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Laura + Matt
“Grand Cayman has been a very special place for our family for many years – so much so that my parents ended up buying a home on the island. Matt and I took our first vacation together to Cayman, and even back then (before we talked about getting married) I thought it would be a beautiful setting for our wedding, and a wonderful corner of the world to share with those we love so much! Turns out – I was right!!!”
Matt and Laura were married in their parents private home in Rum Point, Grand Cayman. The view was ‘to die for’. Here is their story….
How did you meet?
The night matt asked me to marry him was the second night in our new house that we just bought here in Portland. I came home after a work function and Matt had cooked me my favorite dinner. He had dressed our dog Bourbon up in a suit and top hat, and then after a flurry of heartfelt words he got down on one knee and proposed to me! This memory is so special, and I love that it is the first of many special memories we will have in our home.
Venue: Private Home, Rum Point
Minister: Rev. Whittaker
Planner: Elina Zavala – Parfait
Flowers/Decor: The Flower Dell
Cake: The Cake Studio
Dress: Dress Designer – Lela Rose
Reception: Rum Point Restaraunt
Photographer: Rebecca Davidson Photography …me 🙂
I had so much fun wedding dress shopping in Chicago with my mom, sister, and bridesmaid Bridget. My sister actually pulled the dress that ended up being my wedding dress. I loved it because it was different than a lot of the things I had been trying on. The beading detail was just so unique. And most of all I felt so comfortable in the dress. I am not one to wear anything uncomfortable in my everyday life and I was not about to start doing so on my wedding day!
I would say always plan more time than you think you need to get the pictures you want. The day before the wedding we realized we were going to be rushing to get all the photos we wanted to we added an additional hour and it was no nice! You don’t want to be stressed about a timeline – especially when you have a wedding party as big as we did!
You absolutely MUST have a wedding planner. This was the best thing I did. And then – just don’t sweat the small stuff. I loved letting Elina just take care of all the little details, and she did it better than I ever could have. There is enough on your plate as a bride or groom without having to be calling your vendors the day before the wedding to ensure everything goes smoothly. Also – embrace the location you are in. If you are getting married on an island no need to dress it up too much – it is beautiful as is!
Early on in the wedding planning process Matt and I decided to write our own vows which we did not share with each other before the wedding. That moment where we shared our vows for the first time was so special. Also – having our closest friends and family there to witness it all was just such a beautiful thing.
Working with Rebecca was just wonderful. She is laid back, has a great sense of humor (essential for natural smiles all day long), and this was key to getting the great shots that she got! I think she captured the real essence of that day perfectly!
The wedding was an incredible day. All the events leading up to it were such fun. Being able to share Cayman with those we love most, and have their love and support on our wedding day what nothing short of magical. Were there things that were not perfect – of course! Was I stressed at times – yes! But it all fades into the background when you just let yourself really enjoy the moments.
Do the first look!!! I used to think it was cheesy but it was so great! We got all our butterflies out before the ceremony. We got a special moment with just us to really reflect on our upcoming wedding ceremony, and we got all the wedding party photos out of the way before the wedding so afterwards we could focus on what we love most – eating and drinking and dancing!!!
Don’t get overwhelmed by all the things you “should” do on your wedding day. Pinterest and other wedding websites can be great – but will also make you go crazy with all the wedding inspiration ideas. Limit your time on the internet getting ideas for your wedding – it can seriously suck you in otherwise. Like I said before – when you are doing a destination wedding the place is really the centerpiece of it all . . . so you really don’t need too much more to make it amazing!
