitors and business owners of Me Dundo’s Place and Yemaya Color Improvisation.
8 Sandy Malone conducting her seminar on “Becoming a Successful Destination Wedding Planner.” Photos courtesy of Denise Bennerson.
Photos courtesy of Charles Peters.
Spend your wedding day in
cool comfort.
E.A.B.I.C. Cooling ensures your wedding day driving is cool and comfortable . Schedule your pre-wedding A/C check-up today.
We specialize in auto air conditioning check-up and repair. We also offer services for heavy equipment, refrigeration, residential and commercial air conditioning. We are open 6 days a week, Sunday - Friday, and closed on Saturday. Schedule your appointment today!
3 4 0 -7 7 2 - 9 4 6 7 Voted the best
in refrigeration and commercial air conditioning in St. Croix by Daily News readers for 2013! We would like to give thanks to all our customers including those who voted for us. PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF DENISE BENNERSON.
Located at: 18 Mountain Frederiksted, St. Croix Behind Centerline Bakery & Deli
Charles Peters, Photographer
Wedding & Event Planner
Denise Bennerson, Photographer
Events & Decor
Weddings Caribbean Destination Weddings Anniversaries Baby & Bridal Showers We are looking forward to planning your event.
cruzanaffair.com
Candise Cooke 617-980-3804 Carlyn Bideau 617-980-6400
cruzanaffair@gmail.com
See Better on Your
Wedding Day
By Dr. Lisa Adams
Sterling Optical is the place to come to see better for the big day. We offer complete eye examinations starting at $28. There are different packages which include eye examination and complete pair of single vision eyeglasses starting at $99. Please take advantage of our one-hour service. If you do not wish to walk down the aisles with your eyeglasses, contact lenses are an excellent option. Examinations start at $60 and vary depending on the type of fit. Sterling Optical stocks several brands of contact
27 | stcroixcaribbeanweddings.com
lenses. Therefore, lenses are available for immediate purchase, call ahead for an appointment to avoid the wait. The bridal party and their families are welcome to visit Sterling Optical to receive sterling service for your special day. Sterling Optical was voted Best Eyeglass and Contact Lenses eight years in a row! For those beach weddings, we also stock a large amount of designer sunglasses. Remember you must protect your eyes from the ultraviolet rays of our Caribbean sun.
Dr. Lisa Adams is an owner and optometrist at award winning Sterling Optical. For many years they have awarded numerous scholarships to deserving students. They recently celebrated Sterling Optical’s 100th national anniversary. Visit them at Golden Rock Shopping Center, St. Croix 340-718-8880 or Lockhart Mall, Estate Thomas, St. Thomas 340-774-8500. Photo: Finn and Kirsten Nielsen from Denmark spent a wonderful and romantic time in St. Croix celebrating their 25th Wedding Anniversary. It was great meeting and photographing them. Denise Bennerson, Photographer
ribbean
bbean
Elegant St. Croix Caribbean Weddings
Elegant ST. CROIX CARIBBEAN Weddings
IBBEAN
bean
BBEAN
ribbean
Elegant
Weddings
ST. CROIX CARIBBEAN
Elegant ST. CROIX CARIBBEANWeddings
St. Croix’s best way
to advertise your wedding related business... Elegant ST. CROIX CARIBBEAN Weddings
Ads start at only
Advertise with Us!
$150!
Issue 2 - 2013
Elegant ST. CROIX CARIBBEAN Weddings
Your Distinctive Caribbean Wedding
Including:
Issue 2 - 2013
Our magazine provides optimum opportunities for St. Croix businesses to reach the wedding couples around the world.
Elegant ST. CROIX CARIBBEAN Weddings
Don’t be left out. If you have a product or service to offer wedding couples destined to wed on St. Croix, contact us to arrange for an ad in our next issue.
Elegant ST. CROIX CARIBBEAN Weddings
Join us in making St. Croix the best wedding destination in the world!
- Choosing St. Croix
- Finding the Perfect Photographer
- The Importance of an Engagement Photography Session
Premier Issue 2012
Elegant ST. CROIX CARIBBEAN Weddings
For more information, contact us at estcwadvertise@sent.at, 340-772-2386 or www.StCroixCaribbeanWeddings.com
Good to Chew By Chef Anton Doos
So you are tying the knot, decided to hold your celebration on one of the most beautiful islands created and have selected an unforgettable venue for your event. We believe your meal and service should be just as memorable. Menus created just for you and designed with your guests in mind, presented attractive on a buffet line or on individual plates. Our well-mannered students are in training and therefore eager to show their talents either in preparing your meal from top quality products, or serving the same to you. Because we are a learning institution we are all about pleasing and doing it right every time. This also allows us to decrease the server to guest ratio and offering you more servers than our competitors. Good to Chew Catering Company is the fundraising
vehicle for the gastronomy program at the Career and Technical Education Center located at the Complex Learning Center. We teach high school and adult learners and offer additional culinary programs to the public. For the past 15 years our students have cooked and served functions from the very small breakfast for two honeymooners to the very large with thousands of attendees at the Governor’s Ball. All profits generated from our catering venture are reinvested into the program and/ or used for educational travels attending trade related events and competitions. Our students have won competitions and receive accolades from our customers. Our close relation with the local ACFVI chapter gives us access to the highest trained professionals on island, and therefore no job
is ever to elaborate, to farfetched or to complicated in regards to food preparation. We can provide you with service anywhere on island and have held successful events at the beach, the Botanical Garden, Whim Plantation as well as many villas and private homes. We assist in procuring rentals for your event and assist you from inception to the cleanup, with only one goal in mind. Your lasting happiness and fond memories of our home St. Croix the American Paradise. Chef Anton Doos is a culinary arts instructor at CTEC - St. Croix Career and Technical Education at the St. Croix Educational Complex High School - Good to chew Catering Co. Visit their website goodtochew.com. Contact 340-690-9521 and goodtochew@gmail.com Photos courtesy of Chef Anton Doos. stcroixcaribbeanweddings.com | 30
A Cultural Cookbook By Dr. Catherine Milligan Terrell
“Meh son, le me mekase gu a Exira’s Kitchen Fu a me din, din” (My son let me hurry up and go to Exira’s Kitchen for my food). This is a cookbook with a delectable compilation of recipes that were passed along three generations of Cruzans—from the author’s maternal grandmother, Christiana Henry Sackey, to her mother, Exira Marie Sackey Milligan. Exira’s Kitchen is a cultural cookbook that looks through the food lens of my ancestral past. Through this ancestral research, I found that the journey into the recipes began to take shape in the early 1800s during slavery in St. Croix under seven flags. Some Africans from Ghana arrived on the shores of St. Croix around the early 1800’s. The dishes as presented are an extension of the foods these people ate in Africa with some modifications because some specific ingredients were not available. Throughout this cookbook, users will find terms and recipe 31 | stcroixcaribbeanweddings.com
titles that are unusual because it was the only way that I forged a connection with the voices of my ancestors. It was the only way I placed meaning to our cherished culture. In the Breakfast section, I called it “Morning Glory.” Why? Because as a child, my ancestors told me that each morning I must give thanks and give glory for the new day. Another section is called, “Start Up.” This is a reminder that before serving a selection of the section “Belly Full,” there are a few dishes such as, Salt Fish Gundy, Salt Fish Harripa, or Lobster Salad that can be served to satisfy any guest while waiting for the main course meal. To really get the pulse of the foods, I often visited and spent time with Granny Sackey. Although she could not read or write, she was a masterful cook. She had to be a masterful cook because she was mother to sixteen children. Once when I visited her, she had just finished cleaning a wash pan of Jax and had already seasoned
a batch to cook. She seasoned the Jax, not with salt and pepper, but with her special Cruzan Season Salt. She said, “Chile, cum ya, cum ya, we gonna have fried Jax with yu special scrumptious Cruzan Fried Fish Sauce and a nice soft ball of Okra Fungi.” I knew that I would have a good day and a “Belly Full.” Next, she fetched her coal pot and placed charcoal in it. The charcoal was arranged in a strategic way with a small pit to place the pitch point chips that she used to ignite the fire and catch the coal. If it were a windy day, she would have tried
several times. In the end, once the fire got started and the charcoal had sufficient firepower, she was ready to fry her Jax. She reminded me that her mother told her that, “before Fungi was Cruzan, Fungi was African.” She also pointed out that, Fungi made its way to St. Croix in the parcels of African slaves. Further, she said, “Cruzan added okra and you know what? Okra Fungi taste better than plain Fungi.” With my belly full, I always needed a “Wash Me Down.” In the “Wash Me Down” section you will find an excellent recipe for Maubi and having a tall glass of the local drink with plenty ice is an excellent treat for a “Wash Me Down.”
D
U
T
Y
The best part comes at the end of the meal. It is not unusual in the Cruzan culture to hear someone say at the end of a meal that they have a “Sweet Tooth” meaning that they are now ready for desert, like a piece of Guava or Guavaberry Tart. Further, at weddings Vienna Cake, Black Cake or both is a staple and go hand in hand. There is no wedding celebration without these two mouth-watering treats.
and those unfamiliar are in for a special treat! Each recipe is filled with traditional African blends and artful traditional preparation. As you try each recipe, you’ll have both a grand time preparing and a grand time eating. For Cruzan’s, we love our way of life, which first but first and foremost starts with a belly full. Experience each recipe and enjoy the results! Dr. Catherine Milligan Terrell is a native Cruzan, business owner, markets hot sauce and Cruzan Gourmet Season Salt.
There are many unusual terms used throughout this cookbook. They reflect terms of endearment that make meals total enjoyment and add the cultural depth of the people of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. People familiar with the Cruzan culture near and far will find in the cookbook memorable,
F
R
E
E
P
R
Photo: Great to cook with – here is a sample of fresh local vegetables from Agriculture and Food Fair of the US Virgin Islands usually held in St. Croix during President’s weekend in February. Denise Bennerson, photographer. Contributor Photo: Dr. Catherine Terrell photo submitted by Dr. Catherine Terrell.
I
C
E
S
!
Wedding Makeup, Bridal Registry & Special Discounts!
FASHION FAIR COSMETICS
We do wedding makeup here and on-site! Call or email to make arrangements
Bridal Registry
Located in Downtown Christiansted
1104 Strand Street, Suite 101, St. Croix VI Tel. 340-773-2148 Email: vboutique@aol.com
"BEST PRICES IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS!"
KW: VIOLETTE.BOUTIQUE
A wonderful venue to have your Destination Caribbean Wedding in Paradise the Eliza JamesMcBean Clock Tower & Boardwalk, Frederiksted, St. Croix VI Denise Bennerson, Photographer
QUADRILLE DANCING IS JUST ONE OF OUR MISSIONS. WE AIM TO KEEP CULTURE ALIVE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. IT IS
DONE THROUGH OUR PARTICIPATION IN SUCH EVENTS AS THE
BEING DONE THROUGH OUR PARTICIPATION IN SUCH EVENTS AS THE “REVIVAL OF QUADRILLE IN OUR SCHOOLS” WE SUPPORT TEACHING OUR CHILDREN THE CORRECT ART FORM OF THE QUADRILLE DANCE. WE AIM TO KEEP MASQUERADING, THE MAYPOLE DANCE AND ALL OTHER FASCETS OF OUR CULTURE ALIVE.
WE REHEARSE ON MONDAYS FROM 6:00 P.M. TO 7:30 P.M. AT THE CLAUDE O. MARKOE SCHOOL. COME LEARN THE TRUE ART FORM NAMED QUADRILLE.
Contact President: Kendell Henry@ 2108674913
CATERING
Chef Burton Peterson
Whether you are planning an intimate engagement dinner or large wedding
reception, Master Chef Burton Peterson
WE REHEARSE ON MONDAYS FROM 6:00 P.M. TO 7:30 P.M. AT THE CLAUDE O. MARKOE SCHOOL. COME LEARN THE TRUE ART FORM NAMED QUADRILLE.
P.O. BOX 1122, FREDERIKCSTED ST. CROIX, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 00841
Top Class
and his staff will make your event one you will always remember.
We offer a variety of great tasting,
vibrant looking cuisine to suit any style occasion and we bring it all to you!
340-773-0632 | 340-690-9544 TopClassCateringVI.com
Contact President: Kendell Henry@ 2108674913 P.O. BOX 1122, FREDERIKCSTED ST. CROIX, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 00841
TEACHING OUR CHILDREN THE CORRECT ART FORM OF THE QUADRILLE DANCE. WE AIM TO KEEP MASQUERADING, THE MAYPOLE DANCE AND ALL OTHER FASCETS OF OUR CULTURE ALIVE.
GENERAION GAP BY ENHANCING THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR
WE REHEARSE ON MONDAYS FROM 6:00 P.M. TO 7:30 P.M. AT THE CLAUDE O. MARKOE SCHOOL. COME LEARN THE TRUE ART FORM NAMED QUADRILLE.
DONE THROUGH OUR PARTICIPATION IN SUCH EVENTS AS THE “REVIVAL OF QUADRILLE IN OUR SCHOOLS” WE SUPPORT TEACHING OUR CHILDREN THE CORRECT ART FORM OF THE QUADRILLE DANCE. WE AIM TO KEEP MASQUERADING, THE MAYPOLE DANCE AND ALL OTHER FASCETS OF OUR CULTURE ALIVE.
QUADRILLE DANCING IS JUST ONE OF OUR MISSIONS. WE AIM TO KEEP CULTURE ALIVE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. IT IS BEING “REVIVAL OF QUADRILLE IN OUR SCHOOLS” WE SUPPORT
QUADRILLE DANCING IS JUST ONE OF OUR MISSIONS. WE AIM TO KEEP CULTURE ALIVE IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. IT IS BEING
VIRGIN ISLANDS CULTURE THROUGH DANCE. THE GROUP HAS BEEN TOGETHER FOR THE PAST 8 YEARS. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 25 MEMBERS.
GENERAION GAP BY ENHANCING THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR VIRGIN ISLANDS CULTURE THROUGH DANCE. THE GROUP HAS BEEN TOGETHER FOR THE PAST 8 YEARS. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 25 MEMBERS.
WE ARE A NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATION BRIDGING THE
GENERAION GAP BY ENHANCING THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR VIRGIN ISLANDS CULTURE THROUGH DANCE. THE GROUP HAS BEEN TOGETHER FOR THE PAST 8 YEARS. WE HAVE APPROXIMATELY 25 MEMBERS.
WE ARE A NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATION BRIDGING THE
AY-AY CULTURAL DANCE COMPANY, INC ENHANCING VIRGIN ISLANDS CULTURE THROUGH DANCE
WE ARE A NON- PROFIT ORGANIZATION BRIDGING THE
Quadrille
By Deborah O. Caines
Quadrille in the Virgin Islands is a traditional folk dance. It is similar to a square dance and is a combination of French and African cultural influences. It was introduced to the Virgin Islands in the late 1700s and was usually performed by the French Europeans at balls and fetes of the upper social class. The slaves then adopted this custom of dancing the Quadrille whenever they had a celebration. Today on St. Croix, Quadrille is performed at public locations such as St. Gerard’s Hall, at public school festivities, and also at harbor sites where tourist are entertained. It is usually danced with the island’s indigenous music, Quelbe, performed by scratch bands such as Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights and Bully and the Kafooners. Everyone enjoys watching the dancers as they “tournez” and “balancez” rhythmically to the commands of the floor master. Their colorful traditional madras costumes and matching head-ties
add vibrancy to the performances. The tying of the head-tie is an art and has significant meaning. A head-tie with one point signifies that a lady is single; two points mean that the lady is married; three points mean that the lady is widowed, divorced, or available, and four points mean that she is available. I became a member and later vice-president of the Ay- Ay
Cultural Dance Group because I wanted to be a part of promoting my culture. I enjoy working with Kendall Henry, President, who is dedicated to keeping the culture of the Virgin Islands alive. He volunteers his time to teach Quadrille the traditional way to both adults and students.
Quadrille. This will be done in conjunction with WTJX and Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights, the most famous Quelbe band in the Virgin Islands. It will be available to private and public schools, to help future generations preserve the culture of the Quadrille.
The group is currently working on an instructional DVD and CD on the art of dancing
Photo: Beautiful and elegant Deborah Caines wearing traditional local Madras attire as she prepares to perform with other Quadrille dancers. Denise Bennerson, Photographer stcroixcaribbeanweddings.com | 36
“Before or After your special day, come to Frederiksted Health Care, Inc. for all your Primary Health Care Needs” Family Medicine
Laboratory Servs Internal Medicine
Podiatry Clinic
Pediatric Clinic
Optometry Clinic
Colposcopy
Family Planning
Dermatology
Prenatal Care
Ophtalmology
Gynecologic Procedures
Endometrial Biopsy
Immunization
Adolescent Health Services
Dietician Services
Dental Clinic
STD/HIV/TB Program
Behavioral Health Services & Case Management
SERVICE HOURS:
Monday - Friday 7:30am-5:00pm Wednesday 7:30am-5:00pm
FOR APPOINTMENTS:
(340) 772-0260
INGEBORG NESBITT CLINIC #516 STRAND ST., FREDERIKSTED MEDICAL SERVICES ALSO PROVIDED AT NORTH SHORE HEALTH CENTER #6C LA GRANDE PRINCESSE DENTAL SERVICES ALSO PROVIDED AT #1-ESTATE ORANGE GROVE —Easterly Building CHRISTIANSTED
“Putting the Care Back in Health Care”
P.O. Box 1198 Frederiksted VI 00841 Tel. (340) 772-0260 Fax (340) 772-5895 www.fhc-inc.net
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE BRIDES AND GROOMS --------------We Can Ship your Gifts
BOXES -- BARRELS -- PALLETS TO
ST. CROIX, USVI “NO CARGO TOO SMALL OR TOO LARGE” Our Great Team will make your SHIPPING:
HASSEL FREE -- AFFORDABLE -- RELIABLE 1. Supplier sends shipment to: Your Name & Phone Number 9793 N.W. 91 Court Medley, FL 33178 Tel: 305-863-0081 2. Email invoice to invoice@vicargo.com or Fax to 305-863-0060 3. Cut-off Wednesday at NOON 4. Sailing every Thursday 5. ETA (Estimated Day of Arrival) Sunday 6. Shipment cleared and Customer called for Pick-up no later than Wednesday 7. ALSO - PICK UP AVAILABLE FROM ANYWHERE IN THE US 8. We also ship cars To and From the US
For more information, please call us or visit our website at: vicargo.com
“After All the Rest VI Cargo is Still the Best” VI Cargo 6117 Castle Coakley, St. Croix, VI 00820 Tel: 340-778-6331 Fax: 340-778-6462
Photography on theCuttingEdge Homeland Collections’ portraits speak for themselves, capturing the
unique beauty and personality of each subject.
Our photography services include: • Weddings
• Children
• Engagements
• Model Portfolios
• Portraits
• Special Events
• Families
• Stock Photography
• Maternity
• Commercial
or just because... Homeland Collections Portrait Gallery is St. Croix’s premier photography at its best! Denise Bennerson PhD, owner of Homeland Collections Portrait Gallery, is an award winning wedding and portrait photographer with 15 years of experience. Her work has been featured in national magazines, websites, galleries and novels. Highly sought after by those engaged to be wed in the beautiful US Virgin Islands, her impressive photography style is passionate, creative and personal.
Contact Denise today to schedule your portrait session - 340-772-2386 www.HomelandCollections.com Homeland Collections Portrait Gallery Denise Bennerson, Photographer
Photography on the cutting-edge. www.HomelandCollections.com HomelandCollections@fastmail.fm
340-772-2386