A Conversation with Island Mike — Love, Laughter & Island Weddings on St. Thomas
- STT Mag
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
There are certain people on St. Thomas who feel woven into the rhythm of the island...steady, familiar and somehow present for life’s biggest moments. For couples choosing to say “I do” in the Virgin Islands, that person is often Island Mike.
A longtime wedding officiant and trusted name among local vendors, Island Mike has helped thousands of couples begin their marriages with calm confidence, barefoot joy and a deep sense of intention. For February’s Love Issue of St. Thomas Magazine, we sat down with Mike to talk about what makes island weddings so special and why love, in all its forms, deserves to be celebrated here.
Weddings Are Meant to Be Fun
Mike’s message comes through almost immediately: weddings don’t need to be stressful to be meaningful.
“Weddings are fun,” he says simply. “Not because everything goes perfectly, but because you choose to mark a moment with intention and joy.”
After officiating more than 3,000 ceremonies, Mike has seen it all — sunrise vows, last-minute license scrambles, unexpected rain showers and the kind of laughter that only happens when couples stop trying to control every detail and let the island lead.
That flexibility, he believes, is part of the magic of getting married on St. Thomas. When couples ask about backup plans for weather, his advice is refreshingly honest: if your Plan A is a beach wedding, sometimes Plan B is… getting wet. And somehow, those moments often become the most memorable parts of the story.
“Weddings are fun,” he says simply. “Not because everything goes perfectly, but because you choose to mark a moment with intention and joy.”
Barefoot Vows & Sunrise Magic
Ask Mike if he has a favorite venue and he doesn’t hesitate.
“Prettyklip. Sunrise,” he says. “That’s the one.”
As the sun lifts over neighboring St. John, the light becomes unreal...cinematic, quiet and almost sacred. No crowds. Just the couple, the ocean, and a sky that looks freshly painted. Convincing couples to wake up early can be the hardest part, but every single one, Mike says, tells him afterward the same thing:
It was so worth it.
He also loves nature-based spaces couples sometimes overlook; shaded arboretum corners, tucked-away beaches near Magens Bay and intimate spots where the island does the decorating. St. Thomas, after all, puts on quite a show when you let it.
Keeping It Simple (and Meaningful)
Island Mike’s approach to wedding planning is grounded and refreshingly honest. His offerings range from beautifully simple ceremonies — officiant, vows and candid cell-phone photos — to more coordinated experiences with photographers and trusted vendors.
Time and again, he encourages couples not to skip photos or video. “You might think you’ll never look at them,” he tells them. “But one day, you will and you’ll be glad they exist.”
His practical advice often surprises couples accustomed to over-planning. Instead of full-production beach receptions, he often recommends something simpler... ceremony first, then celebrate at a great local restaurant. It’s seamless, joyful and keeps the day focused on connection instead of logistics.
Convenience matters. So does flexibility. The smoother the plan, the more present couples can be in the moment they’re actually there to celebrate.
“My Team Isn’t a Staff — It’s the Island”
When asked about his team, Mike shared one of our favorite moments from the conversation.
“My team isn’t a staff,” he said. “It’s the whole island.”
St. Thomas has an incredible wedding community; photographers, bakers, planners, florists, hair and makeup artists — professionals who know each other, trust each other and show up for one another naturally. Couples aren’t building from scratch here; they’re stepping into an ecosystem where people already know how to make the day happen.
That network is part of what makes destination weddings here feel personal instead of overwhelming.
Love Beyond the Ceremony
In a Love Issue, it felt important to talk about more than weddings alone. For Mike, love also shows up in everyday island life — raising kids, building community and understanding that people come and go in island spaces.
Kids grow up together here. Families cross paths constantly. There’s warmth and connection and also a reality that goodbyes happen. That awareness, Mike believes, makes people cherish moments more deeply. It’s another reason island weddings feel different: everyone present understands how fleeting and meaningful those moments can be.
The Final Takeaway
As our conversation wrapped, Mike returned to the belief that defines his work:
Weddings are fun. Not because they’re flawless but because they’re chosen. Because no matter how long you’ve been together or how quickly it comes together, it’s still special.
And someday, it will be a memory you’ll want to return to.
Read the full interview here and download for future planning and celebrations!
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