Love at first sight…it may sound cliché, but it was just that for New York couple Katelyn and Sal Bucchio.  The second Katelyn saw Sal, she immediately fell head over heels for him. The two met while she was bartending at a restaurant that he was an investor in, and when Katelyn first saw him during a meeting at the restaurant, she said, “He is the one; I am going to marry that man!” 

Turns out Katelyn’s instincts and prediction were spot on, with Sal proposing on the beach in Aruba at sunset.  Later that evening, Katelyn had just one lament: “I wish my family and friends were here right now!” One year later, the couple was on the shores of Palm Beach, surrounded by more than 100 family and friends, saying their I-dos during a lovely seaside ceremony.

The ceremony and reception were hosted by the Barcelo Aruba Resort, who assisted the couple’s wedding planner, Andrea Garcia with AG Events, with all the details, including flowers, décor, and entertainment. 

The Details

Attire

The bride wore a sophisticated cream dress with a sweetheart neckline, spaghetti straps, and a fitted, elegantly beaded bodice.  The bridesmaids wore sea blue dresses with a floral pattern, matched with sea-blue suits for the groom and best man.

Décor and Flowers

Although it was a beach wedding and reception, Katelyn wanted to infuse a bit of beach chic into the event. She carried a bouquet of white dendrobium orchids, and the bridesmaids carried simple but elegant bouquets of calla lilies.  The ceremony featured clusters of white roses, calla lilies, and hydrangeas. 

Katelyn’s vision of a sophisticated, magical night under the stars was actualized with a clean white and silver color palette brought to life with twinkling vintage string lights and table centerpieces with sparkling fairy lights.

Menu

Guests enjoyed a cocktail hour with a selection of passed hors d’ oeuvres like Serrano ham bruschetta, pineapple-shrimp kebabs, mini lamb koftas, spring rolls, and fried chicken tacos.  Dinner was a beef and shrimp duo, with the local favorite of tres leche for dessert.

Special Touches

Katelyn and Sal crafted their own ceremony dialogue, making sure to have their personal sentiments included.

The couple gifted each guest with a tote bag with Aruba, 2018 and Love is in the air… inscribed.  The bag was stuffed with all kinds of well-thought goodies, including koozies, drink cups, phone cases with a string for hanging around the neck, beach balls, sunglasses, and a “In Sickness and in Health” kit including Tylenol, hairspray, aloe, sunscreen, tums, and more.

The evening before the big day, Katelyn and Sal took their guests on a spectacular sunset catamaran sail on the De Palm Pleasure for a pre-wedding mix-and-mingle.

Photo Credits: Kenny Theysen