A blind date can go one of two ways. For Jill Burkemper and Patrick Rafferty, it was a success, even leading to another date the same weekend. The connection was made by mutual friends. “I was out with friends one night who said I would be perfect for Patrick,” Jill explains. “It wasn’t until six months later that he and I actually made plans to get together. I was a little anxious on the first date, but it was perfect after about 10 minutes.”
Jill jokes that Patrick never left after that, and two and a half years later he proposed. “We were on vacation with my family in South Carolina, and I thought for sure he was going to ask me there,” Jill recalls. “On our drive back at a hotel stop, I was tired and cranky and laying down for a nap when he tapped me on the shoulder with the ring in his hand.” Jill says even though she couldn’t believe he picked that moment, she of course said yes. “He just couldn’t wait any longer!”
The two wanted a destination wedding to keep it small and personal. “We made a rule: If neither one of us had met potential guests, they wouldn’t be invited,” Jill says. The intimate gathering of around 60 people was perfect for their beachside wedding in St. John. “We had never been, but Patrick’s cousin told us how beautiful the island was—and it wasn’t touristy or crowded.” Jill found her wedding planner listed in a Martha Stewart wedding magazine and was grateful for her expertise. “She was rated one of the best destination wedding planners, and she was perfect. She did everything for me!”
They asked Jill’s cousin to perform the ceremony, and her nieces and nephews served as the wedding party. “I wanted them to feel included and be part of everything,” she says. A local musician played Bob Marley tunes on a steel drum during the ceremony, which was performed on the white sand just feet from the ocean. It was picture-perfect, and while they have lots of great memories from the day, Jill says, “Walking down the aisle and seeing Patrick for the first time was my favorite.”
The couple lives in St. Louis, where Patrick works for Webster Community Music School and Jill works for the State of Missouri.
wedding party
Bridesmaids | Taylor Burkemper, Tyleigh Burkemper, Ava Treadway
Groomsmen | Talan Burkemper, Nate Treadway
Bride’s Parents | Neal & Janice Burkemper of Old Monroe, Mo.
Groom’s Parents | Robert & Susie Rafferty of Jackson, Mo.
resources
Ceremony | St. John USVI, Trunk Bay
Reception | Waterfront Bistro in St. John
Gown | Pronovias
Cake | Queen of Tarts
Florist | Roses Too
Music | In Da Sand Band
Wedding Planner | Island Style Weddings
Honeymoon | Virgin Islands
wedding date | june 13, 2015
Photos: Blue Glass Photography
