Barbados Honeymoon Winners

She discovered the final pumpkin at a French inn on the Upper East Side. In the pumpkin were keys to the penthouse suite, and waiting for Erika in a room covered in rose petals was Brian, who got down on one knee and proposed. The next day he whisked her away away to Paris for four days of engagement glory.

A human resources representative at Mercer Human Resources, Erika grew up and attended high school and college in Pennsylvania. Brian is from Livingston, New Jersey and is currently a surgical resident at Mount Sinai Medical Center. The two met in a courthouse room while serving jury duty.

The newlyweds took their Barbados honeymoon this fall and had a fabulous time.

"The fun began after the long journey that got us into Barbados around eight at night. When we arrived at the hotel, we were greeted like royalty by a smiling, friendly staff, a tropical cocktail, and hospitality that would prove to be second to none.

"Set up for us in our suite was a spread of sandwiches, fruit, and a bottle of champagne! The room, which was the largest of the suites on the facility, had a balcony with breathtaking views of the calm, blue Caribbean waters. We spent the first night in our room, sharing champagne and wedding stories with the sounds of crashing waves in the background."

The most dramatic moment of the week was while on a visit to the sister hotel. "I was out on a float talking with some other couples when I felt a stinging sensation on my back. I got out of the water and called to Brian and he pointed out a big rash on my back. Even as a surgical resident Brian was stumped as to what it could be. He ran off to find a local doctor who could possibly explain what sort of strange ocean creature had attacked me. When he returned, he came back carrying every ointment the gift shop had to offer, but in the end it turned out to be a simple Man of War bite that some Tylenol and homemade aloe was able to cure. Later that night I was myself again.

One night they ventured out to one of the highly recommended restaurants on the island called The Cliff. "We ate wonderful seafood while sitting overlooking the water, with torches lit up beside us. We left the hotel just once more when the staff treated us to dinner at one of its sister hotels and sent a photographer to the restaurant to take our picture.

"The wine was awesome, the seafood was delicious, the staff was super attentive, and the place was private and romantic — what else could we ask for?"