Island life offers a sweet escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Everything simply seems to move slower in the Caribbean, and it is this pace of living that draws many to host a tropical destination wedding there. Jerrica and Carson wanted a laid-back ceremony to reflect their easy-going nature.

The couple lives in West Virginia where Carson is a chicken farmer and Jerrica is a yoga and body movement instructor. Get the easy-going nature now? Their decision of which island to say their “I do’s” on seemed as lax as the couple themselves.

“Eleuthera, Bahamas is where my family has their vacation home, and it’s the first place we took a vacation together as a couple. To us, it was an easy and obvious choice,” the bride says.

A lot of the couple’s friends and family had already visited the island, but Jerrica and Carson were eager to show it to those that hadn’t experienced its beauty. The first challenge that presented itself was how to get to the Bahamian island of Eleuthera. That’s where hiring Mish with Boy Meets Girl Weddings proved an invaluable decision.

“Using a wedding planner made all the difference. She was familiar with the vendors and logistics on the island, she lived locally and took care of everything for us,” the couple says.

After adding up all the costs, Jerrica and Carson think their per-person pay was more expensive by choosing a destination wedding, but they balanced this by having fewer people with a more intimate setting.

“We spent eight days on the island with our guests arriving at various points throughout the week,” the couple says. “Some of the days spent on the beach with our loved ones are among our favorites memories.” Additionally, to their delight, Jerrica and Carson’s closest friends and family all got to know each other, and by the end of the week when the ceremony happened, everyone was close!

The two believe that had they held a wedding back home, they would have missed out on the opportunity to host a fun, relaxing weekend. “It was so much fun seeing everyone come together and it really made it special for us,” the couple says. “Not only did we have the best day of our lives but it was the best week of our lives too!”

Vendors: Photography & Videography: Jenna Wilde Photography; Planning/Florals/Design/Cake: Boy Meets Girl Weddings; Venue/Catering: La Bougainvillea; Gown: Berta Bridal; Shoes: Bella belle; Gown: Berta; Bridesmaid’s Dresses: Show Me Your Mumu; Groom & Groomsmen Suits: Menguin; Rings: Kay; Band: The High Rock Band