The Couple
Jenia and Kyle met on Bumble, a dating app where women make the first move and can swipe on profiles they’re interested in. Their first date was at a food truck park just a couple days later. Kyle popped the big question on a beach in Oak Island, North Carolina. It was during a family trip with Jenia’s family, and Kyle proposed with his daughter on the beach, and everyone celebrated together afterward. She said, “His daughter was there and my niece was there, it was really sweet!”
The Planning
They wanted a destination wedding because it sounded like less stress in general, and provided multiple days to spend with loved ones. Working with their Destify agent, Candyce, was quick and easy. She responded even when out of office. The couple chose the AZUL Beach Resort in Negril. It was in a central place easy for family members to fly into, was family-friendly for younger wedding guests, and was chic and modern too.
Working with the wedding department was a simple process too. They built much of their wedding online and opted for customizations to make the wedding more unique. They didn’t talk to a coordinator on the phone until it was much closer to the wedding date. Jenia said, “I think we did all the planning in 3 phone calls”.
The Wedding
The couple stayed at the resort for 10 days, so they had time for a mini-honeymoon after the wedding ceremony. Over 40 guests attended, plus her photographer that Jenia had brought from the States. The day before the wedding the couple hosted a semi-private dinner at one of the resort’s restaurants. Everyone met up at an oceanside bar before dinner and got to know each other first.
Jenia got ready in the bridal suite with the bridesmaids, featuring appetizers and champagne. Kyle was in his own suite that the resort provided on the night before the wedding. The couple didn’t see each other in their wedding attire until the ceremony started. They held their ceremony on the sky deck, with ocean views. After, they took pictures while the guests enjoyed a cocktail hour in the Indigo Denim room.
A rain delay forced the couple to eat inside for the first half of their reception, but the weather cleared up after and partying followed on the beach with dancing and a DJ. The couple ended the celebrations with a day-after brunch in the morning, and a boat excursion two days after the wedding for guests who were still vacationing. It was the perfect send-off for their beautiful destination wedding.
Looking Back
Jenia definitely recommends having a destination wedding, since it meant she got to spend days instead of just a few precious hours with their guests. Many of their guests had never left the country before, and it provided unforgettable memories for everyone who came.