We’re getting hitched

Sara Blaise Huddleston and Andrew Berns Rossmeissl cordially invite you to their honeymoon March 15–24 on the island of Grenada.

Wait, what?

Yeah we know it’s pretty weird. We wrote you this letter to try to explain what’s going on here.

Dear guests,

You read that right: you’re invited to our honeymoon. We have some explaining to do.

From our very first vacation together in Kauai to our (frankly pretty tame) spring breaks in Miami to our passagiatti in Sicily, we have relished the unhurried magic of discovering a new place. Many of our favorite times with all of you have likewise found us in repose rather than on a schedule: relaxed apres-ski afternoons in Vermont, strolls around the Madison farmer’s market, long walks through museums everywhere.

Since we were engaged in October 2017, our wedding plans have zigged and zagged. But we’ve returned time and again to the idea of a vacation that we all happen to take at the same time, to the same place.

And that’s how we arrived at this unconventional wedding plan: inviting you along to our honeymoon in Grenada. We will certainly be throwing a party one night, including rings and a dress and a few brief vows, but there will be no other formal schedule. We’re excited to spend a few days or a week with all of you in a beautiful place at a relaxed pace.

As excited as we are for you to join us, we want you to know that we will not be hurt if you can’t make it. We understand that it’s a big ask for you to pack up and head to the West Indies, especially for those of you with small children or hectic work schedules. We truly will not take it personally if you can’t come; in fact, we’ll visit you for a private vows recital. If, on the other hand, you’re thinking of planning a winter getaway somewhere warm, consider this time and place. We’d love to see you.

If we do see you there, we’ll be married! Our legally sanctioned ceremony will have taken place the weekend before at a teeny-tiny family chapel in Wisconsin that can only fit our relatives. As much as we wish you could join us, rest assured that Grenada is a much less blustery spot than the shores of Lake Michigan in March.

Finally, please, no gifts! Your presence is your present. We can’t imagine any better gift. Spend the money on sunscreen!

We can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Love, SB & Andy

Honeymoon

When
March 15–24, 2019. Come anytime in this window and stay for as long as you’d like. Most people will come Friday March 15 and stay for a long weekend so they don’t miss the party. We’ll be AWOL after the 22nd.
Where
Grenada, West Indies. Grenada is a small island but a lot of what we plan to do is concentrated in Grand Anse Beach (on the Southwest corner of the island).

Think of this like a spring break trip where a bunch of your friends and family will also be there. Other than the party, there’s no schedule, so you’ll have plenty of time to relax and do your thing. But, if you are interested, we’ll be compiling a list of excursions during the week that you can join us on.

Welcome

When
Friday, March 15, 2019 4–7pm. Please try to be at Nimrod’s Rum Shack by 4pm. Water taxis will take us from Nimrod’s to Roger’s between 4–5pm and back to Nimrod’s around 7:15pm.
Where
Roger’s Barefoot Bar, Hog Island.
How
It’s easiest to take a taxi to Nimrod’s from your hotel (arrange a time for your taxi driver to come back and pick you up from Nimrod’s after). But the adventurous can take any bus into St. George’s and then hop on the #2 bus and ask to be dropped off at Nimrod’s (which doubles as a bus stop).
What
Roger will serve drinks and apps at his beach bar for us, then feel free to get dinner wherever you’d like.
Who
No children, please. We’ll have information forthcoming on what to do with your kiddos.
Dress
Casual.

Party

When
Saturday, March 16, 2019 arriving promptly by 5:45pm. Things should be wrapped up by midnight.
Where
Beach Cabana, Mount Cinnamon Resort.
What
First, a ceremony during sunset, then food, drink and music.
Who
No children, please. We’ll have information forthcoming on what to do with your kiddos.
Dress
Beach formal. Breezy maxis and lightweight suits.

We’re getting married in a tiny chapel in Wisconsin that’s a memorial to Sara Blaise’s grandmother. There’s only enough room for family, so this is our chance to celebrate with all of you.

Grenada

Grenada is a small Caribbean Island between Venezuela and Barbados.

Weather
Temps in March range from 72–88ºF with little precipitation. Grenada is outside the hurricane belt, and in any event March is well before the hurricane season starts.
Language
English is the primary language, a legacy of Grenada’s colonization by Britain.
Safety
Grenada is one of the safest (if not the safest) Caribbean islands for tourists.
Health
Zika is currently a “level 2” concern in Grenada according to the CDC.

Sights

It would take you about 2.5 hours to drive all the way around Grenada. Within this small island of about 100 square miles and 100,000 people, you’ll find a little of everything.

Sara Blaise and Andy’s itinerary
The only thing officially scheduled is the ceremony and party on Saturday night. But if you want to join us for anything else, here’s what we’re doing:
Saturday — Heading into St. George’s for the weekly open air market, fort visits, and a stroll along the Carenage. Returning to Grand Anse early afternoon so people can get ready for the party.
Sunday — late morning hike up Mount Qua Qua.
Monday — DIY island tour on Grenada’s public minibuses. You can follow the route at our pace or your own (and skip things you don’t want to see). Stops along the way:
  • St. Rose’s nursery botanical garden (1 hour tour, 30 ECD)
  • Seven Sisters Waterfall (1 hour roundtrip easy hike, 5 ECD)
  • Pearl’s Airport
  • Belmont Estate (tours vary in price/time)
  • River Antoine Rum Distillery (5 ECD)
  • Carib’s Leap (free)
  • Gouyave Nutmeg Processing Cooperative (2.70 ECD).
Starting from St. George’s bus terminal, take Route 6 toward Grenville, then Route 9 toward Sauteurs, then Route 5 back to St. George’s. Each time you get off a bus you’ll somewhere between 2 and 5 ECD ($1–2 USD). Bring small bills and coins to cover your bus fares and any tours you want to do! There will be plenty of places to stop along the way for food/drink.
General
Grenada being a destination for Brits, The Telegraph has a good overview.
Lonely Planet has a good guide, and if you’re looking for a book, their Caribbean Islands offering was updated just last year.
National Geographic gives a good rundown.
Thrillist and a random travel blog also give good general overviews.
St. George’s
Widely considered the most beautiful capital city in the Caribbean. It’s a short bus ride up from Grande Anse beach. Here’s an overview from Lonely Planet.
The Carenage is a scenic inlet in St. George’s harbor, perfect for strolling around and taking in the brightly colored architecture.
Fort Frederick is the island’s best-preserved fort: originally French, then used by the British.
Fort George is the oldest defensive structure in Grenada.
The Grenada National Museum is a bit jumbled but worth a visit if you’re in the area.
Hiking
Hiking is the perfect way to experience what The Telegraph calls the greenest island in the Caribbean. The information we’ve read suggests that it’s generally best to use a local guide.
The Grand Etang Forest Reserve and National Park comprise over 6,000 acres of mountainous rainforest. For a true summit hike, try Mount Qua Qua. Here’s another account.
Waterfalls! Check out Annandale or Seven Sisters.
Go for a run with Grenada’s Hash House Harriers, one of the largest chapters of this running group in the world.
Tours
Grenada has plenty of tour guides, and this can be a great way to see the major sights. Here’s one account of a tour trip.
Beaches
Here’s our favorite rundown of the best beaches on the island. There’s also a great list from The Telegraph.
Nature
If you’re not up for the hike, you can still visit Grant Etang Lake.
Birdwatching is increasingly popular on Grenada. Check out Lake Antoine, Levera National Park, or the Mt. Hartman Dove Sanctuary, home of the Grenada Dove. Here’s a brochure from the Caribbean Birding Trail with a list of the best birdwatching sites and birding guides.
If botanical gardens are your thing, visit Hyde Park or Jessamine’s Eden.
Rum
The River Antoine Rum Distillery has been in continuous operation since 1785 using local sugar cane along with oxen and water power to crush the cane. Here’s a great video from Lonely Planet.
More well-known rum producers in Grenada include Clarke’s Court and Westerhall Estate.
Spices and Chocolate
Belmont Estate has been producing spices and chocolate since the 1600s. The 400 acre plantation is now fully organic and includes sustainable farming, gardens, chocolate production, and tours. Belmont is closed Saturdays.
One-third of the world’s nutmeg is produced in Grenada—you can smell it everywhere. The best place to visit for the nutmeg experience is the Gouyave Nutmeg Co-operative in the northwest corner of the island.
Another great way to experience Grenada’s spices is to visit the Spice Market in St. George’s Market Square. The market is open every day but is most exciting on Saturday mornings.
Bars
We’ve done a lot of research on the best beach (and elsewhere) bars in Grenada. Here’s what we’ve found so far.
Roger’s Barefoot Beach Bar on Hog Island, where we’re hosting a welcome party on Friday night, can only be reached by boat or by foot. The best instructions I’ve found are on this page (scroll down to Hog Island). More coverage.
Nimrod’s Rum Shop is a classic Caribbean rum shack that also serves as a bus stop.
Esther’s Beach Bar is on Grand Anse.
Umbrella’s is much more of a “real bar” than the others on this list.
La Plywood is on Mourne Rouge/BBC beach just south of Grand Anse.
La Luna is quite a bit fancier than the others here.
Breweries
Carib Brewery is what the locals drink when they’re not drinking rum. It’s originally from Trinidad & Tobago but they also have a brewery on Grenada.
West Indies Beer Co. opened their Brewery recently to much fanfare.
Water activities
Snorkling is a big deal in Grenada, with the world’s first underwater sculpture park and the Grenada Marine Protected Area just north of St. George’s. Here’s a list.
You can also go diving and explore huge shipwrecks and coral reefs. Here’s a list of dive sites and another from Lonely Planet.
Surfing is also apparently a thing in Grenada.

Ideas

For those of you who prefer a long list of random ideas for things to do, here’s our own for you to browse!

Botanical
Directory
St. Rose Nursery (article) — contact John Criswick at criswick@spiceisle.com
De La Grenade Nutmeg Garden
Hyde Park
Smithy’s Garden — Anne Campbell
Sunnyside Garden
Laura herb and spice gardens
Jessamine’s Eden
Art
Art House
Art Upstairs
Susan Mains Gallery
Yellow Poui Gallery
Underwater sculpture park
Doliver Noel Marain
Shopping
Art Fabrik (also a secret art gallery “backstage” in the courtyard behind the cashier’s desk)
Craft de Spice
Market Square (best on Saturday morning)
Food
Belmont Estate
Gouyave Nutmeg Processing Station
Dougaldston Spice Estate
Fish market and meat market in St. George’s
History
Pearl’s Airport
Carib’s Leap
Fort Frederick and Fort George
Hiking
Annandale Falls
Concord, Au Coin, and Fontainbleu Falls
Grand Étang National Park
Mount Qua Qua (another take)
Seven Sisters Falls
Telfor Bedeu is Grenada’s legendary hiking guide
Nature
Lake Antoine
Levera National Park
Mt. Hartman Dove Sanctuary
Grand Etang Lake
Birdwatching
Rum and booze
River Antoine
Clarke’s Court
Westerhall Estate
Carib Brewery
Water
Snorkeling
Dive sites (more)
Surfing
Kayaking
Fishing
Other
St. George’s/The Carenage
Bike rental
Carriacou

Lodging

The best guide to Grenada’s hotels we’ve found is at The Telegraph.

Even if you don’t stay with us at the Mount Cinnamon Resort, we’d still love for you to stay near us on Grand Anse Beach, where there are a variety of other hotels, resorts, and Airbnbs available. The Grand Anse Beach area is all walkable and there are frequent buses from there up to St. George’s, the capital city.

Mount Cinnamon
We have a block rate at Mount Cinnamon Resort for 20% off if you book direct. If you’re comfortable with a non-refundable rate you can save even more. There are multi-bedroom units available if you want to share a spot with friends. Reach out to our pal Odissa and use reference number ROSS031619. You will probably not get a good rate if you try using their website: it’s best to contact Odissa directly. Expect $289/night for one of their Cinnamon Suites. It’s not a huge resort so book soon if you want to stay here.
Radisson
We block rate at the nearby Radisson Grenada Beach Resort which is a bigger and more affordable option. Call (800) 333-3333 or book online using promotional code 1903HUDD under the “More Search Options” section. Note that this block has a cutoff date of Tuesday, Feb 12, 2019. Room options include 2 double beds for $96/night, premium king for $133/night, premium 2 doubles for $199, and ocean view king for $248.
Airbnb
There is a thriving Airbnb scene throughout the Caribbean. Check out the listings for more info.

Travel

Generally speaking, the easiest and most affordable option will be to travel through one of JetBlue’s 5 nonstop flights each week from JFK airport in New York. Flights run every day except Monday and Wednsday. Flight search engines may not always “find” these routes, because they often require an overnight stay in NYC on your outbound leg: the flight leaves first thing in the morning.

If you’re coming from the Midwest, consider taking JetBlue from O’Hare (ORD) to Barbados (BGI) and using an inexpensive LIAT shuttle flight to continue to Grenada.

Airport
Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND)

Here’s the method we used to find the cheapest and best flights from Boston, Burlington, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Franciso to Grenada.

Registry

As we said in our letter, your presence is our present. If you can’t come and really feel like you need to send us something, check out our registry.

Contact

If you have any questions, please let us know!

Sara Blaise
Email or (802) 349-3083.
Andy
Email or (914) 804-4402.