Glamorous Island Wedding on St. Barths

A bride and groom walk hand-in-hand along a sandy beach near lounge chairs and boats, with palm trees and a building in the background.

Glamorous Island Wedding on St. Barths

June 6, 2025
Words by Kinsley Brown
Photos courtesy of Phillip Van Nostrand

When Jennifer and Dave decided to tie the knot, they knew one thing for certain: a one-day, ballroom-back-home situation just wasn’t their style. “We wanted to celebrate our love for more than one day,” Jennifer shares. “I wanted a wedding weekend with a schedule of fun events and experiences for my intimate guest list.”

So naturally, they set their sights on their favorite destination: the ultra-chic, impossibly scenic island of St. Barths. “The island is glamorous, offers luxury accommodations, exquisite dining, and over-the-top entertainment,” Jennifer says. “It’s magical and I knew this is exactly the vibe, culture, and landscape I wanted for my special weekend.”

The couple and their closest family and friends took over the island for a wedding weekend full of unforgettable moments—think croquembouche and fire shows, pool jumps and private chefs.

Four images show an outdoor waterfront dinner setup with candles, a fire performance, and evening scenes at a beachside venue.

A Ceremony That Felt Like a Dream

The couple exchanged vows at the iconic St Bartholomews Anglican Church, a spot Jennifer had fallen in love with years earlier. “The first time we traveled there together, I brought Dave to the Anglican church and told him that it would be a dream to get married there one day,” she says. And it was.

Jennifer walked down the aisle to a live string performance of Pachelbel’s Canon in D, her father kissing her cheeks before her two-year-old daughter hugged her tightly and gave her away. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

After the “I do’s,” guests made their way to Villa Bleu at Le Barthelemy Hotel and Spa—a luxe beachfront villa that offered the kind of exclusive experience the couple craved. “When visiting Le Barthelemy, they had two private villas on the beach… that accommodated 14. I also loved the feature of being able to have a private wedding at the hotel or villa,” the bride explains. “It felt like the six-star luxury experience I was looking for.”

A collage shows a bride with a white car, a tropical wedding invitation, floral arrangements, and a chapel decorated with pink and white flowers under blue skies. A couple gets married in a church; guests watch the ceremony, the bride and groom sit together, and they exit the church surrounded by flowers and guests.

The Design: Tropical Glam Meets Personal Touch

Jennifer’s obsession with florals and tablescapes played a starring role in the wedding design. “My biggest thing was the decor, flowers, and tablescape,” the bride tells us. “For the welcome party, I wanted to go elegant with a minimalist feel. It was all white roses and all candles at sunset.”

And the reception? A full-blown garden-meets-nightclub vibe. “It was like a garden of roses and peonies, candlelight with cabaret dancers, surf and turf, and ended with everyone jumping in the pool.”

Even the floral design tied back to the proposal. “I wanted to recreate the same bouquet Dave had made when he proposed in St. Barts,” Jennifer says. (Spoiler: he popped the question at sunset on Fort Karl with a photographer, champagne, rose petals, and—of course—flowers.)

A bride in a white gown stands with bridesmaids in light dresses in front of a flower-covered entrance; newlyweds walk down the steps smiling. A wedding setup featuring a floral arch with pink and red flowers, elegant table settings with name cards, and a woman in a white dress at a decorated table.

A Planner Who Became Family

Pulling off a weekend like this—especially on an island—requires a very solid team. Enter Jenn Johnson of Epic Presentations, who Jennifer credits with being an absolute godsend. “At one point, my planner was the first person I spoke to in the morning. She fixed my dress, put on my veil—things I never expected,” the bride recalls. “It’s worth every penny as you can’t execute from afar.”

The couple made two pre-wedding trips to the island to meet vendors, do tastings, and see the spaces firsthand. The rest? Jenn handled it. “Hiring a wedding planner is an absolute must when having a destination wedding,” Jennifer stresses. “Interview a few planners to see which fits you best.”

A decorated outdoor dining table overlooks the ocean, adorned with pink and red flowers, candles, and elegant place settings. A collage shows a floral table setting with a clear menu, a woman in a silver dress, and a dessert table with a croquembouche and cupcakes.

The Magic of Doing It Your Way

Jennifer and Dave’s celebration was not just a wedding—it was a curated, immersive, joy-filled experience. It was white roses, saxophone serenades, a traditional French croquembouche, and an American cake. It was personalized watercolor invitations and cabaret dancers under the stars. It was classy, tropical, and completely unforgettable.

“If we had done it at home,” the bride says, “it would have been basic—5 hours—and I would not have had the same experiences that I could offer my guests.”

We’d say they nailed it.

A collage of a poolside evening celebration featuring a decorated dinner table, a couple holding sparklers, a white cake, and guests dancing under festive lighting.