WEDDING BLOG

Barbados anyone? Now this is what I call a destination wedding! Photographed by Aves Photographic Design, these images show us what a spectacular location couple Melissa and Rob chose for their big day.

The Goals: Melissa and Rob were ecstatic about how their destination wedding in Barbados turned out. Though bride Melissa had long avoided fantasizing about her wedding day because she knew she risked disappointment, the fun, elegant three-day event was everything she had hoped for and more! Honestly, I had never imagined what my wedding day would look like. I was always afraid that if I had, my dreams would never come true. Our wedding was more than I could ever have imagined. It was truly unreal.

The Design: Melissa and Rob’s intimate wedding was held at Sandy Lane Resort and Country Club in beautiful Barbados. Melissa chose soft hues for her wedding that would complement the brilliant, natural colors of the Caribbean without competing with the bright scenery. The floral arrangements designed for the ceremony were made up of roses in shades of white, ivory, soft apricot, and coral. For the reception, Melissa incorporated platinum into the décor for a luxurious and festive feel.

During the lively reception, the jubilant couple and their guests enjoyed a simple, traditional white cake, kept clean and classic to withstand the Caribbean heat. Brian Carter, one of the performers at the reception, sang Michael Jackson and Louis Armstrong songs and maintained an electric atmosphere on the dance floor the entire night. I had never been to a wedding where everyone was on the dance floor – until ours. I remember looking up, and not a single person was in their chair!

The Look: Melissa’s bridal style was sexy and romantic. With an affinity for luxurious fabrics and alluring lines, her personal style beautifully influenced the weddings overall look. Melissa found her gown, a unique design by Ines DiSanto, at Bridal Reflections in New York City. Rob gave his stunning bride a necklace from Gregg Ruth Jewelry on the day of their wedding – her something new! Her striking Rene Coavilla pumps acted as her something blue; she had with her the handkerchief her mother-in-law used when she got married as her something old; and her something borrowed was the necklace that one of her dear friends wore on her own wedding day.

According to Melissa, the wedding party’s style was casual with a bold streak of elegance. Her bridesmaids wore streamlined, floor-length silver gowns from the Dessy Collection by Vivian Diamond paired with sparkling sandals by Stuart Weitzman. Rob and his groomsmen looked sophisticated in taupe suits by Ermenegildo Zegna that blended in gracefully with the beachy background in Barbados.

The Moments: Melissa distinctly remembers the way her handsome groom Rob stared at her throughout the whole ceremony. I truly felt so much love! As a gift for her husband, Melissa made a scrapbook that included every card, every note, every wine label, and so on, that the couple had shared since their very first date.

The pair danced to Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together” for their first dance as a married couple, an incredible romantic moment that Melissa loves to look back upon now. Melissa simply couldn’t say enough about how perfect her wedding felt to her, It was all perfect, but still me. There is not one thing that wasn’t the best.

The Pros: To learn about all of the wedding professionals who worked hard on this wedding, please visit Melissa and Rob’s page in our Real Wedding Library.

Thank you so much Melissa and Rob!

To plan your own Southern California or Seattle area wedding, browse our Plan Your Wedding Hotlists! And to find a dream wedding photographer for your wedding anywhere in the world, be sure to check out Junebug’s World’s Best Wedding Photographers Hotlist!