Britni Gaddy & Billy Belair

February 2, 2022  •  Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort, Jamaica

Myrtle Beach natives Britni Gaddy and Billy Belair decided to get away for their special day from their hometown beach to Jamaica at the Sandals Royal Caribbean Resort on February 2, 2022.

“It’s all 2’s, so he can’t forget the date,” laughs Britni. “We had 30 guests that traveled to stay and watch the wedding, which was also on a Tuesday! The date was really special because we won’t see all the same number like this for a long time, so was the location. It was perfect.” 

Flashback to 2018, when Britni’s mom, Eva Gaddy, ran into Billy at a wedding that summer and simply asked him why he wasn’t dating her daughter. Eva used to be the director of guidance at Socastee High School, where Billy graduated in 2005. Eva signed his diploma, and Britni’s dad, Drew, taught Billy how to drive. 

Their small world was brought even closer together, when Britni’s matchmaking mom sent Britni a picture of her and Billy together at the wedding, leading Britni to take the first step and reach out to him in Charlotte, where he worked at Charlotte Topgolf, but had just applied for a promotion at the new Myrtle Beach location.

“We started dating long distance for a few months until the venue opened here,” says Britni. “Our first date was in Folly Beach. Billy got the job here in Myrtle Beach Topgolf, he moved down, we moved in together in The Market Common, and got an Australian Shepard named Folly.” 

On December 22, 2020, Billy also incorporated golf into his proposal to Britni on Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course that they had scheduled during a family Christmas gathering. After walking 5 miles to the 18th hole, Britni prepared to putt under the setting sun, while Billy slipped a custom-made sea turtle from St. John Island, Britni’s favorite travel spot, at the bottom of the cup with the ring enclosed. She made the putt, bent down to get her ball, and found the turtle. 

“I was on one knee getting my ball and the turtle out, Billy bent down to propose, and the ring fell out of the turtle and got stuck in the bottom of the drainage hole,” she says. “I couldn’t tell that it was a ring, so Billy is on one knee, I’m on one knee, he got the ring out of the hole within 15 seconds, which felt like 30 minutes, put it back in the turtle, and proposed … both of us on one knee!”

The entire comical scene was captured by their best friend and wedding photographer, Victor Beloded, who was taking photos of it all!

In Jamaica, the bride and groom had a violinist perform during the ceremony in the garden, cocktail hour was on the beach, and the reception was held on the lush lawn at the resort in a clear tent under the giant palms of Jamaica. 

Today, the Belairs remain in their home in The Market Common. Britni works as a real estate broker associate at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Coastal Real Estate and Billy as director of instruction at Topgolf Myrtle Beach.

Key vendors:
Photographer: One Life Photography
Planner, Cake, Flowers: Sandals Royal Caribbean
Dress: Coastal Knot Boutique in Wilmington, N.C.
Designer of dress: Made with Love