ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Under the twinkling lights of the sparklers held by wedding guests, newlywed Travis Thomas roared up the drive to pick up his bride Laura Chan Thomas against the backdrop of the historic Casa Monica Resort & Spa, in the Nation’s Oldest City.

No horse and carriage for this modern day fairy tale couple. It was a sleek 3-wheeled slingshot that whisked them off into the night as well-wishers closed out the traditional wedding sendoff on Friday evening.

Welcoming friends and family from across the nation to the intimate poolside ceremony, the wedding was overseen by coordinator Jonathan Gambrell, a close friend of the couple, ensuring every detail went off without a hitch.

“We had a beautiful setting here at the Casa Monica. We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful setting, and the staff here was impeccable,” he said.

“Being friends with Travis and Laura, it was an honor to be chosen to be their point person and take care of everything for them. I love doing weddings and having that kind of responsibility to make that special day even more special than it already is.”

As for the couple’s future, Gambrell is already planning ahead.

“I think Travis and Laura are a match made in Heaven and are going to have a long and fruitful relationship. I look forward to seeing their babies and watching them grow up. I know they want to have a family soon and I think that’s what they both deserve,” said Gambrell.

It was a whirlwind romance for the couple who said their ‘I Do’s’ over the long holiday weekend.

Travis, embracing his deep love for Laura, teared up before the ceremony while waiting on her arrival as he spoke with her father Fai Chan and his mother Susan Thomas.

“I’m just super, super excited. This has been a long time coming and I can’t imagine spending the rest of my life more than with Laura,” he said. “It’s just amazing to have everybody here. For so long there was no opportunity to see everybody and now to be able to have everybody here together that we care about and love and have everybody in one place to enjoy such a special moment, it’s just unbelievable.”

As for his wedding wish?

“I just wish that I can live up to all expectations and that I can make every day a wonderful, happy day for her,” he said.

Arriving as a vision of perfection, Laura’s father gazed on his daughter with pride as he walked her up the stairs into her future, sharing his emotions.

“(I hope it) lasts forever. (I’m) very happy, delighted,” said Chan, in from Cape Coral with his family. “Very happy. It’s joyful.”

Serving as the ceremony’s officiant, ordained minister Andrew Trotter’s theatrical flair was a perfect complement to the Moroccan-themed wedding, wonderfully eclectic guest list, and performances by famed songstress Linda Cole.

“It’s like it’s it was meant to be,” shared Trotter.

“I cannot picture anything else happening but this. I know them very well and it seems like it was predestined in history to be that they would join in matrimony,” he said, before launching into the Princess Bride iconic ‘marriwage’ scene.

With two exquisite gown changes with professional hair and makeup, the bride maintained an elegant poise throughout the evening, even while cutting the cake, tossing the bouquet, and being swept up into the slingshot.

“I am so excited. This has all been wonderful,” she said. “We’re both really in addition to being dedicated to each other, we’re really dedicated to seeing each other succeed. I’m lucky that he is so supportive. We didn’t want to take our time. I’m so thankful for my women of honor, my friends and family. It took a village.”

“Some little girls play wedding. I wasn’t that little girl. I’ve been in other relationships and never saw myself getting married until I met Travis.”

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