Our (hopeful) location

[Tybee]

Okay,
I really should be in bed. It''s almost 1 a.m. and I''m spending all this time catching up on my
PSing. This is really a crazy addiction.
Well, we just returned from St. John, and while nothing is determined yet, I know where I''d
LOVE to have our ceremony.
It''s Caneel Bay.
Here''s a picture of where we''d have the ceremony.

 

[Tybee]

here''s the wedding planner showing me how things would be set up. I know, it''s the same picture, but
just humor me!

 

[MelissaSue]

oooh tybee.. it looks so beautiful! You''re going to have a lovely wedding!

 

[msb700]

Tybee: it looks magnificent!!! what an amazing backdrop to a ceremony...

 

[Blue824]

What a gorgeous location! I hope your trip was informative yet lots of fun!

 

[kanne]

oh tybee...

I''m so partial to St John myself...and that view from Caneel is breathtaking (and so serene).
Did you stay at Caneel?

 

[Tybee]

sigh,

Caneel Bay is beautiful.
Lovey, we stayed there only one night, our last.
The problem with Caneel Bay is that because it is so perfect, it''s super
expensive.

We also checked out the Westin which was quite pretty, but really crowded
and "resortie." We didn''t want to have our ceremony at a sight where people
could watch us while bouncing on giant trampolines and drinking beers.

The reality is that Caneel Bay is not in our price range. To justify the trip,
we camped for the middle portion at Maho Bay (also lovely, but super HOT.)
By the time we got to Caneel Bay we were bug bit and hot as heck. We
completely drank up the serenity and quiet peacefulness of Caneel (not
to mention the air conditioning!)

Now that we''re back from "la la land" I''m trying to wrestle with the cost of weddings.
It''s hard to justify paying a house down payment, isn''t it?

elope? elope? ugh, welcome back to reality!

 

[Rube]

Oh what a beautiful location! Tybee, I hope a lot of money comes your way somehow and you can afford Caneel Bay.

 

[flopkins]

wow!!! tybee that is a fantastic view... i hope the budget works it way around somehow...

 

[njc]

Tybee - it looks fantastic! When are you trying to have the wedding? Is there an off-peak season/time when the rates would be a little cheaper? I dont know the geography of St. Johns, but could you and guests stay at the Westin, but have the ceremony at Caneel Bay and you just stay there the wedding night?

I can understand not wanting some kid on a trampoline spying in on my ceremony!

 

[Tybee]

Indeed, we could stay in cheaper locations---
We are getting married in the "off season" and on a Monday (who cares when you''re on an island, right?)
We figured that if our guests were going to travel down, then they''d spend more than a weekend there anyhow.
Here is a picture of our possible reception location. It''s part of an old sugar mill. At night you can
see the lights from St. Thomas across the water. Just below it are the ruins of sugar plantation buildings
where we would have our cocktails and tikki torches would be lit.
It''s so beautiful in person. I really did get chills!

 

[kanne]

tybee

ok I''m jealous of your island adventures!!

I''ve never actually stayed at Caneel myself..just visited. Pricey. We usually stay at maho bay as well..but in jan/feb so it''s not too hot (but always, always buggy). Did you guys get a good tent with a view? It must have been WONDERFUL to rinse off and relax in the luxury of Caneel after Maho! lol! There is this great stuff called ''bug off'' and ''stop itch'' that you can get at starfish market, made by a local st. john pharmicist. it''s great. Some people bring rum home from the islands, but we bring the bug spray. (you''d understand if you saw the size of the mosquitos in my yard).

FYI, if you are still looking for alternatives, gallows point, in cruz bay has a new wedding gazebo http://www.gallowspointresort.com/weddings.shtml
My parents stay there every January and they love it.

lovey

 

[Tybee]

Oh Lovey!
Now we have to go back and check out Gallows Point! (lol!!!!!)
I LOVED Maho Bay. When I was a kid, my family used to stay at Cinnamon Bay.
When we left Maho Bay to stay at Caneel, we felt like big fakes, out of our league...
that quickly slipped away with the first rum drink.
Bugs weren''t so bad in July, but oh the heat!
We had an awesome tent with a slight view of Big Maho Bay.
I"d go back in a heart beat!

 

[AmantdeChat]

That''s beautiful Tybee! We went to St John last June (2004) for my birthday and it was great! I am leaning towards getting married on St Thomas or St John also. I really liked St Lucia but you have to be on the island 3-4 business days before you can get married. That doesn''t count the day you arrive, weekends or holidays! So the American virgin islands is looking better and better. Plus we could always go island hopping after the wedding for our honeymoon.

Hope everything works out and you are able to get married there.

 

[selflove]

Oh my gosh, it''s an amazing place! I hope somehow you guys can find a way to have the wedding of your dreams there!

 

[Tybee]

Thank you Selflove,
I think if we cut corners, and scrimp and save we can make it happen. My dear sweet father is so super supportive. I''m feeling really loved right now.

 

[gingerBcookie]

OMG -- gogeous dress gorgeous location --- your wedding is going to be a knockout!!!! the view needs no comment, it is beyond words and i looooooove that reception place. it has so much character!!! i can''t wait to hear your ideas ofr decor!!