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Lauren & Matt

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An epic, seven-year journey to “I do” culminated in an intimate wedding along the shores of Negril, Jamaica.

When Lauren and Matt first met in June 2017 at the NCAA Bowling Championships, neither imagined their journey would lead to a beautiful wedding on the beaches of Jamaica. Spanning seven years, their love story was not without its challenges, but was well worth the happy ending.

After two years of long distance, the pair graduated from college and Matt moved to Illinois to join Lauren as she pursued her master’s. Knowing this was a forever kind of love, Matt planned an engagement that included their closest family and friends, and in 2020 the two were engaged at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.
Lauren and Matt extended the engagement for three years due to Lauren's master's program and the global pandemic, but remained focused on their dream of a beach wedding, eager to celebrate their love with those who meant the most to them.

Choosing Beaches Negril in Jamaica felt like a natural fit. The couple had always been passionate about travel, and with their busy schedules, they wanted to escape to a tropical paradise to say their vows. “We Googled the best beach weddings and Jamaica popped up. I love the ocean, being on a beach chair, and sipping on a drink,” Lauren explains.

Beaches Resorts stood out for several reasons, including their exceptional reputation for beach weddings, proximity to the U.S., and the ability to accommodate guests with young children. “My niece is 12 years old and hung out in the pool the whole time. Even though she didn’t have to be around adults the entire weekend, we knew she was safe there,” Lauren adds.

After a brief call with Beaches, the couple made a spur-of-the-moment decision and set their wedding date for October 2023. “Lauren’s birthday was the day before our wedding, so the timing just worked out really well.” mentions Matt.
With the help of an external wedding planner and the Beaches weddings team, the couple’s vision was brought to life and everything fell into place seamlessly. “You’re putting a lot of trust into someone you’ve never met and they don’t know what you like or what your vision is, so having a planner was so important,” says Lauren.

Lauren and Matt connected regularly with their planner — communication being the key element to a successful event. They also had support from their onsite Beaches coordinator, Nicole, who was a valuable asset for planning and executing the day of. To the couple’s greatest surprise, their preferred reception venue — a beach hut that was originally booked — became available and was secured for the couple prior to arrival.

When the wedding day finally arrived, Lauren and Matt recall the level of service and attention provided by the staff. “I felt like we were royalty there,” says Lauren. “Everyone was phenomenal. We tell everyone to look at Sandals or Beaches because the small stuff they did meant so much. It was second to none.”

The wedding was an intimate affair with around 45 guests, including close friends and relatives from New Jersey, where Matt is originally from. At least 20 members of their New Jersey crew made the trip together, adding to the sense of togetherness and excitement.

Lauren’s parents stayed in a butler level suite, which was an added perk for the bridesmaids getting ready in the room. “There were two butlers and they were fantastic,” says Lauren. “They kept the food and champagne coming. The butlers and staff really become family for the week and make sure you’re taken care of the entire time.”

Lauren did a first look with her bridesmaids, brothers and dad who hadn’t seen her dress before. “I created a vision board and had time to plan. I wanted plain and sparkly. Something that looked good on me and felt good. Something breathable,” says Lauren. The dress, which was made in Australia, was a sparkly mermaid cut with a beautiful, long train and fitted top. “I had always wanted a long, sparkle studded veil and I got it, but it was one of the first things I took off after photos because of the wind,” Lauren laughs.

Instead of a traditional first look, the couple opted for a first touch. This maintained an element of surprise for when Lauren finally walked down the aisle, and gave the pair a chance to exchange their vows in private.

In true Caribbean fashion, every aspect of the wedding was hosted on the beach. A beautiful white structure with flowing navy linen was center stage at the ceremony, and featured a sand aisle framed by white vase lanterns. To match the scene, the bridesmaids wore tan and beige, while the gents sported navy pants, white shirts, suspenders, bowties, and HEYDUDE shoes.

The wedding party also included two adorable flower boys who wore fanny packs and cowboy hats for a sprinkle of fun.
Following the ceremony, guests mingled over cocktails and light bites while the newlyweds snuck away for extra photos. For the main course, Lauren and Matt selected an Italian buffet — a nod to Matt’s family heritage that they claim “could have fed the entire resort!” The pasta bar was made-to-order with a chef who cooked everything right in front of you. Salad, oysters, seafood, and chicken were also in the lineup giving guests a wide variety of options. The couple’s signature Appley Ever After cocktails were also a huge hit — so much so that they ran out an hour and a half into the reception!

Not ones to shy away from a dance floor,** Lauren and Matt worked with the Beaches team to secure a high-end, LED-lit dance floor**, complete with a heart-shaped light that followed them during their first dance.

“The event had such high adrenaline and we wanted to dance, make the most of it, and talk to everyone,” says Lauren. “Sitting down for five minutes to eat or drink felt like we were missing the entire thing.”

Looking back on the weekend, Matt shares that marrying Lauren was the best moment of the weekend and having his step brother as his best man. He was also thrilled to have a lengthier celebration period than a typical wedding. “I don’t know how people get married for just one day. We had the whole week at Beaches, and it was amazing!”

As for the bride, the first looks with her brothers and dad were emotional. “I’m the youngest and only girl, so it’s one of those moments you alway go back to,” she shares. “The photos captured such an intimate moment and vulnerability that isn’t in any of our blood, but it was such a moving moment for everyone who saw. We were all crying.”

Among the excitement and emotions, the couple looks back fondly on the time spent with their loved ones and expresses the importance of living in the moment. “Go all out! Enjoy the process of building the dream wedding you want to have and spend time with your loved ones who are there because it all goes by so fast.”

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