My Brother, His Bride and a Beach

Bragg and Erin at Mango Bay

The bride wore flip flops.  So did the groom and the Registrar.   There were in fact no proper shoes at all on display when my youngest brother, Bragg, and his fiance, Erin, became husband and wife Saturday on the beach at Mango Bay, Virgin Gorda.  I do love a beach wedding.

The wedding party

The wedding was like the couple themselves – casual, warm and shot through with love.  The traditional vows were spoken.  Bragg and Erin promised to love, honor and cherish each other until parted by death.  I now pronounce you husband and wife.  Erin and Bragg both shed a tear or two.  Erin’s mom cried.  I cried.  Bones did not cry.  He was busy photographing the ceremony.  Audrey was the ring bearer in pink and white (and my flip flops).  Bragg kissed his bride and congratulations were offered all around.

The wedding crasher

After the ceremony, the marriage register was signed and we toasted the newlyweds with champagne.  Bones took the Registrar to the dock so she could catch the ferry back to Tortola.  The marriage certificate was examined and Erin was none too pleased to see that she was considered a spinster before her marriage, at least in the eyes of the BVI government.  The word spinster brings to mind your Great Aunt Maude, not my lovely new sister.  Maude is eighty-something, has twelve cats, wears cardigans and sensible shoes, takes the occasional tot of sherry and was once disappointed in love.  Erin is in her early thirties, sports several tattoos, has been skydiving, loves rock and roll  and makes a mean mojito.  Definitely not spinsterish.

She's no spinster!

Erin made a pitcher of mojitos and we watched the sun set behind the Seal Dogs (those are islands for readers not familiar with the BVI).  You always know where to find the Davis clan at a wedding.  We’re by the bar.  Funny, that.  The wedding feast was at Giorgio’s, which used to be by the sea at Mahoe Bay until a rock slide buried the kitchen.  Luckily no one was hurt and Giorgio and his absolutely astounding Italian wine cellar have relocated to The Valley.  Dinner was the perfect ending to a perfect day, at least for this lover of Italian food and wine.

Sunset

Now we’re returned to real life on Tortola and Erin’s mom is back in the States.  Bragg and Erin are honeymooning on Virgin Gorda.  They’ll spend their days snorkeling, swimming, sailing, lounging by the sea.  And I don’t imagine they’ll wear shoes all week.

My brother and his bride