Destination Paradise

Jaime Stewart-McConnell knows a thing or two about romance. She is the daughter of Butch Stewart, the legendary chairman of Sandals Resorts, grew up on the magical island of Jamaica and married the boy she’d been friends with since childhood. Not to mention that Preston Bailey designed her spectacular wedding on her family’s estate in Northern Jamaica.

We first met Jaime at the celebrity-filled opening weekend ceremony of the Grand Antigua where we were lucky enough to experience Caribbean hospitality first hand. Here she gives us her thoughts on destination beach weddings, ideas for bridemaids’ gifts and tells us why her newest property in the Bahamas is the perfect honeymoon getaway.

Why is an island wedding so special?
An island wedding is the ultimate in romance. It doesn’t get any better than saying your vows with your feet in the warm sand with gentle breezes blowing in from the Caribbean sea, and amazing sunsets reflecting in the water. Whether you bring along your family and closest of friends or it’s just the two of you, island weddings will give you memories that will last a lifetime!

What is the one piece of advice you can offer to brides planning a destination wedding?
Enjoy every minute of it! That said, it doesn’t hurt to have a professional assist you with the details! For me, Preston Bailey and the planners on the island made sure every little detail was taken care of. I couldn’t have done it without them.

You custom designed necklaces for each of your bridesmaids. What are some other original ideas for gifts?
Whatever you give, it’s important that the gift is personal and will remind them of your special friendship. If it’s a custom creation, like the necklaces I gave to my best friends, think about the individual bridesmaid’s personality (not just how it will look with their dress) to ensure they get a lifetime of use out of your present. My girls still wear those necklaces today! I also gave them each a personalized tote bag, which I embroidered with my funny nicknames for them. To spice up my gift bags I threw in some cute items from lingerie brand Hanky Panky in the same colors of my wedding, pink and green!

Tell us a little about your new Royal Plantation at Fowl Cay. Looks perfect for a romantic honeymoon.
Royal Plantation Island in the Exumas, Bahamas is simply incredible! When my family first visited, we knew it was like nowhere we had been before – and we know the Caribbean. Even though it wasn’t for sale, we made an offer before our four-day vacation had ended. Royal Plantation Island is now the second resort in the Royal Plantation Collection, with the flagship in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.

The Island is 50 acres and completely unspoiled. Each of the six villas provides guests with comfort and elegance and offer mind boggling views. And the best part about the island is that the view is never quite the same – the sandbars, cays and waters surrounding the island are always changing with the tides and the trade winds. It’s a barefoot crash pad for the very lucky and a wonderful place for a romantic honeymoon.

Jaime Stewart-McConnell, Managing Director of Sandals Resorts, is responsible for a new line of small, elegant boutique hotels called Royal Plantation including properties in Ocho Rios (Jamaica’s only member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World) and in the Exumas, Bahamas.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of Royal Plantation  

Notes on a Party introduces the Wedding Special, an entire week of editorial dedicated to fresh ideas, invaluable tips and interviews with the leading experts in the industry.