Save the Date

You didn’t think we’d forget to update the wedding blog, did you?

Clearly, you just received an exciting, random Save the Date via snail mail, and you’re wondering what the heck we’re planning. Maybe you’re thinking...didn’t we celebrate enough the first time?! Well, yes, you did. But we want to do it all over again (sort of)…

We’re planning a wedding weekend reunion for our five-year anniversary on May 1, 2015, and we want you to celebrate with us. Of course, we realize you probably have one or a million things going on such as: kids’ (plural) soccer games, being pregnant (Anguilla is still fun sober!), moving to the ‘burbs (or an exotic location like Cincinnati), or possibly even planning your own private, romantic vacation since the kids are now old enough to be dropped off at the grandparents for an extended period of time. So, let us be clear:

1) We love you and want you to celebrate with us in Anguilla.

2) Feel no pressure whatsoever to attend. We totally get it. 

So, all that aside, here’s what we’re thinking for Anguilla 2015…

You and your husband / wife / boyfriend / girlfriend / BFF who likes to party fly down to join us in Anguilla sometime in the range of late April. We’re hosting the big party on our actual anniversary, Friday, May 1 – a true beach party blowout that will go down in history. And then you fly out whenever the heck you want.

We’ll plan a smattering of other gatherings like dinners, happy hours, a beach day, dancing at Elvis’ until 2am and those details will become clear early next year. Be sure you will see the best of Anguilla without all those pesky wedding weekend obligations. This is just fun.

We’ll also be recommending most likely two hotels at different price points. But we’re totally open to folks staying wherever they feel comfortable if they have a preference. More information on that early next year as well. No worries to book a hotel until then.

So if you think you’re down for the most fun weekend ever to celebrate Korinne + Deej "one love" and our love for you, we think you should join us. YOLO.

If you think you might be interested, email us and let us know. No hard RSVP here clearly – we’ll ask for that later – but if you even have a general interest we’d love to know. There aren’t too many metrics out there for percentage of RSVPs to a destination wedding reunion party, so we’re just trying to gauge interest.

Finally, since you know we’re major planners, we’ll be updating this website in the coming weeks and months with flight information (no need to book until early next year, in case you forgot it’s easiest to fly into St. Maarten), plus fun stuff to get you excited about traveling back to the most beautiful island in the world.

Now to a few of our favorite wedding photos, plus check out the slideshow below. You’re in there somewhere!

We love you guys! 

Korinne + D.J

Wedding Photos

Enjoy the photos. H/T to photographer and friend, Jin Lee! 

Thanks for Coming!

Korinne and I just want to say thank you so much for joining us in Anguilla, and helping make it the best day (days?) of our lives.  We had an "unbelievable" (thanks Vaughan) time with all of you, and we don't think it could have gone any better.  We appreciate the long distances you traveled, over boat, plane, car, van, tuk-tuk, etc., and are just really happy that you could all make it.

We are now at Jumby Bay off of Antigua, heading to the Grenadines on Saturday.  Jumby Bay is awesome, if someone is looking for a low-key vacation where the only thing to do is lounge around, eat, drink, and be with that one person in your life.  So that's what we're doing...

Thanks to Sarah Davis for this photo (which, since she uses Picasa, nicely downloaded to my computer along w/ 90 others in about 20 seconds):

Come to Anguilla! We're Here...

Korinne and I just arrived in Anguilla this afternoon.  We're very much looking forward to all of your arrivals.  All the welcome bags are packed, the plans are set, and all you have to do is show up (and follow the instructions/itinerary in your welcome letter...unless you don't).  The first of you arrive tomorrow (Wednesday) and we're sure you'll all have a good time.

If you need any last minute refreshers on travel or island info, the blog archive on the right below the Angulla crest and welcome note has links to every post in chronological order.  Click on the month and it will show the names of the posts.  The welcome letter will also have plenty of info on paper, so if you forget or don't have time to look, don't worry.

Well, we're going to enjoy the next couple days (though tomorrow is all wedding prep) and then the big show starts.  See you soon...

Dune Preserve

You really cannot say that you've been to Anguilla unless you've been to Dune Preserve, the bar/restaurant owned by the legendary Bankie Banx.  Bankie is a local who is a fairly well-known reggae singer, and he's been the proprietor of the Dune Preserve for over 15 years...and through numerous hurricanes that have caused varying amounts of damage to the sand dunes and the bar itself. 

Every March, Bankie hosts Moonsplash, a music festival that draws bands that you have heard of.  Also, Jimmy Buffett's "Live in Anguilla" concert CD was recorded at Dune Preserve.  And Bankie usually plays live himself every Wednesday.  In fact, if you're going to be on island on Wednesday, we will all be lucky enough to witness it in person.

Dune Preserve is (say it with me now) right on the beach next to the CuisinArt resort - very convenient if you're staying there, though none of us are for the wedding.  When there isn't live music, it's just a relaxed beach bar where everyone is friendly, especially a few rum punches into the night.  Korinne and I actually saw Lucy Liu there one time, enjoying the musical stylings of Bankie Banx.  Despite that sighting, we highly recommend hanging out there...and we all probably will.  Trust me.

Here's Dune Preserve from the beach at CuisinArt:

Trattoria Tramonto

If you're looking for some good standard Italian fare in a relaxed setting right on the beach (imagine that!), Trattoria Tramonto is your place.  The locals call it "TT" because for some reason nobody seems to be able to pronounce the word "trattoria."  Kinda funny.  It's located at Shoal Bay West, right next to the Blue Waters villas and close to all the hotels where we're all staying.

The food is really tasty and it's one of the few (only?) Italian places on the island.  I won't stick my neck out and judge it relative to the cooking of Mamas Ryan or Murphy (despite the Irish married names, they are both of Italian descent...and make some mean chicken cutlets).  But it definitely does the trick.  It must, because TT is a favorite of the celebrities that make their way to Anguilla - check out the photos on the wall when you walk in.  Maybe Denzel will be having another birthday party there.

Actually, I just checked out the website (http://www.trattoriatramonto.com/) and it looks like they've posted all the celebrity photos on the restaurant's home page.  TT was one of our backups for the wedding ceremony/reception in case Smokey's fell through.  You'll certainly enjoy the food and the atmosphere if you make it up to TT.  Here's a shot of the restaurant during the day: