Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/2398/-1/131/
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LOVE AND MARRIAGE: COULPES CHOOSE ANGUILLA FOR WEDDING Stijm Donker And Joyce Bartlett
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The Anguilla Tourist Board, through its Portfolio Marketing Group in the United States, has just published a new magazine under the re-brand slogan for the island’s tourism industry, Feeling is Believing. One section of the promotional publication is about love and marriage, encouraging couples from abroad to have their weddings and honeymoons in Anguilla.
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The wedding at the High Court conducted by Mary Richardson
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Part of the text reads as follows: “Wedding and honeymoons in Anguilla make memories that last… Hide away from the world and lose yourself in each other… at one of our “Charming Escapes”. At a luxury resort. Or a villa by the sea…Gather family and friends for a grand affair. Cuddle for the camera…”
And that’s exactly what many couples are doing. They are getting married everywhere on the island including the Court House and then spending time at beach properties. Over the past several days, there were two such marriages.
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Formal wedding at Shoal Bay
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One was on Thursday, May 5. The couple was Joyce Bartlett and Stijn Donker of Amsterdam, Holland. Joyce holds a PhD in Social Development from the University of Amsterdam and heads an Employee Agency. She is the daughter of Calvin Barlett, Executive Director of the Anguilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He referred to her as his “pride and joy” and was delighted over the fact that she had chosen to be married in Anguilla, thus bringing a number of persons with her including the groom’s family and friends as well as and her sister, Vanessa. Stijn Donker is a manager of one of the largest photocopy machine distribution businesses in Holland.
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Mr. & Mrs. Donker
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The bride and groom were married at the High Court by Additional Magistrate and Justice of the Peace, Mary Richardson, who welcomed them to Anguilla. Following their marriage, they were driven by limousine to Serenity Beach Cottages and Restaurant at Shoal Bay. There, on the beach, Mrs. Richardson, in her private capacity as a Marriage Officer, conducted an extended wedding ceremony.
“Marriage is sacred and it is a promise of hope between two people to love and trust each other and to honour and respect each other as individuals in their togetherness,” she said as she addressed the wedding party. “As we share with Joyce and Stijn and their hopes for the future, I ask all of you to come together as a unified group to witness their marriage promises on this very special occasion.”
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The guests and wedding party: Calvin Bartlett (right of groom) and bride’s mother (left of bride), bride’s sister (at far right)
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The rest of the wedding ceremony included a Caribbean lunch at Serenity Restaurant, a beach party with Dumpa on the steel pan and snacks on the beach. A number of Anguillians were among the invited guests.