This past weekend I was privileged enough to travel to Jamaica to witness one of my friends (and employees) get married on a pier in Jamaica, overlooking the crystal clear water. We flew in on Friday and Saturday I worked on my tan until it was time to head off to the wedding at 3pm. Glasses of wine were poured beforehand and the ceremony started on time and was only about 15 minutes long. After the ceremony we went inside to a private room and that is where I really started to notice the different vibe of an island wedding vs. one here. The couple sat down, champagne was poured and the toasts began. Since it was an intimate group everybody gave a toast. The coordinator had the couple cut the cake (yup - right after the toast) and then pieces were passed around. And that was it for the expected festivities. We ate a light hors d’oeuvres reception and the couple started with photos. Once the couple headed outside to look for picturesque sites for photos (um, hello, its Jamaica - everything is picturesque) we had cocktails by the pool and waited for them to finish. The couple had arranged a private dinner for all of us which was a great way to let the guests get to know each other better. If it were not for the dinner the entire wedding was over in 45 minutes - quick and beautiful.

One piece of advice for couples looking to do this - be conscious of the location of the hotel in regards to the location of the airport. When guests are flying in for 72 hours or less, every hour is coveted. The closer you are to the airport, the more you can relax and unwind with friends and family.