wedsandhons 13 17/3/09 15:00 Page 2
knowledge weddings & honeymoons
ttglive.com
Roving Reader
Battle of the
love islands
Hayley Holder, manager of Thomson in
Waterloo, visited several Sandals Resorts
in Saint Lucia and Antigua on a weddings
fam trip. Here she puts the resorts and
the islands head to head
ST LUCIA. ANTIGUA.
Sandals Grande St Lucian Grand Pineapple Resort The verdict: St Lucia vs Antigua
This is one of my favourite properties. It Antigua St Lucia has a green and tropical
oozes elegance, with lavish furnishings and I was pleasantly surprised by this feel to it, while Antigua has 365
crystal chandeliers. Here we experienced a resort – after all it is a basic three- beaches – one for each day of the
“Water lily” mock-ceremony by wedding star property with three-star prices. year – making this island a haven for
event designer Preston Bailey. It was pouring But the location is beautiful with a sun/beach worshippers. If a couple
with rain on this day but a marquee was set fabulous beach in its own cove. The wanted to get away from it all I’d probably
up so it wasn’t a problem. We also had a gazebo-style wedding location on the cliff recommend Antigua, whereas St Lucia is
presentation on weddings, with samples of top was my favourite location from the better for couples who want more in the
bouquets, menus, photo packages and so on. whole trip. I strongly recommend that guests way of excursions. St Lucia also has the
choose to stay in the spacious beach water- advantage of having three Sandals properties
Sandals Halcyon Beach front rooms. within close proximity which means a larger
This property is more intimate and compact wedding group could spread across them,
than Sandals Grande with an English country Sandals Grande Antigua and the couple could stay separately. I think
garden feel. You feel like the staff will quickly This fabulous resort is made up of two my overall personal preference was Sandals
get to know you and your likes and dislikes. very different villages. The older Caribbean Grande St Lucian as it had several suitable
Here we saw the “Floral elegance” Preston village has tropical gardens and bright locations that were equally beautiful.
Bailey collection, which I thought was per- floral decor in the rooms. Wedding
fectly in keeping with this beautiful resort. locations included archways on the beach, My guilty secret. . .
We ate at the Pier restaurant, which is one and a quiet spot in the gardens. The new Before this trip I had been guilty in the
of my favourites. You can hear the ocean Mediterranean Village is an “all-suite” past of just telling my customers that “the
lapping in the background as you dine, and village with a real sense of class. The wedding co-ordinator in resort would take
the waiters and waitresses are dressed in wedding locations in this village have a care of everything”.
authentic Caribbean costumes. much more open feel. A beautiful water I now have a much clearer idea of what
fountain lends itself to some fantastic this involves and I could field most
Sandals Regency St Lucia wedding photo opportunities. questions if asked. Customers occasionally
The panoramic views of the ocean when you have concerns about “conveyor belt wed-
arrive in reception here are breathtaking. dings” but the maximum number of
We saw a mock wedding in a gazebo ceremonies in a day at Sandals is nine - it
overlooking the ocean. There is one room is usually far less than this.
type that blew me away on this resort; the In the current economic climate, Sandals
“Million Dollar Suites” with private plunge offers excellent value for money. The free
pools. Here, as at the other two St Lucia basic wedding package is great for a couple
properties, we were shown some rooms with on a budget. Equally, extras such as adding a
special romantic touches such as candles, steel band or special table decorations, right
petals on the bed, balloons, chocolates and up to a fabulous Preston Bailey wedding
champagne. Hayley was impressed by the Millionaire Suites at Sandals Regency St Lucia package, are easily taken care of.
60 20.03.2009
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