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palm beach, aruba
Peggy Hwang weds Nathaniel Lao on April 10, 2010
F
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
ph oto g r a phy by K e n n y K i m Ph oto g r a phy
46 destination weddings & honeymoons
the details
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
1. In lieu of a guest book, everyone signed an engagement
nibbles, plus drinks like piña coladas and daiquiris. Then the photo. 2. Bridal-shower thank-you gifts included
party moved to the resort’s poolside deck for a dinner buffet luggage tags and a map of Aruba. 3. Flan was one of the
desserts. 4. Bridesmaids wore gowns by Alfred Sung
of local specialties, such as Aruban ceviche, johnnycakes,
and carried bouquets of ivory lilies and orchids, plus
Caribbean snapper and fried sweet plantains. The couple dark-pink highlights. 5. The couple did a sand ceremony
also served a four-tier cupcake tree in lieu of a wedding cake, 3 4 during the service. 6. The wedding site on Palm Beach.
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
5 6 november/december 2010 47

the details
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
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.
48 destination weddings & honeymoons
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lake tahoe, california
Ci Ci Woodward weds Bob Lord on April 4, 2009
T
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
3 4 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
p h o t o g r a p h y by C at h e r i n e H a l l S t u d i o s
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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
november/december 2010 49
i do, i do
key west, florida
Sandy Davis weds Bill Chisholm on November 21, 2009
N
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
ph oto g r a phy by A l i s o n & G eo ff Co n k l i n
50 destination weddings & honeymoons
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the details
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
1. Bill’s cuff links showcased his favorite football teams.
ceremony, which included surprise readings by close friends 2. They surprised guests with a choreographed dance
and time for guests to offer wedding blessings on shells. to “Billie Jean.” 3. The reception, held poolside at the
Southernmost House. 4. The bouquet locket held a photo
Steel-drum player Courtney Henry performed during
of the bride’s late brother. 5. Sandy found her Rampage
cocktail hour at the Southernmost House, where guests shoes on piperlime.com. 6. Tables were marked with
noshed on bacon-wrapped scallops and chicken empana- 3 4 engagement pics taken in New York City.
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
5 6 november/december 2010 51

the details
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
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.
52 destination weddings & honeymoons
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martha’s vineyard, mass.
Lindsay Barron weds Russ Stewart on June 13, 2010
M
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-
3 4 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.
p h o t o g r a p h y by A l l i s o n & B r i a n C a l l away
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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
november/december 2010 53
i do, i do
los cabos, mexico
Madeleine Nguyen weds John Nguyen on January 26, 2010
W
hen 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
ph oto g r a phy by c h o co st u d i o
54 destination weddings & honeymoons
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the details
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
1. The cascade bouquet had La Mancha and white
night of barhopping downtown. Friday’s itinerary featured oriental lilies. 2. The ring bearer and flower girl paved
a catamaran trip with swimming, snorkeling, cocktails and the way with blooms. 3. The reception area. 4. Alonso
Aguirre played during both the ceremony and the cocktail
burgers, followed by a lobster dinner at Cabo Wabo Cantina.
hour. 5. The Westin prepared a lovely two-tier chocolate
The pair had legally married earlier at San Francisco’s city cake. 6. The aisle was laid with a wooden runner to keep
hall, so this time was all about fun. The pre-sunset ceremony 3 4 sand off everyone’s formal clothing.
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
for more info, see the 411 on page 126.
5 6 november/december 2010 55