As those winter blues start to sneak in, this island affair couldn’t have come at a better time. It’s a wedding from the lens of KT Merry, and at the center of it all happens to be top model, Amy Lemons and her love, Taylor. It’s a boho-style, toes-in-the-sand kind of day, and thanks to the help of Little Island Design the whole shebang was planned to perfection. See more for yourself right this way.
Over the last 15 years, Amy Lemons has established herself as a top model gracing the covers of various Vogue’s, Haper’s Bazaar, Elle, and Marie Claire to name a few and shot with some of the most prestigious photographers of all time, such as Steven Meisel, Mario Testino, and Bruce Weber. It wasn’t long before she was shooting campaigns for Calvin Klein, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Abercrombie, Ralph Lauren and more. It became evident that Amy was the new “it girl” and well on her way to becoming a household name. As a self- confessed tomboy and small town girl from Richmond, Virginia her life had truly been quite the fairytale.
In 2007 Amy knew there was more for her to achieve. Deciding to take a brief hiatus from modeling Amy went back to pursue her education, graduating with a B.A. degree in History from UCLA. It was during this time she began to place an emphasis on her future and how she could utilize her success of the past decade to give back and advocate for other girls coming into the spotlight after her. Returning to the modeling world in 2010, she started to work with the Model Alliance, a non- profit organization working for Models’ rights in the workplace. This sense of balance ultimately drew her out of the fast paced lifestyle of New York and Los Angeles and back to her simplistic way of life back in Charlottesville, Virginia. It was here her life would change forever as she met her fiancé, Taylor Suttoon.
The couple was introduced by Amy’s best childhood friend at a Christmas party in 2010. Their mutual love of the outdoors, sports and dogs contributed to a relationship that developed quickly. Taylor proposed in 2012 and Amy said “yes” as their two dogs approvingly looked on. It was this moment that the fairytale came full circle and her life was complete.
Taylor an outdoorsman and advocate for environmental issues grew up in Charlottesville and attended The University of Virginia. Now working for his family’s oil business, he truly is the perfect balance to her picture perfect life.
Amy and Taylor were married on May 25, 2013 on Harbour Island, a tiny island off the North East Coast of North Eleuthera Island in the Bahamas. Amy first fell in love Harbour Island on a fashion shoot for Victoria Secrets with the acclaimed Mario Testino and dreamed of a future wedding on its pink sand beaches. The small island navigated only by golf cart, is the picturesque scene for the couple. The theme of the upscale beach escape is one of relaxing romance. Inspired by the pink and gold colored sand and blue/green colors of the ocean the wedding colors were
coral, turquoise, and gold.
The weekend began on Wednesday night when approximately 40 guests arrived for the long Memorial Day weekend. On Thursday, the men took off on chartered boats fishing for bonefish in the surrounding waters of Harbour Island, while the ladies enjoyed a luncheon/pool party at the Lemons’ private house, The Fig Tree.
After a day on the beach, the rehearsal dinner on Friday night for all attending guests took place at the Rock House Hotel and Restaurant. The resort was previously owned by Versace’s builder Jay Wallace Tut and is a perfect example of the island’s laid back shabby chic style. The event took up the entire lower terrace of the restaurant overlooking the harbor.
On the big day Amy wore an elegant yet ethereal gown by Claire Pettibone to pull the entire mood together.
Amy and Taylor were married on the beach in front of the Ocean View Club at sunset. Amy’s father, Justice Donald Lemons of the Virginia Supreme Court, married the couple in association with a Bahamian Anglican priest. The wedding was orchestrated by Ben Simmons of Little Island Designs. Ben is a native of Harbour Island and known for producing beautiful beach weddings. His mother, a Cordon Blue trained chef, works with him in their upscale menu and food preparation and owns the trendiest store on the island, Miss May’s. Ben specializes in pop-up wedding receptions on the beach incorporating the natural inspiration of the setting and using driftwood, conch shells, weathered furniture, tents with chandeliers and local flowers such as tuberous, lilies and birds of paradise to create a warm and comfortable outdoor atmosphere. The reception and dinner offered family style servings of local seafood such as Conch Beignets, local snapper with papaya salsa, and lobster. The open bar featured signature cocktails, the Dark and Stormy (dark rum and ginger beer) picked by the groom and Patron Mojitos, selected by the bride. Barefoot guests danced to live music and ended the evening around a bonfire.
The fashion forward guests, including close friends and top models Sara Ziff and Maggie Riser, partook in what will be one of the endearing and romantic experiences two people can share. For Amy what once was a magical fairytale is now a dream come true.
From Ben Simmons of Little Island Design… Destination weddings are challenging at the best of times..we do twenty a year or so and there is always that little challenge that bites at your comfort zone…So when Amy began throwing around terms like gypset, haute hippie, boho chic I was a little nervous. Harbour Island is three miles long by half a mile wide and not exactly a bustling metropolis with rental options. None the less we began to piece together a story and when I finally got to met Taylor and Amy, I wasn’t the slightest bit worried. Such a lovely couple – beautiful and down to earth.
Amy was set on sophisticated yet laid back affair that was deep in romance and soul yet unrestrained in convention. The design components were broken down into details that communicated a sophisticated vintage style, bohemian or hippy-ish feel and rugged textural carefree experience. Of course we opted for beach event, with the always impractical but enduring hope for tent less reception.
For a vintage sophistication we hunted for gold or brass – I recently smuggled a bunch vintage brass taper holders back from Ireland so I excited to have an opportunity to use them. I also happened to have collection of vintage gold Thai Cutlery with rose wood handles which were a perfect for the tables. I generally hate anything plastic, but we had gold acrylic chargers and so they completed our place setting.
For a hippy, bohemian feel we decided that musical instruments might a interesting and unique detail to incorporate. My family has a small hotel that neighbors the local school. Earlier on they and inspired by a limited budget they purchased all the broken instruments they could on the island to decorate the Hotel. 30 years of salt spray had weathered them wonderfully and so we placed them in the center of each table with pops of peonies and other small decorative elements.
We were of course worried about the weather and in the end threw up one of our sail cloth tents but in fact the weather was perfect on the day. Tailor and Amy used our old boat for pictures and it turn out wonderfully. The biggest scare was two days before the wedding when a loose frisby chipped one of Tailors front teeth…Dentists can be as be hard to come by as vintage props on a small island. Luck was with us though and one was around when we needed him.
It was a wonderful celebration, an incredible couple, captured beautifully by an amazing photographer.
Photography: KT Merry Photography | Invitations: Sea Fan Design | Wedding Bands: Andrew Minton | Groom's Attire: Perry Ellis | Ceremony Music: Rocky + Ersly | Bride's Gown: Claire Pettibone | Bride's Reception Dress: Alexander Wang | Bride's Sandals: Manolo Blahnik | Ceremony And Reception Location: The Ocean View Club | Flower Girl Dress: J.Crew | Rehearsal Dinner Venue: Rock House | Wedding Designer And Planner: Little Island Designs