LIFE’S PATH IS NEVER A STRAIGHT ONE. THERE ARE CURVES, LOOPS, SPEED BUMPS AND RED LIGHTS. YOU NEVER KNOW FOR SURE WHERE LIFE WILL TAKE YOU.
Take Amanda Wegner and Derick Wollaston for example. The two met in ninth grade. Amanda was a cheerleader; Derick, a basketball player for a rival team. As is common in a small town, the two routinely bumped into each other. By senior year, they were dating. But when they each went off to college Amanda to Florida and Derick to a school in their home state of Pennsylvania both knew a long-distance relationship wouldn’t work. So, they went their separate ways.
Six years later, the two met up again when Amanda moved back home.
I had never lost my feelings for Derick, Amanda said. And, Derick still had feelings for me. We rekindled what had been, what still was, there.
The pair got engaged on Christmas night 2013.
We had been out at families homes celebrating, Amanda recalled. “I was kind of expecting a proposal at some point during the day, but nothing happened. By the time we got home, I had forgotten about the whole engagement thing. Derick went into the townhouse we share ahead of me and headed upstairs. I followed him into the house with an armful of gifts. When I got inside, Derick yelled for me to come upstairs. His voice sounded urgent. All I could think of was that our cat had thrown up all over the rug. I ran upstairs and found him down on one knee with a sparkling one carat princess cut diamond ring. He asked me to marry him and of course I said yes.”
Amanda said she had always dreamed of a destination wedding. She wanted something different, something nice, something special. The U.S. Virgin Islands came to mind. Derick’s father and stepmother were married on St. John.
“We looked at all the islands and decided on St. Croix, in part because there is so much to do there,” Amanda explained.
The two took to the internet to look for venues. Their first and top choice was The Buccaneer. Founded in the 17th century, and family run for generations, The Buccaneer is the Caribbean’s longest-running resort. It adeptly blends the historic with the modern, bringing old world charm and hospitality with new world amenities.
“The online reviews were great and everything about the resort was appealing,” Amanda said.
Another key feature was The Buccaneer’s on-site wedding planner.
“Without question, that was a key attraction,” said Amanda. “What made it all the better was that Corinne Farinola singlehandedly did everything for us. That was so important since we were planning everything from a distance. From a BBQ dinner before the wedding to the reception to the brunch the following day, Corinne saw to it. She also took care of helping us get the perfect flowers, music and cake.
On Dec. 6, 2014, during a perfect sunset unique to the Virgin Islands, the kind of sunset where the sky is awash with vibrant oranges, pinks, and reds, Amanda and Derick tied the knot. The moving beachside ceremony took place at the enchanting Buccaneer. Amanda looked angelic in a long white dress with a sweetheart top. The salon at The Buccaneer expertly styled her tresses, adding an awesome hair piece, Amanda recalled. Derick looked sharp in linen pants and shirt. Twenty-two close friends and family members attended the intimate affair.
A multitude of flowers in soft hues accented the event.
“I chose orchids, roses and lilies in coral, ivory, peach and pink tones,” Amanda said. Local flowers were added as well. The colors were beautiful. The florist, Gloria Powell, did such a beautiful job. She did such a beautiful job. Lindsay Kammerzelt was our photographer. She was great. Our pictures are great. Both Gloria and Lindsay were wonderful work with.?
DJ QT expertly spun and mixed music from a playlist provided by the bride and groom. A local steel pan player performed during the ceremony. Amanda and Derick’s reception and the morning-after brunch were held in The Buccaneer’s Brass Parrott dining room. Located in the resort?s Great House, The Brass Parrott dishes up awarding-winning food amid sweeping views of 
Christiansted. The couple’s beach BBQ the night before the wedding was at the Buccaneer’s Mermaid Grill right on the beach.
The food was delicious throughout, Amanda shared. For our reception, we had conch fritters, filet tips, and springs rolls as appetizers. Local mahi mahi and filet mignon were served as entrees.
But the cake was the show stopper. The two tier creation was a cloud-fluffy white cake with delicate raspberry filling. Flowers adorned the sweet treat.” It was really beautiful, a wistful Amanda recalled.
What both Amanda and Derick recall most about the day was how “easy” the whole event was. I was relaxing at the pool on our wedding day,” Amanda said. “It was all just so stress free. We were so happy that our close family, and the people that mattered, were there to share it all with us.”
The happy couple lives in Hagerstown, Maryland. Amanda is a driver career coordinator for trucking company DM Bowman Inc. Derick is a ferrous metal trader for Conservit Inc. – by Diane E. Alter
Leave A Reply