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From Jamie Mercurio…As I sit down to write a bit about this incredible island wedding, I am (as usual) struggling to find words to describe how truly amazing this day was. The colors! The views of Mount Nevis and St. Kitts! The gorgeous family and friends that surrounded Celeste and Chris…The love! So, so much love.

Celeste and Chris hail from Brooklyn, New York, but Celeste’s father is from Nevis, so she grew up traveling to the gorgeous Island and her family has a home there. The two decided to hold their wedding celebration on the island, and it was simply magical. Their ceremony was held at at Cottle Church – a gorgeously historic church built in the early 1800s with dramatic views of Mount Nevis in the background. The wedding was officiated by Celeste’s father, with beautiful spoken pieces woven in by other family members – but I think my favorite part was watching Chris watch Celeste walk down the aisle. These two have so much love for each other.

After the ceremony, we took some portraits with the sun setting behind Mount Nevis, and headed to Paradise Beach for an incredible party. Dreamy twinkle lights surrounded tables and a dance floor was set up in the sand beside the bright blue Caribbean ocean. Guests toasted the couple with heartfelt speeches, enjoyed a beautiful dinner, and danced the night away to the most fun band I’ve ever seen. Beach bonfires and late-night swimming were the perfect way to cap the perfect night.

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Monique Lhuillier

Monique Lhuillier Bridal Fall 2015

Monique Lhuillier Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Spring 2016

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A Modern Cinco de Mayo Wedding (Margarita Bar Included!)

There are few things in life better than a margarita bar – at least in my opinion. Pair that concept with a chic destination wedding held on Cinco de Mayo, and you’ve got all the makings for the Best. Day. Ever. Island Style Weddings came on board to coordinate, Erin McGinn (dear friend of the bride) photographed, and you can find your happy place waiting right here.

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Nighttime Wedding With a Candlelit Ceremony = Total Romance

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Destination Villa

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Modern

From Island Style Weddings…Joslin and Adam started off their island wedding week with a welcome party for their guests at Hawsknest beach. Delicious local food and tropical drinks were enjoyed in between snorkeling, lounging in the sand and floating in the crystal waters. A private sailing charter was the next event before their wedding day that all the guests savored together aboard Kekoa. By the time the wedding day came, all of the guests had shared in beautiful memories, making the wedding day all the more special and a perfect send off to their destination celebration.

The ceremony venue had stunning views and the perfect intimate setting without any distractions other than a warm breeze and a dreamy sunset. Simple white orchids complimented the space and island feel just perfectly while the guests were greeted with a guitar and violin duo. The guests were transported to another villa for the reception portion of the evening where breathtaking views, and appetizers were enjoyed by everyone as they arrived. White linens and tulle draped chairs continued the effortless feel for the reception setup. The white orchids were carried through to the reception decor and the gold accents sparkled under the strung bistro lights at dusk.

Dancing under the stars with all their loved ones finished off the celebration; it was truly a memorable week of celebrating for the beautifully happy couple!

From Erin McGinn…As a photographer, there is nothing more special than being asked to capture one of your closest friends’ weddings. That is unless they have worked in the event industry for years with you and have seen thousands of stunning weddings (and wedding photos) and still choose you to be the one to photograph their day.

Joslin and Adam invited their nearest and dearest to St. John in the US Virgin Islands from New England and beyond to spend a week of adventure, sun, sand, boats, and laughter with them in the most spectacular of locales. Beach days, a trip aboard the sailing charter Kekoa, and a locally inspired BBQ welcome party at Hawksnest Beach, were just some of the fun they had in store for their small group of family and friends. The wedding planned in the modern and sleek Villa Kalorama for Thursday May 5th – Cinco de Mayo, was purely their taste.

All white, with lots of glass and clean, contemporary architecture. When the weather decided not to cooperate earlier in the week, the most perfect Plan B was put into action by the amazing Mary Bartolucci of Island Style Weddings at Aqua Blu Villa. While the ceremony still took place at Kalorama under the cover of the villa’s open air living room in case of rain, guests were transported after a few glasses of bubbly to another spectacular villa with a completely different view and a Caribbean-elegant vibe.

The weather held out for us, and we were able to do our first look and couple portraits all around the grounds of Kalorama, and then after the ceremony, explore the rugged cliffside and lush surroundings of Aqua Blu for romantic golden hour photographs. Having the best of two locations, Joslin and Adam’s guests sipped their favorite Margarita recipes and dined on the most delicious Mexican-inspired feast to revel in the Cinco de Mayo holiday (after all, the couple did have their first date at a Mexican restaurant in Newport, Rhode Island, complete with tequila shots!). Joslin and Adam did it right, followed their hearts and created a full Caribbean experience for their guests- a personal and memorable event that we will all hold close to our hearts always.

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Badgley Mischka

Spring 2014 Bridal

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Bridal 2016

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Legends Romona Keveza

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With an incredible event designer like Maria A Lugo by their side, it’s easy to see why Laura and David’s San Juan wedding turned out amazing. That, paired with the fact that they chose a nighttime candlelit ceremony that sent romantic vibes soaring. Our girl Kayla Barker came along to photograph and you can see every bit in The Vault plus the clip from NDF Films below!

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Destination Hotels + Resorts Weddings Weddings in Historical Venues

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Glamorous

From Kayla Barker Fine Art Photography…I was so delighted when Laura and David asked me to be a part of their elegant wedding in the historic San Juan, Puerto Rico. Their wedding ceremony took place after dark at the historic fort, Castillo San Cristobal. It was a romantic ceremony by candlelight with guitar playing by Pancho Irizarry. Their reception took place at Hotel El Convento, which was built in 1646 as a Carmelite convent and is now a popular venue in Old San Juan. The elegant black and white wedding design by Maria Lugo with floral design by Arquetipo mimicked the beautiful black and white checkered floor. Huge gold candelabras drew your eye up to the arched ceiling and large chandeliers. Laura and David celebrated with their family and friends that had journeyed from all over the United States to historic San Juan. It was a beautiful and romantic night and wedding weekend!

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Vera Wang

Spring 2015

Fall 2014

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From Umbrellas to OMG Views!

This duo always knew that a destination wedding was in the cards for them so when it came time to pick a place to become Mr. and Mrs. they set their sights on the beautiful Caribbean island of Anguilla. When rain made an appearance at their ceremony, smiles never faded and when those umbrellas were soon put away, stunning views took their place. Alison Conklin captured it all – see it all in our Vault this way!

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Fall Weddings

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This Week-Long Celebration in Paradise is Everything

From the Bride… Mike and I met in high school through a mutual friend, although romance wasn’t in the cards until 10 years later. Our two groups of friends hung out for a few months in high school, but we quickly faded out of each other’s lives until the stars aligned and we ended up living in the same building in Manhattan after college. An innocent elevator encounter led to some Facebook stalking and messaging, which led to a first date… and the rest, as they say, is history.

We share a love for travel and after attending my best friend’s wedding in Turks and Caicos, we knew that when it was our turn, a destination wedding was the way to go. We had been scouting Anguilla for a potential vacation spot, and after seeing pictures of the Viceroy on Instagram and showing them to Mike, he casually said, “We should get married there”. When he proposed two weeks later in Long Beach Island, NJ, we barely finished our first bottle of champagne on the beach with friends before I had sent an inquiry to the Viceroy.

We were enamored with the chic, modern decor and breathtaking views the Viceroy offered and booked our venue without ever seeing it in person. The Viceroy provided us with a wedding coordinator who took all of the stress out of planning a wedding from so far away. Couture Concepts helped bring our vision of a romantic, candlelit reception to life. I will never forget entering the room and seeing the candles reflecting in the windows, which truly took my breath away.

While the weather the whole weekend was perfect, it didn’t exactly cooperate the day of the wedding, and the sky opened up just as I started walking down the aisle. Luckily, it didn’t last long enough to prevent Mike and I from exchanging vows in front of the picture perfect view that sold us on the location to begin with. Mike’s oldest friend officiated our ceremony in front of 75 of our closest friends and family, which made the day all that more special.

One of the greatest things about having a destination wedding is that everyone is on vacation and ready to let loose, which made our reception one of the most epic dance parties I’ve ever been to. Our guests danced the night away, and ended the night with some mini grilled cheeses and a dip in the pool.

After the biggest weekend of our life was over, we were thankful to have something else to look forward to – receiving our photos from Alison Conklin and video from Jet Kaiser. They didn’t let us down! We couldn’t be more thrilled with their work, which truly captured all the love that was in the air that day and all the small moments that may have otherwise faded into the back of our memories. When we look back at the photos and video, we can’t believe that was our own wedding.

Our entire wedding weekend was a dream come true. We were thankful that we were able to spend so much quality time with our friends and family – something that is truly precious with everyone being so busy. We couldn’t have picked a more perfect place to kick off our married life together – the memories will last a lifetime.

There’s nothing I love more than a fabulous party. And this darling duo? They celebrated their “I do’s” with a week-long celebration in paradise, all with the help of 50 of their nearest and dearest, plus the talents of Andrew and Elisha and Island Style Weddings. It was a fun-filled itinerary with a big ol’ side of beach wedding. See it all in THE VAULT right this way.

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This Destination Wedding is the Best Thing You’ll See All Day

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Beach Weddings Eatery

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Al Fresco Casual

From Andrew and Elisha… Josh and Tiffany and 50 loved ones had a week of celebrating. From island hopping to beach BBQ’s the week was spent making magical memories for all who traveled with them. Having recently relocated from Southern California to Colorado, this busy couple’s focus was on sharing time with their friends and family.

Their week started with a welcome get together at Dr!nk in Cruz Bay, St John. Guests enjoyed tropical beverages and mouthwatering appetizers from Queen of Tarts, while watching the sunset over St Thomas.

A trip to Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands aboard the 50 ft catamaran “Daydreamer” entailed a full day of snorkeling, island hopping and exploring the “barefoot island”. The afternoon was spent in hammocks at the Soggy Dollar Bar, painkiller anyone?

Instead of a traditional rehearsal dinner, they chose to spend the day on Hawksnest beach with a BBQ provided by Local and Tasty. Paddle boards, kayak and snorkeling gave the guests opportunity to explore the clear waters of the Caribbean.

The wedding ceremony was held at Trunk bay followed by a their reception at the Waterfront Bistro. DJ Adonis Morton kept the group on the dance floor all night.

Not every happily ever after begins with fireworks. Sometimes it starts as a casual meeting between waitress and customer, develops into a years-long friendship and turns into something more when you least expect it. Such is the case with these sweeties, who celebrated their true life fairytale with a wedding in paradise at Dreams La Romana. Think seaside nuptials meets a non-stop celebration under the stars. See it all captured by The Veil Wedding Photography in THE VAULT.

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A White-on-White Celebration That Redefines “Beach Wedding”

From the Groom… Did you ever hear the story of the good friends that eventually fell in love and got married? It’s a story we’ve all seen and heard. A story we’ve all wished we were a part of. Not all of us are lucky enough to have their wish come true. How I got so lucky I will never know. She was a waitress at a little hole in the wall, I was a frequent customer.

I won’t pretend there was an instant attraction, maybe not for her anyway, I can’t even say we became instant friends. I would say it was my humor, or at least what I perceived to be humor, and her unwillingness to be anybody but herself pulled us together. Our relationship over the next couple of years which started off as server and customer began to expand beyond the walls of our little hole in the wall. Then… at some point we became single at the same time and boom! Magic. That’s how I’m going to tell the story anyway. We both have our versions of who was the one who caused the other to fall in love. I can tell you though, I was the first one to say it.

We didn’t have the normal getting to know each other honeymoon period of a relationship. We had known each other for years. It made things simple in a way that I find it hard to put into words. We had gotten past each other’s annoying quirks and didn’t spend so much energy trying to be the person we thought the other wanted. We could just be.

It was during this time when most people are discovering that the person they chose has some rather disturbing habits that we discovered in each other a wanderlust. A need to get out in the world and experience new places and new things. Travel, even small road trips to nowhere towns to see nowhere things, became the thing we looked forward to. It was in this spirit that even our first discussions about marriage we locked onto the idea of a destination wedding. But where to?

I will spare you the details of the months and months of searching and skip right to what I thought was that magical moment when we found our spot. She had always talked about wanting a beach wedding, but not on the beach. She wanted a platform or a dock made of dark wood stretching out over clear turquoise waters. There it was, a picture of the place we would start the next chapter of our lives together. A long pier jutting out into the ocean at Dreams La Romana Resort.

The save the dates went out right away, a website for our wedding went up and the next year flew by. At least that is the story I’m telling. We don’t need to scare any more perspective brides and grooms with the stress of wedding planning. I will tell you that luck struck once again when we found our wedding photographers, or should I say they found us. That is a story for another time though.

Dreams la Romana Resort. What can I say? A beautiful sprawling resort set against the white sand beaches and turquoise waters on the Southern side of the Dominican Republic. You really couldn’t ask for more beautiful scenery for any event.

After spending some time exploring the resort we met with our onsite wedding coordinator. We went through everything rather quickly and I can’t say we felt completely comfortable with handing off our year of planning to someone we just met. Yanna, our coordinator proved our insecurities wrong on several occasions though.

Our wedding weekend started off with a meet and great for our guests in the gardens. It was an event we set up with the resort ahead of time and turned out to be the perfect. Small white tables set in the grass near one of the many gazebos with a backdrop of palm trees and flowers. After the planning phase the resort took care of everything making it not only a beautiful gathering, but stress free. It was really our first chance to take a breath and enjoy our guests and each other inside the beauty of the Dominican.

Then comes the wedding day. The day started early at one of the breakfast buffets on site then Heather and I separated to get moving on the schedule our wonderful photographers set up for us. It never hit me what was actually happening while I was sitting in the coffee shop with my dad waiting for our first look photos. Then I saw her in her dress for the first time. I don’t consider myself much of an emotional person but the rest of the day almost seemed a dream as I was looking at the world through tearful eyes. I know a lot of people say this, but I truly was the luckiest person alive.

I would love to comment on the beauty of the wedding. The care and time that Yanna put into setting up the pier, but all I remember for the rest of the day was her. When we were separated right before the wedding my thoughts were consumed with when I would see her again. Then there she was, walking down the pier to cheers coming from onlookers on the beach. The family, the friends, and her. It was a perfect day.

Once the ceremony was over we took part in a cocktail hour at the end of the pier where hugs, smiles, laughter and tears of joy were on the menu along with the amazing appetizers. The bar tenders at the private bar took time to learn all of our names and by the end of the hour it was as if they were just friends celebrating with us.

Moving down the beach we found ourselves in our own private paradise where a long family style table was set up for all the guests as we shared a meal cooked fresh there on the beach with us. The decorations, the lights, the overall set up was perfect against the setting sun at the edge of the sea. The music started as we ended our meal and we danced well into the night just enjoying the majesty and joy of the day. My mom even managed to pull in several other guests from the resort to join us in our celebration and dancing.

From The Bride…If someone were to ask me my favorite part of the wedding day I don’t think I could pick, I have so many favorites. Getting ready in my gorgeous suite (whose couch was perfect for bridal portrait photos) with the sisters of my heart was beautiful, it truly made me understand how much they loved me and supported my marriage. Trying to take a girls photo while jumping on the bed, an idea that was most definitely a Pinterest fail, but that was hilarious for us. Looking back at the photos of getting ready where all the girls are bunched together I just remember the love and joy that emanated from everyone, that’s one of my favorite memories.

We had the first look with Mike and my dad outside the spa. Somehow our photographers had found the most perfect locations on the large resort in the tiny amount of time they had the night before the wedding. The scenery was unbelievably beautiful, and walking from my room to the spa I was stopped by so many strangers to take a photo or receive well wishes. We did a first look with my dad first and seeing the look on his face was something I’ll never forget. My first look with Mike was so special, but at the time I thought it may make my walk down the aisle less significant since we’d already seen each and cried together, but it was actually just the opposite. The bridal party arrived (slightly late) at the pier and everything was more beautiful that I could’ve imagined. The DJ did an awesome job of queuing the music exactly where it was supposed to be, and when the first notes of “One and Only” by Adele started playing I began my walk to the rest of my life. Seeing my almost-husband at the end of the pier has been one of the most magical moments I’ve ever had, made even more special by the guests in the water cheering as I walked down the aisle. It was an unforgettable day filled with so many favorites and firsts that I’ll treasure forever.

Photography: The Veil Wedding Photography | DJ: Mannia | Venue: Dreams La Romana

When it came time to plan their destination wedding, this couple knew The Bahamas was the perfect spot for them. Not only because of the island’s obvious beauty, but it was the birthplace and home to the groom during his childhood years. Julie Cate captured their white-on-white beach soiree and our jaws have officially dropped. More in The Vault!

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From The Bride…Rob and I met nearly 7 years ago on the 4th of July at a friend’s rooftop party after I had just moved to the city from Florida. We had an instant connection and have made so many amazing memories together over the years, two of the most special being our engagement in Provence and our wedding in Harbour Island.

After we got engaged, we immediately knew we wanted a destination wedding with a weekend full of activities where our family and friends could be together in a relaxed setting. We visited several venues in the Northeast and in the South before taking a chance on a charming little island we read about in the Bahamas. Rob was born in the Bahamas and lived there with his family in his early years, so we thought it was particularly relevant to us. We visited Harbour Island the year before our wedding and instantly fell in love with the people, the golf carts, the roosters, the island’s beauty and style – everything about it! As soon as we visited The Ocean View Club and met with Ben and Charlie of Little Island Design, we knew there was no one else we wanted to work with.

As we were planning the wedding, I knew I wanted an island chic vibe that would be classic and timeless. We wanted our wedding to feel relaxed and laid back, while still maintaining an element of formality. We worked with Ben and Charlie on the floral design of simple greenery and white flowers paired with a classic black and white dance floor in the sand. I knew from the start that I wanted my bridesmaids to wear fabulous white dresses of their own choice to stand out against our handsome groomsmen in tuxes.

The wedding weekend turned out to be even better than we envisioned. The island is so small that it felt like we took it over! Our families rented houses on the island, our wedding party took over The Ocean View Club, and our other guests stayed in hotels right down the beach. After events on Thursday and Friday, we were married in the iconic Pink Church in the center of the island. After the ceremony we surprised our guests with a Junkanoo band that paraded us down the street to The Ocean View Club. One of my favorite moments was looking back at the line of golf carts driving up to the reception. We had cocktails on the Terrace and then moved down to the tent on the beach for dinner and dancing. It was an amazing feeling to see your vision come to life. Ben and Charlie and the LID team exceeded my expectations with every detail from the impressive food to the custom made dance floor to the outdoor lounge area. Our band, the Sultans of Swing, who flew in from Boston had our guests on their feet and kept up the energy all night.

Lastly, I can’t say enough about Julie and James. Not only is she an incredibly talented photographer who perfectly captured our wedding day, she is the sweetest person who put us at ease on such a special day. We still joke about “almost kisses” to this day. We were blown away by the portraits she took of us and our wedding party and we were rolling in laughter at some of the candid shots she captured from the reception. We are so happy we worked with Julie and we will always cherish the beautiful images that will always bring us back to our wedding day.

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Wedding Dresses

Romona Keveza

Romona Keveza Luxe Bridal

Romona Keveza Luxe Bridal Fall 2016

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Romona Keveza Collection Bridal Spring 2017

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ROMONA New York

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You’ll Want to Get Married Just to Wear This Gown

I would get married all over again just so I could wear this gown, and honestly could you blame me?! From the venue to the florals, every detail dreamed up by Claire Duran Weddings and Events is enough to make any girl want to start the wedding planning processes all over again. Overflowing with beautiful scenery and unreal glamour, Taken by Sarah Photography captured it all to share in The Vault!

From Claire Duran Weddings and Events… This inspiration shoot for Composed Workshop’s debut was in a beautiful historic venue in the the Colonial City of Santo Domingo, the first city in the New World and the point of entrance for the rest of the colonization process of the Americas. Full of beautiful architecture that dates back as far as the first decade of the 16th century, Quinta Dominica was the perfect backdrop for this editorial piece. Also built at the beginning of the 1500s, this venue first served as a monastery/convent house for priests and later as classrooms of the first University in the New World. With so much history, and with a space and garden full of colonial romanticism and interesting flora, Quinta Dominica provided the perfect background to showcase current inspiration, yet while allowing us all to step back in time. This shoot was part of the first Composed Workshop and our goal was to capture the beauty already embedded in the environment while adding the right elements that would just compliment the vision without taking the main attention from the colonial landmarks. Composed Workshop is an educational gathering for industry creatives, mostly focused in Latin America and with practical teachings in floral, styling and photography, and we are excited for a future full of locations such as these to inspire wedding creatives to look at their surroundings with fresh eyes.

From Taken by Sarah Photography… As a photographer, I was delighted to see that every street had something colorful and beautiful around every corner. I wanted to show the old beauty of the city, the vibrant spirit of the people of Dominican Republic, and a new perspective to Santo Domingo brides on the outdoor beauty that surrounds this place. Our real couple could not have been more lovely and in love, something that makes any editorial shoot really shine. My approach for styled wedding shoots is to show not only creativity, but also something that can be easily used for real wedding inspiration and always a real couple that can inspire others in a tangible way. The DR has a lot of destination weddings in Punta Cana, but I think that couples should consider this other side of the DR that has so much irresistible charm that planning a gorgeous and unique affair will be a piece of cake.

Barefeet. Crystal Clear Water. Tropical Flowers. This is the Ultimate Beach Wedding

Close your eyes and picture a wedding in paradise. Chances are, it looks a lot like this gorgeous destination wedding in St. John from Island Style Weddings. With a ceremony in the sand, a tented reception with the sea breeze in the air and tropical flowers in vibrant hues, every detail of this wedding is absolute perfection. See it all from Elisha Orin in The Vault!

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Beach Weddings Outdoor Weddings

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Breathtaking “I Do’s” at Round Hill Hotel and Villas

From Island Style Weddings…In November 2014, I designed Marilyn and Glen’s wedding. We bonded and had a great time speaking each week, getting to know each and planning a wedding that was 15 years in the making.

Marilyn’s daughter Meaghan attended the wedding however she was MIA a lot during the reception. As we all know, wedding can be an emotional time and I thought she was maybe she was feeling a little sad.

Little did I know that she was upstairs talking on the phone to a handsome gent she had just begun to date.

I was delighted to get a call from her asking me to design her wedding! What a celebration it was! I was thrilled that she had found such a kind and loving man in Brad.

Family and friends came together, went sailing, beaching and dancing the night away. I am only sorry that she is an only child…..maybe Marilyn can adopt someone so we can plan another wedding together.

Meghan and Brad, you are so in love and it radiated throughout the week. So much love and joy, isn’t that what weddings are all about? Thank you for choosing to work with us, we loved every minute.

Celebrating your “I do’s” with your nearest + dearest is always a fabulous thing, but celebrating in Jamaica at Round Hill Hotel and Villas? Even better. Think crystal blue waters, golden beaches and a timeless island elegance that is sooo pretty. It’s vaca meets wedding and it’s seriously everything you’ve ever dreamed. Want to know more? Check out Jill + Andrew’s gorgeous wedding…

Situated on a breathtaking 110-acre private enclave, hosting your Big Day at Round Hill Hotel and Villas is the best decision you’ll ever make… other than saying “I do” to the one you love, of course. I’m talking luxury villas, boutique oceanfront rooms and award-winning cuisine all coming together for a stay that will quickly become the best trip ever. From their luxurious spa to their ah-mazing yoga classes to their stunning selections for ceremony AND reception locations, every last aspect of your nuptials is totally covered. Which means you can sit back and relax (literally) while the fabulous staff at Round Hill Hotel and Villas handles everything. It’s awesome, lovelies.

Ready to jet off to paradise for the wedding of a lifetime? Contact the talented staff at Round Hill Hotel and Villas TODAY to begin your journey to a celebration you’ll remember for always. We can’t wait to see the amazing results.

Photography: Saab Weddings Photography

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The Ultimate Destination Wedding Set in Puerto Rico

If you consider yourself a serious floral lover – and let’s be honest, who doesn’t? – this wedding is for you. Starting with a cascading bouquet followed by one incredible ceremony arch, and ending with tabletop florals fit for a tropical reception, this entire day is a Bows + Arrows masterpiece. They styled a destination celebration set in Vieques, Puerto Rico infused with a mid-century vibe, and sourced their blooms straight from the island locals and land. NBarrett Photography captured the gallery, with lots more to see in The Vault.

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Romantic Caribbean Wedding at a Forgotten Chapel by the Beach

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Outdoor Weddings

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Al Fresco Whimsical

From NBarrett Photography…Willie and Maria’s destination wedding weekend was filled with memorable experiences for friends and family set in the un-touched tropical island of Vieques, Puerto Rico with pristine beaches, wild horses, and the incredible bioluminescent bay!

The wedding was designed with a Tropicana vibe, think mid century tropical glamour. The bride and groom wanted to convey a low key/high end vibe. Inspiration was gathered from 1960 Caribe Hilton and Palm Springs as well as the sleek modern lines of mid century interior design.

The Punta Mulas Lighthouse was the beautiful sight of the ceremony and reception. It’s quaintly nestled off the Vieques main port, North if Isabel Segunda. “Faro Punta Mulas was built by Don Juan Puig Cerber in 1895, and it was restored in 1992. As you walk up you will enjoy a beautiful vista of Isabel II, and the colorful boats of fisherman along the beautiful blue waters. You can watch ferry arrive, and in the distance enjoy the views of the main island of Puerto Rico and the sister island of Culebra. El Faro Punta Mulas is now a small museum, which exhibits a collection of artifacts and photos of the island’s history, the natural history of the coast, and marine time history.”

For the flowers, Bows + Arrows wanted everything to feel fresh and “of the land”. They sourced much of the flora from the land, foraging and working with the locals to buy straight from their gardens! Native floral included bougainvillea and queens wreath.

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WILLIE’S VOWS TO MARIA…

Maria Teresa Rodriguez,
I, William Burton Binnie,
offer you my blood and my bones,
my flesh and my collection of souvenir pens,
the one’s with the parts that move when you tilt them.

I stand before you today,
surrounded by our absolute dearest friends and family,
to offer you my heart and my soul,
and the other guts no one ever talks about, like the gall bladder,
as well as my perpetual and infinite love.

What I’m trying to say is: I give you everything I am,
not just the one or two organs people usually mention.
My hope is that our respective minds, bodies, and souls will continue to join together, becoming one, not in a literal way, forming some mutant hybrid creature,
but in the figurative way, forming a sacred bond of eternal and everlasting love.

I promise to always care for you when you are unwell,
to carry you when you are weary,
celebrate you, cherish you,
and try to offer critical analysis of your writings,
even when I do not fully understand all of the concepts, the big words,
or the small words that mean other things in a theoretical context.

I take you as my wife, to love you and hold you as long as I shall live,
despite being an left-handed person,
who, statistically, die earlier than the right-handed majority.

I shall always be your sidekick in adventure,
your consoler in despair, and backup vocals when the stereo is playing Puerto Rican music I only yet know mostly phonetically.

You are the salsa to my chip and the bean to my rice,
my best friend, my greatest critic, and the love of my life.
I was lost until I met you. I owe you my life, today and always.
Además, voy a mejorar mi español. Te amo, ahora y siempre.

I offer myself to you as your husband.

Me ofrezco a ti como tu esposo.

MARIA’S VOWS TO WILLIE…

William,
I stand here today to affirm my deepest love for you,
to cherish and commit myself to you forever.
I treasure you now and always as my companion,
and vow to love and care for you,
to be a true and loyal friend,
to actually refill the Brita pitcher after I’ve served myself a glass of water,
and to encourage, cherish, and honor you,
in sickness and in health,
through sorrow and success,
for all the days of my life.

I take you as you are, loving who you are now and who you are yet to become.
I love you infinitely and unconditionally,
and I promise to listen to you and to learn from you,
to support you and stand by you through all that life may bring us.

You like to say I’m ever the optimist
But it is that with you, the world is full of wonder and promise
of finding beauty and humor everywhere.
Life is wonderfully intriguing with you.
It is a constant adventure,
one that I will happily share with you as long as we both shall live.

I promise to always care for you,
to be your loyal proofreader and ad hoc studio assistant,
and your steadfast sous chef
to respect you and celebrate you forever.

You are the warmest soul, my greatest friend, my favorite conversation.
You are everything.
Me ofrezco a ti como tu esposa.
I offer myself to you as your wife.

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Bows and Arrows

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When Victor and Analiz decided to get married, the beautiful Bride decided she wanted to marry in an old, abandoned chapel where she could make their dreams come true. With the help of STEM Events, this couple transformed the forgotten chapel by the sea into their own “sacred piece of land.” See the transformation and the rest of this beautiful day, thanks to E.P. Anderson Photography, in The Vault!

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From STEM Events…“We want to get married at the Vieques Ecumenical Chapel, that is a meaningful place for us.” This was among the first things the groom, Víctor, told me when we first met. I immediately knew this was going to be a special wedding. I knew very little about this forgotten Chapel and they were very sure they wanted to get married there. Almost all brides and grooms that choose Vieques for their weddings want to hold their ceremony by the beach, but not these couple, they chose a historic Chapel; a chapel that has been a symbol of peace for Vieques island.

For a destination weddings event designer at the Caribbean like myself, my biggest stress the day of a wedding is that it might rain. When I opened my eyes that morning I immediately went outside and look to the most blue and beautiful sky I could ever asked for. It was a perfect Caribbean day to celebrate a wedding, I was happy.

If you have a stunning venue, such as the Vieques Ecumenical Chapel, you don’t need much in terms of décor, you just have to take advantage of what nature offers you. A Eucalyptus garland was the main décor item used at the altar. We hung white fabrics from the sides of the Chapel that were blowing and moving all day long because of the wonderful seaside breeze of the area. Some wild horses got closer to the Chapel as if they were guests to the wedding adding a touch of wilderness and nature to the surroundings.

Analiz wanted and selected very simple botanicals. She didn’t want anything too overdone or elaborated. She chose Peonies in coral and pink tones, Lisianthus and Hydrangeas in bottles, mason jars and simple crystal vases.

They enjoyed a wonderful ceremony and a great party at the W Retreat and Spa and an after party in one of Martineau’s private villas. Today they are as happy as the first day I met them for planning.

From The Bride…When Víctor and I decided to get married, I told him that I was going to find my own chapel, a magical place where I could make my dreams come true. I did a little bit of research and we ended up visiting Vieques to see with my own eyes the abandoned Chapel that looked so beautiful and interesting on the internet. The forgotten old Chapel was sitting by the crystal blue ocean in a beautiful field invaded by wild horses, our eyes could not believe it. It automatically became our sacred piece of land. We asked the mayor of the island to donate the repair of the Chapel if the state would let us marry in it, and he approved our proposal. The Capilla Ecuménica has an incredible history. This chapel was used as a safe ground to protest the band of the Navy from Vieques Island, it is a signature of Peace and Love. My now husband is an event producer and I do all hospitality for his events, so coordinating a wedding did not seem like a challenge to us. However, without having Stem Events on our corner, it would not have looked so stunning. The effort, passion and love we put into fixing it reflected into the awaited date. It was a perfect windy afternoon for friends and family. The sun filtered through the missing walls and over 50 wild horses showed up to witness our beloved union. Everyone in our ceremony felt special, they all understood that true love had prevailed, and for a split second I felt that my fairy tale became a reality.

Intimate Saint-Barthelemy Wedding

St. Barths was a big contender for the hubs and I when researching honeymoon spots. Albeit, we chose Anguilla (it’s neighbor), but I’ve still got this beautiful island on my wanderlist—especially after perusing this tropical fete from Erin H. Photography. Complete with a lace-drenched Bride and views like this, you can’t go wrong with a sandy stroll through The Vault.

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From The Bride…We chose St Barths because, for us, there was no other wedding destination option. We took a day trip to the island 2.5 years ago when we were first falling in love and had traveled to St. Martin for the week. The day we spent in St Barths was magical and foreshadowed our deeper commitment; I was wearing a white dress, he picked me a wild flower bouquet, we found ourselves wandering into a small white chapel and separately silently entering into a meditative/contemplative state. Subsequently we came to refer to the day as our symbolic wedding. The island is breathtakingly beautiful but it’s more than that to us.

The most memorable moment was during the ceremony when we were serenaded with Ave Maria. There were so many memorable moments though: Driving away from the church and cruising through town with our “Aprés Mariés” sign on the back of the car. Seeing the exquisitely beautiful reception dinner area lit up by candles and the moonlight as we were taking our first dance. The brief rain shower during reception that wasn’t enough to diminish the beauty of the day, but just to cool us all off before dancing and give us an extra sprinkle of good luck. Dancing after dinner. The brunch at Nikki Beach the day after the wedding and how wild it got, dancing on tables, wedding cake, food. Oh, the food throughout the entire event…

Our wedding planner was Nelly Roussel of Gold’n Guest St Barth and she did an amazing job. Guests stayed at the Manapany Resort and reception dinner was held at the Fellini Restaurant at Manapany. We brunched at Nikki Beach the following day.

If planning a destination wedding you must have a wedding planner who is impeccable, flexible and can see your vision even better than you can. That’s what we had and the result was beyond what we could have even imagined. Finally, have an amazing photographer to document every detail with efficiency and an artistic eye to capture the beauty and magic so you can relive it forever.

From The Groom…My wife said it all! I am a Blessed Soul to call Emily my own, and I, her’s…

Romantic Turks and Caicos Wedding

Turks and Caicos has long been resting atop my bucket list, and this romantic boho meets modern affair is reminding me that it sooo needs to happen… and soon. From the sweet little details woven throughout each moment (read: personalized coconuts + a s’mores bar) to the breathtaking scenery to the adorable, baseball loving duo tying the knot. See it all captured beautifully by Brilliant Studios in THE VAULT.

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From Brilliant Studios… Brittany and Troy combined their individual styles to create their dream wedding at a stylish boutique hotel in the Turks and Caicos. While both the bride and groom have laid-back personalities, as Brittany put it: “I tend to gravitate more toward the Bohemian vibe, whereas Troy is more of a throwback to the midcentury modern days.”

The couple live in Pennsylvania, where they both work for the Philadelphia Phillies (which is also how they met). When they couldn’t agree on a location for their wedding in the States, they compromised with a destination wedding. They looked at locations all over the world before Brittany found a wedding on SMP that took place at the Gansevoort in the Turks and Caicos — a small chain of islands just southeast of the Bahamas. A year and a half later, they were saying “I do” in the same place.

It was extremely important for Brittany to have a hands-on approach to her wedding, so she brought all decorations, gifts and signage purchased from Etsy vendors for the ceremony and reception. All other elements were left to the couple’s wedding planner, Luise Bayley of NILA Destinations.

Details were key to this wedding — from the delicate florals, to the driftwood arch, to the personalized coconuts filled with rum. Brittany wanted the day to be an “airy, carefree affair” — and it turned out to be nothing less. Brittany and Troy exchanged their vows by the sea under their handcrafted arch, with a rainbow for a backdrop. They had an outdoor reception on a moonlit beach, ending the night with a bonfire in the sand and a s’mores bar.

“The memories of dancing barefoot with my new husband, friends and family under the stars on a Caribbean beach by a bonfire is a feeling we all will hold onto for life,” Brittany says.

But there WAS one thing missing: their 2-year-old Golden Retriever, Archie, who Troy and Brittany are rarely without. It was important to the couple that he somehow be a part of their wedding. Annie Lee from From Scratch TCI swooped in with the perfect solution: Cookie favors, with a particular Golden Retriever in mind. One cookie was shaped like Archie, and the other, a little pink heart.

“All of the vendors we worked with were true professionals, but in the end, almost felt more like friends we had made for life,” Brittany says. “This was a dream come true. Literally.”

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Sarah Seven

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Gold Label

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Nouvelle Amsale Bridal Fall 2015

Nouvelle Amsale Bridesmaids Fall 2015

Nouvelle Amsale Bridal Fall 2016

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Top 10 Reasons for a Round Hill Wedding + A Promotion!

Any wedding set against the beautiful backdrop known as Jamaica is tops in our book… and when it comes to choosing the right venue in our fave tropical locale, the always-amazing Round Hill is IT. From the stunning secluded beaches to the beautiful oceanfront villas to the fab customer service, there are sooo many reasons why a Round Hill wedding is a total MUST. Here are our top 10.

1. Romance, Romance, Romance – Your wedding day is all about the romance, and when it comes to adding a little bit of Cupid’s magic to your festivities, Round Hill has you totally covered. Picture love-filled days spent lounging on golden beaches (or paddle boarding in the warm ocean waters), followed by yummy cocktails and candlelit dinners. YES.

2. Outstanding Service – Planning your Big Day? Not always easy. But with the ah-mazing team of wedding experts at Round Hill, you don’t have to worry one bit. Think your very own dedicated wedding planner there to help you every step of the way, guaranteeing a flawless affair that goes off without a hitch.

3. Amazing Getaway – Destination weddings are awesome for sooo many reasons, but topping the list of reasons you should jet off to Round Hill? A dream vaca with all of your family and friends. Think an entire weekend (or week!) spent relaxing in paradise with your loved one… and a whole lot of fabulous memories you can cherish for always.

4. Fabulous Wedding Packages for Everyone – Whether you’re dreaming of a small, intimate affair with your nearest and dearest or a grand 250-person event, Round Hill can accommodate your Big Day plans… no matter the size. From relaxing dinners seaside to four-course meals that are all sorts of elegant.

5. Fun-filled Nightly Entertainment – Days spent lounging on the beach and nights spent soaking in all of the amazing entertainment that Round Hill has to offer? Sounds like a dream vacation to me. From dancing the night away to live Calypso music to relaxing under the stars with romantic jazz as your soundtrack, every night at Round Hill is unique and memorable.

6. Beautiful Venues – Whether your dreaming of saying “I do” on a sprawling lawn overlooking the ocean, on a breathtaking terrace with panoramic views or barefoot on the beach, Round Hill has a plethora of crazy gorgeous settings seriously perfect for you and your Big Day.

7. Stunning Rooms and Villas – Saying “I do” in style is easy at Round Hill… and so is relaxing in their gorgeous accommodations. Think sprawling, 2-6 bedroom villas + Ralph Lauren designed oceanfront rooms that are the definition of island luxury. We love.

8. Luxurious Pampering – And speaking of relaxing… Round Hill’s indulgent spa treatments are just what you and your loved ones will need after each and every one of your fun-filled days. I’m talking some serious pampering, complete with sweeping ocean views. Now that’s awesome, lovelies.

9. Award-Winning Cuisine – Impressing you AND your guests with a custom event menu is something that Round Hill knows a thing or two about. And their on-site organic garden and James Beard award-winning Executive Chef make it all happen in true Jamaican style. Think insanely tasty options utilizing fresh veggies and herbs and infused with cultural style. Yummy.

10. Unforgettable Memories – Each weekend at Round Hill is offered to just one couple, which means your that your special day will be totally exclusive. I’m talking a day completely devoted to your and yours and your breathtaking wedding. Unforgettable memories, indeed.

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Contact Round Hill today to being your journey towards an amazing destination wedding.

Book your Round Hill wedding by April 30, 2016 and receive a 50-minute couples massage at sunset on the spa pier with champagne and a fruit or cheese platter! (Value $300)

Photography: Alan Smith | Photography: Raquel Reis | Photography: Saab Weddings Photography

Peruse more Puerto Rico weddings here!

Romantic Destination Wedding at Secrets Wild Orchid Resort Montego Bay

It’s not everyday you meet the love of your life while on vacation in Jamaica, but for this beautiful duo, it totally happened. So when it came time to choose a locale perfect for saying “I do,” Secrets Wild Orchid Resort Montego Bay was IT. Think breathtaking scenery meets sandy, seaside nuptials meets dancing the night away in the place where their love first began. Tracey Jazmin captured every crazy gorgeous moment and THE VAULT is proving that fairytales really DO exist.

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Mustique Island Tropical Destination Wedding

From Tracey Jazmin… Ben and Steph’s wedding took place at the Secrets Wild Orchid Resort in Montego Bay, Jamaica and was one of the most emotional weddings I’ve ever been to. From love notes, to handwritten vows, to a sweet father daughter first look and some heart wrenching first dances, I assure you that even my waterproof mascara was gone that day.

But tropical Jamaica wasn’t just any place for Ben and Steph; it was where they first met! Both taking a much needed vacation, Ben from Ottawa and Steph from Chicago, their paths crossed and then started their journey to forever so seemingly so Jamaica was the perfect place for them to tie the knot!

The events continued with a hilarious and incredibly welcoming family and group of friends that were sure to make Ben and Steph’s wedding one to remember. Before the evening bonfire, dancing and yoga battles started one of Steph’s best friends, was even challenged by the bartender to a Mai Tai chugging contest.

Opting for a quick day after session the following evening, we spent our last hour of daylight taking advantage of the beautiful grounds and all the resort had to offer until the sun had finally set behind the hills.

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Maggie Sottero

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It’s about this time every year that I desperately dream of a warm weather escape. A place with sand between my toes and ocean views for days, so this Caribbean wedding is kicking my tropical wanderlust into overdrive. Starting with a welcome BBQ for their guests, to the big day itself, followed by a post-wedding boat trip to the Tabago Keys, this is a destination wedding done right. Let’s start this private island adventure via Ana Lui’s photos inside THE VAULT.

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From Ana Lui Photography… Olly, my lovely bride, has her family home on the beautiful island of Mustique. She´s been going there all her life and knows every rock, every bay and all the locals. There is a cute little church made out of bamboo which Olly thought would be gorgeous to get married in! Of course the incredible beaches were great for BBQ parties too. Together with her (now) husband they have decided to fly over their closest friends and family.

When Olly and Duncan emailed me asking if I was available to shoot their wedding week in Mustique I literally had to pinch myself! And after pinching myself I had to Google “Mustique”. It was seriously a dream come true to be flown in to a private island in Caribbean and spend the entire week with super fun, relaxed beautiful people. Surrounded by nature, stunning sea, with our personal house keeper making sure we are fed and watered. We met everyone upon arrival and I knew we would have a great time together!

From the Bride… I spent ages and ages and ages looking at photographer’s websites, getting recommendations from people and researching it until I found Ana Lui. She has an absolutely beautiful style – very soft yet vibrant. I love how Ana Lui captured the day, the pictures seemed almost dream like and she didn’t miss a moment.

The Bride’s Top Tips for Marrying in Mustique:

1. ‘Vincy Black Cake’, which is the local specialty (fruit cake with a LOT of booze) is the best cake for weddings, period.

2. Soft, light and delicate wedding dresses are the best for tropics. I got mine from Amanda Wakeley’s shop in Chelsea, London.

3. Our best idea was to jump in the pool at midnight! Mustique is great for partying till the morning hours!

4. You need to know how to do your hair or fly someone with you, because there aren’t any hairdressers on the island!

5. Keep it local! Mustique and St. Lucia and Grenadines have so much to offer. Rum, music, fresh fish, BBQs and reefs filled with marine life! We organized a pre-wedding BBQ and farewell catamaran trip to Tabago Keys for our guests. It was simply amazing experience.

MORE DESTINATION WEDDINGS THIS WAY!

Sophisticated Harbour Island Wedding

Derona and Anthony planned the perfect wedding, a relaxed beach ceremony on the subtly pink sands of Harbour Island. What they didn’t plan for? A hurricane. Just days before their outdoor wedding, the pair made an executive decision and moved their celebration up by 24 hours. Avoiding the threat of storm clouds, their celebration went off without a hitch. A beautiful seaside ceremony complete with hospitable touches of pineapples, Almond Leaf Studios captured every moment to share in THE VAULT!

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From The Bride…I knew Anthony would love Harbour Island from the moment we hopped off the water taxi on our first visit together. Having moved to London from Nassau Bahamas several years earlier, I was familiar with and very fond of the the tiny, picturesque island. He found it as captivating as I did, and even as we headed back home to London, the notion of one day returning to marry on Pink Sands beach stuck. As fate would have it, we found ourselves making that thought a reality just a couple of years later.

The travel aspect for our guests was always something we were conscious of, but little did we know how significant this factor would become. Just days before the wedding, the threat of hurricane Erika became very real, and we decided to bring the event forward by a day. We were so grateful that so many of our guests, who were visiting from as far as the UK and Vancouver, and as near as Miami and Nassau, were able to make it to the island, despite the uncertainty of how the storm would develop. They were welcomed with goodie bags containing fresh baked goods and other local favours.

We had always visualized a laid back but stylish island wedding. As a nod to the subtle pink hue of the sandy beach that was to be the ceremony location, we used different shades of blush to form the basis of our wedding colour palette. We paired it with brighter reds and a rich plum colour for depth, creating a romantic combination.

Upon reflection, the decision to use pineapples, the symbol for hospitality, as a decorative motif couldn’t have been more relevant. That this part of the Bahamas is known to grow the sweetest pineapples in the world made it even more fitting. Adorning the ceremony arch and nestled in hand crafted floral centerpieces, the pineapples added a touch of whimsy. Together with other local accoutrements – palm leaves, conch shells, and seagrape vines – they brought the decor to life. Even with the last minute change of plans, Ben and and his team were able execute the concept beautifully.

After a relaxed beach ceremony, our guests were treated to conch fritters, snapper ceviche, and sliders during cocktail hour. Speeches followed the reception meal in the intimate space of the main house at Ocean View, and with the arrival of Junkanoo, the dancing kicked off. With the moon shining on the sea and the breeze picking up on the beach, we danced into the night surrounded by our family and friends.

Our wedding day was exactly as we hoped, a wonderful start to married life together.

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Reem Acra

Spring 2015

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Pittsburgh Steelers’ Cornerback Marries His Childhood Sweetheart

What do you get when you combine one seriously stunning bride, her dashing childhood sweetheart (talented NFL-er, Brandon Boykin) and a dream team of vendors in one of the world’s most beautiful locales? A little slice of wedding heaven. Think rustic meets modern details crafted by Tropical DMC, romance-filled blooms from Flowers By EA and a Katie May gown that is ah-mazing. Head to THE VAULT for every stunning moment captured by Kellie Kano. It will take your breath away.

There are wedding films, and then there is this sweet work of art from East West, a little sneak peek into the day that will make you sooo happy. From the beautiful vows (bonus points to the groom for rhyming) to the loving speeches from friends + family to the heart-filling looks of love these two share in every.single.moment of their celebration. This is love, friends…. prepare those happy tears and hit play.

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