Romantic Garden Wedding in Bermuda at Mount Pleasant

Melissa Baran
March 18, 2019
Categories: Real Weddings, Romantic, The Blog

The love story that precedes this beachy fete has a serendipitous twist for the books… raised in Bermuda, this duo found their way to each other upon returning home after studying overseas. But what’s more—six years later they found an old photo together in which they both attended the same violin class, unknowingly from youth. It’s one of those stars align, meant-to-be kind of love stories. Their wedding from dasfete and Jenny Moloney is the sweetest culmination.

From the bride… Ryan and I first met 8 years ago in Bermuda, having both moved home to the island after studying overseas and we have been together ever since. However, a couple of years ago, a close family friend discovered an old photograph of me in a violin class when I was only 5 years old. One of the boys in the picture next to me turned out to be Ryan! We still marvel that the photo was discovered as we would have never otherwise realized that we had in fact known each other most of our lives.

As two Bermudians, we knew our island home was where we wanted our family and friends to come for a week of celebrating, boating, golfing, fishing and beaching. The search for the venue itself proved a little more difficult as we wanted somewhere off the beaten path. On an island 22 miles long, that is no easy feat. We eventually stumbled on Mount Pleasant — an expansive Bermudian estate tucked discreetly upon a hill with unrivaled views, tall trees, native florals and intricate gardens. It was originally built as Bermuda’s first court house, and is now owned by a childhood friend of Ryan’s who grew up in a family home next door to Mount Pleasant. It was the ultimate playground for two young boys to bounce around and climb everything in sight. Being able to host our ceremony and reception at a property steeped in Bermudian history with so many childhood memories was incredibly special and meaningful.

One of the very first things we came up with after getting engaged was the wedding hashtag – #AFariesTaleWedding – which was a spin on my future last name “Faries.” The hashtag, coupled with the beautiful gardens of Mount Pleasant, set the aesthetic for our wedding early on and became the main inspiration for the rest of the details. We envisioned a day of relaxed elegance which was brought to life by Selange and Matthew Strong of Dasfete. One of my favorite design elements was the pergola with sheer white draped fabric, hand built by Matthew and Dasfete’s carpenters, as it gave the tent a stunning visual effect.

Having our wedding close to home meant we could take advantage of local Bermudian talent including Coral Coast Clothing, which is owned by two close friends. With one of the founders, Adam Petty, in the wedding party, it couldn’t have been more fitting to feature their clothing line for the groomsmen attire. The custom Bermuda shorts matched the wedding’s soft color palette perfectly. Ryan also gifted the groomsmen personalized Coral Coast shirts with their initials monogrammed on the cuff, adding a special touch.

My signature cocktail was vodka-based, with a touch of mint, while Ryan’s featured Goslings rum. For our dessert bar, Dasfete incorporated an ice cream bar and an 8’ donut wall featuring “malsadas” (Portuguese donuts) as a nod to Ryan’s Azorean descent. Dasfete also framed a picture of our dog, Cedar, to mark the head table and it was an amazing touch to see her sweet little face when we sat down. The hashtag was appropriately displayed in giant lettering above the pool and was immersed on a bed of greenery surrounded by giant floating balloons. It was a popular spot for insta-worthy pictures!

As locals, we know that Bermuda weather can be volatile. Though we woke up to downpouring rain, when it came time to walk down the aisle the skies had cleared for a sunny ceremony and cocktail hour. With only one other quick rain shower happening while everyone was safely seated underneath the tent for dinner, we like to think the well-timed rain was a gentle nudge from our loved ones above, including both of our fathers who had passed away. The entire day was beautifully captured by our photographers, Jenny Moloney and her husband Blake. We fell in love with their charismatic personalities and are so happy they were able to travel all the way to Bermuda to capture our most special moments.

Hiring Das Fete was the single best decision we made in wedding planning. We had a specific vision in mind and Selange and Matt executed it flawlessly. They masterminded the garden wedding of our wildest dreams, transforming a backyard into a magical oasis fully equipped with sound, a dance floor and a kitchen which simply would not have been possible without them and their team.

One piece of advice is to choose wisely in picking where you will be getting ready on the day of the wedding. You spend a significant amount of time in that space and it also shapes your mood and your frame of mind for the rest of the day. Some of my fondest memories and pictures are from the pre-wedding hours spent with my bridesmaids getting ready and relaxing. Speakers and a playlist, PJ’s for your girls, some small decorations, candles to set the vibe and a little bubbly will go a long way!

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From the planner, dasfete… The most important part for Dasfete as planners and designers is to tell the bride and grooms story and create memories that they and their guests will forever cherish. The details create the experience and ambiance. Selange met with Lyndsay and Ryan to learn about their personalities, their love, their story to really bring to life their fairytale wedding.

In Bermuda you have limited tent options and only one choice for a tent liner. Dasfete wanted this tent to be a one of a kind elevated experience without taking away from the stunning gardens that surrounded it. They knew they needed to think outside the box. By creating custom built pergolas with hanging chandeliers and fabric the tent came alive and created an intimate and romantic space. The dinner tables featured romantic florals using local greenery and florals that would typically be grown in a Bermudian garden- Garden roses, Snap Dragons, Ferns, Stephanotis etc. In addition, the dancefloor was positioned in the middle of the tent with a quote from one of their favourite reggae songs (Buju Banton- I don’t wanna let you go, with you I’m in no hurry) with a beautiful lounge that divided the dining area from the dancing area- allowing for ease of flow and creating intimate spaces. The custom-built bars were positioned next to the dancefloor adorned with hanging florals, pendants and endless candles. An outdoor lounge was draped with Edison bulbs under a starry night so those taking a break from the dance floor could take in the stunning property under the stars… tying in perfectly with #AFariesTaleWedding. The gardens and house were up lit with LED lights in a blush amber color which created a dramatic transition as the sun set.