Wedding Photography

Fishing is a longstanding tradition in the scenic town of Soufriere, at the southern tip of Saint Lucia. Fishing is also a big deal for Daryl Solomon and Carmen Sultana, and the town, which shares that passion, was an appropriate spot for them to be finally joined in marriage. Saint Lucia’s second town hosted what was the second wedding for both 49-year-old Carmen, and 51-year-old Daryl. They observed the formalities at Villa Colibri a lovely cottage in Soufriere. Bill Wedding Photography captured all their special images with their loved-ones, including Carmen’s three children Veronica, Matthew and Miranda. Being wed in Saint Lucia was an easy choice for the couple. “We knew we wanted someplace special” says Daryl, an environmental engineer from New Jersey, who shares a love of the sea and adventure with Carmen, an OB/GYN Physician from Philadelphia.

The two met online on www.plentyoffish.com. Carmen says, “I was looking for someone who owns a bog boat and Daryl was advertising online that he had a boat and he also liked to go skiing and fishing and running and everything that I like to do.” Daryl agrees, “We both had the same activity list, same things about each other we both liked.” “Plus I liked his picture he was very handsome,” says Carmen but Daryl hints that she was fishing for a little more, adding “In my pictures I didn’t have any shirts on.” The two have had two years of getting to know each other although Carmen says she knew Daryl was IT “By the first real date”.

The Sultanas exchange nuptial vows in St Lucia.

There was a mutual attraction initially but they say it took a couple of dates before they actually kissed. Not because of the shirt but extra caution over the flu. Daryl put his best foot forward at their first meeting, he says, “So she wouldn’t run screaming, I wore my best shirt,” but she says, ‘It was old flannel shirt… When I decided that he wasn’t crazy I gave him my phone numbers.” “I told him I had three kids and he didn’t run away,” says Carmen but the deal was sealed on a trip to a family wedding. Daryl says, “We pretty much knew that we worked well together through stressful times and non-stressful times. And we helped each other. Also at the same time I knew there was a possibility of learning from each other and growing not just staying complacent.” There was definitely no sitting around on the one week island Wedding vacation. Carmen and Daryl explored the Soufriere waterfalls, volcano and hot Sulphur Springs. The two lovers of  Wedding Photography also enjoyed being surrounded by the ocean.

St. Lucia Wedding Photographer

For Americans John and Shannon Wilson, their joining in holy matrimony was not about formalities. “We’re not into the big wedding at the church; a thousand people you don’t know. We wanted something a little more laid back, low key.” The two became one on the tranquil shores on Saint Lucia in a lovely ceremony surrounded by family. Every moment of their wonderful wedding day was captured in stunning colour by St. Lucia Wedding Photographer, Bill Mortley. “Love them,” says John about the wedding photographs.

Like many others, the Wilsons found St. Lucia Wedding Photographer, Bill Mortley as they read the reviews on the island on Trip Advisor. This got them thinking about wedding photos and they began exchanging emails with a couple who wrote one of the glowing reviews. They also read of the extremes to which Bill has gone to ensure the very best for his clients, even as some hotels seek to ban outside photographers and force couples to use only their service. After contacting Bill, they were further captivated. Happily Bill has exceeded their expectations. “Couldn’t ask for more; It’s beautiful,” says John. Shannon 29 and a Nurse at Virginia Mason, met John, a 31-year-old Programmer Manager for Air Solutions, at an acquaintance’s going away party.

Having known each other for over three years, the newlyweds, who live in Seattle Washington, feel marriage has changed the game. “Now that she’s my wife, I can’t just say I quit”, John jokes about his new commitment. For Shannon, “It just feels weird.”

The Wilsons’ day was far from strange, dawning bright and remaining beautiful. “I’m loving it, it’s been perfect, It was HOT….really HOT,” says Shannon. “It’s supposedly the hurricane season but it’s been beautiful every day.” For Shannon and John being away from the crowds at home is priceless.

They did need one important slice of home, their family, to complete the occasion. John and Shannon took time out to explore the island on Joy’s sailing tour but took advantage of their honeymoon in paradise to relax together. “Every other day has been poolside,” smiles Shannon. Post by St. Lucia Wedding Photographer.

Having lived abroad for several years, it was a heartwarming welcome home for Tessa Saunders when she returned to Saint Lucia for her nuptials with fiancé Michael Schreck, a native of New Jersey, USA.

The sunny setting was a natural choice for the long-time lovers, who also wanted a traditional church wedding. “I always wanted Tessa to get married at home because the cathedral in Castries is just beautiful and I wanted her to get married in her childhood parish and where she grew up,” says Michael . Tessa remembers, “about 4 years ago we were at walking down the shore and we were talking about weddings and I told him I want to get married at home. ‘

At home it was as the two joined Tessa’s family for what was to be the first introduction to her lifemate. “I was very nervous,” Says Michael, “Besides being an inter-racial couple, I am 13 years her senior, older than her oldest sibling. But from the first 30 seconds when we reached up Pavee Hill it felt right and I felt at home.

Tessa’s mother was just very endearing and the whole family, her brothers and sisters, Nigel, Francis, Maria and Dylan, really accepted me and didn’t judge me.”

The meeting was no less warming than Tessa’s first with his family. “It was a little intimidating,” Tessa says in turn, “Because the first time I met Michael’s family his dad had passed away. We were already going out for a year but the first time I met them was a couple of days before his dad’s funereal. I walked in expecting everybody to be sad and upset but everybody welcomed me and it felt right from the beginning.”

There, as in Saint Lucia, the difference was accepted but still noticed. At Michael’s urging Tessa recounts, “It’s funny because the repast, which we call the wake here, was in Wisconsin which is like, farmland. Everybody was coming up to me saying ‘hi, you must be Tessa, Michael’s girlfriend’ and I was asking myself ‘how does everybody know I’m Michael’s girlfriend?’ and I realized I was the only Black girl there.” Their peals of laughter ring out together at the seven-year-old family joke.

Michael, currently a chef working at the Indy Race League, and Tessa, who now works in accounts receivables at Hilton hotel, first met on the job. “I was manager on duty one night at the hotel we were both working at and Tessa was working at the front desk. I saw her smile just light up the lobby and I knew right then that I just had to meet her. There’s also a glitch to that because she thought I was an ass when she first met me,” says Michael, and Tessa quickly agrees, “Yes I did.”

Posing in the garden

More than seven years later, the first testy meeting has resulted in Tessa’s first and Michael’s second marriage. Michael says it was down to the wire in 2008 for a very patient Tessa . “I was teasing her because she was like ‘if you don’t marry me in December…’, that was in June, and I was like, ‘is that all it takes? I can last till December’.”

Wedding album page

The June wedding saw the couple sticking to the religious theme and using the Benedictine Centre at the Morne for their special occasion. They were more than satisfied with the service provided by the nuns who run the place. Michael, who always believed nuns to be guarded and cloistered from attending weekday mass as a child in New Jersey, was pleasantly surprised.  “When I got there Sister Emmanuella, who we had talked to over the phones, and all the other nuns were all so sweet and welcoming.”

The stunning views (the Caribbean Sea on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other), the friendliness of the staff and the quality of the food service, had even Chef Michael impressed. “It’s just very warm and friendly. You feel like you’re at home.”

Various poses for wedding album

Tessa saw the magic from the start. “As soon as we walked in and saw the church, the archway was like wrought iron and there were initials ‘M’ and ‘T’ and that just sold it for us.”

Although there were rules to follow, such as keeping the music down, the ceremony was for Tessa, “More than I imagined it would be.” So enjoyable, kids a jovial Michael, “I still had my hand up one girl’s dress when I was after the garter. So I was happy.”

The real joy however was being surrounded by family and friends, even with the limited number from overseas. “We never would have been able to get our wedding done without the help of our family. And it’s wonderful that our family got together for Tessa and I and everybody had a good time.”

The guests list was fitting for the two who met in a hotel, with twenty-five people flying in from England, America, the Philippines, Ghana, Portugal and Haiti, the only thing missing was international flags to welcome everyone.

Guests also got to enjoy the beautiful sights and sounds of Saint Lucia with a round the island boat trip replacing the traditional New Jersey post wedding brunch. The full day trip, “It was fun from the moment we got on the boat until we got back,” included stops at the famous Sulphur Springs, swimming and snorkeling at Anse Cochon and lots of local eats.

Having fun with photographer Bill Mortley

In typical style Michael ends with the cherry on top, “We should have had the boat ride before the wedding because by that time I would have learnt to dance a little more Lucian style. By Sunday Tessa’s brothers and sisters had given me some pointers and I had loosened up my hips.”

Don’t worry Michael all the dance steps were caught by my snappy professional lenses and the high quality memories will remain with you and your guests for generations.