Caribbean Weddings

I imagine that choosing the location must be one of the hardest parts of having a destination wedding.  For this vivacious couple, it certainly helped that many of their family members, and their childhood memories, were in Puerto Rico.  Getting their dream destination out of the way allowed them to just focus on how much fun they were going to have.  And did they ever!  It is quite obvious from these incredible images by STAK Photographer Duo that these two know how and love to party.  I adore a couple that doesn’t take themselves to seriously and can get down and have a good time.  There is even more from this beach bash in the full gallery!

Click here to see the entire image gallery!

From the Bride… As soon as Juan and I were engaged I knew we had to get married on the beach. Our first date had been a beach picnic with friends, our first kiss had been on the beach, we’re both from Puerto Rico and Juan had grown up going to the beach every weekend with his friends.  I sensed a theme…

It’s funny to say we had a “destination wedding” when we are from the destination and 90% of your guests actually live there. I have to say it was a huge help to have friends and family already in Puerto Rico, they helped us scout out venues, sample menus and prepare favors. In the end it was mostly a destination wedding for us, our out-of-town family and friends which included our photographers which we had met at a friend’s wedding in NJ.

We decided on Dorado Beach Resort’s West Beach Bohio for our wedding venue because it incorporated all the things we hoped for; a beautiful secluded beach and an open dining area that was just the right combination of casual, romantic and elegant.The Bohio is a large driftwood color structure with exposed posts and beams, it is covered with a corrugated zinc roof reminiscent of rustic country houses in Puerto Rico and has palm trees that come through the floorboards.  Perfect!

The color scheme was taken directly from the wedding site using sand, light gray and shell colors to continue the beach theme and adding white as a crisp accent to set it all off. My bouquet was a large bunch of light blush colored peonies tied with an ivory ribbon, the tables had white hydrangeas, the groom and bridesmaids had white minicalla lilies and the dads and groomsmen had white mini orchid boutonnieres. My dress was a multi layered ivory silk organza gown with raw cut edges, I felt it was unstructured and beachy in a very elegant way and I love the way the delicate layers echo the patterns waves leave on the sand. The bridesmaids wore strapless silk dresses in a soft pearly gray color and blush colored fabric flowers in their hair; the flower girls and ring bearer wore sleeveless silk crepe dresses in a soft ivory/blush color, I made ribbon sashes in light gray to match the bridesmaid’s dresses. The groom wore a sand colored suit, a crisp white shirt and (for a short while) a chocolate, blue and white striped tie.

The groomsmen were super relaxed in khaki pants and white cotton shirts. We wanted everyone to feel comfortable and casual so we had large white wicker baskets filled with flip flops for everyone to change into, silver for the ladies and brown for the men, I think this definitely help set the mood.

We wanted to keep the decoration clean and simple to let the scenery take precedence. We used tall clear glass vases, floating candles, votives and mirrored bases in simple geometric configurations and added an organic touch with some manzanita branches and air plants. We added some modern touches with acrylic elements throughout; a clear cake pedestal filled with flowers and foliage, clear flower girl baskets with white petals, and frosted table numbers in a super modern font. Our ring bearer box was actually a super simple DIY project, it’s a clear acrylic soap dish filled with brown sugar instead of sand since the groom thought this would be “sweeter”. The rings are nestled in a shell, actually one of the escort card holders. Our escort cards were white gloss cardstock in shells set atop a mirrored base. Our cake was lemon and coconut flavored cupcakes with buttercream frosting and fondant disks with our initials stamped into them, it was topped with a stainless steel monogram and heart I had purchased in NYC.

Ingrid Michaelson’s “The Way I Am” was our wedding march song which my very talented sister Lyssandra sang for us as the bridal party danced and clapped down the sandy aisle. For the first dance our dear friend June brought her brother’s band to play “Esto es vida” by Robi Draco Rosa (yes, the ex-Menudo turned rocker!).   I danced to “Over the rainbow”, the Israel Kamakawiwo’ole version, with my dad. This song has always made me feel nostalgic but that night it was just magical, while we were planning the wedding we learned that my dad had cancer and his last chemo treatment had been the week before our wedding, fortunately he was well enough to walk me down the aisle.

As a surprise Juan arranged for my sister to sing Bruno Mars’ “Just the way you are” just for me, so sweet! Juan has a thing for Brazilian music and culture and during the last year had learned Portuguese in order to better communicate with his clients at work, so as a surprise for him I had a Brazilian batucada come in during the middle of the reception. The music was so intoxicating I don’t think we sat down again after this, we had so much fun dancing salsa, merengue, bomba, ska; a tiki torch was even turned into a limbo stick!

I don’t think we could have imagined a more magical day than what we had, with the ocean as a backdrop and an evening filled with dancing under the stars. We felt very fortunate to be surrounded by the people we love and we hope to be able to celebrate our anniversary on the beach every year!

Wedding Photography: STAK Photographer Duo / Wedding Venue & Catering: West Beach Bohio (Dorado Beach Resort) / Event Styling & Planning: J&Co Design / Flowers & Rentals: CM Events / Additional Rentals: Napoles / Wedding Dress: Marisa via RK Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Grazia via Bridal Reflections / Wedding Veil: Basia / Bridesmaid Dresses: J.Crew / Flower Girl Dresses: Crewcuts / Groom’s Suit: Frank Stella / Groom’s Shoes: Cole Haan / DJ: DJ JC / Batucada: Batucada Sambaoe / Bride’s Hair & Makeup: Beyond Salon / Wedding Rings: Miligree Jewelers / Wedding Cake: Cakeland Designs

Destination weddings take on many shapes and many styles ~ for many reasons. Today’s wedding from Gulnara Studio is for THE very best reason of all! Stephanie and Nomar were married this past spring in Puerto Rico …

Their wedding was not only a celebration of their love for each other, but their love for their family and friends … no holds barred. And as you’ll see from these spectacular images from Gulnara, Stephanie’s stunning Monique Lhuillier wedding gown was just as spectacular the next day for a romantic day-after shoot on the beach! See the whole gallery here.

Stephanie and Nomar’s wedding celebration ~ before, during AND after ~ is right here!

We were married May 22nd at the stunning Horned Dorset Primavera in Rincon, Puerto Rico. My husband was born in Puerto Rico; he shared this amazing island with me the first year we started dating and since then we have returned often. Puerto Rico holds a special place in both our hearts, we just feel at ease there. This is why upon getting engaged we decided there was no other place either of us could have imagined getting married.

When planning we decided we wanted an intimate, simply elegant wedding. The grounds of the Horned Dorset are incredibly beautiful so we did not want to overdo any of the decorating. Candles and simple flowers were all we used in both the ceremony and reception space.  The ceremony was held on the balcony overlooking the Caribbean Sea; the views could not have been any prettier. After the ceremony we had a cocktail hour on the veranda and then proceeded to the formal dining room for dinner.

Some of my favorite memories have been made while sitting at the dinner table with family and friends; this is why we decided to have a formal sit down dinner with low background music. We really wanted all of our guests to enjoy the incredible food by Chef Aaron while enjoying the company of family, friends and good conversion. Of course we still wanted to party and celebrate! So after dinner everybody went back down to the veranda to dance the night away!

Gulnara Studio’s Blog Features ~ Part 1 here, Part 2, Part 3 !

Photography: Gulnara Studio / Wedding Coordinator: Maddalena Molli / Florist: Flores y Servicios / Cake: The Horned Dorset Primavera / Band: Orquesta La Criolla / Hair: Aliesha Grange / Gown: Monique Lhuillier / Shoes: Christian Louboutin / Nomar’s suit: Brooks Brothers / Nomar’s shoes: Bruno Magli

Good morning SMP-ers! Today’s first wedding is quite possibly going to sky rocket to the most beloved SMP wedding of all time and we couldn’t be more excited to get things started. It’s a 2-parter so you might want to grab a cup of coffee and get nice and comfy for a morning of total Bahamian gorgeousness. So. We always love the work that Kristin Vining sends our way. Her photography generally leaves us totally inspired, totally in love, totally wedding crazy. But with this particular affair, held at the One & Only Club in the Bahamas, we have definitely hit the Kristin Vining motherload. Add to that a design that won’t quit by Weddings and the City, and well…beyond. Click here if you simply can’t wait to see part II!

Click here if you can’t wait for Part II!

I think the true testament of an incredible wedding is the feeling you get when you look back on the little moments throughout the day – the smiles that greeted you, the shared wishes, the joy of taking that first step down the aisle and that last second at the end of the night when you say goodbye to those you love and you realize that you wouldn’t change a thing. I still get butterflies remembering those moments and every time I think about it, I want to jump back in each memory. To me, it will always be perfect because it was truly a reflection of who we are.

Our first and easiest decision was our location — it is impossible not to fall head over heels in love with the gardens of the One & Only Ocean Club. Layer after layer, it feels like escaping into a whole new world. And once you reach the top of the gardens, the beautiful ruins of the Cloisters literally take your breath away. I had a chance to visit this enchanting place several times over the years and always tucked it away as my dream destination for a wedding. I shared this dream with my husband, Justin, and even though my parents weren’t thrilled about the idea of a destination wedding, my entire family fell for the charms of this incredible resort.

My dress was by Monique Lhuillier and I still get giddy thinking about it. Regardless of what kind of dress you wear, you want to feel incredible on your special day and I will never forget the moment of slipping on that dress, it felt timeless and classic. It is a moment I wish I could bottle. I wore Christian Louboutin shoes in midnight as my “something blue.” My something borrowed was a Judith Leiber clutch that belongs to my good friend Emmy Rossum and my something new was a pair of beautiful earrings from my new husband. I also carried my great grandmother’s handkerchief to represent something old. There were a few teary moments in the wedding and every time I looked down, I felt her there.

Our colors were midnight blue and fuchsia and we used gold as an accent color. Tied together it was the romance and whimsy that we aimed to capture. The bridesmaids wore midnight blue Lela Rose dresses in various styles and the groomsmen wore navy suits and ties by Brooks Brothers. I gave the bridesmaids their shoes as a gift (irresistible!) and the beautiful gold ball bracelets by J Crew. Henri Bendel is also one of my favorite retail escapes (second to Target!) and we had beach bags, luggage tags and travel accessories in HB.

SOOOO much more to come!

Wedding Coordinator:  Weddings in the Bahamas / Photographer: Kristin Vining / Wedding Design Team: Weddings and the City / Florist: Wildflowers / Location: One & Only Ocean Club in Paradise Island, Bahamas / Invitations and Programs: Alyssa Reeves, Paradise Design Company / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier /  Clutch: Judith Leiber / Bridesmaids Dresses: Lela Rose / Groomsmen Suits: Brooks Brothers

Next up is a pretty fete sent to us by the always spectacular Jessica Claire. She shot this beauty down in St. Thomas at the Frenchman’s Reef Marriott and it is as breezy and beautiful as they come. Sun, sand, relaxation and a wedding. How amazing does that sound? See it all in the gallery.

find more dreamy destination details here!

from Jessica Claire…

Jenn & Peter were married in a beautiful, intimate ceremony at the Frenchman’s Reef Marriott in St. Thomas. As a doctor and a lawyer respectively, Jenn and Peter wanted their wedding to scream RELAXATION! As avid snorkelers and beach lovers, St. Thomas had the perfect combination of surf, sand, and sun to be the perfect backdrop for their wedding.

One fun thing that Jenn & Pete decided to do was shoot a Day After session following their wedding. Although the phrase “trash the dress” has become popular in recent years, I prefer to think of it as “dress irreverence” rather than an actual trashing. It’s more of a time not to worry about a little dirt or water, rather than the intent to destroy a beautiful gown! It’s also a wonderful time for the bride and groom to relax and enjoy one another in a way there often isn’t time for on the wedding day.

Photographer: Jessica Claire / Location, florals, and cake: Frenchman’s Reef Marriott, St. Thomas

We love the barefoot bliss of a beach wedding and this elegant affair by The Studio B Photography is no exception. The bride and groom, who live in New York, chose to head to Nassau for their laidback, but sophisticated destination wedding. You can see all the oceanside goodness right here.

Click here to see the rest of the beautiful beach affair

Shannon and Jesse met their freshmen year of high school.  They instantly became good friends, but it took four years for them to realize that they should be together.

Jesse and Shannon currently live in New York City, which is where Jesse executed his elaborate proposal. The two were about to have brunch with Jesse’s parents at The Boathouse in Central Park.  After arriving early, Jesse suggested a quick boat ride before the meal. While rowing, he started talking about marriage and proposals and asking if he should he invite family and friends to be a part of it.  Shannon told him that of course that would be amazing, but that would be extremely difficult since they live on all corners of the country.  At that moment he turned the boat so it faced the bridge overlooking the water and standing on it were his parents, her parents and her two best friends from college!  He had flown them all out to New York just for this moment. She looked over in surprise and he had pulled out the ring!  He asked her to marry him and of course she said yes.

As native Floridians living in New York City, planning a wedding back home would basically be the same as planning a destination wedding, because most of it would have to be done from afar.  The couple chose Nassau, Bahamas as the site of their destination wedding. Shannon had always envisioned a barefoot wedding on a beautiful private beach.  The couple wanted a place that would be easy to travel to, but still give their guests the feeling of being somewhere far away.  The Bahamas was the perfect destination because of gorgeous setting, the rich culture and the friendly people.

The morning of the wedding, Shannon woke up really early because she couldn’t sleep.  All of the running around in the days preceding the wedding made it hard for her to relax and take it all in.  Jesse must have been feeling the same way because he came over to the villa that her family was staying in and picked her up for a walk on the beach. It was early enough that the two of them had the beach all to themselves.  They talked and laughed about all the things that were going to happen that day and that got all the jitters out.  Once Jesse left, Shannon felt much calmer and completely ready to walk down the aisle.

Although the forecast called for cloudy skies and rain, the day was perfectly sunny and breezy.  After walking down the orchid covered aisle, the pair exchanged vows on the private beach of the ultra-exclusive Lyford Cay Club.  Immediately following the ceremony guests were treated to cocktails and hors d’oeuvres while a local steel drum band provided some island sounds to sway to.  Cuban cigars were available during the reception and several guests enjoyed them during breaks from dancing. Their island celebration was a big success!  The couple plans on honeymooning in Europe later this year.

Vendors Credits: Ceremony Venue: the beach at Lyford Cay Club / Reception Venue: The Little Club at Lyford Cay Club / Photography:  Rebecca & Matthew Enslein at The Studio B Photography / Planner and Florist: Natalie Appleyard, Wildflowers Bahamas / Cake: Anne Lever / Caterer: Philippe Sahnoune, Food & Beverage Director at Lyford Cay / Bride’s Dress:  Reese by Maggie Sottero / Bridesmaids’ Dresses:  Jim Hjelm Occaisions Style 5983 / Groom’s Attire:  3 piece charcoal grey suit at Makeyourownsuits.com / Groomsmen’s Attire: khaki linen suits from Makeyourownsuits.com / Stationery: all homemade! / DJ: Stephen Bain / Makeup Artist: Brynda Knowles / Hairstylist: Debbie Isaacs / Jewelry – Necklace, Earrings, Tiara, Veil:  Jewelry from Dillards / Shoes: Bermuda by Sizzle

Ever wondered how one of the best designers on the planet would craft their very own wedding? Well hold on to your hats kiddos…this is about as good as it gets. Ceci Johnson of the beloved wedding invitation and graphic design brand, Ceci New York, sent us over pics of her absolutely gorgeous Spanish inspired affair and you might just find yourself picking your jaw right up off the ground. Every detail, from her insanely gorgeous Oscar gown to the ridiculously beautiful paper goods and the photographs by Mel Barlow and Timothy Lee, is a total reflection of Ceci’s style. Oh and if you need more, click here to see the full massive gallery of gorgeous images.

Click here to see even more gorgeousness!

From Ceci…Working in the wedding industry for almost seven years now I was often asked, “when is it going to to be your turn to get married, Ceci?” I would always smile and secretly wish to myself that that day would come sooner than later. Luckily, my dream came true last year and my husband Alan Johnson and I finally got married (after being together for 6 years!). I was all smiles and happy tears when he proposed to me on our favorite beach in Rincon, Puerto Rico. It was the best day of my life! Until our wedding day.

Originally wanting to get married in Spain, but with two sets of parents that did not have passports (nor any desire to get them) we chose to do an intimate destination wedding celebration in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Old San Juan has the old world characteristics and charm of Spain that I loved. And the venue, Hotel El Convento’s architecture was inspired by Spain so it ended up boasting all the details I was looking for.

We celebrated with 60 of our closest friends and family starting with the ceremony at five o’clock in the cathedral. I had a live string quartet that played traditional classical music for the ceremony. It was so lovely. My favorite part besides seeing Alan’s smiling face at the altar waiting for me, was my dad walking me down the long aisle. My dad has always been an inspiration to me. Not only has he taught me so much in my life but his strength and dedication has set such a great example for me to follow. So this was my moment with my Dad who also recently was diagnosed with Cancer. So the fact that he could be there on this day meant everything to me.

Guests received our wedding programs rolled up and tied with a burgundy ribbon to an ornate wooden fan to keep them cool.  We did a flat program that simply highlighted our ceremony details and wedding party. In my program, I also gave a nice “In loving memory” dedication to my grandmother who had passed away many years ago. Her one dream was to live long enough to see me get married. Well, she did live to be 93 so I guess I just waited too long. Regardless, I knew she was there in spirit.

After the ceremony everyone walked across the street to the courtyard of El Convento and were greeted with sangria and mojitos while live spanish guitar music filled the evening air. Paper lanterns were strung overhead along with white twinkle lights that dangled from the trees of the courtyard. I wanted the cocktail hour to be very light and glowy from candle light and lanterns. I even made paper wraps of my invitation designs that I wrapped around the votive candles to bring in some of my design details to decorate the tables. Passed hors de’ouvres of traditional Puerto Rican delights swirled around the party while the cocktails were enjoyed.

Once cocktail hour was over the large 50 foot wooden doors opened and invited guests to come into the ballroom. I wanted the decor to be dramatic and exotic. The three long tables were positioned in a U shape so the seating would be intimate. Like a big dinner party. A feast of family and friends, I like to say. I also had the idea to break up my wedding party and seat them sprinkled throughout all the tables. That way it would encourage conversations and Alan and I got to sit with some of different guests that maybe we didn’t get to see the night before at the rehearsal dinner. It worked out perfectly.

The tables’ centers were lined with candles of all sizes that provided the nicest glow. I paired different candelabras, and pillar candles of varying sizes to create dramatic heights. They were covered in local red orchids and black magic roses. I did round menus out of red paper with gold foil stamping which shimmered in the candlelight. Each guest’s name was calligraphed on red paper and paired with a single red orchid and peacock feather at their seats. My table signs were displayed on black lace Spanish fans and named after our three favorite beaches in Puerto Rico. When guests entered the space, they found my escort cards – which were in the shape of fans with an intricate laser cut pattern – and placed on the table with votive candles and red orchids.

We danced our first dance to Frank Sinatra’s, “Zing went the strings of my heart”. They lyrics were perfect for us and I loved how it started out slower and then turned into a swing dance.  My dress was an Oscar de la Renta gown. It was incredibly detailed and unique. It was all made of hand-embroidered detailing with bits of folded fabric, beading and organza. My favorite part was the blue lining. It was my “something blue.” Cole Haan generously gave me shoes which I proudly wore all night long. My bridesmaids wore the peep toes from the Ceci Air Bridal Collection. We dyed them red to match their gowns. I also chose to have them all carry bouquets of red black magic roses so the color became really intense and dramatic.

Since Alan and I love to eat and especially love the foods of different cultures, I wanted to incorporate the local Puerto Rican flavors into our meal to make it different. It was a five course sit down meal and the staff at El Convento was top notch. After dinner was finished the dancing began and we rocked out all night until around 11 when we cut the cake. April Reed from April Reed Cake Design designed my cake and flew bits and pieces of it in then finished in a local apartment in Old San Juan.

After the cake, we had a surprise entertainment appear. A local Puerto Rican percussion band, called the Batukada, came in and got everyone out of their seats with traditional drum songs and horns. Sort of salsa like sounds. Everyone loved it and the energy was flowing. I loved the infusion of the local culture.

A few more fun details that we infused…for an extra decor element, I printed my wedding logo on a sheer paper and wrapped them around glass vases with candles in them and had them line the stairs up to the balcony. Enticing guests to go upstairs where there was this huge mural painted on the wall. I had my photographer set up an extra camera so guests could go get their pictures taken with the mural as the backdrop. It was sort of my version of a fun photo booth.  Also, at my cocktail hour I collected local postcards from Puerto Rico and laid them out on a small table next to a crystal bowl. With a message on one of the sample postcards that said “please write a postcard to the newlyweds and we will mail it to them while they’re on their honeymoon”.

So one of the reasons that we wanted to revisit Ceci’s GORGEOUS wedding (you can see her DIY make-up and hair tips right here) was to celebrate her brand spanking new, online lifestyle magazine, CeciStyle. The gorgeous e-glossy launched this weekend and is filled to the brim with resources for the latest trends in invitation design, etiquette and fabulous new products finds. It’s Ceci’s approach to living a beautiful, style savvy life.  Pair that with the totally revamped Ceci New York site and you have a recipe for complete perfection!

CeciStyle is delivered to your inbox once a week so finding yourself surrounded by all things Ceci is a total snap. To sign up, click right here. And before you leave, don’t forget to check out Ceci’s new site…dedicated to her gorgeous invitations and topped off with so much fun inspiration and style ideas.

Photography: Timothy K. Lee Photography / Photography: Mel Barlow Photography / Video: Bliss Video (they’re out of LA but will travel anywhere!) / Dress: Mark Ingram Bridal Atelier – Oscar de la Renta gown / Bridal Party Dresses: Handmade by Ceci and her mother Marilynn / Shoes: Cole Haan Ceci Bridal (with Nike air!) /Invitations: Ceci New York / Hair: Tracy Morrow (bridesmaid) / Hair Piece: Leah C. Couture / Planner in NY: David Reinhard / Planner in Puerto Rico (from venue): Adriana Paola Soto / Flowers: Festivo / Cake: April Reed Cake Design / Make Up: Ceci Johnson

Mimmo and Naz’s images and films are all over the pages of Style Me Pretty … and with good reason! Their artistry has woven the fine story lines in many a magnificent celebration.  If you’re just joining us ~ we’re in Anguilla with Anita and Bobby and 100 of their friends and family …

The entire weekend was filled with the stunning cultural traditions of their heritage and culminated with a modern ~ equally fabulous ~ white wedding! The film below is just one more example of the incredible sensitivity of mimmo + naz …

Super 8mm Wedding Film – Punjabi & White Wedding | Anita & Bobby – Anguilla, BWI | by mimmo+naz from mimmo+naz on Vimeo.

We speak of beauty and tradition often ~ we speak of love and marriage always. Today, we will speak very little. We will allow the images from the genius of mimmo+naz to say it all …

“As our plane broke through the clouds what came into focus was breathtaking…
the turquoise waters and white sandy beaches of Anguilla welcomed all 100 guests
for a four day weekend that would see Anita and Bobby marry …

Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory measuring some 16 miles in length and 3 miles at its widest point. It has been blessed by some very famous architects and hoteliers who have designed divine yet understated properties that almost magically materialize in their environments. With the majority of their guests settled in secluded private beach houses and villas perfectly coined “castles in the sand” Covecastles seemed more like a dream that we all simply never wanted to wake from. It played one night as backdrop to a perfect evening of cocktails and lush details of all things classic old Hollywood! Sheriva played host for many of the weekend’s more ritualistic celebrations ~ in particular the Mehndi as well their white wedding. Cap Juluca saw the couple’s Indian ceremony perched on top of a green hill overlooking the sea which was beautifully adorned and officiated by Anita’s father. This was a weekend that we all will look back on and smile … the company, the island, the love ~ it all just married perfectly!
– a guest

We will be back shortly with Anita and Bobby’s incredible wedding film from mimmo + naz.  For those of you who simply can’t wait, you can get a sneak peek here!

THIS is LOVE … a hippie-chic wedding in Negril. Love that description! Love the look!

photography courtesy of Andrew Norton

We’ve heard from many of you about designing beach weddings in a new and personal way. Well, ladies, this is it!

Crystal, from Distinct Occasions, always sends terrific weddings … but Mara & Adrian’s destination wedding in Negril might just take the Grand Prize!

Mara and Adrian’s wedding celebration happened the first part of March at the gorgeous and private Moon Dance Villas along seven mile beach. Their wedding design was eclectic and hippie-chic with a mix of eco-touches and personal tributes to keep it “jammin”…

The tree … oh my goodness!!

Special touches included ~ a Jamaican almond tree as the altar hung with photos of the couples friends/family, a freshly purchased local tree that we helped hand-cut to make charger plates (rubber with vegetable oil), b&g handpainted nesting dolls filled with a thank you note & beach sand, local coconuts chopped and filled with ginger lily, a menu featuring local faves like rice & peas, fresh lobster and conch, the bride’s wedding dress was custom made and featured the lace from her mother’s wedding dress on the train and wrapped around the stems of her ginger lily bouquet, Ukranian traditions & Polish traditions were used including the nesting dolls, traditional dances, and handmade handkerchiefs, a vintage styled fabric was hung with a mix of props to create an on-site photobooth setup, amber glass collected by the bride & groom was mixed into the decor, Jamaican blue mountain coffee beans were used with hurricane lamp shades and candles to add to the fragrant ginger lily on the tables …

I honestly don’t know what to say … Mara and Adrian blended their cultures and traditions with the amazing locale of Negril. For some reason the word ‘harmony’ keeps popping into my head! I think it must be the nesting dolls. So sweet. So different. You guys ~ all of you ~ did an amazing job. So much more to see in the gallery here!

Crystal’s blog has a some great articles you should all read … “Know When To Quit” and Making An Impression At Your Wedding are two of the latest ones that I think we could all take to heart. Thanks to all for sharing this very special celebration!

Wedding Planner & Design ~ Crystal Adair-Benning by Distinct Occasions, Photographer ~ Andrew Norton,
Venue ~ Moon Dance Villas, Catering ~ Villas Personal Chefs

A few weeks ago, Abby featured one of Joe Cogliandro’s destination weddings in Puerto Vallarta that had some seriously stunning imagery.  With all of his shoots, Joe literally has this uncanny command of the surroundings! Case in point … this Chicago engagement shoot!

Although Joe and Marco are based in Houston and Miami, they do a LOT of destination work. Take a look at their blog and website and you’ll see some of the most astonishing scenarios!

This particular couple ~ Sonal and Mehul ~ wanted Chicago to be the theme and backdrop for their e*shoot because it played such a huge role in their relationship. Joe says that they focused on being sure you could actually “feel” Chicago in a lot of their shots!

These next three are simply incredible …

The vibrancy and emotion in all of the images will blow me away!

Joe also recently shared a very intimate wedding from the islands of Turks and Caicos ~ just the bride & groom, 3 guests and Joe’s team!

a bit of the story from Joe …

Xochy and Todd decided to have a small intimate wedding in Grace Bay in the Turks and Caicos Islands, a few weeks before their larger State Side wedding. With 3 guests, themselves, and our team, we had a a wonderful shoot that allowed us to get some amazing stuff all over the Island. More of a Destination Session for us than covering an event, it provided Xochy and Todd an opportunity to relax and enjoy the beautiful island.

u n b e l i e v a b l e ! ?!

I could probably go on and on and on all day about how amazing Joe’s photography is …

… but there simply aren’t enough adjectives …

J. Cogliandro Photography is based in Houston and Miami but travel extensively throughout the year. If you love their style as much as we do, definitely take a look at more of their work over on the website and blog!

Here are a few of our favorite Houston-area photo shoots! Doesn’t matter what they do … it’s all pretty spectacular!

Tara and Jordan

Lacy and Joel

Giving Back ~ Spectrum of Hope

Houston Baby Photography

One more of our brilliant LBB cinematographers to make Event DV’s Top 25 event filmmakers in 2009 was Joe Simon!  Joe says … “I’m lucky enough to do the one thing that I have dreamed about all my life. Create films! Every couple I work with brings me new inspiration, inspiration to create a single unique film for each unique couple. I love to travel, film, explore and inspire others to find their passion in life. You only live once, why not love every second of it! We live in Austin, Texas. We film worldwide.“

photo courtesy of table 4 photography

Kim & Adam are an amazing couple. In November we flew out to St. John to film their wedding aboard the Sea Dream yacht, it was an unbelievable experience! Imagine celebrating your wedding aboard a private yacht with 100 of your closest friends and family with the Virgin Islands as your background. Kim looked stunning in here Vera Wang gown and the rain turned into sunshine to set the stage for a beautiful Caribbean wedding!

Oh wow! What a fun wedding!! From the yacht, to the beaches to the bikinis. Awesome work, Joe! Congrats on being named to Event DV’s Top 25!!

Who says fashion inspiration has to come from the runways in New York? With this next Fashion Week wedding, we’re heading to the land of sea and sun…the Bahamas. And we’re not so secretly wishing that we were there, celebrating with this super chic couple, sharing cocktails with their super chic friends. Photographed by Jake McBride for Christian Oth and designed by A. Dominick Events, we are all together obsessed. Click here to see more!

Fashion fabulous, right? The bridesmaids are rocking Pucci skirts paired with simple white tops and the bride…she’s all about the Monique Lhuillier. Here are a few more details…

Amory and Sean were married in the exclusive One and Only club on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. The couple added a lot of personality to the wedding by having traditional native dancers lead a procession from the ceremony to Cocktail hour. They also had a skull and cross-bone theme throughout their wedding, gave out white fedora’s during cocktail hour, and had champagne glasses on coasters with the guests name as their place cards. The couple then had a beautiful reception in a tent lined with fabric and chandeliers. Everything about this wedding was fun and chic all at the same time. All paper goods were done by Cheree Berry.

Click here to see the full wedding!!

Just back from a much needed mini-vacation to Florida ~ what better way to start the week than with the rest of the story from JoAnn at Elegant Occasions ~ Eliza & Jeffrey’s destination wedding on the fabulous Caribbean island of Anguilla …

images courtesy of CLICK photo company Inc.

First ~ a little of the behind the scenes story from Eliza …

The Proposal: Because Jeff works so much, we didn’t get to celebrate Valentine’s Day on the actual day and had to wait until Saturday night. He surprised me with a packed a suitcase and a beautiful hotel room in New York City so we could just relax and spend time together. As we opened the door to our room, I found a path of rose petals leading up to the bed which had a message written in the petals: “Will you marry me?” I was in shock and incredibly happy, but sad that our families would not be there to celebrate with us that night, something he knew was important to me. I called my parents in Boston to tell them the good news, knowing they were at an important benefit for my dad’s hospital in Boston that they had been telling me about for months. They congratulated us and told me they would celebrate with me soon. Jeff and I went to Bar Americain to celebrate, and as we walked in, I saw both of our families sitting at a table! I was SO happy! Even now ~ today ~ I can’t stop smiling just thinking about it.

The Venue: My family and I have been going to the island of Anguilla for the past 14 years. I brought Jeff along with me twice and the third time we went it was our engagement celebration! We had about 10 weddings to attend that year and most were at New York City hotels, so we knew we wanted to do something different! My one concern was the logistics ~ planning a wedding from New York that would be taking place in Anguilla … being that I am very hands-on, I interviewed a few wedding planners and was extremely happy when I found JoAnn from Elegant Occasions. I was immediately drawn to her as she has planned many weddings on the island and I knew right from the beginning that I could trust her.

And from JoAnn …

This amazing wedding was held at the serene resort of Cap Juluca. Our vision and inspiration came from the natural elements surrounding us and the blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. Our color palette included pale blues and whites and set the tone for the entire celebration. We set long banquet tables in the venue of Blue (aptly named). Frosted cubes were taped over to create a patchwork effect. Blue and white hydrangeas plus custom blue linen runners brought from NYC highlighted the centerpieces while white chivari chairs completed the look. Escort cards were attached to starfish and placed in a wooden box filled with sand from the beaches of Anguilla. The ceremony was held on the wedding bluff overlooking the island of St. Maarten.

from Eliza ~ My bouquet was wrapped in a lace handkerchief that was my great grandmother’s. On the day that I was born she wrote a note to my mother that said “please make sure Eliza uses this on her wedding day.” I also pinned my grandfather’s mezuzah that he always wore as a necklace to the inside of my dress.  My mother made my garter belt out of what was left of my grandmothers wedding dress. Although only one of my grandparents was able to make it to the wedding, I felt like I had a part of the others with me the whole day.

Our favors were from Navy & Lavender ~ fans with custom tags for our guests to use (and they did!) during the ceremony! Our beach welcome totes printed with a sandy colored starfish from Navy & Lavender also doubled as wedding keepsakes. It was so incredible to see everyone on the beach wearing them – all our guests knew each other from seeing that starfish! I still use my tote, and it is a great reminder of our magical weekend.

The dress code was island chic, and my bridesmaids all wore dresses of their choice in various shades of blue. Vera Wang makes so many different style dresses in pretty shades colors of blue that most of my bridesmaids happened to pick Vera dresses!

When asked if there were any wedding vendors that she & Jeffrey would like to recognize, Eliza replied…

Navy and Lavender did an incredible job creating our welcome totes and working with our wedding planner to get them down to Anguilla. They created a custom map and itinerary for guests to go in the tote along with sun block, water, and lots of island-themed goodies. Ceci New York made our beautiful invitations that incorporated the sandy starfish from our welcome totes and the blues of the ocean. It was important to me to convey to my guests the feel of the wedding from the very start and she helped me do that!

Also, I could not have pulled this weekend off without the endless help of my wedding planner JoAnn from Elegant Occasions. We were in constant communication everyday for a year and now that it is all over I miss it! JoAnn and her team were so helpful right from the beginning. I would tell her my image of the wedding and she was extremely helpful in giving me suggestions, yet not being controlling. I was so confident in her that once I got down to Anguilla for my wedding, I was able to relax and knew that she would pull the whole together. I was able to literally “show up” to each event and it was set up exactly how I had pictured it.

Click Photography (Che Thomas and Jessy Pagliaroli) certainly gave me photos and video that will last a lifetime. Since they flew down just for us, we have pictures from the whole weekend! Our videographer from Images Weddings shot part of our night with a special 8mm camera that invokes the nostalgic days of my parents’ wedding. He captured the mood of the wedding perfectly.

Our thank and a hug congratulations to Eliza & Jeffrey, JoAnn at Elegant Occasions and CLICK photo company, Inc. for the awesome images from this destination wedding weekend! There are lots of additional photos of the welcome totes and invitations over on Navy & Lavener’s blog.

I am taking a much needed mini-vacation to balmy and beautiful Hillsboro Beach, Florida! I SO wanted to have the post ready from Eliza & Jeff’s STUNNING wedding in Anguilla … but I ran out of time!! So please check back next week for all the exquisite details from Elegant Occasions, Navy & Lavender, CLICK Photo and CECI New York …

images courtesy of CLICK photo company Inc.

Have a great ~ rest of the week … wish me good luck in the sun!

For a sneak peek, here’s their SMP photo gallery. Details to follow.

As we said yesterday, when our brides share a bit about who they are, how they came about choosing their wedding venue and other planning details of the day … well, it just makes it SO much more personal!  Today’s featured LBB photographers, Hurwitz Photography asked Nicole and Ryan to fill us in on their amazing day …

Eeeek! Where do I begin?

How we met?  Ryan and I met the during my first few weeks of law school, down in Tucson. He was the upper-classman, and he used to flirt with me by offering study aids and tips. Everyone was on to him when they saw us whispering in the library during Finals. I have to admit, it was pretty cute.

Why Vieques?  I am Puerto Rican, and it has always been a huge part of who I am. I am so proud of my cultural heritage, and the fact that Ryan appreciates that part of me is so amazing. About 4 months before he proposed to me, we took our first trip to the Puerto Rico together. I go back every year, but we had never taken a trip out there together. He wanted to meet my whole family, and see the beautiful island that had a hold of my heart even all the way out in Arizona. We went during the holiday season, and there was nothing cuter (or funnier) than watching a room full of my crazy, loud Puerto Rican family dancing and singing and trying to talk to Ryan. He speaks very, very little Spanish.

While we were there, I decided to take him to a special little island- the island of Vieques, a few miles off the coast of Puerto Rico. I had visited a few times as a child, but due to the Navy occupation of Vieques- it wasn’t that fun of a place to vacation. But, in 2003 the island was freed of Navy occupation, and now there was the whole undiscovered, and unspoiled tropical island for us to enjoy!

Well, Ryan and I fell in love with it. It is truly Paradise Lost. One afternoon, while sitting on the beach (which we had all to ourselves), we decided that we wanted to share the happiness and beauty that we felt with our family and friends. We knew we would get married on Vieques. It was the perfect combination- a place that we discovered together, and yet still a place connected to Puerto Rico.

Shortly after we visited, the island was written up in Travel and Leisure, NY Times, and several other publications for it’s stunning beauty- and hailed as one of the last untouched islands that was within reach.

Planning a wedding on a 20 mile by 7 mile small island was not without its challenges. There was one hair dresser on the island. There are no real grocery stores, and there are only 2 gas stations. When rental cars sell out- your guests are out of luck. And speaking of transportation, all of our guests would have to first fly to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and then either take a 2 hour long ferry boat ride, or a small 8-person prop jet to the island. But, we were so lucky…50 guests made the journey out to celebrate our marriage with us. We celebrated by hosting a whole week of wedding festivities with everyone.

We were lucky ~ yes, I had all of these beautiful images and visions in my head about what kind of wedding I wanted, but really, how could we go wrong with the stunning backdrops the island had to offer? We had help planning with a woman living on the island, and so despite the major limitations and few resources on the island, we were able to bring all of my SMP inspirations to Vieques! You should have seen my luggage- I swear half of what was in there were prints and pictures of inspiration! I hadn’t met any of these “vendors” before, and had to wait until I got there to show them what I had in mind. But, I have to say that I was so impressed- my cake especially turned out so beautifully!

One of my husband’s major requirements for our wedding was that he be allowed to wear sandals! So, a beach wedding was in order. The day before our wedding, my husband and I took some time by ourselves, and drove out to the beach. We kept walking along the sand, until we found a spot that felt right. It was so special to select that little spot of sand that we were going to stand at and become husband and wife. It was one of my favorite memories.

We rented out an absolutely amazing private villa overlooking the ocean for our wedding reception. We have never even been close to anything of this magnitude before. The backyard lent itself well to a tented, outdoor reception, complete with our DIY lanterns and lots and lots of twinkling white lights. We had tiki torches light the pathway for our guests, as there was no real other lighting as the sun set. It was so amazing to dance with my new husband and my father surrounded by all of the people I love one one side, and the Atlantic ocean on another.

I was so determined to have a tent filled with white paper lanterns at my wedding. Little did we know what a project that was going to be! I spent the morning and day of our wedding getting pampered, and getting ready. My poor husband, and his poor groomsmen spent the WHOLE day under the sweltering June Caribbean sun hanging a million paper lanterns with fishing wire to our tent! My new husband was up against the clock and he told me later that he only had about 20 minutes to get ready for the wedding! Had I known it would be that miserable, I wouldn’t have let them do it! But, it was so beautiful, and made me really happy to see.

Our wedding was so amazing, and of course we will remember and treasure it forever. But, I think we most enjoyed being able to share “our” island with everyone, and creating those lasting memories with each person there. I think our wedding in Puerto Rico really made Ryan feel so a part of my culture. And that makes my heart truly happy.

Oh wow!! Congratulations Nicole and Ryan on a spectacular celebration!  And thank you, thank you, thank you to Michelle & Harrison Hurwitz for capturing ~ and sharing ~ the beauty!

click here for the entire wedding gallery

June 20th, 2009 wedding in Vieques Island, Puerto Rico from Hurwitz Photography. Reception & Rehearsal Dinner – Punta Marineau Villa on the new W Resort residential grounds.  Wedding Ceremony – Sun Bay.  Event Planner – Sandy Malone of Weddings in Vieques

You guys probably saw this wedding in InStyle Weddings…it’s the celebration of Roselyn Sanchez and Eric Winter. Roselyn is an incredibly well known actress both in Puerto Rico and the states and just might be one of the most gorgeous women I have ever seen in my life. She’s most well known for her role in Without a Trace. And you guys definitely know Eric, as he is the dreamy actor in shows like Brothers & Sisters and movies like The Ugly Truth. They are a ridiculously gorgeous couple and lucky for us, one of our own Little Black Book members, Elysium was there to capture the day in film…

Is that not the most beautiful thing you’ve ever seen? And you know what…it isn’t the least bit surprising coming from a studio like Elysium. I had the sheer pleasure of seeing Julie and team in action at one of our dear friend’s wedding and when I say their work was amazing, I am hardly doing them justice.

We reached out to the photographer behind the event, Aaron Delesie…who also happens to be a friend of ours and a MAJOR style me pretty love…to share some of the pics with us. You can also click right here to see InStyle’s gallery of images and get more information about the affair.

Thank you so much to Elysium and to Aaron Delesie for sharing this ridiculously gorgeous wedding with us. It’s one of those weddings that just a dream, a purely gorgeous dream.

These Vendors are members of our Little Black Book.
For membership information, click here

Elysium Productions

View Portfolio

Thank you so much to the always inspiring Gia Canali and Yifat Oren for sharing today’s ridiculously gorgeous wedding with us. We feel really lucky to get to brag about some of our favorite vendors and you two are very high on our list of favorites. I hope that all of you found this wedding as inspiring as I did. And like yesterday’s Lisa Vorce feature, I hope you discovered ideas tucked inside that you can replicate on any budget. I’ve included a few budget ideas below!

The main thing to note when finding inspiration within this wedding is the natural elegance. They looked to the beach…the colors, the textures, the natural beauty…and translated that into each and every detail. Starting with the color palette. With a blend of whites, greens and natural hues the look just faded perfectly into the backdrop.

Next up, the details.

1. If you are getting married at a hotel on the beach, ask the hotel to borrow some of their lounge chairs. They always have extras on hand and although they might make you pay a rental fee, the look will be totally relaxed and chic.

2. Keep the details simple. Look to IKEA for accent pieces like these amazing floor cushions. A runner using plain muslin fabric. Branches instead of flowers to frame the aisle. Think organic, simple and refined. These adorable fans are a pretty affordable accent and your guests will love them.

3. Keep your flowers ultra simple and tidy. Wrap your bouquet in natural linen and twine or leather. With centerpieces, go for simple and low white flowers. Accent with big bowls of styrafome balls wrapped in twine (make your own based on these from Target). You can also fill in with artichokes and other pretty veggies without spending a ton of money.

4. Gift your boys a clean, casual white shirt that they can wear with khaki’s from their closet and a pair of brown flip-flops.

5. Finish off the look by creating wooden signs to mark each area of your wedding. The Ceremony…The Drinks…The Dinner…etc. You can even add in fun things like this couple did like a Jewelry Making station or Domino Dock. White paint on a sturdy wooden board will go a long way for making your affair seem a bit more homegrown, a bit more charming.

Every now and then I feel like a total wedding stalker. I OBSESS over the details, the perfect brides, the flowers, the design. And this wedding has me in total crazy stalker mode. Aside from being one of the most beautiful destination weddings I’ve ever seen, it’s also refreshingly edited. Designed by the insanely talented celebrity designer Yifat Oren, this wedding is all about the gorgeousness… with decor that blends seamlessly into the beach backdrop and every detail appearing cohesive and simply beautiful.

The ridiculously stunning photographs that Gia Canali shot only make it that much sweeter.

A few details from Gia…

The couple held a simple, gorgeous, ceremony – the bride’s uncle co-officiated with a local officiant, who ended the ceremony by saying, “And now, not only by the laws of these islands, but also by the laws of your hearts, I declare you husband and wife.”   Then there was a blessing stone ceremony that everybody joined in!

Are you madly, madly in love yet? The dress on the beach, the lounge chairs, the effortlessness and total luxury placed side by side within every detail. We have more goodness coming up in just a bit!

You should probably sit down for this next feature. Even if you have no interest in a beachside wedding, even if you aren’t going to rock out a ballroom wedding gown, even if traditional gorgeousness isn’t your thing…you will still LOVE this wedding. It’s impossible not to. Photographed by Gia Canali and designed by the world famous Yifat Oren, this wedding is the definition of beauty. It’s perfection through and through.

And I have to say…a ballroom gown on a beach has to be one of my favorite wedding luxuries. It’s impossibly gorgeous and will forever be a look that gives me butterflies. The gown in particular, by Monique of course, just might be as close to perfect as you can get, setting the tone for the ridiculously beautiful wedding to follow.

As for flowers, I love, love, love the concept that GD Designers put together for the affair. For a really expensive, absolutely luxurious affair, the flowers were a welcome, understated style.  They were muted, they were organic, they were simply stunning. And the invitations, designed by Jennifer at Tiny Pine Press. Ummm…hello gorgeous.

Here area a few deails from Gia Canali, the photographer behind these perfect images…

Jennifer Parsons of Tiny Pine Press designed gorgeous stationery across the board.  The save-the-dates were printed on wooden paper and a luscious handmade paper and wrapped in turquoise blue threads.  The invites were letterpressed on handmade paper and mounted on wooden paper (like the opposite of the save the dates) — with little turquoise waves stitched in at the top. The decor behind this wedding was perfect–simple, modern, earthy, and sweet.  Each event, from the beginning to end, was planned to be fun and meaningful — with good food and lots of time for friends.  There were surprises, too, like fireworks at midnight! Each groomsman’s boutonniere matched a bridesmaid’s bouquet, featuring a single (different) bloom.  My favorite boutonniere featured something that looked like asparagus.

You are not going to want miss this next wedding. It’s stunning. Straight out of a glossy stunning. But before we get to all of the wedding goodness, I wanted to mention that we’ve listed our latest job opening over on Backstage! If you are interested in working with Style Me Pretty, now’s your chance!

The next affair for you to devour was a three day Destination wedding, planned and designed by celebrity wedding planner Yifat Oren and photographed by Gia Canali, who we love here on SMP. The bride and groom, who are from Grand Cayman and the UK, respectively, flew their closest friends and family to Parrot Cay for a wedding that would literally blow their socks off.  The result was a picture perfect weekend where very detail was perfectly designed and beautifully executed.

Here is a little peek at the beachside welcome party that the couple held…after all, one girl’s welcome party is another girl’s wedding!

From the photographer behind the day, Gia Canali…

The welcome party was a laid-back, beautiful event with great food and decor. We loved how it was all set up, dotted with fires for warmth and lanterns for mood. In addition to regular tables and poolside seating, Yifat’s crew made the beach an additional seating area.  They spread wicker seating cushions and bamboo mats and pillows from Ikea on the beach, along with the lanterns and fires for warmth.

It’s really essential that you make your guests comfortable at all the wedding events.  And destination weddings are no different than local ones, except that you might not be used to thinking about what those comfort issues are–heat, cold, sun, humidity, dehydration, mosquitoes the size of Rhode Island, etc.  (Another reason why wedding planners are worth their weight in gold).

The couple actually had a “bead bar” for the guests to make their own necklaces, bracelets, etc., if they wanted to.  The beads were divine and I saw some of the creations afterwards – great.  I think it’s always good to have something fun for the guests to do! There was also a domino hut set up if guests wanted to play dominoes — that’s a thing in the Caribbean.

The bride’s uncle made his special rum punch recipe (with the chefs from Parrot Cay) … I think it’s fantastic when couples incorporate beloved family recipes into the festivities.  Behind the scenes, I heard one of the chefs saying how fun it was to learn his recipe and “cook” with him.  But I’ve seen lots of variations of this (not all of which involve a caterer) — couples using favorite dessert recipes, for instance.

Wedding coming up next! And it’s so good…you’ll hardly believe it’s real.