i do i do

46 destination weddings & honeymoons november/december 2010 47

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p h o t o g r a p h y b y K e n n y K i m p h o t o g r a p h y

Peggy Hwang weds Nathaniel Lao on April 10, 2010palm beach, aruba

or Peggy and Nate, a wedding in their hometown of Boston just would not do. “We’ve both been to so many weddings in the Boston area, and we wanted ours to be different,” says the bride. So after getting engaged on the one-year anniver-

sary of their introduction by mutual friends, the couple went about methodically choosing their wedding locale. Their pick: Aruba, a direct flight from Beantown and somewhere they’d never been — either on vacation or for a wedding.

Nine months later, 79 guests arrived on the island, where diversions included ATV riding, banana-boating, shopping and exploring Aruban attractions like the Bushiribana Ruins and the Natural Bridge. The Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa served as home base, and a welcome dinner for the entire group took place at Gianni’s Ristorante Italiano.

Eugene Lee, Nate’s longtime friend and the couple’s pas-tor, officiated the next day’s beach ceremony, which the bride and groom thoughtfully infused with spiritual meaning. “Our faith is a significant part of our lives,” explains Peggy. “We sang worship songs and had two close friends read a passage of Scripture.”

A sunset cocktail hour immediately followed on the sand; guests enjoyed conch fritters, chicken skewers and other

nibbles, plus drinks like piña coladas and daiquiris. Then the party moved to the resort’s poolside deck for a dinner buffet of local specialties, such as Aruban ceviche, johnnycakes, Caribbean snapper and fried sweet plantains. The couple also served a four-tier cupcake tree in lieu of a wedding cake, plus flan and tropical fruit salad.

A DJ got everyone to their feet, while Nate’s groomsmen succeeded in getting the groom off his — depantsing him and throwing him into the pool. “This apparently gave several guests the green light to join him for a dip,” laughs the bride, “a nice break from the humid night!”

A day-after shoot took advantage of unique backdrops like the California Lighthouse, the Alto Vista Chapel and an iconic divi-divi tree on Baby Beach. That afternoon, the couple hosted a snorkel tour for their guests.

But nothing tops Peggy’s cherished memory of the recep-tion’s finale. “For our last song, the DJ invited our guests to join in one gigantic circle dance, with Nate and me in the middle — me in my wedding dress, my new husband in his dripping shirt with a towel wrapped around his boxers,” she remembers. “Perhaps not what we had envisioned for the end of our wedding, but we never felt more loved, and we wouldn’t trade it for anything!” — Erika Hueneke

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Bride’s Dress: David’s Bridal

Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss

Hair & Makeup: Jennifer Croes-Veeris

Cake: Radisson Aruba Resort

Flowers: Elsa’s Flowers & Arts

Music: DJ Tino Daal

Planner: Lisa Dammerman of Radisson Aruba Resort

the details

1. In lieu of a guest book, everyone signed an engagement photo. 2. Bridal-shower thank-you gifts included luggage tags and a map of Aruba. 3. Flan was one of the desserts. 4. Bridesmaids wore gowns by Alfred Sung and carried bouquets of ivory lilies and orchids, plus dark-pink highlights. 5. The couple did a sand ceremony during the service. 6. The wedding site on Palm Beach.

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p h o t o g r a p h y b y C a t h e r i n e h a l l S t u d i o S

Ci Ci Woodward weds Bob Lord on April 4, 2009lake tahoe, california

wo-and-a-half years after meeting through mutu-al friends, Los Angeles natives Bob and Ci Ci got engaged at Turtle Bay Resort in Hawaii. But they went the opposite direction for their wedding. “I suggested we get married at a ski resort and then

ski away,” says the bride. “This way, we’d get engaged at the beach and be married in the snow.”

The pair selected California’s Squaw Valley as the locale. “It was the only ski resort we could find that could accom-modate our 160 guests — half skiers and half non-skiers — on the top of the mountain,” Ci Ci explains.

They timed the wedding for the end of ski season to ensure that nobody would get snowed in coming or going. Several days before the wedding, everyone convened by Lake Tahoe. While the pair’s skier and snowboarder friends enjoyed the slopes, the non-skiers ice-skated, went sledding, soaked in the heated pool and hit the spa. The rehearsal dinner, com-plete with a live band and Seghesio wine, was held at the Auld Dubliner pub, which the couple rented out.

On the morning of the wedding, guests rode a cable car to the outdoor deck at High Camp, 8,200 feet up. Ci Ci (in Ugg boots) and Bob (in dress pants custom-made to fit over ski boots) entered together, and local pastor Dan Holzer — who

asked to be compensated with a partial payment and a lift ticket — officiated the ceremony. At the conclusion of the service, Holzer quoted Dr. Seuss’ Oh, The Places You’ll Go! (“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So ... get on your way!”) — the couple’s cue to strap on their skis and sail down the mountain to the James Bond theme song.

Guests had the afternoon free while the newlyweds went on a photo-shoot adventure. “Our photographer was a for-mer U.S. Ski Team photographer, and she skied backward, forward and sideways to take photos of us together,” remem-bers Ci Ci. “We were extremely lucky to find her.”

The après-ski cocktail hour was held poolside at the PlumpJack Squaw Valley Inn. Guitarist Darin Talbot (“Ta-hoe’s John Denver”) played singalongs while the sun set. Then the group moved indoors to feast on fillet of beef or whitefish with roasted red potatoes and seasonal veggies.

A large projector screen showed Warren Miller ski movies while live band Notorious got things rocking, and the after-party continued in the couple’s Presidential suite. “Guests have told us over and over how magical it was, from the beau-ty of Lake Tahoe to just being in a ski-village atmosphere,” says the groom. “It even snowed Thursday night. We couldn’t have asked for anything more.” — EH

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Bride’s Dress: L’ezu Atelier

Groom’s Attire: Ash Tailor

Hair: Elyssa Lee of Tahoe Hair; Makeup: Jennifer Ergut of Kiss & Makeup

Cake: Johanna Curtis of PlumpJack Inn

Flowers: Bellissima Floral Creations

Music: Darin Talbot, Notorious

Planner: Liz Dugan of PlumpJack Inn

the details

1. The bride designed the snow-themed escort cards using Paper Source supplies. 2. Veuve Clicquot after the ceremony. 3. Favors were snowflake-shaped wine stoppers. 4. Post-vows, the couple hit the ski lift in their wedding attire. 5. Everyone was encouraged to “dress for the weather” with coats, hats and gloves. 6. In lieu of a cake, guests enjoyed an array of cupcakes.

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i do, i do

p h o t o g r a p h y b y a l i S o n & g e o f f C o n K l i n

Sandy Davis weds Bill Chisholm on November 21, 2009key west, florida

ew Yorkers Sandy and Bill met and got engaged in the same Manhattan dive bar, then booked a wedding venue in Sandy’s hometown, near Allentown, Pennsylvania. But over dinner one night, their plans took

an unexpected turn. “We spontaneously decided to book a flight to Key West

to check it out as an option!” says Sandy. “My parents first took me there for my 21st birthday, and I fell in love with the town. When I brought Bill, he loved its laid-back vibe too.”

After their return visit, the couple knew exactly what they had to do: ditch their original plan and move the wed-ding to Key West. They bought out the Lighthouse Court inn for their 125 guests, who launched the celebration with a crazy-hats-and-glasses pub-crawl through the town streets. (Even Sandy’s 90-year-old grandma got in on the fun!)

The following day, a group of 20 went sport fishing; the fresh catch, mahi and tuna, was then cleaned and served at the alfresco rehearsal dinner, catered by Small Chef at Large at the Oldest House Museum. Other activities included snor-keling and riding Jet Skis and scooters.

For the big day, the pair chose Fort Zachary Taylor Beach. Sandy’s aunt, Pamela Johnson, officiated the personalized

ceremony, which included surprise readings by close friends and time for guests to offer wedding blessings on shells.

Steel-drum player Courtney Henry performed during cocktail hour at the Southernmost House, where guests noshed on bacon-wrapped scallops and chicken empana-das washed down with Key lime martinis. The party, held poolside, continued with a dinner of mahimahi and grilled chicken, followed by wedding cupcakes. DJ Mike Berrios supplied the tunes for a night of dancing, kicked off with a surprise choreographed routine by the bride and groom.

“We began with a slow dance to Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good,’” says Sandy. “The record scratched, we looked con-fused — then we grabbed sparkly gloves and broke into a Mi-chael Jackson dance to ‘Billie Jean.’ My husband is notorious for dancing like Michael Jackson, so the crowd went wild!”

After the reception, the revelry continued downtown at Rick’s bar. More post-wedding fun included a day-after photo shoot for the couple, plus a sunset sail for the group.

“Our guests enjoyed Key West as much as we did,” gushes the bride. “It’s open-minded and relaxed — lots of boats, booze, sun and Jimmy Buffett music. Scrapping the whole Pennsylvania thing and moving it to Key West was one of the best decisions we have ever made!” — EH

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Bride’s Dress: Alita Graham for Kleinfeld

Groom’s Attire: Calvin Klein

Hair: Jodi Lehman; Makeup: Tina Adkins of Spoil Me Rotten

Cake: Key West Cakes

Flowers: Mama Flowers

Music: Courtney Henry, MB Entertainment

Planner: None

the details

1. Bill’s cuff links showcased his favorite football teams. 2. They surprised guests with a choreographed dance to “Billie Jean.” 3. The reception, held poolside at the Southernmost House. 4. The bouquet locket held a photo of the bride’s late brother. 5. Sandy found her Rampage shoes on piperlime.com. 6. Tables were marked with engagement pics taken in New York City.

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p h o t o g r a p h y b y a l l i S o n & b r i a n C a l l a w ay

Lindsay Barron weds Russ Stewart on June 13, 2010martha’s vineyard, mass.

artha’s Vineyard has long been a favor-ite escape for New Yorkers Lindsay and Russ. Lindsay had vacationed there as a child, she and Russ had visited numer-ous times in their five years of dating,

and it’s also where Russ proposed. So it only made sense to choose the Massachusetts island as their wedding locale as well. The venue: Allen Sheep Farm, in Chilmark. “It’s the most beautiful place on Martha’s Vineyard,” says Lindsay. “It has a running sheep farm with rental houses and cabins and an amazing view of the ocean.” That Thursday, 155 guests began arriving from as far away as California and Israel. As no one hotel was large enough to hold them all, guests checked into a variety of accommodations, including the farm itself and a few small hotels in nearby Edgartown and Vineyard Haven. They kept the first night intimate, with just 30 close friends and family enjoying a welcome barbecue in the farm’s main house. The big-time fun started on day two, when the majority of the guests walked to the rehearsal dinner at Atria, in Edgartown, for an outdoor cocktail hour followed by a sit-down dinner of New England-inspired cuisine, including fresh halibut and chicken.

Most weddings are held on Saturday, but for this party, that day was all about enjoying the island, from golfing to relaxing at the beach. The carefree vibe continued that eve-ning at a cocktail party, which took place on the beach in the small village of Menemsha, where the couple got engaged. The ceremony itself was held late Sunday afternoon on the south side of the farm, overlooking Lucy Vincent Beach. The bride was elegant in a Melissa Sweet dress; her girls wore Priscilla of Boston gowns in blue. As a special gift to the groomsmen, Russ ordered custom-made ties from Japan to match the bridesmaids’ dresses. The couple then wed in a traditional Jewish ceremony under a chuppah handmade by Lindsay’s aunt. At cocktail hour, just steps from the ceremony, guests sipped bellinis and mojitos while testing out hors d’oeuvres, from ahi tuna to a mini-burger station (with beef, turkey and veggie burgers). Next, they strolled over to a lighted reception tent for dinner. A six-person band from Jerry Bennett Enter-tainment provided the music, playing tunes from Elton John to Jay-Z. And while the wedding cake was a hit, the dessert bar — with chocolate-chip cookies, chocolate-covered sunflower seeds and candy handmade by various family members — gave an extra-sweet ending to the day. — Tara Bradley

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Bride’s Dress: Melissa Sweet

Groom’s Attire: Jos. A. Bank

Hair: Pure Touch Salon; Makeup: Makeup Artistry by Patrice

Cake: Cakes by Liz

Flowers: Island Ambiance

Music: Jerry Bennett Entertainment

Planner: Patrie Grace of With Grace

the details

1. The signing of the ketubah. 2. Dinner — catered by V. Jaime Hamlin and Sons — included grilled tenderloin or swordfish. 3. The centerpieces were a mix of peonies and roses. 4. A photo op in front of the main farmhouse. 5. The reception tent had sofas, a dance floor and views of Lucy Vincent Beach. 6. The woolly residents of Allen Sheep Farm.

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i do, i do

p h o t o g r a p h y b y C h o C o S t u d i o

Madeleine Nguyen weds John Nguyen on January 26, 2010los cabos, mexicohen Madeleine went in to train for her new job at a mortgage company, she had no idea she would also meet her future husband — the man who was leading the two-week training.

“John and I had so much in common, it was unreal,” she says. “We just clicked.” And even though she was living in San Francisco and he was in Seattle, they saw each other every few weeks. Four years later, he had moved to San Francisco and they were engaged. The couple knew they wanted a beach wedding, and with guests coming in from all across the West, it also had to be in an accessible locale. After considering various destinations, Los Cabos won out — it had reasonable airfare and an abun-dance of activities for guests. Bonus: The Westin Resort & Spa offered a great rate and enough room for all of their guests to stay in one place. The five-day fiesta began on Wednesday, when the major-ity of the 60 guests arrived. That night, the couple invited the gang to one of their favorite restaurants, Mi Casa, for a seafood welcome dinner. Thursday was completely informal. Guests took advantage of the pool and beach before a group happy hour at the Westin, after which some jumped into cabs for a

night of barhopping downtown. Friday’s itinerary featured a catamaran trip with swimming, snorkeling, cocktails and burgers, followed by a lobster dinner at Cabo Wabo Cantina. The pair had legally married earlier at San Francisco’s city hall, so this time was all about fun. The pre-sunset ceremony was held on the property’s beach. Clad in an A-line Blue by Enzoani gown, the bride walked herself down the aisle, pre-ceded by her bridesmaids in fuchsia dresses from Zara (with the exception of her bridesman, who matched the groomsmen in khakis, but with a pink tie). After a 15-minute ceremony of-ficiated by a friend of the couple, the gang gathered for a group photo. Then, as guests sipped margaritas on the sand, John changed into a traditional Vietnamese ao dai while his bride switched it up with a Cinderella-style Casablanca gown. For the reception — held at the hotel’s La Playa restaurant, just up the stairs from the beach — an all-white wedding cake followed a seafood menu. DJ Mijares headed up the dancing, while in the background, a slide show flashed photos from the catamaran trip. Then, to the shock of their guests, the couple jumped into the pool — followed shortly by the rest of the party. (Thankfully, Just Add Rosie Productions was on hand to capture it all on video.) Come late night, everyone dried off at a beachfront bonfire. — TB

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Bride’s Dresses: Blue by Enzoani, Casablanca

Groom’s Attire: Tuxedo Fashions

Hair & Makeup: Kimberly Taylor

Cake: The Westin Resort & Spa, Los Cabos

Flowers: Florenta Flower Design

Music: Alonso Aguirre, DJ Mijares

Planner: Tejel Patel of Ambiance by Tejel, Juan Colmenero of the Westin

the details

1. The cascade bouquet had La Mancha and white oriental lilies. 2. The ring bearer and flower girl paved the way with blooms. 3. The reception area. 4. Alonso Aguirre played during both the ceremony and the cocktail hour. 5. The Westin prepared a lovely two-tier chocolate cake. 6. The aisle was laid with a wooden runner to keep sand off everyone’s formal clothing.

for more info, see the 411 on page 126.

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