Florida weddings always have this ethereal feel about them. A sort of floating above the sand vibe, rather than walking through it. And in the case of this sweet Islamorada affair, it’s heavenly and then some with a bride and groom who set about re-creating the night they met in the Florida Keys. An “epic beach party under the stars” set against the beautiful Postcard Inn, it’s the fab stylings of Kate Bentley Events meets oh-so-lovely vibrant hues meets a stunning Naeem Khan gown originally designed for the First Lady (seriously). See all of the pretty captured by Thompson Photography Group in the full gallery.
From the Bride… We chose Islamorada because we wanted to bring our loved ones back to the place where we fell in love. We wanted our wedding to not just be a celebration of our union, but an opportunity for all the amazing people we have befriended through our many journeys in life to come together and experience the serenity of the Florida Keys.
We wanted our wedding to be reminiscent of the night in Key West when we met, so our priority was to deliver an epic beach dance party under the stars. The Postcard Inn was the perfect venue to provide the comforts of a resort where people could truly enjoy a sunny holiday and the most memorable beachside wedding of all time. Since we wanted to foster an environment that allowed our friends and family to mingle and meet, we wanted to ensure that our venue offered every amenity so guests didn’t feel the need to leave the property. In the end, it was truly sublime. As David said, “Everywhere I went at the Postcard Inn, I saw an old friend.” It gave us a once in a lifetime opportunity to host everyone we loved under one star lit roof.
We wanted to create a beach chic atmosphere that wove in natural elements to create a warm and lively setting. The driftwood, candles and grapevine balls were intertwined amongst long tables and lit up with tiki torches and festival lights, creating an elegant grace against the backdrop of the ocean which gave rise to the epic dance party.
The story of my dress is one of my favorite stories to share. I wanted to honor my Sri-Lankan culture and wear a Sari for the ceremony, but I wanted something more unique than a traditional wedding sari. Searching around online one night I found the most exquisite turquoise dress designed by Naeem Khan. The dress fit the vision I had in my mind for a sari that embodied the traditions of the east with the elegance of the west. It was beyond my price point, but one of my bridesmaids was determined to find a way for me to get the dress. She had a good friend who worked for the designer and reached out to see if there was any chance to get a sample sale version of the dress. Unfortunately, we were told that the dress was completely sold out. But literally a few hours later, we got a call. It was fate letting us know that Naeem had designed a version of the same dress in white for Michelle Obama and she had just returned the dress. It was mine… a dress custom made for the First Lady ended up being the wedding dress of my dreams.
The highlight of my wedding was my father’s welcome speech and toast to David and me. He captured the perfect balance of humor and emotion and ended by singing a Sri-Lankan lullaby about the love for a daughter. It was a speech that resonated not just with David and me, but touched every guest at our wedding. The story of his toast has traveled far and wide since our wedding, and every mention brings tears to eyes of the reciter.
[dotted]
Wedding Photography: Thompson Photography Group | Wedding Venue: The Postcard Inn in Islamorada, Florida | Event Planning + Design: Kate Bentley Events | Wedding Dress: Naeem Khan | Bride’s Shoes: Stuart Weitzman | Bridesmaids’ Attire: Thayer | Flower Girl Attire: Little Dreamers | Groom’s Attire: Hugo Boss