Alyson & Vinay had known each other for years, always in the same circle of friends. Life eventually brought them back to their hometown, and when they reconnected in 2020, it was as if no time had passed. Their conversations flowed effortlessly, and it became clear that something special was unfolding. From that day on, they remained in constant contact, growing closer with each passing moment. It wasn't an instant realization that Vinay was "the one," but rather a gradual journey of discovering each other's qualities and falling in love.
The proposal came during a romantic weekend getaway to celebrate their second anniversary. They shared a private dinner on the beach, with Vinay visibly nervous. Despite the flicker of uncertainty, there was a brief power outage at the hotel, adding a touch of humor to the evening. When the lights returned, the moment became magical as Vinay got down on one knee and asked the question that would change their lives forever.
Planning their wedding while living in Belize and organizing a 3-day celebration for 130 guests in Jamaica was no small feat. Yet, with the help of their exceptional wedding planner, Kimberley Dunkley-Watkins of The Dragonfly Experience, every detail came together seamlessly. The Sangeet was a vision of vibrant colors, with a disco-neon-jungle theme transforming the conference room into an otherworldly setting filled with blue, green, and purple hues, all brought to life by Tai Flora's stunning decor. The wedding embraced a vivid palette of pink, magenta, and orange, set against the lush backdrop of a garden by the ocean. The weekend was filled with personal touches, from the bridesmaids and groomsmen's coordinating outfits to the breathtaking scenery that framed each event.
Guests were especially captivated by the Sangeet, a vibrant introduction to Indian culture for many who had never experienced such an event. The night began with a Jamaican barbeque on the beach, blending local flavor with the festivities, and left the guests immersed in the lively spirit of the celebration.
One of the bride's fondest memories of the wedding day was the ceremony, where time seemed to stand still. In that brief, intimate exchange of vows, she and Vinay were lost in their world, joking and smiling, eagerly anticipating the moment they would officially begin their new life together.
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How did you meet your Groom and when did you know he was "the one"?
I have known Vinay for years, and we've always had some of the same friends. We both left Belize young for university. I went to Texas, and he went to Kentucky. I returned to Belize in 2019, and he came back in 2020. Before things got tough in Belize for COVID-19, all our friends got together, and we had not seen each other for years. Once we started talking, it was like nothing had changed, and we had been in touch for years. I think we both realized how much we liked each other that day! Since then, we have been in touch every day. Sometimes people think there is one moment when you know that someone is "the one," but I think it's also amazing when you spend time with someone, and you gradually get to know all their qualities, and you begin to fall in love with each part of them.
Share the scoop on your Proposal Story!
We went on a weekend getaway for our 2-year anniversary. We had a private dinner on the beach. I could tell he was nervous, but I wasn't sure if he was going to propose. It was funny because there was actually a blackout at the hotel while we were at dinner! Once the lights came back on,
Tell us how you went about planning your wedding, and your overall experience with the Venues, Hair & Makeup, Outfits, Decor Theme, and all of the other important details.
We both agreed that we could have a longer engagement, and we wanted to get married between the months of January - May, and since we got engaged in September 2022, we waited until the following January 2024 to get married. Planning was great, but it was also stressful as we were planning a wedding in Jamaica while living in Belize. Also, we were planning a 3-day weekend for around 130 guests. But, we had the best wedding planning, Kimberley Dunkley-Watkins of the Dragonfly Experience, who put us in touch with the best vendors for our wedding. I really had no worries with her, and she took care of everything. I knew that for our Sangeet, I wanted tons of decor and a completely transformed room. That's why I chose a disco/neon/jungle theme. The colors were mostly blue, green, and purple. The decor by Tai Flora was amazing. For the wedding day, I chose pink, magenta, and orange as the colors as I wanted a colorful wedding. The Hotel was the perfect setting as the Sangeet was in a large conference room that was totally transformed. The wedding was in a beautiful garden, and the reception was in a larger garden next to the ocean. For the Sangeet, the bridesmaids and groomsmen matched the theme of both nights, with blue lehengas and sherwanis for the Sangeet, and pink bridesmaids dresses and matching groomsmen ties for the wedding day.
What did your guests particularly love about your Wedding?
Because most of our guests had never been to an Indian wedding or any sort of Indian event, our guests really loved our Sangeet. For the first night, we had a Jamaican barbeque on the beach, so I think the guests really got into the Jamaican vibe that night. I think guests loved the variety in each of the events.
Was there a really special moment in your wedding that constantly replays in your mind?
I really enjoyed my entire wedding day/night. Our ceremony was quick, but it felt like my husband and I were in our own world the entire ceremony. I think we spoke and joked with each other during the entire ceremony. I think we were really excited to finally see each other after not spending the night before together.
Do you have any words of wisdom for Brides-To-Be?
Enjoy your wedding! Don't stress on the day because you've done all you can do. No one will know if something goes wrong! Ensure you and your husband have the best time, whether you choose to have an intimate wedding or large wedding. The day will go by so quickly.
