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Kindred Spirits – Kevin & Courtney

Photographer Andy Marcus, a StrictlyWeddings.com’s New York partner, shared one of his fabulous weddings with us and we’re thrilled to share Courtney and Kevin’s special day with you as well.

Kevin and Courtney met at Villanova University during their freshman year of college. They were in the same core humanities course and spent time together during a field trip and became fast friends. The summer following freshman year, they began dating, traveling across the country between Dallas and Connecticut to see each other and spent countless hours on the phone.

Her proposal arrived at sunset while the couple were walking on the beach in Bridgehampton. Both sets of parents were waiting at Courtney’s family’s beach house with champagne to celebrate when they returned. They were engaged in August 2009 and had a 22 month engagement (necessary as Courtney and her mom acted as the wedding planners).

The wedding ceremony was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, which had always been a special place for Courtney’s family as it’s where they would attend midnight mass on Chrismas Eve. “It always seemed magical,” says Courtney. The President of Villanova, Reverend Father Peter, married the couple and did a very touching homily. At the end of the ceremony, he called the parents up to sing the song ‘May the Road Rise to Meet you.’ “Our parents placed their hands on our backs. This is a Villanova tradition,” explains Courtney.

Floral Designer Dejaun Stroud and Courtney chose bright vibrant centerpieces and bouquets to contrast the navy bridesmaids dresses by Amsale and navy tableclothes. They included opulent displays of lilies, roses, hydrangeas, peonies, and eremurus in varied shades of coral.

The reception was held at the Mandarin. They fell in love the first time they entered the ballroom and knew it was the perfect place for the reception. Courtney and Kevin had their guests tour the city in New York on double decker tour buses before the cocktail hour for a real “classic” feel.

The couple honeymooned at the One & Only Reethi Rah Resort in the Maldives and stopped off at Dubai on the way back to the U.S. Avid travelers, Kevin and Courtney felt the exotic destination was appropriate.

The Sun Shined Bright at this Hampton Wedding

StrictlyWeddings.com New York photographer Andy Marcus, of Fred Marcus Photography, lightened our summer heat wave with this beautiful wedding and reception in The Hamptons (held at the Bridgehampton Tennis and Surf Club). The sky was a beautiful blue, the sun kissed the bride & groom with a golden glow, and a blessed day was shared by all.

Wedding gown: Oscar de la Renta
Shoes: Manolo Blahnik
Cake: Sylvia Weinstock
Invitations, Linens, Menu, etc: Ellen Weldon Design
Flowers + Event Design: DeJuan Stroud
Wedding Planner: Gourmet Advisory Services

Jamaica’s Tourquoise Sea a Perfect Setting

This summer’s heat is so overwhelming we went looking for something with a “cool” feel. This ocean side wedding in Jamaica from Andy Marcus of Fred Marcus Photography in New York was the perfect refreshment.

The magical Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios was this wedding’s destination. It has an incredible beach, gorgeous rooms, and a private, small hotel that you can take over with loved ones. The vision for this wedding was for something elegant, relaxed, fun and comfortable.

The day of the wedding was spent with volleyball, swimming in the ocean and lounging together until the afternoon ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. Late night there was a bonfire for post-wedding relaxation in the sand and continued cocktails.

The bride’s dress was by Monique Lhuillier. This dress was perfectly elegant and simple for a beach wedding. The lace made it special, but the design made it relaxed, comfy and very much her style. The bride was able to dance and move in it – even sit in the sand – plus she could be barefoot. Very important for a wedding with a “no shoes” dress code!

Jamaica’s Ocho Rios – This New York Couple’s Perfect Destination Wedding

We are delighted with this fun wedding from Andy Marcus of Fred Marcus Photography in New York. Who wouldn’t have a good time in Jamaica? The bride did a wonderful job telling us her story as well …

… Matt and I met through mutual friends from college. We spent 6 years dating before we decided to get married. We had always wanted a destination wedding where we could be surrounded by those we love and have a vacation as a group. We chose the magical Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios, Jamaica because of the incredible beach, gorgeous rooms, and the fact that it was a private and small hotel we could take over with our loved ones. In addition, they have a fantastic staff, incredible food, are easy to travel to from our home in NYC and have a location that needs no decoration! Our vision for the wedding was to have something elegant, relaxed, fun and comfortable.

Our wedding festivities began on Thursday evening with welcome cocktails in one of the incredible ocean front suites. On Friday, we had a ladies spa morning, beach volleyball tournament and a sunset boat cruise and rehearsal dinner for all the guests that afternoon/evening. Then came the day of the wedding which was spent with more volleyball, swimming in the ocean and lounging together until the afternoon ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. Late night there was a bonfire for post-wedding relaxation in the sand and continued cocktails. (more…)

StrictlyWeddings.com welcomes Fred Marcus Photography NYC

As we take our luxury wedding site into New York City, we want to invite you to a preview of the many wedding experts who have agreed to be our partners. With great excitement, we’d love to show you the beautiful photography of Fred Marcus. As you can see from the photos below, photographer Andy Marcus clearly captures “the moments” that are such treasured memories on your special day.