The Bermudian Weddings

FALL/WINTER 2017

www.bermudianweddings.com

FREE!

3 Real Weddings DESTINATION BERMUDA:

BEACH BLISS We LOVE This Wedding for...

Weddings whose style we adore!

PERFECT SETTINGS

When it comes to having a choice of incredible settings for your wedding, the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club has them all. From our secluded Beach Club to our Hotel terraces with sweeping views of Hamilton Harbour, we’re sure there’s the perfect one for you!

+1 441 295 3000

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THEHAMILTONPRINCESS.COM

Plan Your Future Today #OneStepCloser Explore new beginnings in 2017 with preferential rates on an HSBC mortgage.

Save* on interest Market-leading low mortgage rate Same Day Mortgage Pre-Approval available** Call 299 5959 Visit a branch to arrange an appointment Click www.hsbc.bm/mortgage *Savings will vary based on the value of the mortgage. Applicable for residential mortgages only. **Terms and conditions apply. Issued by HSBC Bank Bermuda Limited, of 6 Front Street, Hamilton Bermuda, which is licensed to conduct Banking and Investment business by the Bermuda Monetary Authority.

FEATURES 18 We Love This Wedding For...

Three recent weddings whose style we just love!

27 DESTINATION BERMUDA

each Bliss B A little rain never dampened the spirit of Sparkle & Ryan’s beautiful beach destination wedding.

31 You are (finally) Invited to an Outdoor

ON THE COVER: Laura Minor and Chris Schirmer.

See their real wedding on page 40.

PHOTOGRAPH BY TWO & QUARTER

Civil Ceremony

Thanks to the passing of the Marriage Amendment Act 2016, couples can now finally have a civil ceremony outside the Registry General’s office.

35 Real Weddings

From fabulous Fort Hamilton to a classic old Bermuda estate, these local weddings are sure to inspire your dream nuptials!

36 Natasha & David 40 Laura & Chris 44 Sam & Jack

DETAILS 8 9 10 14 16

Saying Yes to the Dress Beautiful Bouquet Pretty Palettes Venue Crush Gift Guide

FALL/WINTER 2017 EDITION www.bermudianweddings.com TINA STEVENSON Publisher tina@thebermudian.com LAURA BELL Art Director laura@thebermudian.com FIONA WOODWARD Copy Editor CONTRIBUTORS: Gabrielle Boyer, Laura Bell, Cassandra Ortega, Gavin Howarth, Amanda Temple, Becky Spencer, Meredith Andrews, Two & Quarter, Nina Cotterill, Donovin Seymour, Moongate Productions, Alexander Masters

THE

DEPARTMENTS 56 Wedding Album 58 Parting Shot

4 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

Published by The Bermudian Publishing Company Limited, P.O. Box HM 283, Hamilton HM AX, Bermuda. Tel: (441) 2327041. E-mail: info@thebermudian.com. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited without prior written permission by the publisher. All product specifications were correct at press time.

Merchandise shown is subject to availability while quantities last. The publishers cannot be responsible for the contents of any advertisement and readers are advised to use their own discretion in responding to same.

www.bermudianweddings.com

PHOTOGRAPH GAVIN HOWARTH

PUBLISHING COMPANY

It’s your day... make it perfect

LIDO COMPLEX E L B OW B E AC H B E R M U DA AWARDED BEST OF BERMUDA 2016 FOR THE BEST WEDDING LOCATION

Located on one of the most beautiful beaches in Bermuda, overlooking the breathtaking South Shore, Lido Complex provides multiple options to suit any wedding style, taste and size. Award winning cuisine, professional service and attention to details guarantee that your special day will be as you have dreamed of and more. Ceremony, cocktail reception, dinner, rehearsal party, post wedding brunch, formal and elegant or casual and relaxed – it’s all here, in one location, at Lido Complex.

60 South Shore Road Paget PG04 |

TELEPHONE 441

236 9884

For more information please email sales@lido.bm or visit www.lido.bm

FOURWAYS INN Travel back in time to Bermuda’s historic and charming Fourways Inn restaurant, built in 1727.

Fourways offers the services of having your wedding on our picturesque grounds, with the option of a reception in our newly-renovated Palm Garden. Enjoy an intimate setting, perfect for your honeymoon at our Cottage Colony.

Let us take care of all your needs to make your wedding dreams come true – all you have to do is say I do.

1, Middle Road, Paget, Bermuda |

TELEPHONE

441-236-6517 |

EMAIL

info@fourways.bm

For more information please visit www.fourways.bm

W W W. D I N I N G B E R M U DA . C O M

6 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

www.bermudianweddings.com

it’s all in

THE DETAILS

PHOTOGRAPH BY GAVIN HOWARTH

Saying Yes to the Dress, pg 8 | Beautiful Bouquet, pg 10 Pretty Palettes, pg 11 | Venue Crush, pg 14 | Gift Guide, pg 16

www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 7

DETAILS | Saying Yes to the Dress!

PHOTOGRAPHS BY TWO & QUARTER 8 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

www.bermudianweddings.com

Lovely in Lace On September 24, 2016 Erin and Gareth Williams were married at St. Theresa’s church and celebrated with a romantic reception at Fairmont Southampton on September 24, 2016. We loved Erin’s Amsale lace wedding gown and cathedral length veil so much that we interviewed her to get all the beautiful details!

Your dress was stunning, and we un-

opportunity to wear a blusher is a rarity in one’s

Have a well-envisioned idea of your day,

derstand that there is a special story

life! I wanted to ensure I was the classic, elegant

including the venue, your bridal party’s dress

around the final design. Please tell us

bride I always dreamed I would be and knew I

style and of course your groom’s attire before

about it!

wanted to wear a blusher from the start!

you go shopping. It will be much easier to decide the look you are going for when you

I wore the “Collette” by Amsale, which is in the designer’s Christos collection. Christos

What was your favourite element or

have those details in mind. Be sure to try on all

designs are especially known for their use

detail of your dress?

different styles—you may end up in a ball gown

of Alençon lace, created in the French town

It absolutely has to be the lace! The lace is

Alençon in Normandy. Best described by the

so beautiful and intricate and it dated back to

designer, the Christos collection is the perfect

the sixteenth century, which made it even more

blend of modern and vintage couture detail,

special. I felt so feminine and romantic on my

evoking beauty and purity with a romantic

wedding day, and I was so comfortable! The

tone. I found and purchased the same Alençon

lace was lightweight and so easy to dance in,

lace to create a bespoke cathedral length veil.

which was a must!

when you were expecting to fall in love with a mermaid dress silhouette!

Fun fact: I debated adding sleeves to my dress until my final fitting when I decided to

How did your husband react when he

leave the design as Amsale envisioned it and

first saw you in the dress?

kept the dress strapless.

The photos of Gareth’s reaction are some of my favourite of our wedding day. The smile and

Tell us about your veil...

tears in his eyes tells it all!

I had my veil custom designed after saying “yes” to the dress! It is a custom cathedral

Any advice for a future bride on find-

length veil made with Alençon lace. The

ing her dream dress?

DID YOU KNOW? A flyaway is a short veil that ends at the shoulders, while a sweep veil ends at the floor. Chapel and cathedral veils follow the bride at a significant length (nine and 12 feet, respectively). A blusher is a very short veil that covers just the bride’s face as she enters the ceremony. With a fingertip veil, the veil reaches the bride’s waist and brushes at her fingertips.

Source: Richmond.com

www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 9

DETAILS | Beautiful Bouquet

Beautiful Bouquet FLOWERS BY GIMI created this beautiful unstructured bouquet for a bride who wanted a natural looking bouquet that moved as she walked down the aisle. Senior florist Dustin Francisco used a selection of white and ivory coloured Garden Roses and Ranunculus, along with double Lisianthus and pale pink Astilbi flowers, and accented them with Italian Ruscus, Feathered Eucalyptus and local Asparagus Ferns. Finally it was tied with a white satin ribbon. “The client wanted the bouquet to have an unstructured garden feel which we achieved with a natural and loose combination of blooms,” said the florist. “Even the buttonholes were simply tied with a bit of satin ribbon, without any floral tape or wire, as if the flower had been picked and pinned on.”

PHOTOGRAPH BY AMANDA TEMPLE 10 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

www.bermudianweddings.com

DETAILS | Pretty Palettes

Bermuda Blues With blue being the bride’s favourite colour, the palette was an easy choice for Scarlett who wed Troy in April at the Unfinished Church.

“The pictures on the beach really exemplified the palette,” she said. “The mint colour with the grey suits was the right complement for the sand and ocean to make everything glow!

We were in a variety of settings, from grass to beach to marble, and the two colours flowed throughout all the venues swimmingly.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GAVIN HOWARTH www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 11

DETAILS | Pretty Palettes

This gorgeous bouquet was created by DEMCO

Blush & Black Pale blush pink contrasted with rich black accents added a touch of formality to this elegant summer beach wedding. “The colour palette really came together as a whole because of the natural backdrop of the beach, turquoise water and green grass that surrounds Mid Ocean Beach Club,” said bride Kate Dunmore.

“While we were married on the beach, adding the touch of black elevated the feeling of the wedding and made it slightly more formal.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GAVIN HOWARTH 12 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

www.bermudianweddings.com

DELLA VALLE SANDALS: Creating custom sandals for your one-of-a-kind wedding

I

f there is ever a time you should have handmade, custom shoes, it

30 different colours of leather to match your wedding day colours or a

is for your wedding day! Having custom-made sandals is an expe-

wide variety of sparkling Swarovski crystal styles. Handmade sandals

rience, and everything leading up to this day should be special and

start at around $165 for leather only and $250 with crystals.

one-of-a-kind. All of your bridesmaids and even your flower girl can also have matching custom-made sandals! Della Valle Sandals offers

For more infomation, contact Della Valle Sandals at 441-236-7263

private, after-hour fittings so you and your bridal party can have the

or e-mail dvsandals@gmail.com.

boutique to yourselves, sipping bubbles, while you are fitted for your custom sandals. These beautiful sandals can be enjoyed well beyond that special day and can also be the perfect gift for your bridal party!

Della Valle Sandals was started a year ago by Vincenzo Della Valle and his wife, Belinda Barbieri. They wanted to bring something beautiful and unique to Bermuda and steer away from mass-produced, one-size-fits-all. Located at 19 Queen Street, the boutique marries Bermuda and Capri, where Vincenzo is originally from and where he apprenticed as a boy in the art of sandal-making.

The sandals are made from all Italian leather, and soles can range from flats to wedges to heels. You can choose from over

www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 13

DETAILS | Venue Crush

HITCHED ON HONEYMOON POINT Katie and Brian tied the knot overlooking the South Shore before dancing the night away in the sand on the Hamilton Princess Beach Club ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2016, Katie Flannery and Brian Lynch tied the

the bride and groom discovered Bermuda and quickly fell in love with the

knot in a stunning cliff-top ceremony above the newly renovated Ham-

island’s climate, lush greenery and proximity to family in the northeast

ilton Princess Beach Club. From a horse and carriage ride to stunning

United States. And after viewing a selection of wedding venues, they

views and a dance floor set right into the sand of the beach, the venue of-

came to the Hamilton Princess Beach Club where they immediately knew

fered everything imaginable to create the perfect ceremony and reception

they had found what they were searching for.

settings for the couple and their 85 guests.

Understandably, the choice of wedding venue wasn’t a difficult one for Katie and Brian. After deciding that they wanted a destination wedding,

When the day of the wedding finally arrived, the members of the wedding party enjoyed champagne while getting dressed at the Hamilton Princess Hotel, which proved to be the ideal location thanks to the

WRITTEN BY CASSANDRA ORTEGA | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MOONGATE PRODUCTIONS 14 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

www.bermudianweddings.com

spacious suites, availability of the pool and close proximity to the City of

To help with the organisation of their special day, Katie and Brian

Hamilton. And as 6:00 p.m. approached, the guests and wedding party

hired wedding planner Yolanda Furbert, who proved to be extremely

arrived at the venue in buses chartered from Bermuda Island Tours, while

hands-on and helpful making the day of the wedding stress free, said the

the bride and her parents arrived by horse and carriage.

couple. And although planning any wedding has a seemingly infinite

With the sun beginning to set, the ceremony was held on Honeymoon Point, a platform set into the side of the grassy plateau overlooking the south shore. In an added attraction, a flight of stairs leading down from above acted as a beautiful entrance for the wedding party.

Following the ceremony, Katie and Brian had their formal photos taken by Moongate Productions on the plateau that overlooked the

number of details to think through, the couple said they “felt comfortable and confident that everything would go as planned.”

Looking back on their wedding, Katie and Brian conceded that their biggest challenge in planning the event came from their living so far away.

To ensure that everything unfolded as expected, the couple made sure that each of their limited visits to Bermuda in advance of the wedding

ocean. And although they were racing the sunset after the ceremony,

was productive, and spent countless hours researching vendors and com-

photographers Jaime and Ronan whisked the bride and groom around

municating back and forth with local businesses.

the property, making use of the changing lighting and scenery—“an effort that certainly paid off in the finished images,” said the couple.

Upon joining their guests at the Hamilton Princess Beach Club where

In the end, their diligent planning efforts were rewarded; the bride and groom could not be happier with the outcome of their wedding. The Hamilton Princess Beach Club was the perfect choice of venue because

tables and a dance floor were set into the sand, the newlyweds enjoyed a

of the diversity of the setting. The vast, breathtaking property was able to

reception dinner catered by the venue itself. The celebration theme was a

cater to all the couple’s wants, and pictures were stunning because of the

“beach-formal” one, and although guests were dressed to impress, shoes

differing terrain and ocean views. Katie and Brian took advantage of all

were discarded in favour of bare feet in the relaxing, sandy setting. And

the beautiful nooks and crannies on the expansive property, and couldn’t

because the venue imposed no time restrictions on the partygoers, every-

be more delighted by the outcome of choosing this unique and impressive

one was able to enjoy dancing on the beach late into the night.

venue for their special day.

www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 15

DETAILS | Gift Guide

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1. Premium quality hard maple wood cutting boards are the perfect gift for the newlywed couple. They make a great portable cutting work surface or an elegant serving tray. Customisation is also available. Escape, 4 Mill Creek Road, Pembroke. 292-7269. escbermuda.com 2. Rose gold frangipani charm pendant on delicate rose gold wire. Available in white gold, yellow gold and silver/platinum. From $100. Walker Christopher, 9 Front Street, Hamilton. 295-1466. walkerchristopher.com 3. Le Creuset’s collection of enameled cast iron is classic, timeless and versatile.

16 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

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From hearty soups and stews to decadent baking, do it all in one pot. International Imports, 44 Par-la-Ville Road.

292-1661, chefshop@outlook.com

rings and toasting flutes—all presented in stunning, ready-made gift box solutions. A.S. Cooper & Sons, 59 Front Street, Hamilton. 295-3961, ascooper.bm

4. Vera Wang Love Knots Collection.

Give the gift of modern romance with Vera Wang Love Knots—a compilation of elegant yet contemporary gift items that will make the perfect gift for special occasions. Beautiful love knots characterise this radiant collection, capturing the sentiment of tying the knot in silver and brushed gold for that special lustrous touch. Romantic candle holders and beautifully finished photo frames complement jewellery boxes, napkin

5. Discover Lili Bermuda Gift Set, for Him: Lili Bermuda will send you a gift certificate for a 100ml Fragrance bottle of your choice and a Fragrance Library, which contains vials of our eight fragrances for men: Cedar, Navy, 32°N, 64°W, Somers, Fresh Water, South Water and Calypso. Once you try all of the fragrances, redeem the gift certificate for the 100ml - 3.4 oz. fragrance of your choice. It’s that easy, and so much fun!

The shipping cost is included for both

shipments. Lili Bermuda. $125. The Bermuda Perfumery (St. George’s) and Lili Bermuda (Hamilton), 293-0627. lilibermuda.com 6. Baroque freshwater choker with rose gold catch for mother of the bride. Walker Christopher, 9 Front Street, Hamilton.

295-1466. walkerchristopher.com 7. Black Seal cufflinks available in polished silver. Made by Walker Christopher Ltd. under license from Gosling Brothers Ltd. BLACK SEAL and BLACK SEAL DEVICE are registered trademarks of Gosling Brother Ltd. $275. Walker Christopher, 9 Front Street, Hamilton.

295-1466. walkerchristopher.com

www.bermudianweddings.com

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEXANDER MASTERS

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8. Bermuda Is Another World table runner. Original design by local artist, Barbara Finsness. $48. The Island Shop.

3 Queen Street, Hamilton; Fairmont Southampton Resort, Southampton; Somers Wharf, St. George’s. 292-5292. islandexports.com 9. The Original Bermuda Collection 18k solid gold Passion Flower Necklace and Earrings are a perfect gift for the mother of the bride. They beautifully commemorate a destination wedding and compliment any dress with a touch of sparkle and elegance. Make your selection even more special by adding a date, name,

www.bermudianweddings.com

or a special message. All pieces are fully customisable. Astwood Dickinson, 25 Front Street, Hamilton. 292-5805. astwooddickinson.bm 10. Drive de Cartier Men’s Watch. The Drive de Cartier’s self-winding mechanical movement is complimented with an octagonal 18k pink gold crown set with a faceted sapphire. If you’re looking to add a touch of elegance & sophistication to his wedding day wardrobe, you’ll find it in the Drive de Cartier. Also available in steel with black straps. Astwood Dickinson, 25 Front Street, Hamilton.

292-5805. astwooddickinson.bm

11. Discover Lili Bermuda Gift Set, for Her: Lili Bermuda will first send you a gift certificate for a 100ml fragrance bottle of your choice and a Fragrance Library, which contains vials of 11 fragrances for ladies: Coral, Pink, Lily, Petals, Oleander, Passion Flower, Alegria, Paradise, Fresh Water, South Water and Calypso. Once you try all of the fragrances, redeem the gift certificate for the 100ml - 3.4 oz. fragrance of your choice. The shipping cost is included for both shipments. $135. Lili Bermuda, The Bermuda Perfumery (St. George’s) and Lili Bermuda (Hamilton), 293-0627. lilibermuda.com

12. Breville Sous Chef: Slicing, dicing, chopping, shredding, and even kneading bread is no problem for this do-it-all machine. With three feed chute options, the Sous Chef will turn timely food prep into simply pushing a button. International Imports, 44 Par-la-Ville Road. 292-1661, chefshop@outlook.com 13. Bermuda Is Another World serving platter. Hand painted in Italy, original design by local artist, Barbara Finsness. $295. The Island Shop. 3 Queen Street, Hamilton; Fairmont Southampton Resort, Southampton; Somers Wharf, St. George’s. 292-5292. islandexports.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 17

Available exclusively at The Bermuda Perfumery and at fine retailers

Stewart Hall – 5 Queen Street, St. George

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BECKY SPENCER

We Love

THIS WEDDING FOR...

Every couple has a unique vision for their wedding day.

Here are three Bermuda weddings whose style we love!

WRITTEN BY GABRIELLE BOYER www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 19

WE LOVE THIS WEDDING FOR

PRETTY PREPPY STYLE

Jill had her shoes monogrammed from jackrogersusa.com “I ALWAYS WANTED my wedding colours to be navy blue and coral

back island wedding that would give her overseas guests a taste of her new

with hints of white and gold. I also love anything striped, which is where

life. “Having just moved to Bermuda, I wasn’t sure if I would have all of

everything stemmed from,” says bride Jill Kearns. “Everything” being

our closest friends and family on the island at the same time ever again, so

her and husband Miles Brewer’s stunning, yet simple, October 1, 2016,

I wanted our guests to experience my new home by trying to incorporate

wedding.

Bermudian traditions wherever possible.”

The couple said “I do” at St. Theresa’s Cathedral in front of family

In sync with local wedding attire, the groom wore traditional knee-high

and friends before jetting off in the Bermudaful Moments vintage car to

socks in navy, coral Bermuda shorts from local designer Rebecca Singleton

their reception at the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, beginning with a

of TABS, and a navy blazer. “Miles was so easygoing about what he was

cocktail hour on the Moongate Terrace before the couple and their guests

going to wear,” says Jill. “I wanted our guests to see traditional Bermuda

migrated indoors to the Harbourview Ballroom for dinner and dancing.

wedding attire to get a sense of the local culture. I also wanted the grooms-

“Though the ballroom was indoors, the wall-to-wall windows meant that

men to be as comfortable as possible in the heat, so Bermuda shorts were

we didn’t have to sacrifice water views.”

an obvious choice. A lot of our overseas guests had fun participating in the

Jill and Miles met in their freshman year at Northeastern University

tradition and wore Bermuda shorts and knee-high socks as well.”

in Boston, Massachusetts. After dating for six years (two of which were

“As with the groomsmen, I wanted my bridesmaids to have some-

spent reuniting in airports over long weekends as the couple committed

thing they were comfortable wearing and with most of them being from

to long-distance love), Miles proposed to Jill during a surprise trip to

Boston, I didn’t want them to be uncomfortably hot. I looked for options

Boston. Of course, Jill accepted.

that would fit our colour scheme and laid-back idea of what we wanted

When the couple embarked on planning their Bermuda wedding, they

our wedding to be. I found these great navy and coral dresses from Lilly

knew that they wanted to merge Jill’s preferred colour scheme with a laid-

Pulitzer that were easy to move around in. Most of the girls have already

PHOTOGRAPHY BY GAVIN HOWARTH 20 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

www.bermudianweddings.com

A nautical touch was used throughout the reception décor. “So much of our lives is spent on the water, I wanted that to be incorporated into our day,” said the bride.

worn them post-wedding!”

Continuing their colour scheme, Jill and her bridesmaids carried gorgeous bouquets designed by local floral designer Suzan Sickling. “I knew I wanted white for mine, coral for the girls, with blue and white striped ribbon around the stems.

It’s Suzan Sickling and my mother-in-law, Heather Brewer, who truly deserve all the credit for the beautiful bouquets—I showed them photographs of what I wanted and they did the rest.”

Adding the perfect touch to their Bermuda wedding, Jill and Miles, along with their wedding party, climbed aboard their family boat and headed out to Hamilton Harbour to toast to wedded bliss. “So much of our lives is spent on the water, I wanted that to be incorporated into our day. We took the entire wedding party out on the harbour for a quick toast. It gave my closest friends the chance to experience Bermuda from the angle that we as locals experience it so frequently.” www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 21

WE LOVE THIS WEDDING FOR

THE EXCEPTIONAL RECEPTION

LOGAN DAVIS AND KEVIN FOX met in

so I was able to experience how they bring a vision

2008 in true Bermuda fashion: “It was a May 24th

to life. It was an easy decision to make; they’re the

party!” says bride Logan. Fast-forward eight years

most creative, organised and hard-working duo.”

of dating to Kevin, on bended knee, asking Logan

Cue dynamic Dasfete pair Selange Gitshner and

to marry him in the construction site of their first

Matthew Strong who seamlessly create and pull off

home. “It was a beautiful and simple proposal in the

events around the island on a full-time basis.

After being together for so many years, the cou-

“We met with Logan and her mum in midMarch and the design brief was to create a unique

ple decided not to wait long to wed and selected a

space unlike anything anyone had seen before.

wedding date a mere eight months away. “The tight

Logan and Kevin were a dream to work with and

time frame posed some challenges,” said Logan, but

gave us free reign” says Gitshner.

the couple decided early on that the wedding they

THIS PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY BECKY SPENCER

spot we hope to call our forever home.”

Working with the bride’s vision of simplicity and

wished to create and enjoy with their family and

neutral colours (“I love white!” says Logan) with

friends was one they couldn’t pull off alone. “Das-

lots of added greenery, Gitshner and Strong went to

fete planned my sister’s wedding the year before,

work constructing a plan for the couple’s wedding.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BECKY SPENCER & NINA COTTERILL 22 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

www.bermudianweddings.com

“My brother in-law told me that he key to any successful Bermudian party is to have the bar next to the dance floor,” says Logan. “It makes for a packed dance floor and happy guests. That was our must have.”

“I go over to friends’ houses and they have our wedding coasters on their coffee tables,” says Logan.

“It’s awesome!”

“Our style is in the extra details. We love creating weddings that tell a

was too big to transport by truck. Suzan Sickling and our team worked

story and get people talking.”

on this for a full morning whilst it was at head height before it was raised.

Gitshner began by creating a space plan, selecting the correct tables THIS PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY NINA COTTERILL

and tent size to host the almost 250 guests. With a 60 by 80-foot tent selected for the reception, she and Strong were able to accommodate two

This all had to be done as close to the wedding as possible to keep it looking green and fresh,” said Gitshner.

The leaf motif was also featured prominently in the design of the

large hanging installations, a stage and dance floor, lounge areas and a

couple’s bar, one Gitshner and Strong designed themselves with the bar

custom-built bar.

tops made of old recycled floorboards. “The wallpaper was designed by

“The custom-made hanging chandelier of mostera leaves, local greenery

an amazing Etsy artisan and we called on good friend Stratton Hatfield to

and Edison bulbs was my favourite design element,” says Logan. “I had

design two epic banana-leaf wall sconces out of Bermuda sand to hang on

seen pictures of similar features on Pinterest but nothing compared to

the custom-made bar wall.”

the masterpiece that Dasfete and Suzan Sickling (florist extraordinaire) created for our wedding.”

“Matthew and I designed and built the lighting frames in our warehouse. The large hanging greenery ceiling was constructed on-site as it www.bermudianweddings.com

“As the ceiling of the tent was filled with greenery and lighting, I wanted to create something elegant and fresh yet impactful on the tables. White florals with Bermuda greenery, white pineapples and an assortment of candles set the tone effortlessly,” details Gitshner. “I FALL/WINTER 2017 | 23

worked closely with Suzan Sickling to create a tablescape that consisted of 22 different types of florals and greenery and 196 clear vases in 22 different styles. I created a tablescape plan noting each arrangement, vases and location.

Lots of work but the result was epic!”

Illustrations were adhered to the bride and groom’s chairs (pineapple for her and fox for him) to tie into the wedding suite and reception signage. “We worked with graphic design legend Christina Lehahan to create the perfect paper suite and signage. It needed to be elegant with a touch of masculinity. Font is a big part of our event design and she nailed it!” said Gitshner. “Christina also created coasters, featuring the couple’s fox illustration, which guests were welcome to take home as favours.

It took a whopping four days for Gitshner and Strong and their team of vendors to set up for Logan and Kevin’s October wedding. When the couple arrived at their reception (by boat!) they were in awe. “I’ll never forget the look in Logan and Kevin’s eyes, especially the tears— the good kind!” says Gitshner. For Logan and Kevin, it was everything they dreamed of: “Everything came together perfectly. We wouldn’t have changed a thing!” says Logan.

Guests of the couple enjoyed signature cocktails, appropriately named The Fizzy Fox and Old Spool Mule, and a seated dinner of organic chicken and local fish before cutting into the stunning orange chiffon cake created by Paula Hayward of Sweet P. After dinner, guests danced on a custom dance floor (featuring the couple’s nicknames: Keve and Lo) to the sounds of Working Title well into the early morning hours, nourished by late-night treats like mini chicken and waffles, sliders, truffle fries and popcorn.

Looking back, Logan and Kevin say that and more, crediting Gitshner and Strong for incorporating their wants and needs and allowing them to be stress-free in the lead-up to their big day. Logan’s one piece of advice for couples getAbove: One of the most popular elements of décor was the “Love Ball” guest book that Logan’s sister, Lindsay Butterfield sourced on a buying trip. “She knew it was the perfect detail for Logan and Kevin’s wedding. We set it up next to a small white table with markers and encouraged guests to leave messages. From what I’ve been told, this ball makes an appearance at Davis and Fox pool parties!” said Selange.

24 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

ting married? “Hire Dasfete!” she says. And as for Gitshner and Strong? They say that anytime they get to produce something that is beyond what they thought possible is what makes the process so rewarding.

www.bermudianweddings.com

THIS PAGE: PHOTOGRAPHY BY BECKY SPENCER

their wedding was everything they envisioned

WE LOVE THIS WEDDING FOR

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

One major benefit of a wedding held during the Christmas season is that the church is already decorated!

“HAVING A CHRISTMAS wedding was a smart choice, considering the

settia, gorgeous garland and dozens of Christmas lights. The bride

church was already decorated, but it was a conscious effort to make sure the

wore a floor-length gown adorned with tiny crystals and beading. “The

theme didn’t come across as corny or over-the-top,” said bride Cara Philip.

beadwork reminded me of glistening snow,” said Cara. The groom was

Cara and her now husband, Yoni Lambe, met in Kansas, Missouri, at the International House of Prayer through mutual friends. The couple’s first date was Valentine’s Day, 2015. “I knew she was the one very quickly. In

dressed in a classic black tuxedo with black bow tie, with his groomsmen handsomely following suit.

“Our inspiration for our Christmas theme was drawn by the warmth

fact, that same night, I promised that I was going to marry her,” says Yoni.

that comes from being around family and friends. Christmas should be a

And keeping true to his word, just seven months later, with guitar in hand,

time that draws people together and I wanted that spirit to carry into the

Yoni played a song he wrote for Cara and asked her to be his wife.

atmosphere of the day,” said the bride.

When the couple embarked on planning their big day, a Christmas

The bride’s mother, Chrislyn Philip, was the wedding planner, expertly

wedding seemed like an obvious choice. “December was the perfect

coordinating the details and décor of the day. “We used a lot of reds and

time because the weather is generally sunny and cool and Yoni had just

greens in the décor to garner the Christmas spirit. I wanted the brides-

finished university, so we scheduled the wedding to take place during the

maids to have deep red roses in their bouquets, along with dark green ivy.”

lovely window of time between the celebrations of Christmas and New

The couple celebrated their nuptials with a reception at the Lido Com-

Year. In hindsight, I believe this added to the excitement and warmth of

plex at Elbow Beach. “It was important to us that our guests were treated

the occasion.”

to ocean views, as some of them were from overseas.”

The couple were wed by Reverend Tweed at St. Paul A.M.E. Church on December 29, 2016. The church was decorated with potted poin-

“All the details came together very nicely,” says Cara. “I would actually love to relive it all again and again!”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TWO & QUARTER www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 25

DESTINATION BERMUDA

Beach Bliss

A little rain never dampened the spirit of Sparkle and Ryan’s beautiful beach destination wedding WRITTEN BY GABRIELLE BOYER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY GAVIN HOWARTH www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 27

The wedding ceremony continued on the beach despite a few rain showers. And then a rainbow appeared!

28 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

www.bermudianweddings.com

H

aving grown up in Trinidad and Tobago, Sparkle Sooknanan dreamed of getting married with her toes in the sand and when fiancé Ryan

Downer proposed, they jetted to Bermuda to plan their special day.

The now-wedded couple met through a mutual friend in New York City and got engaged under the Manhattan Bridge. Despite their big-city living, “We wanted to be married outside, on the beach,” said Sparkle.

“We visited Bermuda and fell in love with the beaches, the pink sand and the people.

We knew from our first visit that the property at Rosewood Tucker’s Point was the perfect location for a fairy-tale wedding.”

The couple set about planning their destination Bermuda wedding with the help of Kathleen Dodwell of Bermuda Event Solutions, calling her their “most valuable resource.”

“Our wedding planner, Kathleen, was absolutely terrific. We met her when we visited Bermuda to look at wedding venues. We loved her and hired her immediately. From start to finish, she was amazing. She listened to everything we wanted, was incredibly responsive during the planning process, and found us the most wonderful vendors. On the day of the wedding, rain was threatening. She kept us calm, quickly switched some plans, and the result was a perfect day. Every single one of our 95 guests commented that it was the best wedding they had ever attended. Hiring Kathleen was the best decision we made.”

With 95 family members and friends in attendance (all from abroad!), Sparkle and Ryan tied the knot on November 19, 2016, with their toes in the sand. “On the day of the wedding, rain was looming but we decided to stick with our beach location. For a couple brief moments, it started raining. The bridal party quickly opened umbrellas and everything continued without interruption. Nothing could ruin that moment and the rain quickly passed. Then a beautiful rainbow emerged. It

www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 29

was perfect!” said Sparkle.

After enjoying a seated dinner at the hotel’s

The bride wore a stunning strapless, floor-

beach club and heartfelt speeches made by

length lace gown and carried a colourful

loved ones, the couple and their guests danced

bouquet of pink roses, blue hydrangeas, purple

and celebrated all night long to music by DJ

orchids and orange calla lilies—a dynamic blend designed by Flowers by GiMi. The striking arrangement was wrapped in a tie belonging to the groom’s late father, Terry.

After the “I dos,” the couple and their guests

All Star. The night ended

“Every single one of our 95 guests commented that it was the best wedding they had ever attended.”

were treated to dark n’

30 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

where it began, on the beach, but this time with a bonfire and s’mores.

When asked to give advice to future couples getting married in Bermuda, their answer was simple: “Hire our wedding team! Kathleen Dodwell,

stormys and the sounds of steel pan drums.

Gavin Howarth [photographer], Keith Steede

“Sparkle played the steel pan in Trinidad as

[videographer], Flowers by GiMi and DJ All

a child, so that was very special for her,” said

Star—they all were amazing! We couldn’t have

Ryan.

had a better team.”

www.bermudianweddings.com

You are (finally) invited to an

OUTDOOR Civil Ceremony

PHOTOGRAPH BY GAVIN HOWARTH

Thanks to the passing of the Marriage Amendment Act 2016, couples can now finally have a civil ceremony outside the Registry General’s office.

FOR MANY YEARS, if a couple wished to have a civil ceremony in

tion for those who would prefer to have a non-denominational ceremony,

Bermuda, it could be officiated only in the Registry General office. Now,

but not lose out on the one-of-a-kind, idyllic setting that Bermuda has

however, with the passing of the Marriage Amendment Act 2016, civil

offered to brides and grooms for decades.

ceremonies may be held at a variety of other locations around the island, namely, a selection of public parks and beaches.

And better still, the planning of an outdoor civil-service wedding is relatively simple and cost effective. First, submit a Notice of Intended

Any one of these beautiful, natural venues may offer the perfect solu-

Marriage application form (in person or by post) to the Bermuda govern-

WRITTEN BY CASSANDRA ORTEGA www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 31

ment’s Registry General, along with the application fee, which has a value of $368 (and includes the cost of the marriage certificate).

For more information on fees associated with civil marriage ceremonies, to apply for a marriage licence and to download the application form, please visit: www.gov.bm/content/apply-marriage-licence or call the Registry General office at 441-297-7709 or 441-297-7707.

Copies of final divorce decrees or death certificates, if applicable, must also be included with the application.

If sending the documents by post, address your application to Registrar General, Government Administration Building, 30 Parliament Street, Hamilton, HM 12, Bermuda.

It will take about 15 days for your wedding licence to be issued, and it will be valid for three months. You or a designated person may pick up this licence at the registrar’s office. Within one month of your wedding, you will receive an official marriage certificate that is recognised and legal world-wide.

Obtain written permission from the owner or occupier of the venue, that is, WEDCO or the Department of Parks.

Finally, notify the registrar of the selected wedding date.

The Registry General staff will confirm the time of the ceremony. In addition, the couple is responsible for arranging the logistics of set-up and any other features of the wedding. The Registry General will only be responsible for providing a table, chair and relevant documents for signature.

In the event of inclement weather that prohibits an outdoor wedding, the alternate venue for the marriage will be the Registry General. In such cases, the marriage ceremony fee will be reduced to $245, which is the fee applicable to marriages conducted within the Registry General office.

For more information on planning the Bermuda wedding of your dreams contact: Bermuda: Bermuda Tourism Authority, 22 Church Street, Hamilton HM11, Bermuda. Tel: 441-296-9200, www. gotobermuda.com United Kingdom: Global Travel Marketing Ltd., Link House, 140 The Broadway, Tolworth, Surrey KT6 7HJ. Tel: +44 (0) 208 339 6150 North America: 675 Third Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10017.

Tel: 212-818-9800, e-mail: fdesk@ bermudatourism.com Bermuda Department of Parks, tel: 441236-5902, e-mail: parksdept@gov.bm WEDCO, Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda, tel: 441-239-0518, e-mail: srodill@wedco.bm

You must have two witnesses over 18 years of age present at the ceremony.

PHOTOGRAPH BY AMANDA TEMPLE

WARWICK LONG BAY BEACH

32 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

www.bermudianweddings.com

PHOTOGRAPH BY TWO & QUARTER

AVAILABLE LOCATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF PARKS Admiralty House Park Arboretum Astwood Park Blue Hole Hill Park Botanical Gardens Chaplin Bay Beach Church Bay Beach Devonshire Bay Park Elbow Beach (the public beach as accessed from Tribe Road 4B in Paget) Ferry Point Park Fort St. Catherine Beach Great Head Park Gibbs Hill Lighthouse Park Horseshoe Bay Beach John Smith’s Bay Beach Jobson’s Cove Beach Scaur Hill Fort Park Shelly Bay Beach Somerset Long Bay Beach Spanish Point Park Stonehole Bay St. David’s Lighthouse Park Tobacco Bay Beach Warwick Long Bay Beach WEDCO Victualling Yard, Dockyard

ADMIRALTY HOUSE PARK

You have one daY. We’ll make it perfect.

Amazing “Ahh” moments.

Destination Weddings Rehearsal Dinners Ceremony & Reception Venues Guest Accommodations Event Planning Assistance

441.234.0331 events@cambeach.bm w w w.cambr idgebeaches.com www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 33

34 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

www.bermudianweddings.com

Real Weddings

PHOTOGRAPH BY DONOVIN SEYMOUR

From fabulous Fort Hamilton to a classic old Bermuda family estate, these three real local weddings are sure to inspire your dream nuptials!

WRITTEN BY LAURA BELL www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 35

36 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

www.bermudianweddings.com

REAL WEDDINGS

Natasha & David April 8, 2017

O

nce upon a time a boy from Spanish Point befriended a

my corner to rely on as a great support system, I knew that it was game

girl from Camp Hill on Facebook. From there a sweet

time,” he said.

friendship slowly evolved into a solid relationship for

On the night of their engagement, David had created a mosaic portrait

Natasha Butterfield, an English teacher at CedarBridge

of the couple’s 400-plus photos and arranged to have it displayed during

Academy, and David Thomas, a project manager with

an exhibition opening at the Bermuda Society of Arts. “We started at

the Bermuda Tourism Authority. The couple dated for just over six years

Little Venice for drinks and happened across City Hall on the way to

before getting engaged on February 26, 2016.

‘dinner,’” explained David. “I arranged for her best friend to be there

When asked when they knew their partner was “the one,” Natasha

‘coincidentally,’ and we bumped into her as we were browsing the art just

recalled a night before the May 24th holiday one year, when they were

before we happened across our image. Initially, I fumbled with what I

just friends, when they sat on the sidewalk eating custard creams, drinking

was going to say but when I started rolling, that was all she wrote… I was

ginger beer and listening to music while marking her family’s annual

ready to turn ‘one day’ into ‘day one.’”

parade spot. David, on the other hand, said he always knew but it was her

“It was literally one of the best days of my life,” said Natasha. “I’m so

unwavering support during a difficult time that sealed it for him. “I’ve

glad that he arranged for it to be recorded, because looking back I see that

always known she was special and was probably going to be ‘the one,’ but

I dropped my purse and phone on the ground when he got on his knee—

after going through a pretty tough period personally and having Tash in

and the only words that I seemed to have in my vocabulary were ‘NO

PHOTOGRAPHY BY DONOVIN SEYMOUR www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 37

“Being able to walk down the aisle and to see my friends and family a few feet away smiling at me, whispering jokes and sharing kind words of encouragement is a memory that I will cherish forever.”

Coming from different religious backgrounds, Natasha and David decided on a venue that didn’t pose any conflicts for either of them—and for that, Fort Hamilton was just perfect.

“It was a naturally beautiful venue that didn’t require much decoration,” said Natasha.

WAY!!!’ It was absolutely thoughtful, romantic and perfect.”

David proposed with a 14k white gold six-prong diamond solitaire that

chose in Fort Hamilton was intimate and provided a great backdrop for our special day without being overbearing. Additionally, it was a naturally

he had chosen himself. “I told David I would’ve said yes if it were a fake

beautiful venue that would not require many decorations, which was a

plastic ring because I loved him that much!” said Natasha.

plus.”

The couple officially said their vows just over a year later on April 8,

The couple had planned on using the atrium at the Berkeley Institute

2017, at Fort Hamilton in front of 90 friends and family members. The

as a backup plan in case of bad weather and naturally the unpredictable

bride wore a white ball gown from Pronovias, while the groom went with

April weather caused some initial panic. “Ironically, we had terrible

coral Bermuda shorts from TABS and a navy blazer from Marks & Spen-

weather the night before, and were pretty nervous over what the day

cer. After a fun morning of getting ready at her aunt’s house (which was

would bring but we lucked out and were able to have the wedding where

transformed into a beauty parlour for the occasion, complete with mimo-

we envisioned,” said David. He wished he had known beforehand “that

sas and walls decorated with childhood photos), Natasha and her bridal

the weather was going to turn out in our favour. I really wanted things to

party jumped into taxis and headed to the ceremony at Fort Hamilton.

go as we planned, and that would’ve saved me a lot of undue stress.”

“Having different religious backgrounds, we opted to choose a venue that didn’t pose any conflicts for either of us,” said Natasha. “The area we 38 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

Officiated by Dwayne Caines and coordinated by day-of planner Emma Sims, the ceremony included maid of honor Victoria Borges; www.bermudianweddings.com

bridesmaids Tiffany Butterfield, Mia Williams, Alanna Butterfield and Djevin Thomas; flower girls Xaana Green and Milan Gibbons-Thomas; groomsmen Taryq Brown, Damian Pitcher, Gavin Manders, Wayne Ball, Marquis Jones and Chris Weeks; and ring bearer Cree Bean.

“Looking back, what made our ceremony special was the intimacy of it,” said Natasha. “Being able to walk down the aisle and to see my friends and family a few feet away smiling at me, whispering jokes and sharing kind words of encouragement is a memory that I will cherish forever. The weather was also absolutely brilliant juxtaposed with the horrific weather the night before.”

“Everything ran so smoothly and the ceremony was quite short, which was a bonus because the sun was beating down fiercely,” added David.

Once the show began everything went quickly, said the groom, and before they knew it the couple and their guests were on the way to their early afternoon brunch reception at The Reefs. Using a coral, gold and white colour scheme—“We were going for a simple but classic theme, as that mirrors our personality as a couple,” said the bride—the Ocean Echo dining room was transformed thanks to Class Act Designs and Flowers

by GiMi. “We had a brunch reception with every dish and dainty that you could have imagined! It was elegant, simple and laid-back—all the things we aspired for it to be,” said Natasha. But it was not without a few surprises and a little hilarity.

“I wrote a poem for David that he knew nothing about and presented it to everyone immediately after the toasts were shared,” said the bride.

“Needless to say, he had no words! This was followed by yet another sur-

DETAILS

prise when one of our long-term friends, Jecoa, arrived and David informed

Day-of Coordinator Emma Sims Ceremony Location Fort Hamilton, Bermuda

all of our guests that he would be singing ‘our’ song for our first dance! I

Reception Location Ocean Echo at The Reefs

was completely surprised and Jecoa did an amazing job! Finally, David and

Décor & Rentals Class Act Designs

a few of his groomsmen took to the centre of the reception and broke out

Flowers Flowers by GiMi

into song—belting at the top of their lungs!”

Cake Cake Boutique Celebration

However it was David’s grandmother who truly stole the show, said Na-

Caterer The Reefs

tasha. “David’s grandmother, ‘Mimi,’ graced us all with her amazing dance

Invitations SJDWorld, with calligraphy by Mallory McCallum

skills during the reception—getting low to calypso music with a purse

Ceremony Music String Collective

around her neck and the train of my wedding dress over her head. It was

Entertainment DJ Bakari Seymour

truly one of the most hilarious and amazing parts of the day!”

Bridal Hair Raquel Brown, Blueprint Hair Studio

After the cake (a beautiful white three-tier confection by Cake Boutique

Bridal Makeup Afroditi Yiovreki

Celebration) was cut, the speeches finished and the dancers were done,

Transportation 3D’s Transport

guests left with airplane-shaped bottle openers that said ‘Let the Adventure Begin’ and gold Kate Aspen favour boxes with butter mints and almond chocolate kisses inside.

It was a near perfect day for the happy couple, and the bride was left with only one small regret. “The only thing that I would have liked to have done differently was get the chance to interact with all of the guests on the day,” said Natasha. “This obviously proves to be quite a task, being the bride and being shuffled from one area to the next; but it would have been nice to have a moment to get around to each and every one for a quick hug and chat. Save for that, it was everything we wanted it to be and more!”

“I’m not sure that I would do anything differently,” concluded David.

“Magical isn’t a word that I throw around very often—if ever—but that’s

The couple hosted a brunch reception at The Reefs

exactly what April 8, 2017, was.” www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 39

40 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

www.bermudianweddings.com

REAL WEDDINGS

Laura & Chris December 17, 2016

I

t was love at first sight for 31-year-old Chris Schirmer from Surrey,

gold band—was a family heirloom and dates back to the 1800s. “Chris’s

England, who spotted Laura Minor, 26, on the showroom floor of

grandfather, Christopher (whom Chris is named after), proposed to his

IKEA in Emeryville, California, five years ago. “Chris came up to

future bride, Jean, with a ring that his father, Ferdinard Schirmer, bought

me introduced himself and asked if I’d like to get a drink sometime,”

for him,” explained Laura. “They were married in 1948. When Jean

recalled Laura who hails from Chicago, Illinois. “Mesmerised by his

passed away, she gave the ring to her daughter, Julie. Julie then passed

English accent, my older sister Hilary actually answered for me saying yes

the ring to Chris! I feel very honoured to have a ring with family history

she’d love to. A week later we met for a date and the rest is history!”

around my finger and it is everything I’ve ever imagined.”

Laura, a cosmetology student, and Chris, a sail maker for Oracle Team

On one of his rare days off while working for Oracle, Chris took his

USA, dated for four years before getting engaged on September 10, 2016.

bride-to-be out on a boat for a sunset dinner. After an hour of snorkeling,

“I knew Chris was the one when I could be 100 percent myself around

they returned to the boat to watch the sunset together when Chris dis-

him and he accepted everything about me,” said Laura. “On our second

appeared to “get his phone.” “The proposal was like a dream,” said Laura.

date, he cooked me dinner. Although it was too soon to know he was the

“I had no idea it was coming! Sitting on the bench of the front console, I

one at that moment, I definitely thought ‘this guy’s a keeper.’”

thought Chris had gone to get his phone to take a photo of the view. He

“I knew Laura was the one when I couldn’t imagine my life without her,” said Chris.

came back with a homemade wooden box in his hand and went down on one knee; for a second it still didn’t register what was happening until I

The ring Chris proposed with—a stunning round-cut solitaire on a

looked as his face. He told me I was the one and asked me to marry him.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TWO & QUARTER www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 41

Top left: The bridal party got ready at Coral Beach Club. Bottom, far left: Chris, a sailmaker by trade, created a unique wooden box for Laura’s engagement ring—a family heirloom dating back to the 1800s.

And I said YES!” “The proposal was exactly how I wanted it,” added Chris. “Nothing but sun, sea, reefs and Laura.”

Wasting no time, the couple planned an intimate beach ceremony for

overlooking the Atlantic on Coral Beach Club’s lunch terrace,” said Chris.

“As the sun went down, we lit the fireplace inside, started the music and partied together making the best night ever!”

“We also had Instax Polaroid cameras at the table and dance floor for

30 of their closest friends and family. The bride wore a hand-beaded,

everyone to use during the celebration,” added Laura. “It was so cool to

trumpet style BHLDN gown by Watters and the groom wore a vest and

look back and see the day through everyone else’s eyes and have immedi-

trousers by Massimo Dutti. The bridal party included maids of honour

ate hard-copy memories.”

Hilary and Kathryn Minor; bridesmaids Sydney Sherman and Courtney

Planning a beach wedding in December can be a bit dicey with the

Hatcher; best men Tom Rance, Joe Newnham and Sam Schirmer; and

unpredictable weather and can lead to a lot of nerves leading up to the big

groomsman Michael Minor. Officiated by Pastor Gordon Shaw, the

day. “December in Bermuda is cold and rainy, the weather leading up to

ceremony was held on Elbow Beach in front of a driftwood arch created

the day was windy and wet, so waking up to the sun shining was an amaz-

by Chris, who did all the ceremony décor!

ing start to a great day,” said Laura. “Plan B was to have the ceremony in

“The ceremony was beyond anything I could have imagined!” said

Pastor Shaw’s church and the reception could be easily moved inside.”

Laura. “Chris was the groom and wedding decorator! It was 100 percent

According to the couple, the day turned out just perfect. “There is

in his hands and I’m so glad it was. Walking down the aisle was the first

nothing I would do differently,” said Chris. “The best part of the day was

time seeing it. He did such an incredible job—from the driftwood arch,

Laura smiling while opposite me at the alter.” For Laura the highlights

the DIY palette table (the surface to sign the marriage certificate), the

included: “Marrying my best friend, celebrating with friends and family

driftwood ‘bar’ sign pointing to a champagne-filled cooler buried in the

directly after the ceremony, champagne on the beach, and finally having

sand, and the most special was the refurbished/repainted surf board with

our families come together and meet.”

‘C&L,’ later used as our ‘guest book.’ We have it hanging in our bedroom,

While the couple says they wouldn’t change a thing (other than wish-

reminding us of an unforgettable day, and the signatures from people who

ing a few other friends could have made the trip), they did wish they had

made us who we are today.”

known a few things beforehand. “I wish I’d known how fast the day flies

“The ceremony was organised only by us two and made our day even more special,” said Chris. “It was very personal and intimate.”

The reception—a barbeque buffet dinner at the Coral Beach Club— had lots of special moments. “We had a stunning dinner on one long table 42 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

by,” said Laura, while Chris added, “I wish I’d known that it isn’t actually as stressful as you make it out to be!”

“The worst part was it ending,” concluded Chris, and Laura agreed wholeheartedly. “I second Chris’s answer! Wish it never ended!” www.bermudianweddings.com

“The ceremony was beyond anything I could have imagined!” said Laura.

DETAILS Ceremony Location Elbow Beach Reception Location Coral Beach Club Lunch Terrace Décor DIY by the groom

The wedding party toasted with champagne on the beach after the ceremony before heading to their reception on Coral Beach Club’s terrace.

Rentals Oracle Team USA chairs, overhead lights on the beach terrace Flowers Flowers by GiMi Cakes Coral Beach Club pastry chef Caterer Coral Beach Club BBQ buffet dinner Invitations Paperless Post Entertainment Spotify playlist created by the bride and groom Bridal Hair & Makeup Done by the bride Bridal Earrings 1609 Design Bridesmaid gifts Necklaces by 1609 Design Groomsman gifts Personalised engraved whiskey decanters by Etsy shop “SwankyBadger” Transportation Taxis Favours Personalised engraved “C&L” wooden top wine stoppers by Etsy shop “Personalized Gallery”

Chris created the ceremony decor including the wedding arch and this driftwood bar sign which pointed to a champagne filled cooler buried in the sand!

The bride wore earrings from 1609 Design.

www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 43

44 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

www.bermudianweddings.com

REAL WEDDINGS

Sam & Jack October 28, 2016

B

ack in boarding school, Jack had fancied Samantha for a

stumbled across another couple getting engaged there! My backup was

few years before the couple were finally introduced by their

the hotel room as they’d set it up for me with champagne and a chocolate

respective best friends who had been dating at the time.

plate with ‘Will you Marry Me?’ written on it. However, walking back

During the 2005 Christmas holidays, Jack’s friend gave him

through Princes park, under the Castle, we were surrounded by daffodils

Sam’s e-mail address and after nine days of chatting and

and all alone. I sat Sam down on a bench, got down on one knee and

webcamming, they grew quite fond of each other. So much so that Sam

asked her to marry me. After she said yes, we went back to the hotel and

ditched her boyfriend at the time and the rest is history!

had the champagne followed by a lovely meal at Tom Kitchen’s Miche-

“At school I always thought that it would just be a school thing and then when we made it through Jack’s gap year and went to university at

lin-starred restaurant near the coast.”

The bride said she had had an inkling that a proposal was imminent as

the same time, I realised that I couldn’t imagine life without him,” said

all her friends suspected he was going to ask, but when it came to it she

Sam, now 27. The couple dated for nine years before Jack proposed on

was very surprised. “He was acting quite strangely all day and barely ate

March 28, 2015. Jack knew that his bride-to-be would want to pick out

anything (very unlike him),” said Sam. “When it came to it, I was very sur-

her own ring, so he proposed with a “promise ring”—an aquamarine

prised and extremely happy. I couldn’t have asked for a better proposal.”

with two diamonds on either side. “The actual engagement ring is the big brother of the ‘promise ring,’ so Jack got it right!” said Sam. “I took Sam to Edinburgh as a surprise trip for her 25th birthday,”

The couple decided on a classic Bermudian garden wedding complete with horse and carriage, Bermuda shorts and gold and silver wedding cakes. They used a starfish motif on the invitations, cake and table design

explained Jack. “I had numerous locations for getting down on one knee

with aquamarine blues and pastel pinks as their overall colour palette.

but ended up doing it in a spontaneous fashion which is rather unlike me!

However Jack, being from Dorset, England, incorporated a bit of his

Firstly, I had hoped to go up Arthur’s Seat but the weather was shocking.

heritage into the day as well, incorporating the London Underground

The Castle was my next choice, but it was really busy that day and we also

map into their décor. With the reception planned at Sam’s uncle’s house

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MOONGATE PRODUCTIONS www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 45

Sam and her bridesmaids got ready in her grandmother’s old bedroom in her Uncle’s house.

The couple wed in the Old Devonshire Church and left for the reception in a horse and carriage.

“Ever since I was a child I wanted to get married in the same church as my parents and have the reception in Uncle John’s garden,” said Sam.

x

in Orange Valley (originally her grandparents’ house), the bride and her

“Therefore, to actually be able to have my dream wedding was amazing.

bridesmaids opted to get ready there.

Old Devonshire Church is also special as it is where my grandmother and

“I got ready in my grandmother’s old bedroom at my uncle’s house,” she said. “I was with all my bridesmaids and my parents. This was really special as my grandmother only passed away a couple of years ago. We

other family members are buried. It is a beautiful old church and the fact that it is quite small made the ceremony very intimate.”

Having their ceremony officiated by Bishop Nicolas Dill proved mem-

enjoyed champagne while the girls opened their Bermuda pink sand star-

orable for the couple. “It was funny, light-hearted and serious all in one

fish necklaces from me and I also opened my gifts from Jack.” The groom,

and had us and our guests in laughter a lot,” said Jack.

on the other hand, got ready with his groomsmen and his father at his

The bride wore an ivory cap-sleeved, Chantilly lace gown by Louise Selby

brother’s accommodation where they stumbled upon a TV with FIFA 17

while maid of honour Charlotte Ferard and bridesmaids Sarah Palmer, Ros-

connected. Needless to say, a mini tournament was necessary! After a bit

ie Walker, Christiana Halliday, Jessica Johnson and Charlotte Moseley wore

of a panic because the minibus was late collecting them, they all headed

pastel blue Ted Baker dresses. Despite being from England, the groom was

to the ceremony. Sam and her parents arrived by horse and carriage.

keen to dress traditionally Bermudian, and wore pink Bermuda shorts from

The couple chose to wed at the Old Devonshire Church as it has been

the English Sports Shop and a navy blazer from Roderick Charles. The

the Cox’s local family church for many, many years and several family

groomsmen, who included best man Harry Walker and groomsmen James

members had previously been married there—including Sam’s parents.

Cox, Angus MacRae, Ben Smytheman and Josh Elliott, dressed similarly

“Ever since I was a child I wanted to get married in the same church as

and wore TM Lewin ties with a fish motif with Bermuda longtail belts,

my parents and have the reception in Uncle John’s garden,” said Sam.

while Jack wore a Roderick Charles sea horse tie. “Apparently sea horses

46 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

www.bermudianweddings.com

Sam’s engagement ring features her birthstone, an Aquamarine

DETAILS Master of Ceremonies Benjy Litherland

Above: The couple seated their 150 guests under a marquee tent on her Uncle’s lawn. Below: The groom added a little piece of the U.K. to the reception with a seating plan designed like the London Underground.

Wedding Planning Starla Williams Ceremony Location Old Devonshire Church Reception Location Orange Valley, Parson’s Lane Décor Starla Williams and Susanna Halliday Flowers Suzan Sickling Cakes Sweet P Cakes by Paula Hayward Caterer Fourways Catering Invitations Gee Brothers (Battersea, London) Entertainment David Fitzsimmons, Kennel Boys Bridal Hair Freddie King, Salon Visage Bridal Makeup Donika York Transportation Karl Terceira Photography & Videography Moongate Productions

mate for life so I thought it was appropriate!” said Jack.

After the ceremony, the couple left in the same horse and carriage to

of our guests) in tears by the end.” The couple and their 150 guests then enjoyed dancing to the Kennel Boys until the wee hours of the morning.

head to the reception. “I enjoyed having time with just Sam on the way

The next day, cousin Will Cox hosted a post-wedding barbeque after

back from the church enjoying champagne in the carriage,” said Jack. “We

which the couple flew to Miami for a mini-honeymoon. The proper hon-

were told beforehand to take ourselves off and have some private time to

eymoon is going to be two weeks’ travelling in Thailand later this year.

savour our wedding day. We made sure we did this, as often that is something that the bride and groom regret not doing.”

Catered by Fourways, the reception featured a four-course meal under

When asked what they wished they had known beforehand, both said they wished they had had more faith that everything was going to work out OK no matter what happened—including Hurricane Nicole. “I wish I’d

a marquee tent decorated by Starla Williams and Sam’s aunt Susanna

trusted my dad when he said ‘everything will be alright,’” said Sam. “Hur-

Halliday who did all the foliage, even creating palm trees out of the tent

ricane Nicole hitting Bermuda two weeks before the wedding definitely

poles. Guests were entertained during the cocktail hour with a steel

panicked me but as he said everything turned out beautifully!”

pan drummer, canapés, champagne and garden games. The dinner was followed by speeches and a surprise for the bride.

“My dad’s speech was particularly special,” said Sam, “but the biggest surprise for me was Jack singing a song for me with his brother as part of his speech. I had no idea they were planning this, so was shocked to find him on stage! The song was amazing and definitely had me (and many www.bermudianweddings.com

Jack agreed. He said his wish would have been “to trust everyone that everything will be okay on the day whatever happens. Also, to have known that weddings are a huge project and require a lot of work and organisation!”

“The day was honestly perfect and just how I had imagined it would be,” concluded Sam. FALL/WINTER 2017 | 47

PhOTOgraPhS By gaVin hOWarTh

#makeyourhomeagetaway

Bermuda Event Solutions

It’s in the Detail...

4 MILL CREEK ROAD, PEMBROKE info@escbermuda.com | (441) 292-7269

escbermuda.com

48 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

Bermuda Event Solutions is a full-service wedding and events coordination company. Whether you are planning a destination wedding or you live locally we will make it our priority to give you the wedding you have always dreamed about.

P. O. Box 495, Devonshire DV BX, Bermuda T. 441. 236.9469 E. info@eventsolutions.bm www. weddingsolutions. bm

www.bermudianweddings.com

FACES OF

Bermuda Weddings WRITTEN BY GABRIELLE BOYER

www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 49

THE FACE OF Wedding Photography GAVIN HOWARTH

S

ince 2006, local photographer Gavin Howarth has been capturing the moment when husbands and wives unite in wedded bliss. With almost 250 weddings under his belt,

it’s safe to say the highly sought-after photographer is an expert in capturing the biggest day of his clients’ lives. “Experience and intuition play a huge role when working. The working knowledge of Bermuda, its infinitely changeable weather, and the many other aspects of a typical wedding day mean no two weddings are ever the same,” says Howarth. And it’s his unrivaled experience and his desire to seek out the most idyllic settings for his couples that make Howarth the best in his field.

For Howarth, the process—from the initial meeting between himself and the engaged couple to the delivery of their wedding photos—is a long but enjoyable one and one in which he takes great pride, making sure every detail is as it should be. “Final delivery is always the proudest moment. It’s a long process and starts with getting to know each client. You end up walking away from the wedding day exhausted having given it your all and that is when the real work begins. Taking the large volume of images and working through them, polishing each and whittling down to a final set is extremely rewarding. Capturing such important memories for my clients is something I am privileged to be able to do.”

As a full-service wedding photographer, Howarth is available for any length of coverage although he mostly photographs larger weddings of four hours or longer. He also offers an array of wedding-related products, from albums to prints and many other popular items which can be ordered through his modern, web-based client portal.

When it comes to forging relationships with his clients, Howarth says, the most important aspect is trust: “Trust is essential; my clients able to let go and enjoy the day to its fullest.

“To reserve my services, clients would need to sign an agreement and pay a retainer

Gavin Howarth Howarth Photography Ltd. (441) 532-3234 info@gavinhowarth.com www.gavinhowarth.com

fee. Popular wedding dates get booked around 18 months out and my season is typically fully booked be the end of the previous year.” www.bermudianweddings.com

PHOTOGRAPH BY GAVIN HOWARTH

have to trust in my abilities and services to be

THE FACE OF Wedding Attire RENÉ HILL

S

ince its founding in January 2015, Weddings By René & René Hill Originals Design and Tailoring Studio has become a mecca for wedding attire.

Owner, designer and the brand’s namesake René Hill started crocheting scarves in 2007, turning her craft into a successful business and in turn, making a name for herself in the local design world.

Her business offers every kind of formal wear, in-

cluding bridal gowns, bridesmaids’ dresses and dresses for the mother of the bride. “We are a full-service tailoring and design studio and bridal boutique. We not only sell you the wedding gown of your dreams, we can personalise it with our team of skilled tailors.

If a bride wants a gown designed, we offer the service of fabricating her gown from start to finish.

Additionally, we offer men’s tailoring services,” says Hill.

Hill and her team of six employees work tirelessly to create, alter and custom-fit gowns of all shapes, sizes and styles for Bermuda brides, while also carrying several lines of high-quality ready-to-wear gowns.

But it’s not just Hill’s gowns and design work that keep her customers coming back for more, it’s the friendly and relaxed atmosphere of her studio and her ability to forge positive relationships with her clients. “Often when our customers walk through the door, they are first-time clients but after several fittings, we become quite close, sharing giggles along the way.”

Looking towards the future, Hill hopes to offer a “New to You” service, which focuses on giving used gowns new life.

“Many brides sell their wedding gowns after their big day is done and we’re PHOTOGRAPH BY TWO & QUARTER

constantly receiving requests from brides-to-be, asking to customise a second-hand dress they purchased, in the hopes of adding personal touches to make their dress their own. We are working on ways to offer this service to our clients on a full-time basis.”

www.bermudianweddings.com

Weddings By René & René Hill Originals Design and Tailoring Studio 2nd Floor Hamilton House, 10 Queen Street, Hamilton (441) 535-0154 www.weddingsbyrene.com www.renehilloriginals.com

THE FACE OF Bar Catering BURROWS LIGHTBOURNE

N

o doubt, one of the busiest stations at any wedding is the bar. With guests taking their liberties, sipping champagne or enjoying beer or a

cocktail while they toast the happy couple, behind the bar, the staff and mixologists are experts, hand-mixing drinks and serving up the desired beverages flawlessly.

Stocking a wedding bar is no easy feat, but one the staff at Burrows Lightbourn, founded in 1808, gets right every time. Whether it’s wine, beer, spirits, soda or water, newly wedded couples can choose to serve it all on their big day, with Burrows Lightbourn’s certified wine experts and mixologists providing a helping hand and industry knowledge, aiding couples to stock their wedding bar correctly. With the largest selection of wine, spirits and beer in Bermuda, Burrows Lightbourn offers a wide range of premium brands, such as Heineken, Coors, Bacardi, Grey Goose, Smirnoff and Tanqueray, to name a few.

As Bermuda’s largest wine and spirits merchant, Burrows Lightbourn has specialised in providing full-service beverage catering for weddings, parties and other functions for generations. The long-trusted company offers one-stop-shop service that includes the rental of glassware, coolers, ice and tables, as well as the sourcing of staff, depending on the needs of the couple and their guests. What’s more, Burrows Lightbourn is available for hire both at hotels or clubs and at private residences.

When it comes to providing wedding bar catering, Burrows Lightbourn is unequivocally the best in Bermuda, offering a wide range of libations and accoutrements to suite any taste and book Burrows Lightbourn for their big day are encouraged to contact Michael Scott, the brand’s catering

Burrows Lightbourn Ltd. 2 Addendum Lane, Pembroke (441) 295-0716 mscott@bll.bm www.wineonline.bm

manager.

www.bermudianweddings.com

PHOTOGRAPH BY TWO & QUARTER

budget. Engaged couples wishing to

THE FACE OF Destination Wedding Planning & Floral Design DESTINATION WEDDING BERMUDA/DEMCO

F

ounded on a will to provide optimum service to destination wedding couples, Destination Wedding Bermuda is a one-stop shop for wedding planning.

In partnership with sister company DEMCO whose staff handle the floral design and décor, Claire-Anne Raynor and her team of 13 focus on pulling together weddings for visiting couples saying, “I do!” on Bermuda’s shores.

“We offer a wide array of services, including flowers and decorations, proposal planning, full-scale wedding and event planning, arrangement of accommodations, hourly consults and day-of management services. These services are available to local brides as well who wish to take advantage of our expertise,” says Claire-Anne.

With 19 years of experience in wedding planning under her belt, Claire-Anne is proficient in assisting brides in the planning of the wedding of their dreams. “We believe in ensuring that our clients’ visions and dreams come first, always listening to their wants and needs, offering them gentle guidance and wisdom that comes from years in the industry,” says Claire-Anne.

Throughout the years, Claire-Anne has successfully planned and executed a variety of weddings, including Christian, Hindu and Nigerian, and received much praise as well as several accolades.

“It’s always been our mantra that we plan and style events for our clients, keeping in mind that we want them to always be left with the feeling of awe and satisfaction,” she says.

In addition to Destination Wedding Bermuda’s expertise in planning destination weddings, Claire-Anne mentioned her pride in DEMCO’s work as Bermuda’s best florist (as awarded by The Bermudian magazine in their 2017 Best of Bermuda Awards). “We are most

PHOTOGRAPH BY TWO & QUARTER

proud of the diverse skills and versatility of our seven florists and their ability to create something magnificent no matter whether a client’s vision is obscure or clearly defined.”

“We offer consults at our newly expanded boutique store in Hamilton, DEMCO To Go, as well as at our dedicated consultation suite which features over 30 décor design examples.” www.bermudianweddings.com

Destination Wedding Bermuda (441) 236-8252 www.destinationweddingbermuda.com DEMCO 14 South Road, Devonshire (441) 234-7777 demco@northrock.bm www.demco.bm

THE FACE OF Event Planning DASFETE

M

orphing wedding dreams into perfectly curated reality is ultra-creative duo Selange Gitschner and Matthew Strong of Dasfete, a full-service event

planning and styling business offering clients everything from design and production, creative direction, décor sourcing, space planning and logistics, styling, photo shoot direction, consulting and more.

Founder and creative director Selange is a certified interior designer, specialising in environmental and sustainable design. She joined the events and marketing industry in 2005, building a tremendous reputation for delivering creative and unique events, which led her to launch Dasfete in 2015 with partner and production director Matthew Strong.

“Matthew and I are a great team,” says Selange. “I prepare a design brief with inspiration, images and layouts.

Then we meet with the client and review the design.

From there, we start working on the production and custom installations. We don’t follow a standard formula; instead, each event is designed and produced around its individual concept.”

Imperative to creating a perfect event is knowing their clients, so says Selange. “We spend a lot of time getting to know our clients. Every couple is unique so we are always looking to customise every aspect of an event specifically for each client. Getting to know our clients and producing something that is beyond what they thought was possible is what makes this process so rewarding.”

Known for their out-of-this-world custom designed bars, tables, light fixtures, hanging installations and stylised tablescapes, the creative duo say that collaborating with other experts in the industry is not only important, it’s a way of celebrating diversity and kicking creativity up a notch! “We love working with local vendors Selange, who works with vendors like Suzan Sickling, Gosling’s, MEF, Great Sound, Undercover Tents, Twisted Spoon Cocktail Co. (and many more!) on a regular basis.

Dasfete Somers Building, 15 Front Street, Hamilton (441) 400-5048 www.dasfete.com

“We run into challenges when planning, especially when it comes to space planning and logistics but we’re always up for the task and will always make it work.” www.bermudianweddings.com

PHOTOGRAPH BY MEREDITH ANDREWS

and artisans to create unique details,” says

THE FACE OF Designer Heirloom Jewellery ALEXANDRA MOSHER

B

ermudian artist Alexandra Mosher is a model of local success. Taking inspiration from the island’s natural flora and fauna, Mosher launched her jewellery design

business in 2004, offering sculptural jewellery for romantics who want to take a piece of Bermuda with them everywhere they go.

With a background in jewellery design, wax carving and fabrication, Mosher expertly hand-sculpts her designs in wax before casting them in metal. Her team of 20 Bermudian women finishes the pieces in the Front Street studio, adding Mosher’s signature touch of pink sand. “I’ve recently started playing with Bermuda textured pieces in 14K gold,” says Mosher. “I’m particularly proud of my technique for the fine jewellery collection; it’s an elegant way of wearing organic elements of Bermuda’s beauty in textures, like The Unfinished Church, Southampton Sea Urchin and Longtail Feathers.”

One of her many accomplishments, including Best of Bermuda awards too numerous to count, is a nod from the Bermuda Tourism Authority. “We are one of the first companies in Bermuda to receive a National Service Standards certification from the BTA,” says Mosher. The accolade dubs Alexandra Mosher Studio Jewellery as an impactful, diverse and unique business, delivering a consistent standard of product and customer service. Indeed, Mosher prides herself on her brand’s customer service, saying that helping her clients find the perfect piece is always a delightful experience.

“We engage with our customers like they are new friends,” says Mosher. “If they’re visiting, we pride ourselves on being their Bermuda tourism ambassadors. We love our local friends too, who check back in to see what we’re sculpting each season.

PHOTOGRAPH BY AMANDA TEMPLE

“We also custom-design jewellery and have special surprises for brides and grooms who choose a collection of wedding day jewellery or gifts with us.

E-mail hello@alexandramosher.com for a special appointment or just pop in to our flagship store and studio; we’re open seven days a week.”

www.bermudianweddings.com

Alexandra Mosher Studio Jewellery Flagship Store and Studio 5 Front Street, Hamilton (441) 236-9009 www.alexandramosher.com hello@alexandramosher.com

WEDDING ALBUM

RICAI WILLIAMS & DAYSHALAE SMITH June 15, 2017 Our wedding was a traditional Bermudian wedding. We loved that it was on a Thursday afternoon, my dress was lace with a stunning veil and train, and the men wore coral Bermuda shorts. The bridesmaids matched the men perfectly in their coral summer dresses. But overall, The Unfinished Church along with the string trio was absolutely breathtaking as we all walked down the aisle. We topped it off in Bermudian style with a romantic traditional horse and buggy ride to our photo shoot destination where our Old Fashioned car then met us to take us to Pier 6 for the reception. Our traditional wedding was definitely more beautiful and perfect than we ever imagined.

Photographers Gary Williams & Graham Mocklow

CELINA ARAUJO & ALLEN FERREIRA May 6, 2017 Our wedding was an intimate one with about 125 guests at the cathedral at St. Theresa’s followed by a reception at Elbow Beach Hotel. The day was just perfect—a bit of wind but no rain—and everything turned out just as we had imagined.

With wonderful support from our family and friend and amazing services all around, it was the best day of our lives thus far!

Photographer: Gavin Howarth

CHARANN WOOLRIDGE & KHALID MUHMMAD November 5, 2016 Our wedding day was everything we wanted. Although it rained most of the day, it seemed like everything stopped the moment it was time for my wife to be to walk down the aisle. It was as if God was smiling as we met each other at the altar. Through all the typical wedding blunders, the only thing that mattered was the fact that our future would begin when we said, “I do.” Our wedding day was not perfect, but that’s what made it so beautiful, and we wouldn’t change a moment of it.

Photographer: James Besalo

56 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

www.bermudianweddings.com

JENNIFER CARRA & SPENCER BOYER October 26, 2016 We are from Somers, Connecticut and we planned our destination wedding, which was held at The Reefs, in only 60 days! Seventy of our closest friends and family were able to come to Bermuda to share in our special day. Also, I took my mother’s original wedding dress from over 30 years ago and created my dress out of hers. It honestly could not have been more perfect. We both truly fell in love with Bermuda and so did all of our guests!

Photographer: Donovin Seymour Photography

JOANNA DOVE & DEREK MAKI October 15, 2017 I grew up in Bermuda, and Derek and I were married on October 15, 2017, which proved to be a particularly memorable weekend as it was only two days after Hurricane Nicole directly hit the island!

As we rode out the hurricane we had no idea what the extent of the damage would be, if the wedding would even happen, or if our guests would be able to arrive. In true resilient Bermudian form, everyone involved in the wedding did everything they possibly could to ensure we still had the special day we had envisioned. It was truly amazing how everyone from our wedding planner to the florist, caterers (Buzz for a cocktail party and Beau Rivage for the rehearsal dinner) Mid Ocean staff, the Reverend at the Unfinished Church, cake baker, local hotels​​(and many more) took it all in stride to pull off the day without a hitch. The weather was absolutely perfect on the day, and the island looked incredible; you couldn’t even tell there had been a hurricane, and, most importantly, everyone was ready to party! It was an amazing day we will certainly never forget, and I don’t think anywhere but Bermuda could have pulled it off so seamlessly.

Photographer: Gavin Howarth

VANESSA LOPES & STEPHEN CHENEY December 31, 2016 It was an intimate ceremony filled with laughter and happy tears. We incorporated Bermudian tradition and added a touch of Disney magic (hidden Mickey) pins. After the ceremony we took our guests on a train ride back up to Rosewood Tucker’s Point for dinner and pre-New Years Eve festivities and then off to watch the fireworks over the sound! Two & Quarter were so phenomenal and were more like family photographing us.

Heidi and the entire team from Rosewood was absolutely flawless and of course so was my incredible wedding planner, Katie Trimingham from All the Trimmings. Bermuda is truly magical and offers something to brides and grooms that no other island does: its people and its stunning backdrop.

Photographer: Two & Quarter www.bermudianweddings.com

FALL/WINTER 2017 | 57

PARTING SHOT | Patricia & Tom

58 | THE BERMUDIAN WEDDINGS

PHOTOGRAPH BY GAVIN HOWARTH

more r o f t u o k o Lo dding in e w is h t f o ue! ht e next iss

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Call Nik Bhola at 441 236-2233 or email nikbhola@coralbeach.bm to make your reservation or for more information. facebook.com/coralbeachclubbda

@CoralBeachBDA #CBC

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