Weddings
Weddings
Romance for All by Susan Campbell Tropical islands always attract lovers, but all sun destinations aren’t created equal for those seeking romantic experiences. Sun, sea, sand, and luxurious stays are a given, but there’s something inherently special about Aruba that keeps couples flocking here to create incredibly unique destination weddings and magically memorable soul mate moments.
Romance as a concept can be highly subjective, but Aruba has something for every style: canoodling in secret coves, divine fine dining in exotic locales, hiking hand-in-hand through pristine nature, dancing till dawn to sizzling live music, enjoying champagne breakfast in bed in a sumptuous suite with a sea view… And of course, it’s one of the most popular islands in the Caribbean for destination weddings due to year-round postcard perfect weather and insanely beautiful beaches. It really has it all. Of course, it’s up to you what kind of love story you are out to write, but let’s hear from a few couples that have enjoyed their individual style of sizzling soul mate sojourns here to give you some inspiration. An out-of-the-box proposal
There are many imaginative ways to propose on Aruba, and this one by Dallas native Paul Winspeare is right up there. Paul is a creative director for an ad agency, so thinking out of the box came naturally for him. He wanted a very special setting for his proposal, and as a frequent Aruba visitor he knew exactly where he wanted
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to bring his longtime girlfriend, Christine Arella, to pop the question. First he set up a couple’s massage at Spa Cove on Renaissance Resort’s private island, and afterward they relaxed on the beach in a hammock for two. He then recommended they try snorkeling there. He was prepared with a gorgeous clamshell box with the ring inside stashed away in his bathing trunks’ pocket. Once they were in the shallows, he placed it on the ocean floor where Christine was bound to see it. She immediately picked it up, and he suggested they see what’s inside and led her to a spot where they were surrounded by the famous flamingoes. Then he dropped to one knee in the water, took the box from her hand, opened it and proposed right there in the waves. Christine joyously said yes. She says, “It was like something right out of a movie! The scene was pure postcard paradise and those pretty pink birds… it was amazing. But I think he’ll really have to up his game for our honeymoon we’re planning here because as far as romantic gestures go, that’s going to be a hard one to beat!” E
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Weddings
Weddings
South Pacific style honeymoon
Jessica Brothie and Damon Thielen from South Dakota got married in Wisconsin, and then went seeking Tahitian style overwater bungalows online as it was Jessica’s dream to spend their honeymoon in one. Of course, they found a lot in the South Pacific, but when they came across some on Aruba, they were very surprised. Damon says, “Aruba Ocean Villas had exactly what we were looking for, and it was a great bonus to have a short flight option instead of having to travel halfway around the world!” Damon had always wanted to return to Aruba anyway since he had stopped there on cruise a few years ago and was eager to show Jessica the island. They were over the moon in their Savaneta stay. “The villa was exquisite.” Jessica says, “It was everything I’d hoped for: the seashell showers, the big soaking tub, and the crystal chandelier was a surprise! The sunset dinners with a private chef, the superb staff, the little private beach... it was like having our own island oasis.” The couple also explored every inch of the island from top to bottom. Damon says, “It’s hard to say what our favorite stop was, but the selfie we got on top of the cliffs at the natural pool is one of our best photo memories ever.”
Literally taking the plunge
Aruba is full of marvelous spots for excellent couple photos beyond the beach, but this idea from Tony Paterson of Ottawa, Canada, to surprise his bride, Connie, with a vow renewal was one for the books. Since schmaltzy romance is not really their thing – they married in a simple civil ceremony back home years ago – he enlisted the staff of Jolly Pirates to plan a celebration. They signed up for a sunset cruise, and waiting on board below was a wedding dress in Connie’s size. Tony brought Connie below, got down on one knee, and asked “will you take the plunge with me again?” Then he showed her the dress and she was instantly on board with the whole idea. They renewed their vows on deck and then grabbed the rope swing together and did the pirate plunge into the sea to seal the deal. Connie says, “I can’t think of a more romantic way to renew our vows. We are such adventure junkies, and now if we have children, we’ll have the most incredible photos to show them since we don’t have a typical wedding album!”
Courtesy of Aruba Ocean Villas
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Courtesy of Pelican Adventures
The people make paradise even better
Rico and Gina Pascolini of Pennsylvania invited 65 guests to attend their beach wedding at the Aruba Marriott & Stellaris Casino. The group thoroughly enjoyed the island with activities like the Kukoo Kunuku party bus and a private sunset sail. Everything was going according to plan, and they adored their local wedding planner who had made it all so easy, but on the big day Gina realized she had lost her wedding earrings. The couple had developed a relationship with a local jeweler over the years, and they messaged him to see if he could help. He not only sent photos of earrings she was welcome to borrow, but also delivered them in person and ended up attending the affair as well!
Rico says, “There is an extraordinary attraction about this unique place. Obviously the gorgeous landscape, the weather, the beaches, but it’s also the people who reside and work here that made it so very special for us. They remember you; they make it a point to go out of their way and they’re always so welcoming. That’s definitely one the main reasons we keep returning.” One wonderful way the couple marked their special moment was with glass beads. Instead of the typical sand ceremony, they had the families and friends pour different colored glass beads into a jar, and later back home they had it blown into a beautiful unity sculpture to create a forever keepsake. But they remember their ceremony in different ways as well. Gina says, “Each time we return to Aruba, we make it a point to walk near where our ceremony took place. The memories that flood my mind – even when I simply see a photo of the spot – it still has my heart skipping a beat.”
Take me out to the ballroom
Though many couples want to wed on the beach, sometimes the reception might be better held indoors, especially when you want a very classy affair without sand in your stilettos and too much trade wind in your “do.” That was the thinking behind partners Elsa Croes and Dejanira Witerdaal who live on the island and had been dating for two years. After Dejanira proposed one day aboard a romantic Pelican Adventures sunset sail, they decided they wanted to go full-on glam for their reception to celebrate their love with dancing till dawn and first-
rate table service in an indoor venue. Luckily Aruba has fabulous options for that as well. They chose the Alhambra ballroom for their fancy affair because Elsa had always dreamed of her wedding dance to take place in a ballroom, and the venue is highly recommended for couples seeking an indoor party with style. As you can see, for proposals, weddings, honeymoons, vow renewals, and whatever style of romance gets your heart pumping, Aruba has everything you need to make your time here a memory you’ll love and cherish almost as much as you do each other. K
Courtesy of Terrafuse
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