“IF THERE IS MAGIC ON THIS PLANET,”
PHILOSOPHER LOREN EISELEY SAID, “IT IS
CONTAINED IN WATER.”
BRITTANY MACNEALY AND ROBERT GONZALES
CAN INDEED ATTEST TO THAT.
Photography by: Sage Hammond of Crown Images
Both avid paddle boarders, Brittany was out paddling on the majestic seas around St. John one beautiful morning as she often did. Looking around, Brittany was simply enjoying the sensational surroundings, the soothing silence, and the sheer simplicity of it all. She was soon joined by her boyfriend, Robert. Then, right there, in middle of the arresting Atlantic Ocean, with the sky and water blissfully blue, Robert asked Brittany to be his wife.
It is often said the ocean is a magnet for the imagination, for conscious pondering, and subconscious dreams and thrills. At that very moment, both Brittany and Robert felt all of those emotions and more. It was the start of lifelong journey the two will take on land and sea.
Brittany, a native of Mississippi, and Robert, who calls New Orleans his hometown, met in St. John through mutual friends. Talking over dinner and drinks, the two quickly learned how much they had in common. For some five years, the two lived right around the corner from each other in Nashville. Not once in all that time did they bump into each other. Surely they would have remembered. Yet shortly after the two tossed caution to the wind, gave up their cushy day jobs, and relocated to St. John, Brittany and Robert were brought together. It might have been fate, destiny, or St. John’s enchanting stars. Nonetheless, it was sudden and sweet.
“The attraction was immediate,” Brittany said. “Before long we were inseparable. We dated for about a year and a half before we tied the knot. But I think we both knew very soon after me met that marriage was in our future.”
While both of their families reside stateside, Brittany and Robert knew they would hold their wedding festivities on St. John. Working with a wonderful wedding planner from Island Style Weddings, everything went swimmingly.
“With both of us being local and living on the island, we thought we could do it alone,” Brittany shared. “But we found out early in the planning process we needed help. Enter miracle worker Mary from Island Style Weddings. She listened to and absorbed all t
hat we wanted, and she gave us great suggestions. Once it was decided how the days leading up to our wedding would flow, Mary made sure everything was perfect for our wedding day. I am so glad I didn’t do it alone and hired a true professional.”
Brittany and Robert’s wedding weekend started with a true welcome party at their home in Chocolate Hole on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2013. The next day, the duo and their guests boarded Cruz Bay Watersports’ S/V Island Spirit and sailed to Jost Van Dyke for the day. On Nov. 9, 2013, amid 80 friends and family members, the two said their “I dos” at sea aboard the S/V Kekoa. Brittany dazzled in a simple yet elegant lily white, off the- shoulder, knee length dress. Robert wore causal khakis and a button-up shirt. Colors in light greens and blues accented the bride and groom and were prominent in the fabulous flowers by Roses Too.
A reception for about 120 followed at gorgeous oceanfront Gallows Point Resort. “The reception was an upscale beachside Caribbean BBQ,” Brittany explained. “The food was amazing. St. John Catering did an amazing job for our welcome party, wedding reception, and brunch. Our guests are still talking about how much they loved the food served throughout the entire weekend.”
The guests are also still animatedly chatting about the specialty drinks and sweet treats made especially for Brittany and Robert?s wedding.
“We had Kim Holland mix special bourbon drinks,” Brittany said. “Being from the south, we thought this would be fun. We were right. We also opted for strawberry, chocolate, and coconut cupcakes over a traditional wedding cake. There were no objections at all to the substitution.”
Live music was provided by the captivating Caribbean Groove Band. But the real musical treat of the night was Robert, who played guitar and sang the song 16 Peter Bay. The moving melody about the bride and groom was not only crooned by Robert, but he wrote the timeless tune as well.
While the couple already resides in what many people call paradise, where they run a successful villa rental business, Brittany and Robert stole away for a honeymoon to the delightful island of Dominica.
“I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” Robert shared. “In my prior life as an insolvency lawyer in Nashville I used to say that I’d eventually get married, but not until I moved to the Caribbean to find my island wife. It probably sounded tongue in cheek back then but that’s exactly how it happened. Sharing our wedding celebration and beautiful island with family and friends 
was amazing, and the love of my life said yes. Like I said, luckiest guy in the world.”
“It was all perfect, from start to finish,” Brittany said.
The two are just getting started and they’re ready for lots of adventure. Never far from the fringe of the sea, Brittany and Robert are ready at all times when the ocean beckons paddle boards in tow.
16 PETER BAY
BY ROBERT GONZALESSOMETIMES I RUB MY CHIN AND WONDER WHY
THIS WHOLE LIFE HERE DIDN?T PASS ME BY
BUT NOW I?M A SIMPLE ISLAND GUY WHO LOVES AN
ISLAND GIRLTHE ADVENTURE WE BRING WITH US
AND ENGAGE IN A LITTLE NAUGHTINESS
WE LOVE TO LAUGH AND HATE TO FUSS
NOW SHE?S MY WORLDDAYS IN THE SUN AND NIGHTS IN HER ARMS
IT?S THE ONLY WAY I WANT TO BE
I SWEAR IT?S PARADISE TO MEI CAN HARDLY BELIEVE MY EYES
STARING AT THE SEA AND SKIES
SAILING BOATS IN EVERY SIZE MAKE THEIR WAY ACROSSWE?RE BOUND FOR JOST PAST WHISTLING KEY
FROM HERE IT?S A STRAIGHT TRAJECTORY
PAINKILLERS ONE FOR YOU AND ONE FOR ME
NO WE CAN?T GET LOST!DAYS IN THE SUN AND NIGHTS IN HER ARMS
IT?S THE ONLY WAY I WANT TO BE
I SWEAR IT?S PARADISE TO METHERE?S STILL THE PART THAT I STRUGGLE WITH
MAYBE THERE WILL ALWAYS BE
BUT LET YOUR LOVE SHINE
LET IT SHINE, SHINE ON MEAFTER WORK COME OUT AND PLAY WITH ME
WE?LL EAT THE FRUIT OFF OF THE PROPERTY
AND BE THE KING AND QUEEN OF ALL WE SEE AT 16 PETER BAY
THERE?S A HAMMOCK STRUNG RIGHT OUTSIDE
IT?S THE PERFECT PLACE IF YOU NEED TO RUN AND HIDE
AND AT THE END OF THE DRIVE YOU KNOW WHAT AWAITSDAYS IN THE SUN AND NIGHTS IN HER ARMS
IT?S THE ONLY WAY I?M GONNA BE
I SWEAR IT?S PARADISE
YEAH I SWEAR IT?S PARADISE
I SWEAR IT?S PARADISE TO ME
SUMMER 2015
Leave A Reply