About Joy Basdeo - An Independent wedding officiant

Joy Basdeo – Joy is owner of Simply Weddings and its primary wedding celebrant. She has more than 20 years of experience as a Wedding Celebrant and has been a Civil Registrar of Marriages since 2007.  She has officiated over 3,500 weddings and hundreds of wedding vow renewals.  Joy is the author of "The Joy of Weddings", a popular cruise and destination wedding blog.  She is also the author of your personalized ceremony, as she works with each couple to include the details that are most meaningful to their wedding, blessing or renewal ceremony.

Before starting Simply Weddings, Joy had a long and distinguished career with the Cayman Islands Government; for her contributions to the Islands she was made a member of the British Empire (MBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2000.  She is also a Justice of the Peace and a Notary Public.  

In June 2011, Joy was joined by her husband of 42 years, Sam.  “This is quite a new experience for us, since we haven’t worked together since our early married years as teachers.  Of course we have long experience of working together as parents, and now grandparents to our 4 children and 5 grand-children.” Joy says.  Sam is the founding President of the University College of the Cayman Islands, now retired.

Joy & Sam like to travel, and play video poker.  They have travelled all over the world together, and have some interesting trips planned for this year.  Of course one of their favourite trips is to Kentucy to visit their daughter and her family.

Joy is easily identified around town because of her colorful hats, of which she has a large number.