Caneel Bay's Destination Wedding Weekend Activities for KIDS

When we had our Caneel Bay Twitter Party several months ago, everyone went wild over the phenomenal kids' activities and supervision of Caneel Bay's Rose Buds® plan. Just knowing that parent-guests would be able to enjoy some romantic time alone while their kids were having the time of their lives at the best vacation kiddie camp ever made our destination wedding couples very happy.

Brides and grooms planning any kind of wedding give a lot of thought to, "Should we invite kids?" That topic can get very fraught with stresses...but Caneel Bay destination wedding couples don't have to give it a thought. Kids can be invited, and parent-guests will be happy to get the option. They'll also be happy to find out that Caneel Bay takes care of the really little ones who are too young to go to the kids' center. Caneel Bay did all the planning for you, so that your guests can attend with great happiness, knowing they can have romantic time alone, mingling time with guests, quality time with their kids (family snorkeling, anyone? Family kayaking? Family hike with picnic lunch? It's all here.) And worry-free care for their kids who will have an island adventure like they've never had before.

When we were departing from Caneel Bay at our last visit, two adorable little ones were hugging their new Turtle Town friends goodbye (adorable!) and asking their parents when they can come back. Those are happy little vacation kids.

Here are the complete details for Caneel Bay's offerings for kids:

Rose Buds® is a program designed to provide our youngest guests with special services, amenities and convenience items designed just for them. From kids' menus to special events and fun activities, we welcome children and families at Rosewood Hotels & Resorts. At Caneel Bay, Caribbean family vacation packages and programs make planning a family holiday easy. For children, vacation means being active, making friends and learning new skills. For parents, it's knowing that your child is in safe hands with experienced and caring staff. At Turtle Town, Caneel's children's center for kids 3-12 years old, creative arts and crafts, an array of exciting activities and themed days ensure that children will leave with precious memories and souvenirs of their Caribbean vacation.

Rose Buds' Turtle Town

Secluded at the northern end of the property, Turtle Town is the perfect setting for children ages 3-12 years to begin exploring our island home. It becomes even more exciting as we identify new plants and animals and learn about the ecosystem of Caneel Bay. We'll be telling our own pirate tales, making treasure maps and dancing to our great Caribbean beat. Each day features a different theme and activities are planned with the children at the beginning of the day. Our staff is flexible and focused on providing a fun and educational day.
HOURS: Monday through Saturday: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and 6:30-9:30 p.m. with advanced sign-up. Closed Sundays
REGISTRATION: Registration takes place at Turtle Town in Turtle Bay each morning between 9-10:30 a.m. for the day program. Afternoon registration takes place between 1-2 p.m. You can also call ext. 7205 or visit the Activities Desk by 3 p.m. to reserve an evening program. Please provide special dietary requests or information about particular needs when making the reservation. Parents are required to sign a registration form for children before the program begins each day, as well as indicate their intended location for the day. A parent must accompany their child at all water sports activities.
SCHEDULE & FEES: Turtle Town's day programs are complimentary. Charges apply for babysitting services, meals and the evening Dinner and a Movie program.

• Full-day: Includes a.m. and p.m. snacks, juices & lunch; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Half-day a.m.: Includes snack and juice; 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Half-day p.m.: Includes snack and juice; 1-4 p.m.
• Dinner and a Movie: 6:30-9:30 p.m.

DINNER & A MOVIE: This supervised children's event is held Monday through Saturday at Turtle Town. Advanced sign-up at the Activities Desk is required by 3:00 p.m. Your child's dinner order will be taken at that time.

DAILY NECESSITIES: A hat, sunscreen, insect repellant, change of clothes and sneakers are recommended.

BEACH & BOATS: Kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling and swimming require parental supervision.
DESIGNATED DINING: Lunch is served at the Beach Bar (or at Turtle Town) for children participating in the morning and full-day programs. At Caneel Bay Terrace and the Sugar Mill, all children are welcome and Rose Buds menus are available. Only children 8 years and up may dine in the Turtle Bay Estate House, with the exception of Dec. 18-Jan. 2, when children of all ages are welcome. Rose Buds menus are offered.

Nannies & Baby Sitting: Caneel Companions

Caneel Companions (babysitters) are available during the day for children too young to join in Turtle Town. Companions are also available in the evening for all children. There is a 3-hour minimum charge at prevailing rates. Reservations should be made at Turtle Town or the Activities Desk. Arrangements should be made as early as possible, with a minimum of one day in advance.

Room Reservations

Rooms south of Cottage Point have been set aside for families with children seven years of age and younger. These rooms include Courtside, Tennis Garden, Ocean View, Beach Front and Premium types of accommodations. For your safety, families with young children are requested to use Caneel Beach and Little Caneel Beach.

Peace, Quiet & Kids at Caneel Bay

Kids and families are welcomed and cherished at Caneel Bay. And, at the same time, so are peace, quiet and relaxation. Caneel Bay is blessed with seven gentle, white-sand beaches and the luxury of over 170 acres of park land for you to explore. We respectfully ask all of our guests, both young and old alike, to maintain Scott and Paradise Beaches for those wishing to hear only the quiet lapping of waves and the rustle of the leaves in the sea grape trees. So, please, no children under 12 on Paradise and Scott, Caneel's quiet beaches. You'll find there is more than enough Caneel for everyone to enjoy! (Note: the following are 2011/12 dates that children under 12 years of age are permitted on Scott Beach, Paradise Beach and Cottage 7: Christmas (Dec. 16-Jan. 2), Easter (Mar. 29-Apr. 8) and Thanksgiving (Nov.16-24). All dates are inclusive. Parents with children are respectfully asked to consider the comfort and serenity of other guests at all times. Management reserves the right to ask parents to remove their children from public areas if the behavior of the children is perceived as a legitimate disturbance to the general tranquility and enjoyment of other guests.
The following items are available for use during your stay. Please request specific services when making reservation to ensure availability.

• Portable crib
• Baby Primrose skincare products
• En-suite wireless baby monitors
• Full-size cribs & bedding
• In-room baby proofing service
• Lush velour terry child-sized bath robes & slippers
• Changing table, diaper pail, baby bath tub and/or non-slip mat, bed rails & in-room bottle warmers

Here's my top Caneel Bay destination wedding tip: Include on your personal wedding website the link for Caneel Bay's Rosebuds program with a note for parents to check out all the details for their kids' activities and care during their visit for your destination wedding. And if kids will be invited to the ceremony and reception, mention that there as well so that parents can pack wedding-appropriate attire for their little ones. They'll be SO appreciative that you thought of them, just as you'll be so appreciative that Caneel Bay thinks of their youngest guests as well.

Caneel Bay's Gorgeous Suites for Your Honeymoon or Destination Wedding

Take a look at Caneel Bay's rooms, suites and celebrity-magnet Cottage 7 (where Brangelina & kids stayed not too long ago -- we just missed them when we checked in for our honeymoon.) They're bright and sunny, true to the island's style of casual luxury, and "thoughtfully decorated with natural woods, native Caribbean stone, hand-crafted furniture, commissioned artwork and richly woven fabrics. The resort remains purposefully absent of modern glitz and digital distractions; in keeping with tradition, there are no telephones or TVs in the individual guest rooms," according to www.caneelbay.com.

We stayed on Scott Beach, in a Premium Beach Front room (#67, to be precise) and loved it so much, we arranged to stay in the very same room for our 1st anniversary trip. We loved the design, the high ceilings, AC and romantic overhead fan, the cool tiles beneath our feet, the private balcony on which we ate breakfast overlooking the morning ocean vista.

Next time we go to Caneel, we plan to try the Garden View room, which surprised me as one of the most budget-friendly rooms, yet with its stone walls and amazing bathroom could very well be taken as on-par with the priciest suite on the resort. In short, there are no bad rooms at Caneel Bay. And the layout of the resort is such that you're always, always just a few steps away from the beach.

Take a look at some of the selections from Caneel Bay's 166 charming, cozy, and welcoming rooms:

Courtside

Located near the tennis courts and fitness center, these rooms offer views of lush tropical greenery and are a short walk to the beach.

Premium Courtside

Located near the tennis courts and fitness center, these oversized rooms offer a further separate single room featuring one twin bed.

Garden View

Pleasantly scattered throughout the resort, these ground-level rooms are surrounded by Caneel’s tropical foliage and are just a short stroll to the beach. This is the one I mentioned, with its gorgeous stonework that adds so much island character to it, and the big, comfy bed, the lovely view, tall ceilings, and more. If you book yourself in a premium Beach Front for your destination wedding, your wedding guests will love seeing this as their possible home for your getaway wedding weekend.

Ocean View

These rooms, near the water’s edge, offer panoramic patio or balcony views of the beach and sea.

Beach Front

Located directly on the pristine sands of Caneel’s beaches, these rooms feature spacious balconies or patios. Some beach front rooms are situated on a beach where families with children are booked, since in most seasons, kids don't stay on quiet, romantic, secluded Scott Beach. They're on a family-friendly stretch, right near the watersports center and right near all the fun.

Premium Ocean View

Located in the Cottage Point area of the resort, these rooms are perched along the shoreline with unobstructed views of the sea.

Premium Beach Front

Offering the utmost in privacy, these beachfront rooms are located in single-level units and feature balconies that open directly onto the finest of Caneel’s beaches. Ah, this is my beloved honeymoon suite style! You can see how very close to the beach you will be...just a few steps away, and you'll listen to the sounds of the surf in the early morning hours, or during quiet evening hours alone.

Beach Front Suite

Located on Little Caneel Beach, this suite is comprised of a separate bedroom and parlor along with a spacious terrace that is ideal for entertaining.

Cottage 7

Located in what was Laurance Rockefeller’s private estate house, this collection of oversized accommodations offers the most dramatic rooms and patios available, as well as breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea. This elite building is situated high above next-door Scott Beach, and has its own private arch of beach where you can arrange to snorkel or kayak your own private cove. For a destination wedding, your group might book all of the rooms in this building, staying in style and luxury.
Ask our booking agents for more information on Cottage 7, as well as all of the gorgeous, luxury, eco-friendly rooms here at Caneel Bay, www.caneelbay.com.

10 Reasons to Have Your Destination Wedding at Caneel Bay

If we could do it all over again, we'd get married at Caneel Bay. So many of you are newly-engaged and looking for your ceremony and reception venues -- and I'm hearing from lots of brides and grooms who are frustrated over how much date-shuffling goes into finding a ceremony and reception spot available on the same day, ones that let you take photos (can you believe that some locations don't allow flash photography?!) ones that give you more than an hour to get in and get out. Ones that are pretty enough.

You undoubtedly want to just get to the good stuff, the lovely details, and not get embroiled in so many complicated tasks that send other couples swirling into wedding stress without allowing them the fun of planning such a momentous day. The thrill of planning a destination wedding at a top resort (and that is the key!) is that the on-site planners remove all of that frustration, guide you through the planning process, and get you right to the good stuff.

And I can assure you that the Caneel Bay wedding planning team will get you right to the good stuff! Here are my top reasons why Caneel Bay needs to be on your list of potential destination wedding locales, and why you'll be happy to choose it as the island home for your wedding...and for your entire wedding weekend:

1. We only do one wedding at a time. That's the big one. I've heard from so many wedding couples booked at other resorts who found themselves watching other wedding parties taking photos in the spot where their reception was about to take place. Or, they had to wait to take photos in front of the sunset until the other group went first...and there goes the sun down, down, down. At Caneel Bay, you're the only bride and groom of the day, with full reign over the resort.

2. Our event planners are wildly talented. While other resorts have iron-clad lists of what you can have at your wedding, our team has earned a reputation for personalizing all the elements of your day. They work in beauty day in and day out, and know exactly how to bring your vision to life, enhancing it with what they know the island locale can provide.

3. Your rehearsal dinner and reception will take place at a spot with a gorgeous, open-air view. From The Equator to the Sugar Mill Ruins (where you'll dine under the stars) to the Estate House, the venue itself adds an unmeasurable amount of unique beauty to your celebration.

4. Our chefs use delectable local cuisine. You've never had a better lobster. And they source their organic produce from local growers. Your guests will be taking photos of their meals before they eat them, as we did with our mahi spring rolls.

5. Your wedding photos will be gorgeous. Each of the seven beaches, including our cliffs overlooking the ocean sparkling at sunset, provide breathtaking scenery as the backdrop for your wedding portraits.

6. Your wedding weekend will be packed with activities for guests to enjoy. From free snorkeling to paddleboarding, hiking, nature tours, stargazing, and spa treatments, plus shopping excursions just a few minutes away (not a long ride to off-property cities) you can fill your destination wedding with what guests love: fun activities they can share with one another, easy on the skill levels, yet enthralling with adventure, and lots of opportunities for terrific meals and drinks.

7. It's the USVI. Marriage license requirements are easy-peasy, and our team will help out.

8. There's not a bad room here. Some resorts put all of their money into the top-cost beachfront rooms and also have a bunch of so-so rooms on a budget, but the least expensive rooms here are better than most you'll find elsewhere. We've stayed on Scott Beach and also fell in love with the garden rooms. So your guests who travel in for your wedding will definitely love the rooms they're in.

9. We give some free nights. Check out our specials -- you and your guests may find a free night's stay in the offerings!

10. It's gorgeous here. As a protected wildlife area, you'll see lovely little spotted fawn walking by, majestic white heron, soaring pelicans, and our family of friendly donkeys. There's an exciting nature moment at every turn, filling your wedding weekend with the joy that a place like this still exists in the world, so perfect and untouched by development, so clean, so quiet and peaceful.

Okay, I can't stop at 10. There's the night sky filled with stars. The Rosebuds kids' center where the little ones will have plenty to do while parents mingle with one another or have romantic time of their own. And then there's the massage cabanas overlooking the ocean...the perfect place to begin your wedding day with a luxury treatment in open-air scenery.

I could keep going, but let's hear from you. If you married here, what did you love? If you plan to marry here, what are you looking forward to? If you vacationed here, what would make brides and grooms very, very happy?

Contact our team to ask any questions you have! We look forward to saving you from wedding planning stress and getting you right to the good stuff!

Caneel Bay's Most Indulgent Massage Treatments

It doesn't get much more relaxing than a massage at Caneel Bay, as part of your honeymoon, your destination wedding pre-ceremony prep, your anniversary trip, or babymoon. We have a team of talented, professional massage therapists who welcome you into the massage center or massage cabanas overlooking the ocean, ready to make your visit even more wonderful.

Our massages during our first anniversary vacation were our first in the open-air cabanas, and that was without a doubt the most stress-free I've ever been in years. The sounds of the waves, the ocean breeze on my feet, the soft white sheet dancing under the massage table, the scent of plumeria in the air...it doesn't get better than this.

Which is, of course, why we're signing up for our massages the first minute we return to Caneel Bay. I took a look at the massage menu -- which I had missed last time -- and spotted some unique and fabulous-sounding massage treatments. Take a look at them here...Raindrop Therapy caught my eye, and while I thought there were actual blackberries involved in the Blackberry Relief massage, it sounds like a wonderful treat for my technology-cramped hands, wrists and arms. (Keep their techniques in mind so that you can give each other soothing hand and arm massages back home! Keep that Caneel spirit going!)

Here's Caneel's massage menu. And here's my little secret for your honeymoon, destination wedding or romantic visit: ask guests to give you gift cards to the resort, which you can use towards these massages, and romantic dinners, or gift shop sprees! There's nothing wrong with adding the link to your personal wedding website...many guests want to give you an unforgettable honeymoon experience, which is way better than the blender on your registry! Go to www.caneelbay.com to find out more about our gift cards!

Massage at the Massage Center

Half Session, 25-min./$100
Full Session, 50-min./$135
Session and 1/2, 80-min./$235
Double Session, 105-min./$270

Massage in a Massage Cabana

Half Session, 25-min./$110
Full Session, 50-min./$145
Session and 1/2, 80-min./$255
Double Session, 105-min./$290

En Suite Massage

First full session, 50 mins./$255; each immediately consecutive session (in same room with same therapist/table)/$145

Hot Stone Massage: The ancient healing art of hot stone massage uses Nature's healing elements of heat, water and earth to bring the body into finer balance. By massaging with the deep penetrating heat of smooth volcanic stones, your therapist works in harmony using various massage techniques to deeply and effectively work your muscles and balance your energy. 80 mins. At the Massage Center $235; in a Massage Cabana $255

Blackberry Relief Massage: Soothe your muscles that are overused by Blackberries, laptops and cell phones. Rebalance your body and relax your mind with this treatment that focuses on your back, neck, arms and hands using aromatherapy massage, warm hand and back wraps, and a cooling eye compress. 50 mins. At the Massage Center $165; in a Massage Cabana $175

Raindrop Therapy: Benefit from the qualities of essential oils that fall like raindrops along the spine. Experience this ultimate aromatherapy treatment combined with massage and reflexology. 50 mins. At the Massage Center $165; in a Massage Cabana $175

Aloe Wrap: This wrap moisturizes all skin types, and is ideal for those experiencing sunburn. Relax with a neck and feet massage while aloe penetrates your skin during the wrap. The session finishes with a mini-massage including the application of silky rehydrating lotion to your body. Your skin will be smooth and nourished; your mind and body relaxed. 50 mins. At the Massage Center $135; in a Massage Cabana $145

Facial: Invigorate your skin with one of the following options: Our signature Bee-utiful Honey Facial, Aromatherapy Deep Cleansing Facial, Gentleman's Facial or Back Facial. 50 mins. At the Massage Center $135; in a Massage Cabana $145

For more information, visit massagestjohn.com.

Anniversary Gifts, Caneel Bay-Style

You’ve seen the traditional Anniversary Gift Lists out there, the ones saying the ‘proper gift for the first anniversary is paper,’ ‘second anniversary gifts are cotton,’ and so on…

Well, I’ve taken that list and made it Caneel-centric. I took each of the traditional anniversary gifts, from paper to candy to crystal to gold, and made them all about what you can give to each other during your Caneel Bay Anniversary getaway. (Check out our special
packages and offers for your romantic anniversary stay…you’ll find free nights, discounts and more!)

Here are my ideas on indulgent, sentimental, colorful, and delectable anniversary gifts for the Caneel Bay trip you’ll take on any (or all!) of your anniversaries!

1st Year: Paper – I’m so glad tradition started with paper. Because you get to surprise your
beloved with a printout of your trip confirmation. Yes, we’re going to Caneel Bay! Add a little dash of creativity to your gift by printing this dream-come-true announcement on sand-colored paper, or parchment paper, or making it a Message in a Bottle.

2nd Year: Cotton – I wear my Caneel Bay robe all the time. So when you’re here, don’t just wear the ones in your room, buy a His and Hers set of ultra-comfy waffle-weave spa robes to wrap yourself up in Caneel memories every day after your getaway.

3rd Year: Leather – Whether real or faux leather, a new carry-on in your sweetie’s favorite color will finally replace that beaten-up bag he or she’s been using since high school. If you’d prefer, a new faux leather luggage tag and matching iPad case could be your gift of choice this year.

4th Year: Fruit or Flowers -- Arrange to have a fruit platter delivered to your room for a morning mimosa toast, or take notes on the island flowers (such as plumeria, dendrobium orchids, and other blooms) you see during your stay to have the same blooms in your home or delivered to your honey after your getaway.

5th Year: Wood – Hop up on those wooden massage tables for a blissful massage, and experience the ocean air and sounds of the waves as those wooden slat doors open to gorgeous beach scenery while you de-stress and bliss out.

6th Year: Candy – Collect up colorful island candies at the gift shop and during your excursion to Cruz Bay…from chocolate-dipped island fruits to rum balls to candied coconut, the sweet stuff makes a great little additional gift added on to the gift of this trip.

7th Year: Wool – Give your sweetie a wool sweater or pashmina with a note saying, “You’ll be taking this off when we step off the plane during our trip to Caneel Bay!”

8th Year: Bronze – The traditional list is thinking bronze décor items, which you’ll find in the local shops – but I’m thinking a lot sexier…giving each other sunscreen rubdowns all over so that you can play in the sun, get some island bronze color, and protect each other from harmful
rays.

9th Year: Pottery – Hit the gift shop for super-cute fish-themed spoon rests, bowls and other items to accessorize your kitchen, bathrooms and other rooms in the house. These buys have so much character, and they’ll remind you of your getaway every day.

10th Year: Tin – When you hit the street fairs, and the many artisan shops on both St. John and St. Thomas, you’ll find the most unusual metallic jewelry, including coral bead-studded tin dangles and other accessories that make for great take-home gifts for the kids awaiting you at
home.

11th Year: Steel – One of my favorite shops in Mongoose Junction has an array of steel windchimes to bring home to set up in your garden, by your pool, or on your terrace, reminding you of this anniversary trip every time the wind blows.

12th Year: Silk – That’s easy…a silky, sexy camisole or robe to wear during your Caneel Bay Anniversary trip is the perfect gift to give, or walk out of the bathroom wearing. What would an anniversary trip be without some fabulous new lingerie?

13th Year: Lace – Lace could be part of your romantic lingerie collection, or it could be part of the home décor shopping you’ll do, taking home a handmade lace tablecloth or table runner from one of the artisan shops on the island, or even at a street fair when carnival is taking place on
St. Thomas. Lace could also be a print pattern, such as a lacy gray print on a scarf, or…you could ask our baker to pipe a lacy design onto a special anniversary cake that rivals your original wedding cake.

14th Year: Ivory – Think the color ivory, such as the color of the sand on Caneel Bay’s seven pristine beaches. While you can’t take home the sand for customs reasons, you can take a gorgeous couple’s photo out on the beach, at sunset, as your official anniversary portrait.

15th Year: Crystal – You could go literal with a crystal figurine bought at the gift shop, shimmering crystal jewelry, or crystals on an inexpensive anklet worn during your anniversary trip. You might also clink crystal champagne glasses on the beach, or during your romantic dinner at the Sugar Mill Ruins.

16th Year: Tourmaline – I still think about the tourmaline earrings I didn’t buy in Mongoose Junction during our honeymoon. Silly of me to think they’d be there a year later when we went back. Don’t let a tourmaline sparkler get away from you during your anniversary getaway.

17th Year: Furniture – Airline fees for bringing home a lounge chair would be astronomical, but why not take photos of the furniture in your suite, or in the restaurants – or even the table settings – so that you can add a little Caneel to your home redecorating projects?

18th Year: Turquoise – The waters off Caneel’s beaches are turquoise perfection, so capture that color in any type of cherished gift, from a piece of jewelry in the gift shop to wine glasses with turquoise-colored rims that you’ll use for each anniversary’s toast. Or, take photos of the beautiful waters, above or underwater, and have those images enlarged to display in your
home.

19th Year: Aquamarine – The same photo idea applies here if you’re on #19, or you could go with aquamarine gemstone jewelry or cufflinks.

20th Year: China – Caneel’s gift shop and the surrounding areas’ shopping centers open the door for great little china pieces to add to your entertaining supplies, from a unique little pickle plate to a creamer with island style, you can add a little touch of Caneel to all of your home holiday
dinners and special celebrations for years to come.

25th Year: Silver – Oh, this is just too easy! From silver jewelry to a vintage-looking platter on which to keep your perfumes, to a coin plate to a silver spoon for your collection, the shiny stuff makes for a terrific anniversary gift.

30th Year: Pearl – 30 years together is something to celebrate! Perhaps you’ll have your kids and grandbabies along for the trip, so stock up on faux pearl bracelets for all the ladies and girls to have matching bracelets or anklets during your group stay. Or, if it’s an indulgent gift you
seek, a real pearl necklace, earrings, pendant or bracelet is just a short ride away at the many different shops you can visit during your stay.

35th Year: Coral – Don’t go snapping any coral off of our reefs – you could get in big trouble, and we know you don’t want to hurt our eco-system! Stick with the color coral instead, in fashion or in photo form…or blend the two and take fabulous underwater photos of coral during a snorkeling dive, then have the photo enlarged for display in your home.

40th Year: Ruby – Ruby red could take the form of a fine bottle of wine shared during your romantic dinner for two, served on the beach or in the ruins, or add to your Caneel-inspired jewelry collection with a ruby ring, pendant or cufflinks.

45th Year: Sapphire – The deep blue of sapphire reminds one of the deep blue sea, so in addition to jewelry choices, take a sunset cruise out into the deeper waters to capture great views of the island, and perhaps see dolphins swimming alongside your boat.

50th Year: Gold – Again, the kids and grandkids could be with you on this festive family getaway, so celebrate this trip with a family portrait out on your favorite beach, and capture the moment when you surprise each other with the new inscriptions in your own gold wedding bands.

Meet Felipe, Caneel Bay's Floral Designer

Caneel Bay may have a rich history of its own, but so do some of our phenomenal staff members! In my very first spotlight on Caneel's stellar personalities, I am very pleased to introduce to you Felipe Ayala,Jr., who has created some of the most beautiful and amazing floral arrangements for the resort areas, as well as for our stunning destination weddings.

Here is Felipe's story:

Please allow me to introduce myself, I am Felipe Ayala Jr. the florist for the past 21 years at Caneel Bay Resort, sharing with you some of the ideas and design direction behind the flowers at the resort.

I was hired during Mr. Rockefeller's tenure to re invent the floral arrangements at Caneel Bay. I reported directly to famed horticulturist Eleanor Gibney who was one of driving forces in creating a botanical garden filled with specimen plants on the resorts vast acreage. It was very important to Mrs. Gibney that whatever flowers I arranged had to be grown somewhere on the property in the event that our guest wanted to see them growing in their natural habitat. Also important was a more natural feel to the arrangements. She never wanted the flowers to look like a flower shop had delivered them.

Over the years, my work at Caneel has developed with that design direction as a guiding force. The use of tropical foliage, such as pothos and philodendron leaves, fishtail and areca palms, variegated ginger and ti leaves compliment the use of cymbidium, dendrobium and phalaenopsis orchids in the resort's weekly lobby arrangements. Other tropical flowers like birds of paradise, heliconias, antheriums, and hybrid lilies are often used on special occasion while hosting events for guest.

The seed pods from the fishtail palms grown by the lobby walkway and by the gift shop in their different stages of maturity are often used to line vases and cover the mechanics of many of our guest arrangements. They along with sea grape leaves have been the source of inspiration for many of my designs. In the years when Caneel hosted the legendary "Island Party", I would gather hundreds of dried sea grape leaves and gold gild them creating wreaths and garlands to decorate the fireplace place and shutter doors at Turtle Bay Estate House. Each restaurant would have its own unique look. At Equator lush tropical arr filled with local fruit lined the exhibition kitchen counters during buffet dinners. Caneel Beach Terrace always has aquatic inspired arrangements based on it's close proximity to the beach. Turtle Bay- simply island elegant! All the arrangements are illuminated by candle or torch light. It was a Rockefeller standard that the lighting at the resort be indirect so the stars and night sky can be more visible!

Two weeks ago we hosted the Washington Post Dinner at Equator and the Sugar Mills Ruins. For that event I celebrated the Rockefeller-Gibney design direction. At the cocktail reception in the ruins we used burlap table cloths honoring the ruins historic sugar and boiling house past. Banana foulard cocktail centerpieces with mini red gingers, mini bananas and tropic heliconia in leaf wrapped vases were on all the cocktail highboys. Bunches of coconuts and palm pod, hurricane shades with pillar candles and sea shells filled the windows. For the main dinner, festive orange lamour tablecloths with sea grape leaf napkins tied in raffia played host to arrangements of yellow and green cymbidium orchids tied by natural cord to three pieces of bundled bamboo poles on top of a monstera leaf mat. All inspired by the resorts grounds.

At Caneel Bay Resort, their is no shortage of inspiration for good design. As the crown jewel for the St. John National Park, all you have to do is go outside and look around.... it is already naturally there!

Caneel's THE Place for Snorkeling

When you're a Caneel Bay fanatic, you feel a little guilty looking at other island locations for any reason...for me, as a wedding and honeymoon columnist, I'm asked for input on all kinds of island resorts' perks and plans, so I put on my investigator hat and checked out all the posted reviews and YouTube footage from honeymooners...and what I've found is that Caneel Bay is consistently touted as THE place for crystal-clear, fish-filled snorkeling. I'll agree with that.

Sure, other resorts have beautiful underwater scenery and exciting snorkeling opportunities, but there are some pretty big reasons why I love Caneel Bay's snorkeling heaven:

1. Beginning snorkelers can step right into the action. All you have to do is go waist-deep off of Scott, Hawksnest, Honeymoon or any of our other beaches, and you're right in the action. There's no need to jump off a boat to see anything spectacular, since the sealife is happy-making just a few feet off-shore. It's comforting for a first-timer to know that you can get right back on shore if you see anything that's not immediately identifiable on your dive card for the gift shop...and yeah, I'll admit I sped back to shore a few times (over what turned out to be a parrotfish. I started off as a bigtime wimp!)

2. The turtles LIVE here. Every morning and every afternoon, you'll see those sweet little turtles happily paddling across Scott on their way to Hawksnest, and you get to go swim with them. Here's a look at what my husband videotaped during our honeymoon snorkle:

3. There's an unbelievably wide range of colorful fish, rays, turtles, starfish and other exciting sea life living here at Caneel. I think aquariums would be envious.

4. Snorkeling equipment is FREE.

5. The arches of our seven pristine beaches keep the bigtime waves away, so there's no pounding surf kicking up sand below the surface and making everything cloudy. It's all clear-view for a big distance, even on rainy days when the water is just a touch cloudier. Which is still clearer than you can believe.

6. Snorkeling is a great activity for destination weddings, and I'll add family reunions to that! Imagine how thrilled kids and teens will be to go snorkeling with grandma and grandpa, or with parents who put down the cell phones to spend time with them underwater. When a family shares the thrill of spotting an eagle ray or a family of turtles, it makes for those golden memories kids take with them all through their lives.

7. You can dial up your adventure factor, swimming out into deeper waters, or even hop aboard a catamaran for a snorkeling trip.

Bring those underwater cameras with you, because you're going to see some spectacular scenery just feet from our shores.

Caneel Bay fans, what are some of the most exotic and gorgeous things you spotted while snorkeling?