Erin Fetherston and Gabe Saporta's Romantic Pastel-Colored Vintage Destination Wedding in Barbados

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Erin Fetherston and Gabe Saporta

Fashion designer Erin Fetherston met rock star Gabe Saporta at a red-carpet fashion gala in the fall of 2010. Sparks flew, and the pair began a fairy-tale romance that culminated in an engagement a year-and-a-half later, while they were vacationing in Barbados.

When they imagined their wedding, Erin and Gabe pictured a romantic, old-world setting. Together (and with a little help from us), they created just that, using the verdant woods of Barbados as their backdrop.

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On-Theme Invitations

Erin looked to old storybook illustrations for invite inspiration.

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The Bride's Blooms

Erin, dressed in a gown of her own designs and Jimmy Choo shoes, carried a bouquet of peonies, sahara and majolica spray roses, parrot tulips, and jasmine.

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The Dress-Code

"I knew it would be potentially controversial, but I encouraged a pastel dress code," Erin said. "In the end, the guests looked great—especially the men!"

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A Sweet Announcement

Instead of a bridal party, the couple enlisted their friends and family's children to lead Erin them down the aisle. These cherubic flower girls, who wore Olive and Fern dresses, announced the bride's arrival with a cloth banner that read, "On this day in May ..."

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Flower Girl Accessories

Vintage silk cherry blossoms and gold paper leaves bloomed on hair wreaths made for her pint-sized bridal attendants.

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Oh Boy!

A ring bearer carried a sign that read, "Hip Hip Hooray" in gold lettering.

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The Boutonnieres

While Gabe didn't have official groomsmen, his close male friends and family wore boutonnieres made from local white larkspur, jasmine, and eucalyptus seedlings.

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Ready for the Ceremony

Guests gathered pre-ceremony outside the stone walls of St. Nicholas Abbey, a 350-year-old rum distillery and the couple's venue.

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Parental Guidance

Gabe, wearing an all-white Gieves and Hawkes suit (Prince William's wedding day choice, too) and Gucci shoes, walked with his parents down the aisle.

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A Twist On Tradition

"In a traditional Jewish ceremony, there are no vows," Erin says. "But we really wanted to say, 'I do.'"

Gabe ad libbed a bit. "The officiant asked, 'Will you always love and cherish your wife?' and Gabe said, 'And I'll always have your back and I'll always protect you, and you'll never be alone,'" said Erin.

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Traditional Touches

As part of the couple's Jewish ceremony, Erin circled her groom seven times.

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The Newlyweds

Erin and Gabe strolled down the aisle post-ceremony to the a string quartet playing the Beatles' "All You Need Is Love."

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Cocktail Hour

Decked out in a pastel palette, the couple's friends and family enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and pink-tinged Belaire Rare Rose.

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Island Drinks

Dark and Stormies and mojitos were a cocktail-hour nod to the venue's rum-steeped history.

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Sipping Stars

Two of the bride's cousins flanked photographer Ellen von Unwerth (camera in hand) during cocktail hour.

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Welcome to the Jungle

The couple's wedding photographer, Nancy Neil, took photos of the stylish crowd as they gathered in the courtyard for champagne.

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Unique Seating Cards

Escort cards were designed as old-fashioned dance cards; pencils, attached with ribbons, encouraged guests to schedule spins.

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Dreamy Decor

Ivy and grapevines cascaded down the walls of the reception tent. "It was amazing," Erin said. "I wanted to live in that tent forever!" Ranunculus, sahara and majolica spray roses, tulips, lisianthus, carnations, eucalyptus, jasmine, and peonies made up the centerpieces.

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Gilded Details

Guests sipped Champagne underneath gold paper-leaf chandeliers.

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For the Little Ones

At the kids' table, a laser-cut accordian-style booklet by Cutture London displayed the couple's love story.

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Child's Play

Spray-painted animal masks and drawing paper also provided dinnertime entertainment for the pint-sized bridal party.

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The First Dance

The newlyweds adorably waltzed to "Someday My Prince Will Come" from Disney's 1937 animated film, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. "Taking a waltz lesson was a highlight of the planning," Erin said. "Gabe is such an elegant ballroom dancer. So princely!"

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Father-Daughter Dance

Erin and her dad took a spin (and shared a hug) on the dance floor.

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The Cake

Sugar cherry-blossom flowers adorned the four-tier coconut cake with coconut filling.

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Added Perk

Coffee beans topped dark chocolate mousse as part of the delicious dessert spread by Patisserie Flindt.

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Berry Nice

Patisserie Flindt also baked raspberry tartlets to round out the sweets table.

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Photo Booth Fun

Guests squeezed into the photo booth, which was designed to look like a page from an antique storybook. Here, James Van Der Beek and his wife, Kimberly, stike a playfully dramatic pose.

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Golden Guestbook

Friends and family wrote their favorite Erin and Gabe stories in a book titled "Tales of the Past." Hopes for the new couple went in one labeled, "Wishes for the Future."

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