Colin Goodfellow and Allison O’Neal of the United Kingdom became one in a beautiful wedding ceremony held on Tuesday February 20 here in St. Vincent.

Some 45 guests from the UK journeyed to this country to share the special moment with the couple and stayed at Beachcombers and Mariners Inn for the week.{{more}}

During their stay the couple and guests went on tours throughout the country and enjoyed local cuisine among other things.

Wedding planner Vincentian Deb E Barbour said that the arrangements were made via e-mail by the couple because they attended the SVG Dream Weddings Fair which was held at the Cruise Ship Terminal on July 15 last year.

In an interview with the Searchlight Newspaper, Barbour said that the event was a total success because she paid attention to detail and ensured that her clients were given what they wanted.

Barbour acknowledged that the event was a boost for tourism since the guests who stayed in the hotels and enjoyed Vincentian life would now go back to the UK and share their experiences with others.

She said an additional spin off was that several local people got employment including the steel band musicians and the florists.

The Wedding Planner explained, “We used Vincentian services from the SVG Dream Weddings fair to complete Colin and Allison’s magical day. Everything was done for the couple to take the stress off them. Before, many people overseas could not have afforded a wedding in the Caribbean. It was far too expensive, but today it is affordable and the memories are priceless.”

Reflecting on the experience, the couple said “The whole experience from beginning to end was excellent for all and Vincy has found many friends and admirers with the visitors from the U.K., many will return in the future.”

Barbour said many people now see the Caribbean as the ideal destination to get married and no longer want a traditional church ceremony but are opting for places such as the beach to perform the special ceremony.

Barbour said that this multi-island state was the most wonderful site in the world because it offered different choices for the visitors and the people were genuinely friendly.

The wedding planner who is also a fashion designer called on Vincentians to do more to promote this country and admitted that she one day hoped to organise a wedding ceremony at the spectacular La Soufriere volcano.

To contact Deb-E-Barbour for your dream wedding check her website at www.svgdream weddings.biz or telephone number 523-7203.