Caribbean Weddings

It really doesn’t get better than a Caribbean wedding! The warm breezes, festive music, rum and late night soirees by the beach really can’t be topped. And this next wedding is certainly no exception and judging from the description by the bride, it must have been one heck of a celebration! Robin Roemer Photography snapped up all the pretty and there’s a whole lot more to see right here in the full gallery!

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From the Bride… I got married on April 14th, 2012, and it was the wedding of my dreams. My husband Ryan and I got married in Grand Bahamas Island in the Bahamas at the Pelican Bay Hotel. We chose the Bahamas my family is from the island of Grenada and I always wanted a Caribbean wedding. Because my husband’s family is from Iowa, I wanted an accessible Caribbean island. So we settled on the Bahamas. We hosted 115 guests who came from Iowa, New York and Grenada. We had our ceremony on the beach, and it was absolutely beautiful. Since the hotel was on the bay, a ferry transported our guests to a private beach for the ceremony. There was not a cloud in the sky and it was 75 degrees. Ryan’s brother, Matt, conducted the ceremony and my father, Anthony, sang “Edelweiss” from The Sound of Music with a violinist. He used to sing that song for me growing up, so it was very touching.

After the ceremony, we had cocktail hour at the pool of our hotel. Steel drummers performed, and cocktails featuring liquor from where Ryan and I are from were served — whiskey from Iowa and rum from Grenada. At the reception, we shocked our guests by inviting a Bahamian Junkanoo band to come play. Junkanoo involves festive brass and drum musicians dressed in carnival attire. They ambushed the party and cranked the it way up! My aunt made my wedding cake as well. I was so honored. Our reception went until 2 in the morning!  Almost every one of my guests told us it was one of the best wedding they have ever been to. It was also the best day of my life.

Wedding Photography: Robin Roemer Photography / Ceremony: A Private Beach on Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas / Reception: Pelican Bay Hotel in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas / Event Design: Chic Bahamas Weddings / Event Planning: Marva Monroe of Pelican Bay Hotel / Wedding Dress: Allure Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka

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Color me crazy in love with this couple’s wedding! And then color me yellow because I am 100%, head over heals obsessed with the color yellow after absorbing myself in this beautiful beach wedding at the Majestic Elegance. The yellow bouquets against the whiter-than-white sand and bluer-than-blue ocean pop with color and brightness. Another highlight is the trash the dress session; the emotion, the pure joy and the love are addictive! Check out all the images here, courtesy of Kristin La Voie Photography.

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From Kristin La Voie Photography… This was a BEAUTIFUL destination wedding in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic at Majestic Elegance. Having just met Jean and Jeff via Skype, it was wonderful to finally meet them in person the day before their nuptials to tour the resort. We all had so many ideas together, I was worried we wouldn’t have enough time in the day! Each image looked more and more beautiful. The palm trees, turquoise water, white sand and sunshine didn’t disappoint. We managed to get in all the wedding party and family photos just before it started pouring during our couples photo op. Luckily, we still had the next day for a trash the dress session!

Wedding Photography: Kristin La Voie Photography / Wedding Venue: Majestic Elegance in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic / Canada Wedding Planning + Coordination: Jasprit Kaul of L’Escape Destination Weddings / Punta Cana Wedding Planning + Coordination: Dayra Polanco of Majestic Elegance / Floral Design + Wedding Cake: Majestic Elegance / Cake Topper: DIY by the Bride / DJ: DJ Mannia / Ring Pillow, “Here Comes the Bride” Sign, Yellow Paper Fans, “Happily Ever After Starts Here” Sign, “Mr. Wong” Sign + “Mrs. Always Right” Sign: DIY by the Bride / Flower Girl’s Pomander: astylishdesign / Mr. and Mrs. Sign: ArmyMOMOfTwins / Bride’s “I Love Jeff” Flip Flops: FlipSideFlipFlops / Photo Booth Backdrop: UnaChicasChicProps / Guestbook: Mixbook / Shell Place Card Holders: Staples / Bottle Place Card Holders: Dollarama / Table Number Luminaries: MasonRabbitsPaperie / Menu Holders: BasilicusJones / Wedding Dress: Robert Bullock via Sash and Bustle / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Bride’s Ring: Ann-Louise Jewellers / Bride’s Veil: Ritché Bridal / Bride’s Earrings: BCBG Max Azria / Bride’s Bracelet: Carolee / Bride’s Lace Parasol: lawrence_lv / Bride’s Tiara: Winners / Hair + Makeup: Majestic Elegance / Bridesmaids’ Earrings: Swarovski / Groom’s Suit: Zegna via Harry Rosen / Groom’s Ring: Jem’s Design / Groomsmen’s Pants: Gap / Men’s Shoes: H&M / Men’s Socks: American Apparel / Men’s Shirts: Perry Ellis via The Bay / Father of the Bride’s + Groomsmen’s Boutonnieres: WeddingSundae

Happy Friday, lovelies! Let’s take a break from the smoldering summer heat and escape to the breezy beaches of St. John!  Simple, small and understated, what we’ve got here is an example of destination done right. I’m absolutely loving the bride’s (preowned!) Monique Lhuiller gown as well as her maid’s peachy-numbers by Nicole Miller from Rent the Runway. Rebekah Westover Photography outdid herself capturing this beachside beauty, and there is so much more to soak in right here!

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From the Bride… Our wedding day was even better than we could ever have dreamed. Everything came together beautifully. We wanted our wedding to be simple, relaxed, intimate and about our love for one another. Gray and I always knew we would have a destination wedding. Our first vacation as a couple was spent in St. John. Our love of travel flourished from there, and we are so grateful to have experienced so many places and countries together. We knew St. John would be perfect for our wedding because it held such a special place in our hearts.

I love DIY projects and have a huge passion for photography, so planning a wedding on my own came very naturally to me. Weddings can be expensive, but there are a million ways to save money and still get your must-haves. My wedding dress was my dream dress but not my ideal price. I pre-sold my dress to a fabulous girl who felt the same way, and in the end, we were both married in the dress we loved for a fraction of the cost. I choose my bridesmaids’ dresses from Rent the Runway because you can rent amazing gowns from them for reasonable prices. Why add another bridesmaid dress to your collection that you will never wear again? I was lucky to find a guy who also had an amazing sense of style. Gray choose the full attire for the guys, all the way down to the cute anchor J.Crew socks and the wingtip shoes. When searching many of the beautiful beaches in St. John, my one request was I must have palm trees! When I saw Maho Bay, I knew without a question that this was the place we would say ” I do.” With such a beautiful backdrop, there was no need for any other decor. We had a total of 16 guests, immediate family and our best friends included in our bridal party. Standing hand in hand on the beach, Sharing our love with the people who meant the most to us, we knew we had made the right choice about our destination wedding.

Rebekah Westover, a remarkable photographer from Utah, came to St. John to shoot our wedding. Being the photography blog stalker that I am, I have admired her work for many years. I knew I wouldn’t want anyone but her to capture our special day. Finding someone who is so passionate about their work is a breath of fresh air. I can honestly say she might have been more excited about our wedding than we were, and I think her photographs are proof. Not only do we have photographs we will cherish for a lifetime, we gained a life-long friend as well. Looking back on our wedding day, we light up with smiles, and our hearts are filled with love and memories were made that will last forever — it was truly the best day. If you get a chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Love really is worth it.

Wedding Photography: Rebekah Westover Photography / Ceremony: Maho Bay on St. John, United States Virgin Islands / Reception: Ocean Grill on St. John, United States Virgin Islands / Flowers + Table Decor: DIY / Officiant: Stu Scott / Calligraphy: The Butler’s Pantry / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier via PreOwnedWeddingDresses.com / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bride’s Jewelry: J.Crew / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Nicole Miller via Rent the Runway / Bridesmaids’ Jewelry: Forever 21 / Groom’s Suit: J.Crew / Groomsmen’s Attire: J.Crew

Get ready to be whisked away to the sandy beaches of St. Maarten for a gorgeous destination celebration captured by the super-talented Trent Bailey Photography. Utilizing local vendors and their event planner, Sint Maarten Marry-Me, this bride and groom pulled off a Caribbean wedding planned from hundreds of miles away! The jaw-dropping ocean views at the beachside nuptials were the perfect begining to the couple’s big day and some late-night dancing in the rain completed their dream event! Check out the rest of this beauty right here!

From the Bride… We had a destination wedding in the Caribbean, which I think is completely different from planning a local wedding. Basically, it is a logistical nightmare. As a result, I knew from the start that some things would fall through the cracks, so I wanted to make sure I focused on what I thought were the most important parts of the wedding: make sure all of my closest family and friends had plane tickets and rooms, planning some events outside of the wedding for everybody who made the journey, and getting the right local people on board to help put everything together. The wedding reception was held on the beach of the Royal Palm Resort & Beach Club in St. Maarten. I’ve always wanted a sunset beach wedding, and my husband’s family has been going to St. Maarten for years, so it was an easy decision.

My favorite moment was definitely dancing with all my closest family and friends in the rain as it started pouring towards the end of the reception. It was like something straight out of a movie. To other brides: try to keep everything in perspective. There will definitely be a lot of stress, but don’t let it swallow you up. Your wedding will be the quickest six hours of your life. And make sure you have an amazing photographer to capture it all because you will not remember much of it!

Wedding Photography: Trent + Dara of Trent Bailey Photography / Ceremony: A Private Residence in St. Maarten / Reception: Royal Palm Beach Resort in St. Maarten / Wedding Planning: Sint Maarten Marry Me / Catering: Fabulous Feasts / Entertainment: DJ Nachum / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier / Bride’s Headband + Belt: Kleinfeld Bridal / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Hair + Makeup: Miguel’s Hair Salon / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: twobirds Bridesmaid / Groom’s Attire: Custom / Groom’s Shoes: Keds

“T” is for tantelizing and “C” is for captivating, which is exactly what this Turks and Caicos wedding by The Marin Studio is. Barefoot in Vera Wang…I’m adding this bride to my crush list as well as her picture perfect venue The Coral House which looks cozy, warm and homey! Beware, this full gallery will leave you booking a flight!

From The Marin Studio… Dave and Erin started dating in 2007, which started with a long distance relationship between San Francisco and New York. Two years later, Erin moved to New York to be with Dave and start their life together. They were engaged in 2011 and knew they had to have their intimate wedding in their favorite vacation getaway, Turks and Caicos. They visit for a week there every May, and they always take walks on the beach. Every year they walk by this stunning private house tucked away from all the hotels. It had always caught their interest. After their engagement, they were coincidentally going to Turks the month after. They contacted the Coral House on Grace Bay in Providenciales, met with the villa manager and toured it — and booked it right away. It was the ideal location as the architecture, private beach front location and landscaping were so picturesque that Erin knew she wouldn’t have to do much for decor! They really wanted to have an effortlessly beautiful, simple and casual wedding — surrounded by their friends and family. 

It was the most perfect location for 36 of their closest friends and family. They were married barefoot right before sunset on the beach, which could not have been a more gorgeous location and time. They had rain a few days before, but the rain clouds cleared that day for the most beautiful sunset. Guests sipped on the local rum punch, which was being poured constantly by the amazing staff. Dave’s one request was to have a pig roast BBQ. Luckily the caterer that was recommended to them happened to do pig roasts! They had a local band perform some old classic rock songs mixed in with some local island tunes during cocktail hour, but changed to their own iPod mix for dancing. By the end of the night, people were jumping into the ocean and pool to cool off!

Wedding Photography: Ramin Rahimian of The Marin Studio / Wedding Venue: The Coral House in Turks and Caicos / Wedding Planning: Kim Mortimer / Floral Design: Flowers by Environmental Arts / Catering: The Kissing Fish Catering Company / Wedding Cake: Diane Guess of Cakes to Di For / Paper Goods: Bride & Groom + Mr. Boddington’s Studio / Band: David Bowen / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Hair + Makeup: Shenique Higgins of Sheque Perfection / Groom’s Attire: J.Crew

Try as I might, I could not get past the gorgeous views of this Caribbean soiree. The bride is absolutely stunning, and the groom is handsome as can be, and honestly, it was only fitting for them to say “I do” in such a GORGEOUS locale. With XOANDREA behind the camera we can be certain that this wedding was every bit as fabulous as the gallery lets on!

From XOANDREA … On 11/11/11 Kathi & Joe got married on Jumby Bay, which is a private island near Antigua in the Caribbean. It was such a special day as they invited only dear friends and family to celebrate. Jumby Bay resort is an amazing, luxurious & magical place. The wedding took place on a private beach at sunset. Kathi & Joe are two of the sweetest people we ever met, so the atmosphere, all the details and every minute was beyond perfect. 

Photography: XOANDREA / Flowers: Jumby Bay Resort / Event Design: Jumby Bay Resort / Event Planning: Jumby Bay Resort / Ceremony Location: Private beach at Jumby Bay Resort / Reception Location: Estate House at Jumby Bay Resort / Shoes: Manolo Blahnik

If ever there was an easy, breezy Bahamas wedding, this my friends, is it. It’s the perfect mix of shabby chic and rustic goodness all tied up with some fabulous florals and a super cute shoe check on the beach. If you’re planning a beach wedding, you don’t wanna miss any of these details! Sara & Rocky Photography captured the gorgeous day perfectly and there’s so much more pretty happening right now in the full gallery.

From Sara & Rocky Photography… Suzanne and Zac were wed on May 5 on Harbour Island in the Bahamas. The island is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen with its pink sand and aquamarine water — there are no cars, just golf carts, and you can only get there by boat. Suzanne, Zac, and their families are some of the most wonderful, gracious people we have ever met. There was a rehearsal dinner Friday night, along with the Junkanoo band (as you can see … it’s a Bahamaian tradition!), along with the wedding on Saturday. The wedding was at St. John’s Anglican Church, and the reception was on Pink Sands Beach. Their wedding was on the night of the fullest moon of the year.

Wedding Photography: Sara & Rocky Photography / Ceremony: St. John’s Anglican Church in Harbor Island, Bahamas / Reception: Pink Sands Beach in Harbor Island, Bahamas / Event + Floral Design, Catering + Wedding Cake: Little Island Design / Musicians: The Brilanders / Paper Goods: Stamped Paper Company / Wedding Dress: Lea Ann Belter / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka

This wedding, this couple, this group of vendors – it’s all an absolute dream. I mean, pairing up Alison Events, LLC and Cooper Carras Photography for a wedding in St. Lucia? That’s the recipe for perfection. Every single image is pinch-yourself-pretty, and the gallery is so good you’ll think your dreaming. It’s the perfect way to say goodnight to another fabulous Wedding Wednesday here on SMP, and you can see it all right here.

From Alison Events, LLC… Simmone and Kam were married on St Lucia at Cap Maison in the spring of 2011. Cap Maison is perched atop the cliffs at the north end of the island and has sweeping views of the Caribbean. Simmone and Kam chose this location because they are avid travelers and wanted their wedding to be at a location they both had never visited. They also took into consideration the fact that they both have family from the islands and wanted to get married in the Caribbean for ease of travel for those guests. They chose Cap Maison for its views of the sea, intimate feel and private beach, which is a rare find on St Lucia. Their closest friends and family joined them for a three day celebration and took over the entire hotel. Everyone danced and drank rum punch at the Thursday evening welcome party around the pool. On Friday, guests enjoyed the activities the hotel had to offer and explored downtown Rodney Bay. That evening, everyone was transported to the dock at Marigot Bay where they boarded fishing boats that took them to Rainforest Hideaway for the rehearsal dinner. Local fare was served in the restaurant, which floats on the bay with excellent views of the marina. On Saturday the wedding took place on a grassy knoll overlooking the sea at Cap Estate, which is the hotel owner’s home adjacent to Cap Maison.  Guests then walked back to Cap Maison for cocktails around the pool. They dined in the restaurant and danced to the beats of DJ Jay Wright out of New York. After the cake cutting, all the guests released fire lanterns over the open ocean. A magical end to the evening.  As guests were departing back to their rooms, the groom and groomsmen ended the night with a swim in their suits. 

Wedding Photography: Cooper Carras Photography / Ceremony: Cap Estate at Cap Maison in St. Lucia / Reception: Cap Maison in St. Lucia / Event Design + Planning: Alison Events, LLC / Floral Design: Flower Shack / Wedding Invitations: Olive-Route / DJ: DJ Jay Wright

Simple + sweet is the name of the game for this St. John stunner held at Caneel Bay and shot by Katelyn James Photography. This cute-as-can-be couple was married in front of twelve of their family and friends in a beachside ceremony that celebrated the natural beauty of the island. Lovelies, there is so much more where this came from and you can see it all right here!

From Katelyn James Photography… Clint and Cary are a simple couple. So naturally, they planned a simple wedding. Caneel Bay Resort has been a family vacation destination for over 15 years, so they decided it would be the perfect spot for their tropical wedding. 12 family members gathered on Turtle Bay Point on St. John in the Virgin Islands. As the sun set and sail boats glided past, Clint and Cary promised their love for one another! It was the most beautiful setting — I was in awe! 

Wedding Photography: Katelyn James Photography / Wedding Venue, Floral Design, Wedding Cake + Officiant: Caneel Bay at Turtle Bay Point in St. John, Virgin Islands / Wedding Dress: J.Crew / Bride’s Jewelry: Kate Spade / Hair + Makeup: The Beauty Lounge Salon and Spa / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Banana Republic

First comes Egypt, then comes love, then comes a three day long fun filled wedding in Turks and Caicos by Sandra Åberg Photography. These postcard worthy images taken at the Gansevoort will leave you booking the next flight out to the Carribean they’re so gorgeous, not to mention the couple in them! I’m loving the bridesmaids dresses of bold greens and blues mirroring the ocean and how the Flowers by Environmental Arts provide a casual elegance to the day. Sail over to the full gallery to take in more of the fun.

From Sandra Åberg Photography… It all started in university when this lovely couple met each other — or actually, it started even before that in Egypt, where they both lived at separate times, not knowing they had friends in common in Egypt who, eight years later, would come to their wedding in Turks and Caicos. They both traveled and lived around the world until they ended up at a university in Virginia where they finally met and found out how much they had in common. Eight years later, they now live in New York and have found their home together. In April 2012, they invited all their friends and family from around the world to meet them in Turks and Caicos for a wedding beyond imaginable. A three-day long party on the beach, with scuba diving, sunbathing, dinners and dancing. Unlike other weddings I have seen or been to, it was not stiff or formal even though the location was fancy. Its was a real and honest couple surrounded by great people. and they had so much fun. The wedding was at the Gansevoort, a lovely setting perfect for a destination wedding. Planning a wedding far away from home was not as easy as they thought, but with some trips to the island, some good friends and luck it all came together.

Wedding Photography: Sandra Åberg Photography / Wedding Venue: Gansevoort in Grace Bay Beach, Turks and Caicos / Wedding Planning: The Bride + Dorell of Destination TCI / Floral Design: Natalie of Flowers by Environmental Arts / Wedding Dress: Monique Lhuillier “Arielle”

When dreams of a big city soirée came up over budget, this DC bride went south (literally!) to plan her dream wedding for 50 at the Hummingbird Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica.  Guests came from accross the globe to celebrate with the bride and groom, and the tropical locale gave everyone a chance to relax and enjoy the view. Put on some sunscreen and bask in the gorgeousness by Rebekah J. Murray Photography in the full gallery!

From the Bride… Rob and I met in December 2005 on a cold, snowy evening in Newark, Delaware, at a bar where I was celebrating a friend’s 21st birthday. I was a college senior, and he was a first year grad student. We talked a lot that night, and I ended up giving him a ride home. As he got out of my car, he got my number and thanked me profusely for driving him. “I owe you dinner, or my life!” he said. After that, we were pretty inseparable. He’s from California and I soon moved to DC for grad school, so there were some tough times when it came to tackling the distance. However, meeting a best friend and a soul mate makes any distance worth doing! DC has become our home now, and we got engaged here at the Lincoln Memorial in 2010.

I’d been planning an elaborate DC wedding in my head for ages, but the cost just rendered my dream wedding unfeasible in DC. It made sense to have a destination wedding, as my family is on the East Coast and in England, and Rob’s family is in California — everyone would need to travel somewhere regardless. After doing a lot of research on destination venues, we stumbled upon Hummingbird Hall in Jamaica, and it was our dream come true. Hummingbird Hall made the planning so completely simple, and it made it possible to have my dream wedding in a dream location! I would communicate with them often on design elements that I loved about other weddings, and the team worked with me to create a vision for my day. We also made the decision to bring our amazing photographer with us — no regrets there!

The wedding day was absolutely perfect. We didn’t have a wedding party, as we were only having 50 guests, but we each still had some of our closest friends come with us to get ready. It was such a low-key day; we sat around and laughed, exchanged our gifts, drank champagne, and waited for our ceremony! Rob and I did a first look, which both of our mothers hated, but we really enjoyed having a few calming minutes with each other pre-ceremony. The ceremony was short, informal and sweet, with four readings by close friends (mostly from children’s books!) and our own vows. Guests sat on chairs adorned with ribbon streamers and could pass the time with program fans that had games on the back of them. We had a cocktail hour with a steel drum band, drinks with striped straws (my favorite!), and guests had a chance to sign our guestbook: a vintage map of Jamaica. Our reception featured more ribbons, with ribbon runners on the tables, fresh flower and fruit centerpieces and custom-made ribbon chandeliers on the pool deck. After a traditional Jamaican buffet dinner, there were toasts, lots of dancing, cigar-smoking and even some illicit pool-diving.

I honestly adored my wedding and the planning process. Having a venue that was so hands-on with the planning was fantastic, and they always made me feel like everything would be okay. It gave me the opportunity to concentrate on all the wonderful friends and family who traveled to be with us, which was the best part about having a destination wedding. There is nothing like being surrounded by people who are genuinely happy for you, and who can make your reception a party even in small numbers! Rob and I were so grateful for all of the love and support, and couldn’t have imagined a better start to our life together.

Wedding Photography: Rebekah J. Murray Photography / Wedding Venue: Hummingbird Hall in Montego Bay, Jamaica / Event Coordination, Floral + Event Design, Officiant, Band + DJ: Hummingbird Hall / Wedding Invitations: Wedding Paper Divas / Wedding Dress: Wtoo Brides / Bride’s Jewelry: Nadri / Hair Flower: Bella Mia Design / Bride’s Makeup: Jessie, A Friend of the Bride

Seaside chic perfection. I really have no other words. As a person who swoons over any wedding near the shoreline, this soiree took my breath away. Literally. Breathless because of all the prettiness and breathless because of the gorgeous images captured by Three Nails Photography. So settle in for this one lovelies, because each pretty little picture in the full gallery of images is just be-yond breathtaking.

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From the Bride… Lorcan and I were friends in college. After college, Lorcan moved away to LA, and oddly enough, that’s when we started dating. He came up to Toronto over the holidays, we were all hanging out, and he just asked me out. I thought he was crazy to want to start out as a long-distance relationship, but he was determined. We ended up doing three years of long distance until I finally moved down to LA a year and a half ago. As hard as long distance is, if it’s the right person, you never think twice and it’s totally worth it!  

Given we both live far away, from most of our family and friends we really wanted our wedding to bring together all the people we love and just hang out with them for as long as possible. We had 70 of our closest family and friends come down to Turks and Caicos for a few days before the wedding. We organized a BBQ on the beach and a boat cruise in the days leading up to the wedding, which really brought the group together. By the time of the wedding day, everyone pretty much knew each other and seemed to be having a great time. It seems like the day of the wedding went by so fast. We had a simple, short ceremony outside on the deck of the resort overlooking the ocean, which was followed by a cocktail hour in an outdoor lounge area with fire pits. There, guests could find their escort cards, which had vintage stamps of the places they were all coming from (Canada, New York, San Francisco, Australia, London, etc.). The reception was held on an outside deck area overlooking the ocean, and guests were seated at long tables covered in lace linens, candles and delicate flowers. Lorcan and I made our entrance with a choreographed dance, which was a big hit with everyone! After dinner and speeches, everyone hit up the dance floor and partied until the resort shut us down!

It is difficult to say there was one favorite moment on my wedding day because every time I looked at someone I love, a family member or friend, and saw how genuinely happy they were for me and Lorcan, that was an incredible moment for me.  Lorcan and I shared many personal moments together when we first kissed and every time we looked at each other over the dinner table … but to be able to share that with all the people we love made it really incredible for us.

I know that wedding planning is a lot of work, and sometimes its hard to listen to people when they tell you to enjoy every moment. My advice is this: Do all the planning, hard work and worrying you need to do up until the wedding day. The moment you wake up on your wedding, let it all go. There will always be things that go wrong, and these may seem like nightmares to you now, but on the wedding day, none of it will matter.  You will be remembering this day for the rest of your life and you want to remember yourself smiling and happy, not stressed and upset. What gave me the biggest high on my wedding day wasn’t the decorations or the food, it was seeing the excitement and happiness on all my friends, family and husband. All the people you love most are together with you on that day and they are all happy and excited for you — that is the best feeling in the world, something you may not experience again, and that is what you will remember and value most.

Wedding Photography: Three Nails Photography / Wedding Venue: Grace Bay Resort in Turks and Caicos / Postcards: Lucky Luxe Couture Correspondence / Wedding Invitations: Baumbirdy / Wedding Dress: Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Jimmy Choo / Bride’s Jewelry: Erin Cole / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: J.Crew / Getting Ready Lace Robe: girlwithaseriousdream

What could be better than marrying the love of your life in an ocean-side ceremony with 14 of your nearest and dearest?  Absolutely.nothing. The Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic was the locale for this sweet couple who wanted an intimate wedding in a breathtaking location. Take a peek at this sunny celebration through the lens of Kristin La Voie Photography and check out the full gallery right here!

Click here for the FULL wedding!

From Kristin La Voie Photography… I bring you this amazing destination wedding all the way in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Katie and Brett, with the help from their amazing travel agent Julie of Vacations to Remember, chose the perfect five-star resort at Iberostar Grand Bavaro for their private nuptials. With 14 of their closest family members and friends, they tied the knot right on the beach. Following the beautiful ceremony, we had a wonderful photo tour around the resort enjoyed a fantastic cocktail hour on the beach at sunset.

Wedding Photography: Kristin La Voie Photography / Wedding Venue: Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic / Floral Design, Decor, Catering + Wedding Cake: Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro / Travel Agent: Julie of Vacations To Remember / Wedding Dress: Jenny Yoo / Bride’s Earrings + Bracelet: Victoria Sdoukos Couture / Bride’s Shoes: Cole Haan / Hair + Makeup: Iberostar Grand Hotel Bavaro / Groom’s Suit: Tommy Bahama

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Bridesmaid

Jenny Yoo

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Poring over weddings filled with pretty sea-scapes is one of our favorite past times. It’s a sun + ocean + beautiful backdrop for vows and merry making kind of thing. And one we’ll never ever get sick of. Especially when that merry making is captured in such a beautiful way. In other words, Kjrsten Madsen Photography rocks our Jamaican wedding socks off. Set your sights on the full destination dream right here.

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From the Bride… Choosing a destination for our wedding was one of the most important choices we’ve ever made. We wanted something small, intimate and romantic, in a place that meant something to us and with a handful of loved ones present. We wanted this wedding to be more than a “one day” event — we wanted to really celebrate our love and everyone that loves us. The most important thing to us was looking at our parents and drawing inspirations from their love. When looking at Chris’ parents, we see what love is truly about. And although my father is no longer here, the love that he and my mother had will always live in my heart. We wanted our guests to feel that too, so during our ceremony we had my brother and my mother place the infinity flowers that my parents used during their wedding mass around us (in Hispanic tradition, it’s called a Lazo and signifies the union and bond of a marriage that can’t be broken). This was a surprise for my mother. On our guest book table we placed a picture of Chris’ parents on their wedding day kissing. Lastly, to honor my father and grandmother who are no longer here, we decided to have a poem dedicated to them next to their pictures. These touches were the inspiration for the day which really made it even more special.

For my look the day of, I didn’t want a traditional “destination” wedding dress. Again I wanted something romantic. I love classic and timeless wedding dresses, so I obviously ended up with lace. I have to say that I felt that my dress was PERFECT. I truly had that “moment” when I chose it. I knew it was the one, and the sash that comes with it … I still love it! I wanted to add a pop of color and bring in some glam, so opted for a pair of sea foam Badgley Mischkas. Tying in my look, making me feel romantic and beautiful, was my great friend and hairstylist/makeup artist Joyce Castaneda. She did a fabulous job of making me look natural and giving me a timeless hairstyle that perfectly matched my dress. It was important that Chris look and feel just as great as me. He wore a Hugo Boss suit from the 2011 summer collection. It was perfect with my dress, light in color and weight for our perfect 85-degree day. He also opted for a pair of Silvano Sassetti shoes, which kept his look classic.

And we can’t forget about our fabulous photographer, Kjrsten Madsen! Definitely one of the best choices we made was having her be part our special day. She captured the most beautiful moments, not only on our wedding day but also during our before and after celebrations. Our favorite moment with her was during our first look shoot that was located in the same spot that Chris proposed to me. Ultimately having our families and closest friends there was the one thing we wished for and received. Now we will forever have Jamaica in our hearts, not just for one day, but several days filled with love, food, drink, sunbathing, laughing and just celebrating with the people we love.

Wedding Photography: Kjrsten Madsen Photography / Wedding Venue, Planning, Cupcakes + Floral Design: Secrets Wild Orchid Montego Bay in Montego Bay, Jamaica / Wedding Invitations + Printed Materials: Sugar Press / Wedding Dress: Enzoani / Bride’s Jewelry: Nadri / Bride’s Shoes: Badgley Mischka / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Thread / Hair + Makeup: Joyce Castaneda / Groom’s Suit: Hugo Boss / Groom’s Shoes: Silvano Sassetti / Groomsmen’s Suits: Michael Kors

The minute I laid eyes on this next wedding, I was done. Absolutely, completely, madly in love done. And although pretty seaside celebrations tend to always have a hint of the beautiful, I have to say, I’m not sure I’ve ever seen one quite as lovely. The laidback but beautiful bride, the delicate but stunning approach to styling. And the twinkle lights. Set high above the pretty table. Oye. It’s beauty defined captured to absolutely perfection by Style Art Life. Click here to see even more.

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From Twah of Style Art Life… When Jen and Pete initially planned their wedding, they envisioned an intimate affair in a secluded location with their closest family and friends, numbering a total of 15. Jen, an exec at Victoria Secret, had at her disposal all the locations of the best beaches that have ever been photographed for the lingerie catalog. Harbour Island, a quaint, colonial three-mile-long island nestled in the Bahamas, was the one place that her heart kept going back to. Harbour Island is best described as a transplanted Nantucket with the most unforgettable white sand beaches. It’s a place where golf carts are the means of transportation and where time stands still.

As for the event design and coordination, Jen hired the talented team of Little Island Design to conjure up a concept of French provincial simplicity infused with a kick of panache brought by way of tropical seaside. At the entrance of the reception site (created by rows of lanterns) sat a “shoe check” stand for guests to take their shoes off, implying the kind of atmosphere Jen and Pete wanted to have for the evening — one of relaxed fun. Little Island Designs customized everything to the vision of the bride, from building a rustic wood plank bar to staining the dinner table to a sea-washed gray as the bride had envisioned. The tones of the burlap pillows that decorated the lounge chairs echoed the jute linen napkins on the table wrapped with twine. This wedding was filled with custom details, such as beautiful white-washed metal lanterns juxtaposed with wooden lanterns, rustic scroll etched table chargers, Edison bulbs and even a custom-built tented water closet right on the beach.

Because of the island’s beauty, Jen did not want the celebration to be encased under a tent. Ben, the owner of Little Island Designs, came up with a uncovered framed concept that still allowed for a French-style chandelier to hang overhead, creating the illusion of a tent yet still exposed to the beautiful sea around them. Conch is Harbour Island’s claim to fame, not only for their abundance but as a delicacy. It was only natural to use conch shells as the border to create the aisle for the bride and groom. The signing of the marriage papers were done on a country white wood table. Pashmina shawls were provided in baskets for guests to stay warm with as the evening temperatures dropped. The wedding date was also planned around the fullness of the moon. Jen has always been obsessed with the beautiful moonlit sky, which cast a magical ambiance over the latter part of the celebration. The evening ended with a big bonfire, where guests danced the night away under the moonlit sky.

Wedding Photography: Style Art Life / Wedding Venue: Pink Sands Beach in Harbour Island, Bahamas / Event Design: Ben of Little Island Design / Floral Design, Cakes, Furnishings + Details: Little Island Design / Musicians: Rocky and Ersly via Pink Sands Resort / Accommodations: Pink Sands Resort / Wedding Dress: Jim Hjelm / Bride’s Shoes + Clutch Purse: Jimmy Choo / Jewelry + Accessories: Cartier

Being whisked away to a far away place with your main squeeze post wedding could be the dreamiest dreams of all. It’s taken to another level when Vanessa Velez Photography just happens to be along for the ride to capture all those sweet newlywed moments, and the new Mrs. is rocking a short little Vera Wang stunner…we have all officially entered dreamland, and you can see it all here!

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From Vanessa of Vanessa Velez Photography… This beautiful couple decided to have their photos done on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico after a friend suggested the location because of its history and gorgeous spots. So they booked a plane, a hotel and a photographer, and off they went to the enchanted colonial island. Surrounded by its beautiful waters and stunning architecture, they made their love official through their first set of wedding photos as a couple. Their session took place at the San Cristobal Fort and then through the streets of Old San Juan.

Photography: Vanessa Velez Photography / Venue: Fort San Cristobal in San Juan, Puerto Rico + The Streets of Old San Juan / Wedding Dress: White by Vera Wang / Bride’s Shoes: Steve Madden / Groom’s Tuxedo: Hugo Boss

Imagine getting married in a place where the likes of Grace Kelly and Jacqueline Kennedy escaped to get away…seem like a dream? Well after drooling over this Round Hill Hotel wedding by Raquel Reis, I can confirm that a wedding in such a place definitely looks like a dream. The entire affair has that effortless glamour those starlets were known for – and the bride and groom? Well they are equally as stunning as the gorgeous Jamaican surroundings. They filled their big day with the most darling details making their intimate beach wedding the perfect mix of casual and elegant, which makes it worthy of any starlet – or even better this couple’s nearest and dearest. See it all here!

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From the bride… When it came to planning I knew right away I wanted to have it at the Round Hill hotel. The hotel, a former pineapple plantation had the exact style I wanted. It was a glamorous but carefree, a place that housed icons like Babe Paley (my favorite is the Slim Aarons photograph of her in her villa!), Grace Kelly, Noel Crawford and Jackie Kennedy. It was small enough that you can see everyone and large enough that all my guests could stay there. Growing up, my family loved the 1950’s — loved Frank Sinatra and the casual elegance that surrounded that time, so when I saw the place, I fell in love. We actually stayed in villa 25 where is where JFK practiced his now-famous inaugural speech.

We tried to include as much of our family in our ceremony. I wore my grandmother’s vintage diamond chandelier earrings and was married in my other grandmother’s wedding band. Our kiddish cup was used in David’s brother’s wedding, we had two tallis’ on the table under the chuppah. One was David’s and one was my grandfather’s whose name was also David. It was to symbolize the old and the new. The ceremony was located on the other side of the Infinity Pool on a cliff overlooking the ocean. There was a candle lit passage way spanning the entire hotel that led to the reception! My mom and I had a stamp created with myself and David’s monogram that Neither Snow made. All three of us stamped each muslin bag with it, and then we restrung the bags with linen and white butchers’ twine. Instead of favors, we wanted to incorporate our dog Frankie — who is the love of our lives — so we donated money in everyone’s honor to an animal charity and wrote it on the menu! My mom hand made all the happy tears hankies – she had a stamp made on etsy that said “B+D” like david’s cufflinks and hand-stamped each of them.

The most special moment was at the rehearsal dinner when all the guests lit Khom Loy lanterns. Khom Loy lanterns are meant to bring good fortune and also represented where we would be going on our honeymoon… Thailand!

Wedding Photography: Raquel Reis / Venue + Catering: Round Hill Hotel & Villas in Montego Bay, Jamaica / Calligraphy + Monogrammed Stamp: Mara Zepeda of Neither Snow / Save the Dates: iomoi / Postcards + Postage Stamps: Designed by Bride and Her Mother on Zazzle / Vintage Stamps: Precious Owl / Flowers: Paulette of Tai Flora / Wedding Gown: J. Mendel / Butcher’s Twine: The Twinery / Bridesmaids’ Dresses: Dolce & Gabbana via Net-a-Porter / Shoes: Custom Christian Louboutin / Groom’s Outfit: Ralph Lauren / Groom’s Cufflinks: Jeneri Jewelry / Wedding Stationery: Anita Katz Forster Design (Owned by bride’s mother, artfulwall@aol.com)

Sometimes all you need for the perfect wedding is a gorgeous view, a pretty white dress and some killer heels. Oh, and the talents of Buffy Dekmar Photography to capture all these elements just so. If the thought of a huge wedding stresses you out, just do as this adorable couple did and tie the knot on the beach at sunset with your closest friends and family, and we guarantee you’ll be one happy bride. Click here for even more gorgeousness.

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Take a moment to check out this amazing super 8mm film by Dekmar Films!
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From Buffy of Buffy Dekmar Photography… We love destination weddings! Cathy and Corey decided to have a small, intimate beach ceremony for their November wedding… and St. John, USVI, was the perfect spot! The ceremony was held on Cinnamon Bay just before sunset. The blue-green caribbean surf was a natural background that didn’t require much man-made enhancement. Cathy’s wine-colored shoes brought out the subtle purples in her beautiful bouquet of white lilies, and her lovely Casablanca gown added the perfect touch of elegance to the affair! The wedding was sweet and simple, with just enough personal touches for an intimate destination wedding. Dinner and drinks followed, and an amazing cake from Katilady Catering topped off the evening. It was a beautiful day!

Photography: Buffy Dekmar Photography / Cinematography: Dekmar Films / Bride’s Dress: Casablanca / Bride’s Shoes: Mootsies Tootsies / Groom’s Suit: JoS. A. Bank / Location: Cinnamon Bay, St. John, United States Virgin Islands / Minister: Robert Nelson / Flowers: Gayle of Bou-Quet / Cake: Kati Lady Catering / Dinner: Asolare

If your Monday morning is feeling a bit dull, this beauty of a wedding in the Bahamas by Stop Motion Productions will be sure to brighten it up a bit. A beautiful blending of cultures and styles with fabulous pops of coral and turquoise, the DIY bride made sure every details was covered. And how fun is their Moroccan style low table reception? It’s all sure to brighten up your morning, and you can head on over to the full gallery of images for even more!

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From the Bride…Scott and I got married in the balmy Bahamas on June 25th and I’d like to share with you some of the snapshots of our special day. Having grown up in completely different parts of the world, we had a hard time picking a place for the wedding. Should it be in Pittsburgh where he is from, or Singapore where I grew up? We ended up picking the island of Nassau because if there’s one thing we had in common, it was that our families and friends loved to have a good time.

We had a Hindu ceremony on the beach with the color scheme of turquoise, cream and silver. Being a DIY Bride, as well as a bit of a control freak, I spent many hours on the little touches. I used blue wine bottle labels to adorn the cover page of our ceremony programs. I then scanned those in and use the graphic to make smaller tags on a number of things including the buri fans we handed out to our guests. I had help from the hotel (Sheraton Nassau) and my family to make the garlands, and the traditional cloth that was used to adorn my walk down the aisle with my brothers. Overall, it was a small traditional wedding but it was just the way we imagined it to be – with smiles all around.

For the reception, our color scheme was coral and cream with gold accents. This color scheme played out in our selection of bridal party garments as well as decor. As you will see, we went with a Moroccan style low table setting, but played out the same colors. I made butterfly place cards (on the glasses) – I had seen them on Etsy but did not have any budget left to order them so I made them on my own. We had our cake topper made by mudcards on Etsy, and she did a terrific job bringing our hobbies to life through them – Scott is a musician outside of his job, and I am a photography nut in my spare time.

Wedding Photography: Dominic + Ronnie of Stop Motion Productions / Location: Sheraton Nassau / Event Design: Wildflowers / Cake Topper: Mudcards / Wedding Planner: Weddings Romantique / Priest: Vimal Rawal

Planning a destination wedding in the Caribbean is always a sure fire way to throw an amazing soiree… especially when those plans include a private island off the coast of Aruba, gorgeous stylings and paper goods from the uber-talented bride, one very stunning gown and some beyond breathtaking images from Alexandra Meseke Photography.  And when you add a guaranteed to melt your heart love story to the mix (High school sweethearts, anyone?), it’s almost too good to be true.  Yes, these intimate nuptials are as perfect as perfect can be and there’s even more in the full gallery!

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From the Bride… Brian and I had our first date my freshman (his sophomore) year of high school and spent the next decade not really knowing what we wanted. When we managed to get our lives in order, we realized we could have everything together. It’s because of this that we’ve essentially always treated each other like best friends. When faced with planning the wedding, an overtly over-the-top romantic event, I felt really overwhelmed with the expectations. We decided as a result of this and a myriad of other reasons, to have an intimate destination wedding. Once we discovered that via the Renaissance Aruba Resort a private island could be rented for events, we were all set. From there, we just tried to fill our wedding with things we both love.

My sister and I have a small paper goods business, Ralph’s Grocery, so we took on the task of designing + creating all of the paper paraphernalia for the wedding, as well doing the overall event design. The earliest step of the process, our save the dates, basically set the tone for the weekend in Aruba. We decided it would be simple, with an M+B logo, letterpressed, and subtly nautical. We carried this theme through to all of the weekend information, welcome bags (which we screen-printed on my dining table) and to the Friday night welcome party itself. For the wedding invites, I chose a classic ivory + gold color palette, which was then infused into the wedding. For the reception, we really wanted the natural beauty to be played up, so we went with an intense amount of candles in gold mercury glass + lots of tiki torches. The saintly wedding planner on site, Juney Jones, advised that the trees are permanently wrapped in twinkle lights in order to provide lighting to the dinner + dance floor, which worked perfectly with our planned decor. In retrospect, I know the details pulled the event together: the individually wrapped metallic favor boxes at every place setting, the 120 glass votives, the glitter monogram chair hangers, the handmade program booklets. It was definitely added stress however, knowing we somehow needed to transport these items. We made it work in the end by distributing items amongst friends and carrying seven suitcases ourselves.

In addition to the visual details, Brian and I had a long list of things that were important to us. For our welcome party, held Friday night after our civil ceremony + rehearsal, we tried to incorporate things that couldn’t be included the next day. I wore green (an Italian tradition), Brian crafted an expert playlist of our favorite old songs and we had amazing speeches by my father, B’s best man Matt, his Uncle Mark + even his childhood pal, Teddy. On Saturday while we were getting ready, I had some surprises planned for Brian. I had procured a hanger from the incredible PR team at the Ace Hotel New York where Brian proposed. His suit was set on this, so he was faced with the words, “You look good in that” the morning of the wedding. I also handmade his card to fold out into a giant poster of my affection, a surprise that Alexandra assured me caused some happy tears.

For the ceremony we wanted it as personal as possible, while staying relatively lighthearted to feel like “us.” Brian’s ultra talented twin brothers recorded our music at home on the piano + viola. While guests arrived, they were able to listen to the boys’ rendition of other family members’ past wedding songs. They also performed the song that my parents walked me down to: Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.  We also had Uncle Mark read the lyrics to Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” and my cousin Jaclyn perform the Cole Porter song “True Love”.  With my bouquet I carried items from both my grandmothers, a white handkerchief + blue rosary beads, as well as Brian’s great grandmother’s wedding ring.  After we were announced man + wife, Queen’s “You’re My Best Friend” played.

As music was clearly a priority, we had a steel drum player at cocktail hour + opened our reception to “It Takes Two” by Rob Base. One of the highlights of the night had to be lining up to walk in behind Brian’s groomsman Phil and my bridesmaid Nicole, as the two of them accompanied us on that first date twelve years ago. The food at the Renaissance was fantastic, and we heard rave reviews from everyone, but honestly when I think of the night, all I can think of is the fifty or so closest people in our lives, out on the dance floor for hours. I know that was the part Brian enjoyed as well, looking around seeing the smiles on our guests’ faces, smoking Aruban cigars and dancing in the middle of a sandy beach. We had such a magical time, I was even able to make light of some of the (predicted) mishaps, most notably our melting rock candy cake! All in all, the craziness of making + packing everything, the complications of planning a wedding from another country, it all felt minor in exchange for what we got: married!

Wedding Photography: Alexandra Meseke Photography / Wedding Venue: Renaissance Aruba Resort / Event Coordinator: Juney Jones / Event Design + Stationery: Ralph’s Grocery by The Ripo Sisters / Civil Ceremony Dress + Accessories: Cynthia Vincent + Coach (clutch) + Seychelles (shoes) / Welcome Party Dress + Accessories: J.Crew + Charriol + Hermés (bracelets) + Roberta Chiarella (earrings) / Wedding Dress: Pronovias / Wedding Shoes: Gucci / Earrings: Swarovski / Bracelets: Charriol / Ring: Tiffany & Co. / Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss / Bridesmaid Dresses: BCBG / Officiant: Reverend Geoffrey Banfield / DJ: Tino Daal of Cyclone Promotion / Cigar Rollers: Aruhiba Cigars / Rum: Rum Palmera / Cake Toppers: Jonathan Adler / Cake Forks: BHLDN