Dreaming of a wedding in a tropical island paradise? Of the sand between your toes and the ocean behind you? Deborah Joseph brings you expert advice and details on how to co-ordinate a wedding that is tailor-made for you.

Based in picturesque St. John in Antigua, Deborah Joseph is one of the island’s top wedding co-ordinators. She is known for her unrivalled attention to detail, and the personal touch that she adds for each of her clients.

Educated in the hospitality industry and front line services, she attended Cornell University in the United States, and the University of Cyprus. This led to her career in the service industry that includes working both abroad and in Antigua. Her love for promoting the Caribbean island of Antigua was so strong, that in 2002, she started her very own business, ‘Events Management Antigua’ (EMA), that allows her to sell the intimate and romantic sites around the island. She says, “I was the guest services manager at a leading hotel for over ten years and I enjoyed what I did, so that when I decided to go on my own, I made it a full time business.”

Wedding co-ordination is just one of her profi les at EMA that allows her to put her skills in the service industry into practise. Her inspiration, creativity and expertise have enabled her to off er a “full-service approach” which permits her clients the luxury of relaxing, while her team takes care of the details for seminars, corporate and other special events.

What is a wedding co-ordinator?

A wedding co-ordinator is a professional who looks after every need of the bride and groom; from the planning process to the last dance. Debbie is such a person. Couples who approach her company for their weddings have extensive consultation to ensure that their tastes, personality, and vision of the occasion are catered for.

Why hire a wedding co-ordinator?

• A stress free wedding;
• Exposure to a wedding specialist’s creative input;
• Details handled expertly by professionals;
• Get the best of the best without looking yourself;
• Wedding industry discounts negotiated on your behalf.

Each wedding is unique and a very personal experience for both Debbie and her team. Debbie personally oversees the event; from the inspection of the wedding location to helping with the guest list, and choosing appropriate party favours. Debbie also plans destination weddings- no easy task! But as she says, “My motivation is fulfi lling my client’s needs down to the last detail and giving them the highest level of service.” Her company has planned destination weddings for varying budgets and served clients from far afield.

What is a destination wedding?

A destination wedding is usually an entire weekend of memories with family and close friends in a great vacation spot, instead of one afternoon in a reception hall with a mass of people. Debbie offers her couples beautiful, exotic and romantic places in Antigua to host their wedding.

Wedding packages

Clients are offered a variety of customized packages that can create the perfect intimate or extravagant event. The wedding can take place on one of Antigua’s 365 sunkissed beaches, and it can either be a grand or intimate affair depending on the couple’s desires. Choices range from luxurious hotel grounds and ancient houses to lush tropical gardens.

Basics

The basic wedding packages off ered by Debbie include the wedding cake design, music, menu, wedding location, decoration, floral arrangements, professional photography and video services. The months of April, May, and June are her “high season.”

The Dress

Brides can choose dresses by international designers housed in a local bridal rental shop in St John’s. Here, they can peruse, try on, and choose the perfect wedding dress.

Wedding location

Debbie says “a beach wedding with fl oral archway” is the most sought after wedding. Fryes Beach, on the West Coast of Antigua, is one of the most popular choices, with the best coastline view on the island. Needless to say, wedding photos with this stunning coastal backdrop make beautiful moments to treasure.

The Menu

The menu off ers a variety of local dishes including callaloo, sword fish steak, curry goat and fi let mignon, broiled and served with caramelized onion and tamarind. There is a less formal barbecue menu that off ers salads, and a dessert of pineapple bread pudding.

Honeymoon tours

This is an exclusive service provided by Debbie’s company, whether or not her wedding co-ordinator services were used. Couples honeymooning in Antigua can book a fourhour tour that off ers the sights and attractions of secluded beaches and snorkelling together in shallow waters. All this while sipping on champagne!

Turtle Bay Wedding

Debbie shares her experience of what is involved in putting the perfect wedding together. In one instance, the couple requested a private villa location, with the wedding ceremony in a gazebo next to a pool. To Debbie, this meant only one place: the grounds of the Turtle Bay Club. This charming property provides spacious outdoor accommodation for guests, with a pool facing the sea. Th e wedding was scheduled to start at 4 p.m. to incorporate the setting of the sun as they said “I do”. Antigua’s foremost pannist, Lacu Samuel, provided music as the couple cut their beautiful wedding cake made rich with a tropical pineapple filling.

Conclusion

Planning a wedding can be a long exercise, with all the accompanying headaches and running around. By hiring a wedding planner, the collaboration of your ideas and their experience will enhance and transform your wedding into a stress-free occasion for you. Remember that everything is not under the control of your wedding planner! Debbie shares an anecdote: “The groom got butterfl ies in his stomach and drank too much alcohol before the wedding, causing a really bad upset stomach and delayed the wedding.” Not even your wedding coordinator can foresee moments such as this.

Did You Know?

• In 2005, there was a 21% increase in wedding and honeymoon tourism activity in Antigua;
• In the Caribbean, it is believed that using hibiscus in the bridal bouquet keeps bad omens away;
• According to the Association of Bridal Consultants, the percentage of couples using wedding planners has doubled during the past three years;
• More than 500,000 couples plan a destination wedding every year.

Antigua Wedding Mandatory costs:

Special marriage licence: US $150.00
Registration fee: US $40.00
Marriage Officer fee: US $50.00

Original documents required:

• Valid passport (as proof of citizenship);
• Divorce decree (if either party is divorced);
• Original marriage and death certificates (if either party is widowed).