An Intimate Island Wedding with an Al Fresco Reception on the Beach

Sarah and Alex met on Halloween in 2018 when their mutual friend, Michael, hosted a costume party. A few weeks after the event, Sarah made the first move; she asked Alex to grab drinks and the two hit it off right away. Two years later, on September 5, 2020, the couple took a trip to Kenai Fjords, Alaska, to spend the week fly fishing. Alex surprised Sarah with a helicopter ride through the area, and when they landed in Bear Glacier, he popped the question. "It was breathtaking!" Sarah remembers.

They spent just over a year planning their June 12, 2021, wedding at Little Palm Island, Florida, a private island resort where all 20 of their attendees had accommodations. "We were captivated by how private and intimate Little Palm felt and wanted our guests to feel like they were on vacation as opposed to a big destination resort," Sarah says. There are only 30 rooms available on the island—and kids under 18 aren't allowed—so the bride and groom knew they would have the island to themselves for their wedding weekend.

As for the challenges the pair met during the planning process? Sarah's twin sister was set to be married just three months before her and Alex's big day; the bride says ensuring their big-day décor looked different was the hardest part. To mitigate this, the couple worked with a planner from Simply You Weddings, along with their florist, Avant Gardens, to design an intimate, unique celebration with "tropical elegance" in mind, complete with a green-and-white color palette.

Sarah and Alex worked with The Write Touch to create all-text invitations within their green-and-white color palette (which featured a pop of yellow!); calligraphy by Laura Lines Calligraphy added a whimsical touch. The couple selected stamps that featured Florida birds, Ernest Hemingway, and some saltwater flies—including Lefty's Deceiver, which, according to the bride, is arguably the best saltwater fly pattern in the world. "It was created by Lefty Kreh in 1991, the year I was born," she says.

The couple kicked off their wedding weekend with cocktails on a boat.

After the boat ride, Sarah changed into a white Johanna Ortiz dress paired with a Cult Gaia clutch and Giuseppe Zanotti shoes.

The pair's rehearsal dinner took place overlooking the ocean. Tropical fruits like pineapples, plantains, and papayas were used throughout the tablescape.

For her big day, Sarah fell in love with a Lela Rose monochromatic print, but the style it came in was more formal than she envisioned for her beach wedding. Lela and her team were able to customize Sarah's wedding dress using the fabric she wanted, creating a V-neck gown with a deep back and a bow embellishment. Sarah borrowed her twin sister's pearl earrings (that she wore to her own wedding!) and finished her look with Loeffler Randal shoes. Alex donned a Vince linen shirt, Billy Reid khaki pants, and Viberg loafers; his watch was his only accessory.

Sarah shared a first look with her dad on the deck of her suite at the resort, which calmed her pre-ceremony jitters.

The bride held a bouquet of white ranunculus, mini cymbidium orchids, dendrobium orchids, and freesia, finished with a satin stem wrap.

Their ceremony took place just steps from the ocean, where a bamboo arch was decorated with dried palms and grasses.

As a musician played "Southern Cross" by Crosby Stills and Nash, Sarah made her way down the aisle, accompanied by her father.

The couple opted for a religious ceremony officiated by their mutual best friend, Michael, who introduced them back in 2018. The couple hired a one man band, Brian Roberts, who played Bob Marley's "Stir It Up" for the recessional. "We loved his carefree island vibe!" Sarah says.

Alex and Sarah snuck away from their cocktail hour—during which they served watermelon jalapeño margaritas and light bites like yellowfin tuna tacos—a few minutes early to snap a few sunset photos on the beach.

The newlyweds shared their first dance to "Is This Love" by Bob Marley. "He is one of our favorite artists and we thought it perfectly captured our relationship—easy and fun!" Sarah says.

Dinner took place on the beach, where one long table was paired with cushioned wooden chairs. Rattan chandeliers hung above the table for a Caribbean feel. "I was inspired by India Hicks," Sarah says. "India is originally from London, but has lived in the Bahamas the last 25 years and her design aesthetic reminds me of all my childhood memories in the Abacos."

Place settings featured woven chargers embellished with small seashells; orange linen napkins were topped with dinner menus finished with a wax seal. A lush palm garland spanned the length of the table and was interspersed with more tropical greenery and bright ripe mangos.

After dinner—the pair offered two choices per course so guests could experience the island fare—the group concluded the evening with a dip in the pool. A sweet deer named Dottie, who lives on the island, joined in during the late-night fun: "She came for the wedding cake, but stayed for the party," Sarah laughs.

Photography, KT Crabb
Venue and Catering, Little Palm Island
Event Coordination, Simply You Weddings
Event Design, Flowers, Rentals, and Lighting, Avant Gardens
Invitation Design and Calligraphy, Laura Lines Calligraphy
Invitation Paper and Printer, The Write Touch; Arzberger Stationers
Bride's Gown, Lela Rose
Bride's Accessories, Kelly's Closet; Mikimoto
Bride's Shoes, Loeffler Randall
Hair and Makeup, Studio Marie-Pierre
Groom's Attire, Vince; Billy Reid
Music, Brian Roberts
Cake, Cakes by Karol
Favors, Weezie Towels