A romantic at heart, she is now Director of Romance

Meet Marsha-Ann Donaldson-Brown, Director of Romance for Sandals Resorts. Donaldson-Brown doesn’t claim to be a professional expert on love, but her job has given her some insight into the subject. In her position, she is responsible for capturing the imagination of couples around the world and helping to create lifelong memories. Over the years, she has coordinated thousands of weddings and planned multitudes of marriage proposals across Sandals’ sixteen properties in the Caribbean.

Donaldson-Brown moved into her dream role from a position in sales after word spread around the company regarding her love for all things weddings at Sandals. She knew her calling was in the romance industry. “First and foremost,” explains Donaldson-Brown, “I’m a die-hard believer in love and romance, and it’s this passion that inspires me to get out of the bed each morning.” 

In accommodating the many requests she’s received over the years, Donaldson-Brown has become quite adept at actualizing a couple’s vision and making it a reality. This also translates to her ability to juggle all the small details and eliminating as much stress from a couple’s plate as possible. 

A typical day for Donaldson-Brown doesn’t exist because everything in the romance department is customizable. No two couples are alike; thus, no two days are ever the same. She’s involved at a hands-on level in all things wedding planning and proposals, while always being on the lookout for new ways to raise the bar. She adds, “This is something that was instilled in our DNA here at Sandals from the very beginning by the founder and owner of Sandals, the late Hon. Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, also known as the ‘Cupid of the Caribbean.”

Donaldson-Brown feels fortunate to get to play a part in so many couples’ special days. She never tires of her job and to this day, she still tears up when the groom gets his first look at his bride descending down the aisle.

Inevitably, however, there are always challenges that arise when planning any event, particularly weddings. People change their plans to fit the mood and there are plenty of last-minute issues. But, Donaldson-Brown and her staff strive to make it work. “At the end of the day,” she says, “when it comes to planning a wedding, the challenges we’re faced with only make those final perfect and romantic moments more satisfying for me, which becomes that much more rewarding when I see the big smiles on our couples’ faces.” 

Marsha-Ann Donaldson Brown at Sandals Resorts Credit: Sandals Resorts International

The Director of Romance has many memories. One of her favorites involved a bride who decided that she wanted to enter on a horse rather than walking down the aisle – one hour before her wedding was set to take place! Donaldson Brown and her team got to work, trusting in the knowledge they could make it happen, even with such a short timeline. They located a tour operator who was able to bring a horse to the resort and then stood by and watched the bride make her grand entrance.

Another fond recollection entailed adorning one of the property’s dive boats with flowers and decorative bows, as a unique alternative to the typical strings, cans and ‘just married’ signs. The bride and groom got a unique send-off after they exchanged vows on land and then headed out to sea. 

After all these years, you might think that Donaldson-Brown has seen and heard it all. Au contraire! She emphasizes that no two requests are the same and that each couple has their own definition of perfection. “There is never a dull moment which makes it so exciting,” she adds.

Donaldson-Brown has had to be even more creative during the pandemic. She and her staff have made safety paramount in all their plans through the resorts’ Wedding Platinum Protocols of Cleanliness. Fortunately, she says that Sandals properties were built on expansive grounds with picturesque backdrops, and the mild Caribbean weather year-round lends itself to outdoor ceremonies with constant air flow and ample physical distancing opportunities. She comments, “We’re in the business of making dreams come true, whether that’s creating a beautiful elopement for two lovebirds, curating a memorable mini-mony or micro-wedding, or even live streaming your wedding ceremony to your loved ones back at home so they don’t miss a beat.”

When it comes to the “big ask,” Sandals recently ushered in a new trend – underwater proposals! The company boasts the Caribbean’s most comprehensive scuba program with unparalleled dive locations. Now these wonderful moments can take place under the sea, where accommodating social distancing needs is never an issue.

And if you’re already married or in a relationship and need some tips to rekindle the romance (after all, every couple has its dry spells), Donaldson-Brown has some advice. She encourages couples to plan a day for themselves without distractions. That means turning off phones for the duration of the date. The idea is to establish an environment where you can slow down and completely focus on one another.

Another suggestion is to do something you have never done or haven’t done in a while. Break free from your routine. Have breakfast in bed together, slow dance in your living room, get a couple’s massage or have a leisurely soak in the tub. Get outdoors and go for a hike or a bike ride and pack a picnic. 

Cook a gourmet meal together and dress up for the occasion. “Loungewear is our typical attire these days,” notes Donaldson-Brown, “so we need an excuse to put on our fancy duds. Make sure to take a picture, too, as photos and video help to re-live the feeling for times to come.” 

Images Courtesy of Sandals Resorts