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Darcey and Dave
Ritz Wedding Grand Cayman
Wedding Planner: Alexandra Anitoaie | Grand Cayman Ritz Carlton
Officiant: Pastor Whittaker
Hair and Makeup: Jackie Soriano and Trina
Ring Designer: Freedman Jewelers in Boston
Shoes: Barefoot sandals from Etsy
Decorations: The Ritz and Etsy Artists
Dress: BHLDN
I went dress shopping with my mum and dad, who live out in California. I had picked out a few more casual, boho dresses online prior to dress shopping, but my mum and sister weren’t having any of it. They definitely thought I needed something a little fancier and more elegant. We ended up at BHLDN, and I narrowed it down to a few contenders, but both of my parents loved my dress the most. I fell in love with it, too, and thought it was just the right style, weight, and fabric for a beach wedding.
We decided to do a First Look. We didn’t even know that this was a thing people did until shortly before the wedding. We came across some different photos online of couples spending a little time together before the wedding, and we thought it was a really sweet, special idea. So glad we did it this way. We were able to calm our nerves a bit and have a few quiet, intimate moments all to ourselves before all of the craziness.
We settled on light gray for the men’s attire, so Dave ended up wearing his light gray Ted Baker suit. Dave LOVES Ted Baker hahaha, and we later picked the cute flamingo sandals (also Ted Baker) to accompany the suit.
Ted Baker
Dave and I met at Boston College. I was a graduate student there at the time, and he works there. We happened to have offices across the hall from one another. We always laugh about how serendipitous it was. Dave’s supervisor introduced the two of us, and it wasn’t too long before we both started looking for excuses to pop by each others’ offices to chat. We became fast friends and often ate lunch together, talked about music, and eventually went out for drinks after work one evening. I remember Dave telling me something to the effect of “I don’t usually get along this well with people so quickly,” which I thought was very sweet. And I remember the first time we kissed feeling fairly confident that he was the person I would spend my life with.
A few days before Christmas, just over a year ago, he put the ring under the little Christmas tree in his bedroom. I was overcome, and it was snowing that evening, so we ended up going for a snowy walk around the neighborhood to blow off some steam and excitement.
Rebecca, you are AMAZING. I knew the second that I came across your blog that you have a real gift. You are able to capture the emotions of the experience, as well as the natural beauty of the Cayman Islands – both important factors for us. You went above and beyond, driving us both to our First Look location, running around to make sure you could get photos of the set-up, and, WOW, managing to get all of our family group shots before the sunset… It was watching an expert at work. You were also so sweet, friendly, and made us and our families feel comfortable working with you. So many good things to say! I just hope we have another opportunity to work with you and sing your praises down the road.
I couldn’t stop smiling. Filled with happiness!
Too many. The whole day and days leading up to the wedding were just amazing. Because our families live so far away, the wedding was actually the first time everyone met. Dave and I were both a little nervous about this, but everyone got along so well and had a wonderful time. It meant so much to see all of our families there together. My little brother is a medical student, and my brother in law is also in school, and we knew it wasn’t easy for them to be there. But they were, and it meant the whole world! Anddddd I also really loved our cake!
One of Dave’s few requests for the weddings was that I walk down the aisle to a song called “Ten Feet Tall,” by Stephen Wrabel. He said it reminds me of him because I make him feel ten feet tall. The violinist played it so beautifully.
Perfect, magical, a bit of a blur… but that’s what the pictures are for! 🙂
I will echo the advice that I often see couples planning a destination wedding give, which is take the time to pick good vendors and then just give them free reign to do their thing! Alexandra and the whole Ritz staff were exceptional. They handled so many of the smaller details which allowed Dave and I to focus on our families and each other. Definitely spend some time researching and selecting a venue, photographer, hair and makeup artist, etc.
A little nervous about the families meeting, but it ended up going better than we could have ever hoped. And then just praying that it wouldn’t rain! Because the weather contingency plan for a beach wedding just isn’t the same !!! Hahaha but it ended up being a beautiful evening with blue skies and billowing white clouds. Perfection.
Dave and I danced to “Sideways” by Citizen Cope, which has always been our song. Pa and I danced to “My Girl,” The Temptations, very appropriate, and he even brushed up on his waltz before the wedding which was so sweet and meant so much. Dave and his mum danced to Mariah Carey, “Hero.” I loved watching them dance. The cutest.
Trust the professional! Dave and I were so nervous taking pictures, but Rebecca was a godsend and had a bunch of tricks up her sleeve to help us loosen up a bit.
Dave’s family has been vacationing in Grand Cayman for years, and I had the privilege of joining them for the first time a few years back. Not only is it one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever seen but it also has sentimental value. We were sitting on the beach one evening and there was a wedding happening nearby. It was the first time we had broached the topic with each other, and I guess you could say we got unofficially engaged that night and we thought, wow, wouldn’t this be a fantastic place to have a wedding.