A while back you might remember that I was invited to take part in a #bridalblogathon in the Caribbean . You may also remember that Chris and I, being the hopeless pair of romantics that we are, decided to renew our wedding vows in Antigua too.
This was our amazing Galley Bay Resort & Spa experience…
We left the UK on an overcast rainy morning, looking forward to finally heading off to the Caribbean for some long over-due sunshine.
Following a relatively pain-free 10hr flight we arrived in Antigua, where we were met by ‘The Major’ a super friendly Antiguan chap who was also the head transport guy for Galley Bay. We took the short 30min ride in his cab, the ride was full of cricket chat and name dropping of various West Indian cricket heroes and interesting Antiguan island facts.
Upon arrival we were greeted by smartly uniformed staff and invited to enjoy a (lethal) rum punch while we waited for our check-in and the transport to our room. A couple of cocktails later , our golf cart arrived to whisk us to our deluxe room…
We crossed the beautiful lagoon into the main complex and you could tell straight away this was a high-end establishment, nothing was out of place, staff were always busy, watering plants or carrying out repairs, always with minimum fuss and ALWAYS with a smile and a hello!
We entered our room with an excitable gasp. It was incredible. Huge double bed and huge bathroom with a double shower. There was also a swish seating area with wonderful air conditioning and the most amazing bit… double doors to the balcony with a view straight onto our own private stretch of Caribbean beach and the sea… Heaven!
It was only after a few minutes we realised we had complimentary champagne and the most delicious platter of nibbles waiting for us too… What an amazing start to what turned out to be the most perfect holiday of our lives…
For the first few days we just totally chilled – it was a mixture of swimming in the beautiful sea – the first day the sea was so tranquil and then for the following few days the waves were a fun addition.
A quick dip in the pool was a super chilled experience – no excitable kids here, just yummy cocktails on tap and the perfect place for a snooze or setting to get lost in a good book.
What I particularly loved about this rustic slice of paradise – was it’s vibe. So laid back, yet your every whim was catered to and always with a friendly bit of chat from the local people looking after us – I seriously didn’t ever want to leave!
As we were renewing our vows at Galley Bay I had a quick meeting with the on-site wedding co-ordinator Jenny who ran through all the details with me. As a bit of a worrier I did wonder whether Galley would live up to my wedding expectations, but Jenny took everything in her stride and reassured me that all would be exactly as I wanted.
The next day Jenny came over with my beautiful bouquet and helped me into my dress – she managed the photographer, had organised a room for Chris to get ready in and ensured our ceremony was set up beautifully – I wanted a rustic arch on the beach with pretty flowers – Jenny made sure everything was perfect and ran like clockwork, even organising a super delish Caribbean rum wedding cake for after the ceremony.
The vow renewal went off without a hitch, it was incredibly emotional and an amazing experience to marry right on the beach in such a beautiful setting – after the vows we went off and had a photo session with the Galley Bay photographer who put us totally at ease and was clearly passionate about his vocation!
That night we dined a la carte in our own private pagoda and enjoyed personalised cocktails that were created especially for us by the lovely bartender, she made us feel so special and whipped these up after asking us what our favourite tipples and flavours were. She even gave me the recipe to take away as a momento.
Everywhere we went the staff were congratulating us on our vow renewal and when we arrived back to the apartment, petals had been scattered all around and the word L O V E spelt out on our bed…
The following day we were taken on an excursion of the island, we visited the Cricket stadium, Shirley Heights, and English Harbour where we were treated to stunning views over the Caribbean and a fascinating insight into the history of Antigua and its charming people.
If you like a sip of rum or a cheeky rum punch, and the reggae vibes, Shirley Heights is a must-visit on a Sunday night! It’s a place where locals and tourists alike party the night away in full Caribbean style.
During our stay at Galley Bay we were treated to a relaxing couples massage at the indulge spa, it was absolutely divine. All our aches and pains were massaged away as we lay in the romantic outdoor setting, and all helped along by the soothing birdsong and the soft Caribbean breeze.
In the evenings, one of our favourite things to do was to go and sit in the rocking chairs outside the teepee bar and look out to the sea whilst sipping on a rum punch or coco loco. We’d sit there chatting, smooching and drinking before heading off to one of the resorts restaurants.
Being a pair of total foodies we were super impressed with the food and the service, whether it was an evening meal, a light snack or the huge selection of breakfast food on offer. All fresh, super tasty and cooked exactly how you like.
Described as an intimate hideaway for discerning travelers who want a refined yet unpretentious experience, an all-inclusive, adults-only, beachfront resort situated on 40 acres of private paradise and a rustic luxe resort surrounded by a bird sanctuary and a three-quarter-mile-long stretch of beach, Galley Bay certainly lived up to all the hype!
It really has become a place we want to go back to again and again and again. We can’t wait to stay at Galley Bay again and can’t believe we only spent 3 and a half days there!
Our next stop was St Lucia and I cannot wait to share our experiences with you.
Thank you so much to Elite Island Resorts and Kuoni for inviting us to experience this wonderful place.
I’d also like to thank the beautiful Galley Bay Resort & Spa – we seriously had the best time ever and cannot recommend you any more highly than we have. The Caribbean and Galley is the perfect place to have a destination wedding and rustic luxury honeymoon.
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Love the place! So relaxing
Wow, so wonderful place. I wish to shoot similar one day. Lovely photos!!
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