There are trips you take for yourself, and then there are trips you take for the people you love. This one was firmly in the second category — a June escape to St. Maarten to watch a close friend get married on a Caribbean island, shared with two other couples who made every moment better. We went for the wedding. We stayed for everything else.

Getting There and Settling In

St. Maarten has a way of erasing whatever stress preceded the trip the moment you step off the plane. June heat, vivid blue water visible on approach, and that easy island energy that makes you loosen your shoulders without even realizing it. Traveling as a group of six — three couples who know each other well — meant the fun started before we even left the airport.

Stark Manor: Our Home on the Mountain

We called the house Stark Manor, and once you see it, the name makes complete sense. Perched on the side of a mountain, it had that dramatic, dramatic-movie-set quality where you half expect ravens to circle and fog to roll in — except instead of fog, it was tropical sunshine and jaw-dropping views of the Caribbean Sea.

The kitchen and outdoor spaces were the real stars. Floor-to-ceiling views from every vantage point, a terrace that made every meal feel like an event, and enough space for six people to coexist comfortably without anyone getting in each other’s way. We cooked and ate most of our meals there, which turned out to be one of the highlights of the trip. There’s something about sharing a kitchen — planning meals, cooking together, sitting down at a table with a view — that accelerates the kind of closeness that’s hard to manufacture.

The Boat Trip: When Plans Change for the Better

The plan was St. Barts. The reality was something better.

We had booked a boat trip to St. Barts, which under normal conditions would have been a straightforward sail to one of the most glamorous islands in the Caribbean. But the sea had other ideas. Rough conditions made the run to St. Barts inadvisable, so our captain pivoted — and instead, we spent the day exploring Anguilla.

It turned out to be the highlight of the entire trip.

We worked our way through a series of bays that each felt like a separate discovery: Rendezvous Bay, Meads Bay, Sandy Island, Little Bay, and a stop at what the locals called Muandays Bay. Each one offered something slightly different — the color of the water shifting from turquoise to pale jade, the crowds thinning as we moved to more secluded stretches, the occasional snorkeling stop where the fish seemed entirely unbothered by our presence.

The return trip was its own kind of adventure. The waves had built during the afternoon, and by the time we were heading back to St. Maarten, they were legitimately taller than the boat. Six people doing their best to stay upright and dry — laughing mostly, gripping the rails occasionally. It was the kind of unexpected experience that becomes an instant story, told and retold for the rest of the trip.

Dinner at Ocean 82

This was our first time at Ocean 82, a spot we had heard endless praise about but never managed to visit. It lived up to every expectation. The setting, the food, and the service were impeccable, but there was one unexpected standout: the banana flavored rum. It was exceptional — smooth, distinct, and the kind of drink you talk about long after the meal is over.

Six people, a round of banana rum, great food, and the warm St. Maarten evening outside. Some nights just line up perfectly.

The Wedding

Then came the reason we were all there.

The ceremony was seaside — a setting that felt almost too perfect to be real. Water in the background, the kind of late-afternoon Caribbean light that flatters everyone, and two people choosing each other in front of the people they love most. There’s something uniquely moving about attending a destination wedding. Everyone made an effort to be there. Everyone chose this moment. The energy in the air reflects that.

The reception moved inside and delivered everything a great wedding reception should: outstanding food, an open dance floor that actually got used, and the kind of free-flowing joy that only happens when people are genuinely happy for the couple at the center of it all. We danced. We ate well. We stayed until we didn’t want to leave.

Until Next Time

St. Maarten has a way of pulling you back. This trip — a friend’s wedding, two other couples, a mountainside house, a boat day that wasn’t supposed to happen, a dinner with great rum, and a ceremony beside the sea — reminded us why destination travel for the people you care about is always worth it.

The island keeps delivering. We’ll be back.

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Destination: St. Maarten, Caribbean Duration: Wedding trip, June 2025 Accommodation: Stark Manor (private villa on the mountain) Highlights: Boat trip to Anguilla, Stark Manor views, Dinner at Ocean 82, Seaside wedding ceremony and reception Best for: Group travel, wedding celebrations, Caribbean island exploration