An Island Wedding at Sunset Attended by Just 6 Guests

Kayla and Brandon met at Pittsburg State University back in 2013, when Kayla was a freshman and Brandon was a senior. After graduation, Brandon got his first teaching job 120 miles away—but he would still make the drive to spend a few hours with Kayla after work as much as possible. Six years later, as Kayla prepared to graduate with her nursing degree, Brandon popped the question. “It was very intimate and special,” Kayla says. “When I went to my graduate ceremony, I was able to show off my beautiful ring he picked out for me to all my friends and family.”

When the couple saw the new Sandals Dunn’s River Resort in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, they immediately knew they wanted to get married there on a smaller scale. Kayla and Brandon envisioned an intimate destination wedding with just six guests. “We wanted to bring the Jamaican way and style into our wedding,” Kayla says. They entrusted the planners at the resort, who helped the duo realize their beach ceremony and tropical dinner party vision on June 7, 2023. “They brought our fairy-tale wedding to life,” Kayla says. “They were absolutely amazing!” Read on to see the details of this couple’s evening beach ceremony, cozy dinner reception, and silent disco dance party in the following photos from Amanda Julca.

Kayla admits that, for her, the wedding-planning process was stress-free. Enlisting the Sandals team to design and coordinate the wedding allowed her to enjoy her big day to the fullest and spend as much time as possible with her family. “I am so thankful that we did our wedding with Sandals to have a small, intimate wedding that was stress-free,” she says. “They have such an amazing team from the planners to the vendors, to the photographer and videographer.”

With the prep underway, Kayla and Brandon explored the world-famous Dunn’s River Falls and welcomed their guests to Jamaica with a beach casual rehearsal dinner. Attendees also received tote bags full of local goodies upon arrival, which were finished with tags featuring the couple’s custom monogram.

When Kayla went shopping for her wedding dress, she fell in love with two gowns—so she decided to get both! She wore one for the ceremony and the other for the reception. Her Maggie Sottero ceremony gown featured a V-neckline and floral embellishments; she accessorized with a personalized necklace from Art by Amy, which is owned by her mother-in-law’s best friend.

Kayla owns a medspa, so she prepared her skin before the wedding with a routine facial and curated skincare routine. “The two skincare lines I used prior to my wedding day were Meaux and Glymed+,” she says.

Brandon’s chose a Michael Kors tuxedo from Sara Loree’s Bridal. Brandon wore a YSL fragrance on the wedding day, too. “It was a fragrance that caught her attention years ago and I wanted to use it for our big day,” he says.

Kayla and Brandon got married on the beach, where an aisle runner was laid out on the sand and a few chairs were set up for their family. “Since we were doing a destination wedding and several friends and family were unable to make it, we decided to have an intimate wedding with just us and our family watching,” Kayla says. “I wanted to see my guests on the beach and remember all their faces as I walked down the aisle.”

An A-framed wooden arch was adorned with local plants and flowers in vibrant hues of pink, orange, and green, and additional arrangements along with lanterns were set up along the aisle.

Kayla and Brandon exchanged traditional vows at the ceremony, since they had shared hand-written notes prior. “They were very personal, and we both cried,” Kayla says. “We now have these notes in our memory box to look back and read.”

Their planners recommended they add a sand unity ceremony to their service. “It was one of the most memorable experiences of our wedding,” Kayla says. “We combined our sands to create a keepsake that symbolizes Brandon and me becoming one. We love it, and it is displayed in our home.” They celebrated back down the aisle as the sun began to set and the ocean waves rolled in behind them.

After the ceremony, Kayla and Brandon joined their guests to mingle and enjoy a few appetizers. “The best part was fresh coconuts with our initials carved into the side of them,” Kayla says. They offered a signature cocktail they dubbed the “Rum Away with Me” and for entertainment, they hired Moses Beckford to sing and play guitar. “He was one of the best live artists I have heard,” the bride says. “He was amazing and our family was so impressed by his talent.”

For the reception, a single dinner table was set up on the beach underneath bistro lights. The location was perfect; the table was nestled in and around palm trees with the sun setting on the horizon,” Kayla says. Another A-frame arch was placed above the table where wicker lanterns added light after dark.

Centerpieces consisted of tropical flowers and plants and scattered candles. The couple chose woven chargers, gold flatware, and linen napkins for the place settings.

Kayla changed into a Morilee by Madeline Gardner gown with a V-shaped back with buttons and a beaded bodice for the reception. “My reception dress was very modern and meant for the dance floor,” she says.

Kayla, Brandon, and their guests enjoyed crab crusted snapper and steak for dinner. “Everything that the Sandals team provided was so delicious,” Kayla says. “It is making my mouth water just thinking about it.”

In addition to live music, the couple brought in talented fire dancers to put on a show that concluded with fireworks.

Kayla and Brandon’s wedding cake had two tiers of vanilla cake—the bride's favorite. “One of the best cakes I have ever had,” she says. The cake was displayed on a large tropical leaf and decorated with vibrant local flowers and greenery.

At the end of the night, Kayla and Brandon shared their first dance wearing silent disco headphones (which they highly recommend!). They swayed to “Until I Met You” by Stephen Sanchez. “It was a perfect ending to our night,” Kayla says. “It was a dream come true!”

The couple extended their time at Sandals Dunn’s River Resort for their honeymoon. To duos considering a destination wedding, Kayla and Brandon recommend choosing Sandals. “I wouldn’t have trusted anyone else for the most important day of our lives,” Kayla says. “They made our wedding stress-free so we could enjoy this very important day. I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”