An Enchanting Wedding Weekend in Saint Lucia With Mountain and Seaside Views

Sometimes, love is a slow burn. At least, that was the case for Rebecca and Ruben, who first met in the summer of 2014 when she started a new job at a PR agency. Ruben was assigned to train her on the very first day there. But it wasn’t until a holiday party early in 2018, after years of being strictly colleagues, that the two considered something more. Ruben finally admitted his longtime crush, and despite Rebecca being offered a job in Miami not long after, he followed her to Florida. They began to build a life together in West Palm Beach, complete with their cat, Hugo. On her thirtieth birthday, Rebecca and Ruben took a trip to Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and with the Teton Mountains as their backdrop, Ruben proposed. “ It was a deeply spiritual and emotional moment,” she says. “We both felt the presence of our late parents in unmistakable, comforting ways.”

With both of their extended families scattered around the globe, finding the right location for an intimate, beachside wedding meant going a nontraditional route. The two landed on the Caribbean, a place they both loved and would offer a multi-day experience for their close friends and family. And with a wish list of an ocean view, unique architecture and European influence, La Belle Helene became the obvious choice. This French-colonial style villa in St. Lucia was a hidden gem, nestled in the heart of the Piton Mountains with the perfect seascape. The location was reminiscent of their engagement, a bit of kismet for the nearlyweds. “We didn’t realize it when we chose our wedding venue, but having the Pitons behind us as we said our vows felt like a continuation of that same energy, a red thread of synchronicity that’s quietly woven through our entire relationship,” they say.

Rather than focusing on a strict theme, “emotional storytelling” took the lead, with a touch of elegance and effortlessness. Rebecca says, “We were drawn to soft textures, vintage-inspired lace, hand-crafted details and an ethereal color palette of ivory, muted greens and hints of plum—tones that felt both dreamy and grounded in the lush island setting.” That included a mix of anthuriums, Bells of Ireland, orchids and football mums in shades of ivory and green and decor with “understated elegance” to let the natural beauty of the island do the talking. The couple also put emphasis on Ruben’s Jewish upbringing by incorporating these florals and organic elements into their ceremony’s chuppah, which was custom-crafted by a local carpenter.

The morning of the wedding, the happy couple shared a quiet swim at their villa, taking in the moments before the festivities started. “It was the calm before the celebration and one of our favorite memories,” Rebecca says. “That same morning, we received text messages from several of our guests back at the hotel. A rainbow had appeared over the ocean, and they sent photos from their balconies.” They took that as a sign for the day, and soon, they were getting ready with their respective wedding parties. Rebecca, with her bridal party, in chic tropical-style Baobab sets, perfectly reflected the “relaxed and elegant energy,” she says. 

After the bride-to-be stepped into her ceremony gown, an ivory dress with a structured corset bodice, lace and hand-beaded embroidery that she felt blended the tropical setting and European vibes of the villa. She adds, “I also wore a Romanian lace cathedral-length veil that I found during a trip to Bucharest with my mom, one of my favorite details of the day, as it was a deeply meaningful nod to my heritage.” She paired this look with a simple bouquet of calla lilies, complementing her bridal party’s floral dresses. Ruben wore a bespoke but classic black tuxedo with Ferragamo loafers, something “timeless” while still bringing his personality forward. 

Soon, the guests were arriving at the ceremony on a catamaran after getting a view of the St. Lucia coast. Rebecca’s brother walked her down the aisle, which she recalls as a touching moment, given his own challenges in recent years. Standing beneath the chuppah, the couple exchanged the videos they’d written themselves. “Our wedding ceremony was deeply spiritual and emotional…We incorporated some traditional Jewish customs, including…the ceremonial breaking of the glass along with an explanation of its significance,” the bride adds.

For the reception, Rebecca took the overskirt off her gown, and the groom changed into a white tuxedo jacket for their dinner and party. The reception space had one long dining table to keep the intimate feel, and it was decorated with fresh fruits, tapered candles and structural floral arrangements. A pleasant surprise was also awaiting guests when they took their seats. Rebecca says, “As a final touch, each place setting was topped with a handwritten letter to each of our guests, a personal way to thank them for being part of our story.” Their close friends and family left voice notes in a vintage phone guestbook, something the couple themselves can cherish for years to come.

To honor their loved ones who passed, Ruben and Rebecca made it a point to bring little reminders of these family members into the reception decor and atmosphere. At the cake table was a lace tablecloth that the bride’s Oma had given her in Romania, and blue porcelain salt and pepper shakers in the shape of cats were hidden among the tablescapes, a nod to Ruben’s late mom, who collected blue cat trinkets. They even collaborated with the DJ on a special playlist for Rebecca’s late father, who was a DJ for most of his life. “Ruben, his dad, my mom, and I all danced to Forever Young by Alphaville—a song that holds deep meaning for us, as it was, coincidentally, the last song both my dad and Ruben’s mom listened to before they passed. It felt like a beautiful, cosmic tribute and a way to carry them with us into this next chapter,” says Rebecca.

Having navigated much of their relationship through various challenges and trials, the newlyweds say what has given them strength is facing it all together. And their wedding day was another example of them showing up for each other, honoring their bond and celebrating the love they share. Aside from staying true to their wishes for wedding planning, Rebecca and Ruben also say not to get swept up in the trends or even outside opinions. Their recommendation: “Our biggest piece of advice when it comes to wedding planning is to lead with intention. Take time to think about what really matters to you as a couple, and build from there.” The couple also adds, “We also recommend carving out private moments throughout the day. Some of our favorite memories were the quiet, unscheduled ones—like the morning swim we shared before the ceremony or the few minutes alone after we walked back up the aisle.”