Why Boston Rob & Amber's "Beach Chic" Televised Island Wedding Almost Didn't Happen
Their whirlwind ceremony was planned in just 30 days.
On April 16, 2005, Boston Rob Mariano and Amber Brkich were married in a tropical — and televised — wedding ceremony that was romance personified. But it almost didn't happen at all.
After falling in love playing Survivor and teaming up for The Amazing Race, the logical next step for the reality TV all-stars was tying the knot at the beautiful Atlantis Paradise Island in The Bahamas — on camera, of course. And it was all meticulously manned by celebrity event planner Colin Cowie.
The special was called Rob & Amber Get Married, and it gave fans an inside look at everything leading up to the couple's special day, beginning 30 days out. The special was intensely entertaining, with both Boston Rob and Amber's personalities — and competitive sides — showing at all times. There were dramatic scenes of the future The Traitors Season 3 winner taking dancing lessons and picking out their gorgeous wedding bands.
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However, a literal dark cloud looming over the Bahamas all day threatened to throw a monkey wrench into the wedding plans, and a potential storm served as the special's de facto villain. The wedding actually came quite close to being postponed to a later date!
A storm could have ruined Boston Rob and Amber's Bahamas wedding
In a 2022 blog post, their officiant JP Reynolds called the ceremony an actual "fairy tale wedding" and spoke about the storm threat that nearly caused everything to be called off at the last minute.
"Yes, as weddings go, it was perfect," he wrote. "Colin and the producers worked mightily and generously. Yet, there was a storm brewing and we didn't know until an hour before the start if we could hold the ceremony on the beach. It was so windy that Amber's veil got entangled in an entry arch and almost yanked her off her feet. Not seen on TV was all the stress, worry and holding of breath that is related to weddings."
Amber can attest to the stress behind the scenes that her officiant was referring to. In words to PEOPLE in 2005, the star admitted she had a slight bout of cold feet before saying "I do."
"I'll admit the fact that we've had our times when we've had it out, and stressed on each other, but that's why we're there for each other," she explained.
When all was said and done, the storm was all talk — the wedding was spared of any inclement weather.
The ceremony had a dress code
Boston Rob had a slightly different offering for the outlet. He revealed that their wedding guests were initially very confused about the event's dress code, which was officially "beach chic." His friends, in particular, didn't quite get what that meant!
"They said, 'Who's the beach chick coming?'" he confessed.
The couple also wrote their own vows, there was a choir at the ceremony, and guests were welcome to walk barefoot one the sandy beach event site.
As reported by the New York Post in 2005, the former bartender insisted on a surf-and-turf dinner and had 12 groomsmen.
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As the special concluded and fireworks high above the finally-official Mr. and Mrs. Mariano exploded in the sky, Boston Rob put the entire experience in perspective for viewers:
"Tonight was the best night of my life."
And the happy couple have been together ever since — and have four adorable kids (who each look just like their mom) to show for it!
