Guardian www.guardian.co.tt May/June, 20132

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When I look into your eyes I see the colour of your love for me

When I look into your eyes I feel the magic of your soul

I'll never let you go

The Colour of Your Loveby No Chains

SPU PRODUCER:Tracey Alonzo

tracey.alonzo@guardian.co.ttHEAD OF DESIGN: MARKETING/SPU

Denise BaptisteASSOCIATE EDITORS

Lisa JessamyHalcian Pierre

CONTRIBUTORS:Simone Sant-Ghuran, Jamilia Alexander,Akiela Hope, Christine Dalkan, KaelanneJordan, Toastmasters Int’l, TT Hotel and

Tourism Association, Richard Cook LAYOUT/DESIGN

Sean Simon, Psyche Mitchell & Raquel Vasquez La RocheSPECIAL PUBLICATIONS ENQUIRIES:

spu1 @guardian.co.tt

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTMANAGERBUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (SPU)

Sonja Romanysonja.romany@guardian.co.tt

623-8872 ext. 2928

SPECIAL PUBLICATIONS UNIT (SPU)

June has always been one of the most pop-ular months for weddings. This traditiongoes all the way to early Roman timesthousands of years ago, when they cele-brated the festival of Juno, the goddess ofmarriage and childbirth. According to his-torians, June weddings also come from theCeltic calendar. Even the term “honey-moon” has a historical origin, referring tothe first moon after the summer solstice –June 21 – which was called the “honeymoon.”

Trinidad and Tobago is so very fortunate tohave great weather all-round the year. De-spite our two seasons, we still bask in thesun or dance in the rain. Nothing ever stopsus from having a good time and a marriage isjust another reason to celebrate.

In this month’s issue, we provide you withsome insightful ideas and inspiration to helpto make each moment memorable. Whilemarriages today are now a reflection of acouple’s love and commitment to one an-other and while traditions may change, havefun reading what’s inside and making you dayspecial in your special way.

As you start this new journey in life, mayevery day hold wonderful shared experi-ences!

Lisa JessamyAssociate Editor

Special Publications Unit

Dear Readers,

DEAR READERS 3

The BasicsA GUIDE TO BOOKING THE RIGHT VENDORS 4

Ideas and InspirationVERA WANG WEDGEWOOD 5

For HerGORGEOUS LOOKS FOR JUNE 7

Decorations (Wedding Themes)WHAT’S THE COLOUR OF YOUR LOVE 8

Creative CakesDELECTABLE DESSERTS 9

TrendsFOR THE BRIDE & GROOMDIY 10

CeremonyTHE ART OF TOASTING 11

For HimHOW TO BE A BEST BEST MAN 12

Wedding BlissBY RICHARD COOK 13

Honeymoons5 HISTORIC HONEYMOONS 14

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that can’t seem to get re-solved, perhaps it’s time to findanother vendor.

Here are some tips to usewhen selecting weddingsuppliers: 1) Attend reputable bridal expos.

This way you can compareand contrast vendors’ offer-ings and look at products andservices on the spot.

2) Exceptional vendors will offeradvice, will be reliable andtrustworthy and will do every-thing in their power to getyour business. Never let avendor feel as though you aredoing them a favour by book-ing them. Remember if youare the paying customer, it isin the vendor’s best interestto cater to your needs andtreat you respectfully.

3) Find out about the supplier’sprofessional qualificationsand/or years of experience intheir area of expertise.

4) After phone calls or emails, al-ways try to make an appoint-ment to meet your vendor.When you arrive, ask to seehis/her portfolio of work andany letters of recommenda-tion from past clients or testi-monials. Remember thattestimonials featured on awebsite are often not enough,so ask if you can get refer-ences to call or email.

5) Be sure the supplier takesnote of your budget and pref-erences and records these de-

tails. Be wary of a supplierwho seems disorganised, isrepeatedly late and commitseverything you say to mem-ory!

6) Ask about the supplier’s fullrange of services. Some wed-ding suppliers can providemore than one service orproduct, for a package price.

7) Once you have decided on thevendor and determined theproduct/service details, get allthe specifics in writing. Thiscan be on an invoice or in theform of a service contract. Inyour contract, ensure youspecify date, location and set-up time.

8) Enquire about how much de-posit is required and when itshould be paid; as well aswhen the balance is due.

9) Ask about possible hiddencosts such as transportationof items to the wedding site,breakage fees, costs for sitevisits or for further consulta-tions, assembly, “clean-up” ordismounting charges.

10) Once you pay a deposit, al-ways ensure that you get areceipt

11) Ask about back-up equip-ment, substitute staff or con-tingency plans.

In the end, always bear inmind that you hire weddingvendors because of their ex-pertise but the only expert onwhat you want for your wed-ding, is YOU!

In a perfect world, all wedding ven-dors would be professional, easy towork with and fit your budget! How-ever, in the real world, vendors can fallanywhere along this continuum.

If you’re an engaged couple, I’m sureyou are in the midst of finding out thateach wedding vendor operates based onhis/her own standards of professional-ism and customer service delivery.

This is coupled with the fact thatpackages, prices, terms and conditionsvary; which is precisely why the onus ison the couple to ensure they receive

value for their

money but also have an enjoyable expe-rience interacting with wedding vendors.

Generally, it is best to interview sev-eral wedding vendors in each category(e.g. Photography, Catering etc.) and fol-low your instincts about them, as well asyour budget.

There are some clues you can gleanupfront, such as, the way wedding ven-dors answer their phones and returnyour phone calls and e-mails. Should youfind yourself having a difficult time get-

ting ahold of them or if youfind that you have

conflicting views

In a less traditional setting, thewording of your invitation can be ascreative as you want. Some op-tions can be lyrics from your song,quotations or even verses from yourfavourite poetry. Personalising yourinvitation can be fun and inspiringthing you can do together as a cou-ple. However, just don’t forget tomention the following:

• Your name and the name of yourfiancé, including last names.

• The date, location, and time ofthe wedding.

• The location and time of the re-ception.

• Reply information.

How-to List namesIf your parents are divorces, the

best decision would be to list thename of the bride’s parent at the topof the invitation. Your bride’smother’s name should be the first lineand her father’s name right there-after. The words “and” is not neces-sary. If the bride’s mother isremarried, then “Mrs.” should be used,followed by her first name, maidenname, and married name.

By: Simone Sant-Ghuran

Manager/Founder,www.trinidadweddings.com

Here are some more tips on word-ing your invitation: Your divorced parents have re-married.

Mr. and Mrs. Paul SaucerMr. and Mrs. Green Littlebee

request the honor of your presenceat the marriage of their daughter

Sweet Apple Littlebee 

One or both of your parents aredeceased.

Miss Jane Smithand

Mr. John Doerequest the honour of your presence

at their marriage 

You have been married before.Solution: If your parents are issuingthe invitation, include your marriedname:

Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Chaserrequest the honour of your presence

at the marriage of their daughterPixie Prettyalot

Or you and your fiancé may issueit yourselves:

Pixie Prettyalot Chaser andJohn McEnroe

request the honour of your presenceat their marriage

(DH Gift Bridal Registry Logo or the Logo) Vera WangWedgwood gifts are the perfect choice for weddinggifts or anniversary gifts. Get them exclusively at DHGift. For more information contact or visit DH Gift atThe Falls, West Mall 1(868) 632-6527 or Long CircularMall 1(868) 622-0500

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Love KnotsToasting FlutesBeautiful sterlingsilver Love Knotscharacterise theelegant VeraWang Love Knotscollection. A slen-der profile of finecrystal is offsetby a silver-platedbase accentedwith a delicatebow. Raise a toastwith these ele-gant Love KnotsToasting Flutes.

Duchesse Encore stemwareLuxury meets tradition with theDuchess Collection by VeraWang; which is characterised bya classic, elegant crystal withthe minimum of decoration; limited to simple, but powerfuldesigns that add just a touch ofsparkle.

Gilded WeaveThis 4 piece place setting is inspired bythe Greek and neoclassical accents thatrenowned New York designer Vera Wang

uses on her bridal gowns, theGilded Weave Collection

features beautifulfine bone china

characterizedby rich and

ornate de-sign details.

Love knots framesPerfect for a treasured photoof the bride and groom, won-derful as a gift for couplesand friends alike.

Naturals Graphite Elegance is often characterized by simplic-

ity, which serves as inspiration for theNaturals Collection by Vera Wang;

featuring practical casual dining din-nerware decorated with an under-

stated, yet beautiful palette ofneutral colours. This selectionepitomises elegant and simpledesign, featuring an organicshape and neutral graphiteglaze; making it ideal for in-formal and everyday dining.

Guardian www.guardian.co.tt May/June, 20136

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TIMELESS BEAUTYRohni Samaroo-Rickhi

FASHION MAKEUP ARTISTS

For any occasionBridal, Vintage, Clean Beauty, Glamour

Specializing in Bridal Make-up

Tel: 680-1894Appointments and Trials

Email: rani.1961@hotmail.com0424029

Make a statement with someclassic or popping coloured heels.

Add flattering pieces of accessorythat make your look all the moreirresistible.

Saturate your sultry silhouettes in colourful ban-deau or bandage dresses that showcase show-stop-ping femininity. Give a bridal style a fresh and prettyupdate with colourful and wispy organza dresses.

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Having a challenge choosing a theme for your wedding? Have some fun and takethe quiz that helps you to choose the best colours to match your relationship.

Lisa Jessamy

Mostly 4’s Rich Berries and EarthyReds – You both are deeply passion-ate and committed to your love andlife together. You both love to traveland experience new things. This cou-ple radiates charisma, personality andpositivity, making others feel relaxedand valued in your company.

Mostly 1’s Orange and Rich Browns- You are a couple who love to so-cialise and both of you are well re-spected and accepted by your peersand friends. You are the outdoor typeand love physical challenges.

Mostly 2’s Luscious Greens andForest hues– You are the couple allabout snuggles and good times. Youbask in each other’s company andfeel safe and secure in each other’sarms. You both love attention, look-ing and feeling good.

Mostly 3’s Bright Yellows andGolden Tones – Individuality yet com-mon vision are the cornerstones ofyour relationship. You both don’t mindexpressing yourself as an individual oras a couple. You both understandeach other’s needs and are willing tolet your partner have their space.

Mostly 5’s Calm Blues and Serene Vi-olets – You are a couple of spiritualtruth and inner peace. You are com-fortable staying at home and watchinga good movie together. You both havestable jobs and set goals together anddo the things that are necessary tokeep each other committed and de-voted to each other.

You are at a restaurant and your part-ner is late for dinner, what do you do?1) Pick up the phone and call to find out

what’s happening2) Call to say you are going home3) Order in the meantime, understand

that when your partner gets therehe/she will join in

4) You make friends with the peoplenearby, waiting is never a problem

5) When you make plans you go together

You frequently go together to: 1) After work limes on Fridays, social

gatherings2) At the movies3) You have a special date night4) At a cruise party5) To church or family get together

Sex is normally a topic that you:1) Talk with friends to get their opinions 2) All about kissing each and publicly dis-

playing your love3) About going to a Latin dance party and

intensifying the romance for later4) Find thoroughly satisfying5) A private matter

You friends can usually find you:1) Doing something outdoors2) At home3) Shopping4) They can’t, you both have just decided

to go on a weekend trip5) Volunteering at a charity

On your wedding day your receptionmusic would probably be:1) Reggae or Alternative Slows2) Smooth R&B3) A mixture of everything you love4) Classical slows with a bit of Jazz 5) Oldies and inspirational love song

Images Courtesy: design-seed.com

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We have done hundreds of weddingcakes of all different shapes, sizes, flavours,and designs, all determined by our cus-tomers’ own preferences and sometimesbudget. Ultimately, we strive to continuallyraise the standards of what a cake shouldlook like by incorporating numerous per-sonal elements within the design, even ifwe are using a picture as reference.  So thecake transcends beyond a simple duplicateand becomes an original yet sweet repre-sentation of all things important to thecustomer. Nowadays, most brides have atheme in mind, which may be based on theseason, holidays, seaside, a vintage look,glitz and glamour, or even hobbies. It's im-portant to find out what she's looking for,sometimes, it's simply to outdo a friend’scake! We've had young ladies coming inwith pictures and wanting to know whatwe could do to make it better, as their bestfriend stole their cake! And boy do we lovethat challenge!

Within recent times, another major focushas been on dessert buffets. People lovesmall beautiful desserts, especially if theyare eye appealing and taste even better! Adessert table is one of the main attractionsat the reception, sometimes, more than thefood itself, as almost everyone leaves roomfor that extra “sweetness” to complete thefestivities. We’ve added a wide variety ofindividual desserts that can complementany event. Our list includes mini chocolatecups filled with your choice of mochamousse or custard cream, individual blackforest squares, mini gourmet cupcakessuch as carrot, red velvet, chocolate chipand coconut cream, creme caramel, minicheesecake bites, fudge brownies and somuch more. Cupcakes have moved frombeing part of the cake table, to an edibletoken on the guests table or part of adessert buffet. A very popular request isthe chocolate fountain, which we will set-up complete with fresh strawberries andcake kebabs for dipping.

We do have a wedding events manager,who will meet with our brides and grooms,and go through details of cakes, tokens, ap-petizers and desserts. She can be con-tacted at 721-CAKE (2253). Brides may alsoemail us at bakerytreatz1@hotmail.com for aninitial consult to be followed by a meeting.

Bakery Treatz was established in 2003. On this, ourtenth anniversary, we can safely say our success is di-rectly attributed to our loyal and diverse customer baseand our delicious product selections. We have specialisedin various key aspects of wedding planning, including notonly the cake, but also desserts, edible tokens such ascustomised cookies, cake truffles, cupcakes, and a rangeof appetisers, ideal for the now popular cocktail hour.

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Create it!1. Cut a length of wire to the length of your

leaves plus a good length to wrap.2. Cut a piece of fabric that is double the

length of the leaf outline, brush with glue.3. Fold the fabric in half with the wire inside

and press flat – let dry overnight.4. Centre the leaf outline over the dried fab-

ric.5. Cut out the leaf outline using good scis-

sors.6. Cut some lovely fresh blooms with a good

length of stem. 7. Wrap the stems and wire with florist tape

and secure, trim the ends.8. Finish by tying a little ribbon around the

base (this also secures everything to-gether).

Simple and sweet, this is the perfect DIYwedding detail for your June wedding.

White TuxedoGet the look right with a light weightsuit in the right colour - White.

Fabulous Frills and sparkly gemIn June Couture fashion is in. It is all in the details. In June wewill see some fabulous frills, mermaid dresses that providesimple elegance. Dresses shine with Swarovski crystals thatframe the strapless sweetheart neckline and lace appliquésthat are layered to create a subtly textural bodice with dra-matic dropped waist. (Image courtesy http://sophiatolli.com)

Here’s a clever DIY, we discovered onhttp://www.intimateweddings.com

These boutonnieres were created with leavesthat were made using gorgeous fabrics andfresh flowers topped with grosgrain ribbon.

What you’ll need:• Decoupage glue• Wire• Fabric• Floral tape• Wire cutters• Scissors• Paint brush• Leaf outline• Flowers (Chinese Lanterns)

How to create boutonnieresfor the boys

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The main purpose of the toast is to congratulate andencourage the couple. Toasts also serve to connect allthe attendees, most often the reception is the first timethe two families are coming together. Finally weddingtoasts entertain and set the tone for the rest of the re-ception.

Toasts are also integral to events leading up to thewedding reception. At the engagement party, toastsmay be more informal and impromptu and are led-offby the hosts. A good time to commence toasting at theengagement party would be mid-way when all of theguests should have arrived.

Allotting time for toasting at the rehearsal dinner isalso recommended and commonly practiced. The par-ents of the groom are usually the hosts of this eventand should speak first. This event provides a great op-portunity for cousins and extended family to conveytheir best wishes in order to keep the toasting segmentof the actual wedding reception program reasonable.

Traditional wedding reception programs featurefewer speakers: the father-of-the bride, best man,groom and maid-of-honor. Contemporary weddings ac-commodate many more speakers. In the interest oftime, during the planning stages the couple should de-cide how much time will be spent on toasting and whowill speak. These persons should be notified in advance.

Once formally asked to deliver a toast, understandthat this means something to the couple. Of all the peo-ple they could have asked to speak they chose you.

• Prepare ahead of time. Start writing the toast about a month before the wed-ding. A toast should be 2 – 3 minutes in duration. Thinkof one word or a few words you would use to describethe bride, groom or couple and develop a theme or storyaround that. Consider how you them and something

that stands out about their relationship. These shouldprovide a solid foundation on which your toast is writ-ten. Decide on how sentimental or humorous your toastwill be at this stage and stick to that. Be careful not toproduce something overly sappy or with over the tophumor.

• Practice Aim to have a final draft two weeks before the wed-ding. Deliver the toast to several people and obtainfeedback on your delivery. Use the evaluations providedto improve, particularly on areas such as your use ofgestures, vocal variety and eye contact.

• On the day of the toastEnsure that you are familiar with the space to be used.Find out if a microphone will be provided or not andyour position in the speaking lineup. Pay attention toyour grooming particularly your nails and hands. Asksomeone to give you “the once-over” especially if multi-media is being used (video and screen). Limit drinkingprior to delivering the toast; too much alcohol will impairyour speaking ability and memory. Cue cards are ac-ceptable; however limit their use only to keep yourspeech on track. Speak from the heart and be yourself.

• The Toast When your time comes to speak, stand with your glasswithin reaching distance, ensure that you have every-one’s attention and that each person has a filled glass,smile and make eye contact with people in the audi-ence, finally turn to the couple and begin to speak.

• Opening BoldlyState who you are and your relationship to the couple,even at smaller intimate receptions this is a good prac-

tice. At larger receptions, people will be genuinely curi-ous about who you are and why you were asked tospeak at the couple’s union. Let them know succinctly.

• The Body: Toast don’t RoastInsert a short poem, quote or story at this stage. Keepdetails positive, focused on and personalised for thecouple rather than providing too much informationabout you. Best men and maids-of-honor should bemindful that the audience consists of parents, grand-parents, god-parents, new in-laws and even close busi-ness associates; therefore risqué inside jokes should beavoided.

• Close with ConfidenceOnce you have concluded the oration, raise your glass,look around for agreement – others in the crowd withraised glasses and propose “the toast”. Say somethinglike “Here’s to the happy couple. Cheers!” Clink glasseswith those close-by, finally take a sip of the drink and sitdown.

As “the big day” approaches” keep in mind, that a wellexecuted toast makes for a memorable gift to the new-lyweds and is something that will leave a lasting im-pression on all in attendance.

Do you need assistance preparing your toast for anupcoming wedding? On Saturday June 15th DynamicSpeakers Toastmasters Club will be hosting a weddingthemed meeting. Come hear award-winning speechesabout marriage, hear sample toasts or practice toastingyourself! There will also be a mixologist on-hand givingdemonstrations on how to select stemware andchoose champagne and cocktails for toasting. Atten-dance is free of charge. RSVP Nadia Portillo at 473-8292 or via the Area 12 Clubs Blogwww.area12toastmasters.wordpress.com

The wedding toast, a celebratory symbol of matrimony, is often overlooked during the plan-ning stages of weddings and feared or underestimated by those called upon to present it.

PHOTO: Richard Cook

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Gaston COURTS

In the park

BallroomNow Renting

For Functions, Weddings, Receptions,Seminars & other social events

For Reservations

Call: 672-52250327002

The month of June is one of the most popularmonths for weddings. If you have been chosento fill the shoes of the best man, you better beprepared because it’s not every day you can beconsidered to be the best. If you want to takethis role seriously here are a few things to helpyou along the way.

PLAN THE BACHELOR PARTY. Chances are you are the groom’s best buddy, so

you are at an advantage, you know what thegroom likes. • Start by having the end in mind. Make it fun.

Not anything out of this world or accidentprone because you would want your buddy tobe ready for his big day.

• Surprises can range from the very wild party toa casual home gathering, Consider his interestand personality when choosing what you wantto do.

• It’s nice to surprise your friend with what he’llbe doing at his party, but be sure to cater to hispersonality and interests.

Get fitted for a tux/suit. In former times, eti-quette dictated that the groom pay for rental orpurchase of the tuxes for his groomsmen. Thesedays, the groom often expects you to pony up thedough yourself. Personally, I find it in poor taste toask someone to be in your wedding and then ex-pect them to pay for their own tux, but it’s be-come a common practice.

Whether you’re buying or renting, paying or not,you will likely be expected to get fitted for your

tux or suit. You’re responsible for showing up tothe appointment and making sure the othergroomsmen do as well.

Go to the rehearsal. The day before the wed-ding, there will be a rehearsal held where the ac-tual wedding will take place. It can’t start withoutyou, so be sure to arrive on time. It should onlylast for a half an hour or so.

Go to the rehearsal dinner. After the rehearsal,those in the wedding party (and other family andfriends the couple may have invited) will headover to the rehearsal dinner, typically held at arestaurant. There is usually toasting at the dinner,and while you are welcome to make a toast, I rec-ommend holding off until your big speech at thewedding reception. You don’t want to use up yourbest material.

THE DAY OF THE WEDDINGA wedding day is a whirlwind of activity. Your

job as the best man is to take the burden of stressoff the groom and onto your shoulders. You’ll behis go-to guy: his support, assistant, and valet. Youmake sure things are in place, that the groom haswhat he needs, gets to where he needs to be, andstays relaxed. If you do your job right, the groomwill only need to worry about walking down thataisle.BEFORE THE CEREMONY

Hang out with the groom as he dresses for theceremony. Keep your friend calm and relaxed (al-though not with spirits). There may be somedowntime before the ceremony, so play somevideo games and just chill. Skip questions like,

“Dude, are you sure you want to do this?” and in-stead offer calming encouragement.

Make sure the groom has whatever he needs.Not just for the wedding but for the honeymoonas well. He may not be coming back to hishouse/hotel/apartment before heading off intothe sunset with his bride. So make sure he has themarriage license, that he’s all packed, and that theluggage, tickets, passport, etc. get put in the car.

Drive the groom over to the wedding location.Get there at least 30 minutes before the cere-mony starts.

Distribute the boutonnieres and make surethe groomsmen are wearing them properly.They should be placed in the buttonhole of the leftlapel of one’s suit jacket. If there’s no buttonhole,then pin them there.

AT THE CEREMONYEnter with the groom. The order of the wed-

ding processional varies by the type of weddingand the couple’s faith tradition, but most fre-quently the minister or priest, best man, andgroom (in that order) come into the churchthrough a side door at the front.

Hold onto the groom’s ring. It’s your job to keepthe ring safe and sound in your pocket and to fishit out at the appropriate time during the cere-mony. This is one thing you absolutely don’t wantto flub, lest you end up as a clip on America’s Fun-niest Home Videos.

Don’t faint. See the aforementioned referenceto AFV.

Escort the maid/matron of honor out of the

church at the conclusionof the ceremony.

Sign the marriage li-cense. After the wed-ding, you may be askedto be a witness and signthe marriage license.

At the ReceptionDance with the ma-

tron/maid of honor andthe bridesmaids.

Kick off the toastingwith the best manspeech. This is the jobthat probably firstcomes to mind whenyou think about beingthe best man. And it’sprobably the job you’remost nervous about.But don’t worry, we’vegot you covered with afoolproof plan to knockyour speech out of thepark.

An interesting sidenote: The best manused to also readtelegrams from well-wishers who couldn’tmake it to the ceremony

Decorate the get-away car. During the re-ception, sneak out withyour groomsmen anddecorate the bride andgroom’s getaway mo-bile. Make it kitschy, a lit-tle embarrassing, butnot uber annoying. Andof course, don’t get toocarried away and dam-age the car. Use yourjudgment in how far totake it by how good ofsports the bride andgroom are.

Tying some cans withstring to the undersideof the car is classic, as iswriting on the windowswith window paint. Sticksome balloons on theoutside and stuff themin the interior. Tapesome ribbons to thehubcaps. Stick on somewindow clings. Theymake personalized wed-ding specific ones, but Iwould go with some-thing truly random likeDale Earnhardt, I LoveMy Coonhnound, andHannah Montana. Butthat gives you an idea ofmy sense of humor.

If they’re renting alimo or a slick set ofwheels, you’ll probablyhave to skip this step.

After the wedding,bring the groom’s tuxto the cleaners or backto the rental shop. Takecare of this while he’s onthe honeymoon.

Written with informationfrom artofmanliness.com

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RICHARD COOK has been anactive professional photogra-pher who has over 18 years ofextensive international andlocal experience. He studied inCanada majoring in Art andPhotography and started hiscareer in New York City as anassistant photographer. Hethen decided to make ourbeautiful island paradise hishome base, taking advantageof the scenic locations for amaz-ing backdrops as you can see inhis specialty wedding photogra-phy also showing our diverse cul-tural island life. His talent led hiscareer to be more versatile by ex-panding in the areas of photo-graphing food, fashion, people andplaces. Richard is true profes-sional as can be seen from thecaliber of his work, from photo-graphing numerous celebrities

from Halle Berry to Nelson Man-dela to being the Official Photog-rapher for the 1999 Miss UniversePageant (Trinidad Division). Hecontinues to grow in experiencefrom his work between here, theCaribbean and the USA and hasgained an established list of clien-tele. They in turn immediately re-alise that he is passionate abouthis job because he does what heloves and loves what he does.

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In 1807 15,000 slaves were freed on Tobago followingthe Abolition of the Slave Trade and they too have alsocontributed to the rich cultural tapestry of Tobago. Priorto the discovery of Tobago by the Europeans, the islandwas home to three early Amerindian cultures includingthe Arawaks and the Caribs. Here are some suggestionsto make the most of your visit to Tobago and discovermore about the island's fascinating history.

Fort King George and the Tobago MuseumBuilt in the early 1770s by the British, Fort King

George is Tobago's best preserved fort. It sits on the hilloverlooking the island's capital Scarborough and wasused as a military prison more than a hundred and fiftyyears ago. Several of the fort's buildings have been pre-served including the Officers' Mess, powder magazineand lighthouse. Cannon grace the manicured groundswhich has incredible panoramic views of the AtlanticOcean. Inside the restored Barrack Guard House is theTobago Museum, home to thousands of artifacts relat-

ing to Tobago's past. There are examples of earlyAmerindian pottery, antique maps and coins and mili-tary relics as well as displays relating to slavery. A realhistoric highlight of your trip.

The Battle of Scarborough, 1677Two of Tobago's bloodiest sea battles took place in

February and December of 1677. The Dutch and Frenchboth wanted control of Tobago and when the coun-tries' warships met the result was the death of thou-sands, including French and Dutch women and childrenand African slaves. Three centuries later and the re-mains of twenty warships and their undiscovered arti-facts are still in the muddy bottom of what is nowScarborough harbour. This bloody period of Tobago his-tory is about to feature in a new docudrama, Tobago1677. Filming has already taken place in Tobago andnow the production company, Oceans Discovery, is cur-rently editing the footage before the film's release.Visit the film's locations including Fort King George and

Parlatuvier.

Silk Cotton Tree at RunnemedeTowering some 40 meters above the Northside

Road, this silk cotton tree has witnessed more thantwo hundred and fifty years of Tobago's history andfirmly links the island to its African roots. The folk storyof Gang Gang Sara, the most well known in Tobagofolklore, is the epitome of this. Gang Gang Sara was theresident village obeah (voodoo) woman in the 1700s.She had flown to Tobago straight from Africa and set-tled in Les Coteaux, but after her husband died, shetried to fly back home.

She launched herself from a silk cotton, but sadly shehad eaten salt and could no longer fly, so she fell to herdeath beside the great tree.

Mystery TombstoneCan you solve the mystery of the tombstone at Ply-

mouth? The tomb of Betty Stiven, who died in the 18th

Tobago has a rich historic past having been cap-tured more times than any other island in theCaribbean. Over the centuries it’s been foughtover by the French, British, Dutch and the Cour-landers and each of these nations have left theirmark on the island.

continued on p. 15

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THE GRAND WEDDING• 3 Day / 2 Night accommodations for the couple

in a Deluxe Oceanfront Room

• Full Cooked Buffet Breakfast

• Minister Fee

• Decorated Wedding Arch

• Bridal Bouquet & Boutonniere

• Wedding Cake – 10’’ Single Tier

• Sparkling Wine & Chocolate Covered Strawberries

in room

• Resort Remembrance Gift

Rate: $1,399 USD per couple

valid through December 18, 2013 (includes all taxes & service charges)

SPECIAL WEDDING OFFER:

Book 5 rooms and Bride & Groom will

receive a Complimentary Upgrade to a

One Bedroom Oceanfront Suite!

If You Are Dreaming Of The Ultimate Destination Wedding

Tobago’s newest resort specializes in delivering dreams.

The choice of locations both indoors and out provides you

with the perfect resort. The diverse and delicious menus

to choose from are amazing. And the quality of food and

service is simply the best. Dreams are delivered here.

AGDALENA GRANDM Think

www.MagdalenaGrand.com

For Reservations and Information:

Tobago Plantations Estate, Lowlands, Tobago,

Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies

Phone: 868-660-8500 Fax: 868-660-8503

E-Mail: Weddings@MagdalenaGrand.com

century, is inscribed with the strange epitaph:Beneath these walls are deposited the body of Mrs. Betty

Stiven and her child. She was the beloved wife of Alex B Stiven.To the end of his days will deplore her death, which happenedupon the 25th November 1783 in the 23rd year of her age. Whatwas remarkable of her, she was a mother without knowing it,and a wife without letting her husband know it except by herkind indulgence to him.

There are many theories about what this means, the mostcommon is that this was an inter-racial romance between awhite slave master and a black female slave. At the time thiswould have been taboo. Others claim that Betty gave birth toher child while unconscious. To date none of these theories havebeen proved although that doesn't stop people from trying toguess.

Tobago Cocoa EstateFrom the 1860s to the early 1920s Trinidad and Tobago was

one of the biggest producers of cocoa in the world. It was grownon many of the larger plantations, such as Roxborough and Rich-mond, and by individual farmers. But production virtually cameto a standstill after prices collapsed and the crop developedwitchbroom disease. Hurricane Flora in 1963 was the final disas-ter for this once thriving industry. But Tobago is once again mak-ing its mark with cocoa. Duane Dove is reviving the 47-acreRoxborough Cocoa Estate, and his crop is now in demand all overthe world. Tours of the now renamed Tobago Cocoa Estate offeryou the chance to get your taste buds around a piece of Tobagohistory.

To find out more about these and many more exciting historicadventures on Tobago or to book your stay visit the TobagoHotel and Tourism Association's new website at www.tobago-hoteltourism.com or phone 868 639 9543.

continued from p. 14

Guardian www.guardian.co.tt May/June, 201316