I might have the absolute best thing ever to get you through the next few hours and off into your weekend. How does a trip to the Bahamas with the Karen Hill Photography sound? Like Heaven? It should, because it is. This wedding was stunning in that way that only a relaxing, yet totally awe-inspiring wedding can be. And the photos? Don’t even get me started.

From the photographer… We arrived the day of the wedding, it wasn’t what we had planned, but super storm Sandy had other plans. Hurricanes, like Sandy, reek havoc. Here in Nassau, the storm was settling down and as guests arrived to beautiful Lyford Cay Club, the sun was shinning. Laura and Kyle’s hope’s and prayers were answered. Family and friends gathered from near and far. Their wedding day was perfect.

Lyford Cay is the most beautiful little private club with a nostalgic, 1950′s meets modern charm that we loved photographing! Frank and I shot this wedding with a few cameras in both film and digital. Our cameras of choice were the Rollei, Hasselblad, the Contax 645 and the Canon Mark ll D5.

Photography: Karen Hill Photography | Ceremony + Reception Venue: Lyford Cay Club | Coordination: Bernadette Burrows of Bahamas Bridal Affairs | Floral Design: Patricia Darville of Island Leaves | Hair + Makeup: Anna Berardelli-Knowles of Studio Vivo | Band: Traffic Jam Band of Falcons Entertainment | Music (ceremony, cocktails and Junkanoo): Arranged by Fred Munnings of Bahamas Events Intl Ltd; Steel Pan Selections by Leslie Munroe; Royal Bahamas Police Band Fanfare Party | Dress: Jenny Lee from Bergdorf Goodman Bridal | Bride’s Shoes: Vera Wang Lavender | Bridesmaid Dresses: Amsale from Bella Bridesmaid | Invitations: Cartier | Calligraphy: Sarah Hanna Calligraphy & Design | Programs: Dempsey & Carroll | Cake: Anne Lever of Simply Sweet Cakes | Officiant: Ricardo Errington Turner, Sr. | Reader: Timothy Watts of Temptations, United Kingdom

For more information on how Little Black Book Members are chosen click here.
Amsale is a member of our Look Book. For more information on how members are chosen, click here.

San Francisco, you sure are lovely, especially when seen through the eyes of lovebirds. Lovebirds and IQvideography. It’s enough to make me tear up just a little as I sit here with my hands clasped under my chin watching this highlight film. Totally falling in love with San Francisco and these two. Oh, these two. You’ll see what I mean.

From the lovely bride… From the moment Christopher and I met at a concert at Webster Hall in NYC, I could see a lifetime with him. A year and half later, he surprised me with the most romantic proposal I could ever imagine on the beach in Tulum, Mexico.

When we were thinking about where to have our wedding – one place really stood out for me. Even though Christopher and I live in New York, San Francisco has always held a special place in my heart. San Francisco was where my family found a new home after fleeing from Vietnam. I have so many fond memories of growing up in this city and working at our family restaurant – The Mayflower Restaurant – which in my humble opinion still serves up the best French toast and porkchops in town. I also wanted to honor my Dad who passed away a few years ago, by having our wedding and Vietnamese Tea ceremony in the place my family called home.

Christopher and I both wanted a traditional wedding that was elegant, romantic and timeless, with a sense of the ‘old Hollywood’ glamour. The Palace Hotel was the perfect fit. From the moment we stepped into the Garden Court of the Palace Hotel, with its detailed glass domed ceiling and magnificent chandeliers, we felt as if we were whisked back in time to the romance of a bygone era.

We started off our wedding day with our first look together in the gorgeous winding staircase of the Palace Hotel. I remember feeling so excited and nervous to see my husband-to-be for the first time that day. Both our photographer (James Thomas Long) and our videographer (Alex Kohn of IQ Videography) captured a very beautiful and intimate moment between us that I will always remember.

Christopher and I then changed into our traditional Vietnamese Tea Ceremony dress (áo dài). The Vietnamese Tea Ceremony was held in the beautiful French Parlor room of the Palace Hotel, where one of my Dad’s long-time friends led the service. It was an intimate and sweet celebration that allowed both sides of the family to meet and come together.

Following the tea ceremony, I changed into my wedding dress and prepared myself for the big moment walking down the aisle in the Sunset Court. Our officiant, Pastor Danielle, led such a beautiful and moving ceremony. Looking back now, I am so happy we decided to write our own vows. I will never forget standing up on the altar in front of our family and friends and making the most important commitment of my life. It was a very emotional ceremony, filled with so much love, laughter and tears, especially when we took a moment to recognize and thank our parents and shared a moment of silence in honor of my Dad.

For the first dance, Christopher and I really wanted to do something special – something that would tell our story and be an expression of our love. We met an incredible dance instructor in NY who helped us choreograph our dance, which I have to admit was inspired by Patrick Swayze’s movie “Dirty Dancing”. During all the stress of wedding planning, the dance lessons kept us connected and having fun. We were so nervous on the wedding day, especially since we had never rehearsed in my wedding dress before. But as soon as the music came on, all my fears disappeared, and it was just him and I on the dance floor, dancing our first dance as husband and wife. We nailed the dance and it was a moment I will forever cherish. Time stood still at that moment and it felt like magic.

Videography: IQvideography | Venue, Catering & Cake: Palace Hotel, Samantha Woods | Wedding Coordinator and Flowers: Floramor Studios, Laura Little | Live musicians for ceremony: Music to Go – SF Conservatory of Music | DJ: Kevin O’ Scanlon, Sound in Motion | Bride’s Hair and Makeup Artist: Jonathan Nguyen | Wedding Dress: Purchased from Wedding Atelier | Photography: James Thomas Long Photography

For more information on how Little Black Book Members are chosen click here.

One of my favorite things to do is to share the weddings of our beloved LBBers. They’re like family to us and we love them all to pieces, so when one of them ties the knot and sends it our way, it’s just as exciting as opening up a beautiful Smock invite, covered in Belles Lettres Calligraphy. In this wedding, captured phenomenally by Images by Berit, Stacey of Peony Events married her love, and we’ve all gone a bit misty eyed over the photos!

From the gorgeous bride… Nicholas planned a day trip on his client’s private plane, which he played off really well staging it for months. He mentioned a few times that Ben would like to take us through NYC to see the skyline then down the coast to Atlantic City for breakfast and back. One November night, he said oh by the way, Ben called and said tomorrow will be the perfect day, low winds, clear skies.

It was a gorgeous day to fly: sunny skies, glistening water as we flew just the three of us. Upon our arrival back to the Teterboro airport, I stepped off the plane last and the door to the hanger was opening, walking towards I see Nicholas on his knee and tears began flowing. My answer was YES and he promised to always go ‘above and beyond’ for me.

We knew exactly where we wanted to get married, Crystal Springs Resort in Hardyston, New Jersey, surrounded by rolling hills and natural beauty. It’s also right around the corner from the quaint little town of Warwick, NY where Stacey’s sister and her family reside. It’s a beautiful venue that feels like a destination location to us with only being 45 minutes to where we reside in Morristown, NJ.

Chic, vintage, elegant and romantic were the words that came to mind when event & wedding planner, Stacey Sainato owner of Peony Events, began planning her wedding to soul mate Nicholas Sainato. Stacey wanted to create a chic and romantic feel with a color palette of ivories, peach and soft charcoal gray. We both knew we wanted a fall wedding, just not with the traditional fall palette.

On Friday, October 21st, 2011, with 200 guests standing by them, they said their I do’s outdoors with the beautiful fall foliage in peak season. Stacey wore a Monique Lhuillier gown, at times wore her Grandmother’s vintage fur wrap and carried a simple bouquet of ivory cabbage roses. The nine bridesmaids wore long crinkled chiffon gowns in slate. The Groom wore a classic black tux with ivory tie and vest and his groomsmen all wore tuxedos with charcoal ties/vests. Stacey walked down the aisle to a magical, instrumental piece composed for her by her husband-to-be who is a pianist, there was not a dry eye in sight.

Guests were greeted into the cocktail hour with champagne filled flutes with berries while enjoying the raw seafood bar, pasta station, sushi bar to name a few while listening to the tunes of a trio by The Blaire Reinhard Band. The sit down dinner was a combination plate of surf & turf, guests enjoyed tunes from the entire band – Jack Johnson, Norah Jones and Sarah McLachlan during dinner. For dessert, guests enjoyed truffles and vanilla wedding cake filled with fresh strawberries and topped with her Grandparents wedding cake vintage topper that is passed on throughout all the cousins as a tribute to their grandparents, it was from their wedding cake and is a family tradition from her Mother’s side. Guests danced and laughed the night away.

In lieu of a traditional favor and to honor their Maid of Honor, Danielle O’brien, Stacey & Nicholas made a donation to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (near Stacey’s hometown). The donation was for her niece, Emma O’brien, who has been in remission from stage 4 cancer. Beautiful fondant covered wedding cake cookies were also placed at each place setting as a fun favor for guests to enjoy.

The decor was simply stated, custom ordered vintage lace table linens, mercury glass votives, mix-n-match peach, ivory and vintage silver colored frames for their table names which were “what marriage means to them,” floral centerpieces filled with ivory hydrangeas, soft peach and ivory cabbage roses.

Some guests stayed the entire weekend at the resort with Stacey and Nicholas, after the post wedding brunch, guests enjoyed the biosphere pool and local wineries. Stacey and Nicholas took off on Tuesday to the five star Grand Velas Riviera Maya resort and spa in Mexico.

Photographer: Images by Berit | Dress: Monique Lhuillier, The Wedding Shoppe | Tuxedos: Cozy Formalwear | Event Planner: Stacey Sainato, Peony Events | Day of planner: Sarah Mugavero | Junior Bridesmaids dresses: Dessy Group, Rita Rosa Bridal Boutique | Flower girl dress: Bella Bridesmaid | Bridesmaids Dresses: Jenny Yoo | Band: The Blaire Reinhard Band | Venue: Crystal Springs Resort | Favors: Fondant Wedding Cake Cookies, Leslie Ruth Sweets, Treats & Events | Make up Artist: Kathy Genchi | Hair: Gina Imperati, Ciao Bella | Florist: Dale Kiroff | Letterpress Wedding Invitations: Smock, Cambridge Street Papers | Calligrapher: Belles Lettres Calligraphy | Brides Jewelry & clutch: Model Bride | Bridesmaid Jewelry: Nordstrom

For more information on how Little Black Book Members are chosen click here.
Alfred Sung, Dessy Collection, Dessy Flower Girls, Jenny Yoo and Monique Lhuillier are members of our Look Book. For more information on how members are chosen, click here.
Though we legitimately love them, The Dessy Group is an advertiser on Style Me Pretty.