Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa, a premier Caribbean resort for destination weddings and intimate honeymoons, announced the winning couple of its lighthouse wedding and honeymoon contest. From hundreds of couples who submitted their stories, Wanda Cheers and Stephen Vajda of Pennsylvania had a story that stood out. They received the most online votes and will be the first-ever couple wed atop St. Luciaโs Cap Moule ร Chique Lighthouse on September 4, 2010. The all-inclusive resort has partnered with Jasmine Bridal, a leading designer of bridal and special occasion gowns for this complete wedding and honeymoon giveaway.
Wanda, a neonatal intensive care unit nurse at Morristown Memorial Hospital, is the single mother of adopted twin boys, Hunter and Logan. Acting as both mom and dad, Wanda selflessly devoted all of her time to raising the boys, which left little time for dating.
When the twins turned four, Wanda re-entered the dating scene and started looking for someone special. She knew she had found the missing link to complete her family when she met Stephen on a popular dating website. It was an instant connection from the moment the duo exchanged emails, and they quickly learned how many interests and values they shared, such as their passion for staying in shape and the importance of putting family first.
โWhen finding someone to spend the rest of my life with, I wasnโt just looking for myself; I had to keep my children in mind,โ said Wanda. โI wanted someone who recognized that Hunter and Logan are my first priority. From the beginning, Stephen jumped in with both feet, and I couldnโt have asked for anyone better to come into our lives.โ
With more than 6,000 online votes, Wanda and Stephen won over 10 other finalist couples to win this dream-come-true wedding and complete honeymoon. They will not only go down in history as the first couple to be married atop the second highest lighthouse in the world, but they will also receive all the inclusions that come with a complete destination wedding at Coconut Bay Beach Resort. Additionally, as winners of the contest, the couple will receive airfare, gowns for the bridal party, spa treatments, island excursions, private receptions for their family and closest friends, and other surprises along the way.
The couple is set to be married in St. Lucia this fall, and the kids are going to be an important aspect of the ceremony. Stephen is in the process of legally adopting the twins, so when the couple exchange vows they will all share the same last name.
โI am not sure who is more excited we won this dream wedding and honeymoon from Coconut Bay โ us or the boys,โ Wanda said. โWe plan to spend the days leading up to the wedding together as a family and enjoying the resortโs water park.โ
Coconut Bay is ideal for multi-generational weddings with a family-friendly โSplashโ wing home to the islandโs largest water park, lazy river, childrenโs water playground, fully-supervised kids club, and an outdoor paintball facility. The resort also accommodates families with weekly-themed dinner nights, entertainment for the young at heart, and family dinner seating times.
After their big day, Wanda and Stephen will be treated to an all-inclusive CocoMoon โ Coconut Bay’s signature honeymoon experience. The newlyweds can enjoy their first few days as husband and wife in the โHarmonyโ wing, a true oasis of relaxation. Peaceful rooms overlook a palm-shaded, adults-only pool and bar, chaises and relaxing hammocks, intimate cabana beds, and the oceanfront Kai Mer Spa. The adventurous couple can also enjoy island excursions such as horseback riding on the beach, zip-lining through the rainforest, off-road adventures aboard all-terrain vehicles, and snorkeling in the Caribbean Sea.
Family, friends, and fans can follow Wanda and Stephenโs lighthouse wedding and St. Lucia honeymoon adventures on Coconut Bayโs blog at www.cbayresort.com .