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Joy & Tom

Effortless and non-traditional, this couple’s elopement embraces the meaning of laid-back island elegance.

As former personal trainers, Joy and Tom found common ground through the very thing that brings them the most happiness: fitness.
“We went to the same gym for our own workouts, and I had my eye on him. But it wasn’t until we bonded over the same move that we finally spoke,” begins Joy.

“After our first interaction, I realized I hadn’t asked for her name,” says Tom. “So, the next day I asked and we kept talking. Eventually, I invited her to dinner and we wound up spending a lot of time together.”

Having met right before the pandemic hit, Joy and Tom ended up programming their own workouts in his driveway, marking the beginning of their relationship.

“I broke the gym rule!” Tom laughs, referencing his own decree not to date someone from the gym. Looking back now, both he and Joy are glad he did.

While most proposals come with flower petals, flashing cameras, and an encore of friends or family, Tom kept things simple and spontaneous.

Living in Florida, the two had always been spoiled with beautiful scenery. But when Tom saw a Florida sunset too good to pass up one evening, he asked Joy to go for a walk along Indian Rocks Beach. Entirely unsuspecting and sporting a Halloween t-shirt, Joy hardly had time to realize what was happening before Tom knelt down and asked her to marry him.

Joy replied with an enthusiastic “yes!”, which was followed shortly after by applause and cheering. To the couple’s surprise, their intimate proposal had been unexpectedly celebrated by a group of onlookers.

“We heard a bunch of cheering behind us and it was a group of women renting a beach house,” recalls Tom. “One woman even sprinted down the beach just to share the photos they took from the balcony!” A blessing in disguise considering they had both left their phones at home.

“We’re very casual and I’m not a big fan of photos, so I didn’t even think about that,” explains Tom. “I just love her in all of her forms; super casual, no makeup on. She’s beautiful.”

When the time came to choose a destination for their nuptials, the pair considered exotic destinations like the Maldives, before opting for Saint Lucia’s charm, convenience and scenery. Wanting a location that offered more than just a beach view, Sandals Grande Saint Lucian — with the towering Pitons, Caribbean Sea and lush mountainscapes in the background — was a perfect fit.

With the support of their onsite wedding planner, Lynn, the couple remained worry-free throughout the overseas planning process. Not only did Lynn and her team secure the Over-the-Water Serenity Wedding Chapel and a local officiant for the couple, she even pre-arranged for extra pieces of wedding cake and a bottle of champagne to be delivered to the couple’s suite, post-wedding.

“We wanted to elope and not deal with the planning, stress or expenses of the wedding,” says Joy. “So, we chose Saint Lucia and it was just the two of us. Neither of us have ever regretted that.”

The wedding day itself was intimate and memorable. Joy and Thomas exchanged handwritten vows with the sea as their witness and kept the decor and florals entirely neutral, allowing the natural scenery to steal the spotlight.

“We both teared up when we exchanged our vows,” admits Tom. “And I hadn’t seen Joy until she walked down the aisle. It was one of my favorite moments.”

Despite Tom’s reluctance for a first dance, the two chose Over and Over Again by Nathan Sykes and Ariana Grande and shared a special moment on the chapel’s sundeck. Following the first dance, the couple enjoyed light hors d’oeuvres, champagne and a cake cutting ceremony.

“Our wedding cake was a two-tier, gluten-free carrot cake,” says Joy, speaking to the resort’s culinary options. “I’m gluten-free and dairy-free, but I always felt taken care of. Whenever we sat down, our servers would immediately ask for dietary restrictions. They modified everything and knew which dishes I should avoid. Everyone was incredibly knowledgeable.”

Inspired by a Sandals Weddings Instagram post, Joy brought the letter C, in honor of their last name, as a cake topper and her own arrangement of decorative flowers to adorn the cake with. As is tradition, the couple brought the top layer home but broke the rules once again by digging into the frozen leftovers two months later for Tom’s birthday.

“We kept an extra piece frozen so we could have it on our actual anniversary. But we wanted to enjoy it before then, too,” says Joy.

After exchanging their vows, the couple kicked off their honeymoon and celebrated for a few more days in Saint Lucia.

“I enjoyed the fact that we had no other demands beyond just the two of us and could do anything we wanted during the day,” shares Tom.

One of their top honeymoon highlights: JJ’s Speed Boat Tour. Offering a comprehensive exploration of Saint Lucia, the excursion featured sulfur mud baths, waterfalls, snorkeling hotspots, and a local lunch dive with the island’s best — and strongest — rum punch. Even the boat ride saw its own version of Caribbean flare.

“Our tour guide was called No Problems, and he had music playing while we were on the boat,” says Tom. “When found out Joy taught Zumba, he had her get up in the front of the boat and choreograph a dance for everyone!”

For couples considering a destination wedding at Sandals Grande Saint Lucian, Joy and Tom's advice is clear: embrace the ease and beauty of getting married in the Caribbean.

“It was the best decision we ever made! Especially eloping and choosing Sandals and the destination. They make it so easy, stress-free and plan everything so you can spend the most time together.”

With minimal stress and maximum relaxation, their experience was a dream come true. From the welcoming staff to the enchanting scenery, Sandals provided everything needed for a picture-perfect celebration.

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