About Island Mike – A Wedding Officiant in Paradise
I often get asked “How did you get started as a wedding planner in St. Thomas?”
I began planning and performing weddings after watching my buddy get married in Phoenix, Arizona. The professional officiant at the wedding was having a blast and I struck up a conversation with him.
He said being an officiant was his dream job. At weddings, everyone is happy. The atmosphere is festive. Jokingly he said the only stresses he has are ensuring everyone knows where to stand and the groom’s boutonniere stays on straight.
At the time, I was a trial attorney. I loved trial work but I realized being a wedding planner was the polar opposite of trial work. In a trial, the 2 parties don’t want to be there, the jury certainly doesn’t want to be there and usually the judge would rather be on a golf course. But at weddings, everyone is excited and happy to be there.
Within a few short days of returning back home to Ohio from the Arizona wedding I decided to become a licensed wedding minister and planner. I started off planning small weddings in Ohio and California (where I had another law office) for family and friends on the weekends. Soon I was performing weddings almost every weekend as word spread.
I had a pretty good system going, but then, I was offered an attorney position with the Department of Justice in the Virgin Islands.
How do you say “no” to a plum job on an island?
Well, needless to say, I packed my bags and headed to the Caribbean.
For the first few years in the Virgin Islands I practiced law exclusively. I officially started planning small weddings again a few years ago while I maintained my position as an attorney.
But eventually I decided to give my full time and attention to being a beach bum…I mean performing weddings on our beautiful beaches.
So on a typical day I’m either on the phone with one of my couples or down on a beach planning a ceremony (or knocking back a frozen drink or two).
I now have my dream job – where my office is the beach and my customers are the happiest people on earth.
So I look forward to hearing from you and would love to help you plan your dream wedding in paradise.
2026 Island Mike Update:
Ok, so I lied above where I said I have my dream job doing weddings. I mean, I love doing weddings and hope to perform and plan weddings until the day I die. But I had another passion for years I tinkered with but never pursued. In 2025 I decided to jump into a whole new adventure. After a year of apprenticeship I am also a master rum distiller. That’s right, I now own and run a distillery here in St. Thomas. So when I’m not planning weddings I’m hanging out with yeast and making rum (and vodka and gin)!
So if you want to talk weddings or booze, I’m your guy!
P.S. If you want to swing by the distillery for a taste and to hang out just shoot me a text and we can make it happen (340-201-6069) – first drink is on the house if you let me know you are getting married!)