With thoughts turning to wedding cakes, Louise just sent me a link to “Baked by Melissa“, a cupcake place in New York that we’re going to try out.  Began salivating and couldn’t wait so I created two cupcakes of my own. The first is called Sunburnt (a red velvet jobby) and another called Bermuda Bride – an orange and pink creation, my favourite colours! Check out the site and design one in your wedding colours and then share it with me (the cupcake) that is! What a perfect unexpected touch to your wedding!

As one of Destination Wedding and Honeymoon A-List of Top 30 Wedding Planners, we are often asked for tips and advice. This month I was asked for my top three tips for a beach wedding (results appearing in their next issue). If you got, or plan on getting married on a beach, what advice/tips would you give?

If you’re considering getting married in Bermuda, be sure to check out the “Creating Memories” section – We received such a wonderful note from Laura today and it inspired us to feature her June wedding to Andrew – just seeing the photos again brought back such great memories.

Laura and Andrew were married on the Marina Terrace at Elbow Beach last year. Once the colour theme of ‘pool’ with accents of burnt orange was defined, the design fell into place:  Touches were apparent throughout from the white pearlized suite of stationery from Pulp and Circumstance (oh so simple and elegant) through to the square overlays that added a fabulous pop of colour in the dining room.

Throughout the planning process, Laura and Andrew were fabulous to work with. Laura and I came up with great ideas; Andrew dutifully wrote it all down. And then we planned. The flowers were created by Petals, the wedding canopy and design inside Lido, by Elements and every moment was exquisitely captured by Sacha Blackburne.

Andrew’s family came from the UK and true to English wedding tradition, most of the ladies wore hats.  The day could not have been more beautiful; laughter and a mix of accents could be heard and hung heavy in the pure blue sky. The evening drew to an end well after it was scheduled to finish with shoes abandoned around the dance floor. . Always a sign of a great party!

Today I received an email from Laura which took my breath away:

“Our wedding planning was made simple by making two decisions.  The second best decision was hiring a wedding coordinator.  The best was choosing Bermuda Bride.  Nikki Begg and her staff were phenomenal and we will be forever grateful for their help in making our wedding a beautiful, memorable occasion.”

Thanks,

Laura

The Metropolitan Opera held a breathtaking French performance of ‘Romeo et Juliette’ on Saturday night. My friends, who had so very kindly invited me, had a box. I pinched myself with happiness as people with their own dress code took their seats and the orchestra warmed up; that wonderful sound of discordant notes that somehow work – if only to build anticipation of what’s to come.

I sat up front and centre, transfixed by every movement and sound. The sputnik-style crystal chandeliers disappeared into the ceiling, dimming in their orbit. Lights glowed in the orchestra pit, which brimmed to the edge with musicians and instruments ready to play under the powerful direction of Placido Domingo. Fluorescent dots slowly disappeared from sight as people’s mobile devices were powered off, until we sat in a gentle darkness.

The curtain raised and a sea of performers gathered around the dead bodies of Romeo et Juliette. Each person subtly grouped in waves of colour: The ladies in hues of mandarin and shades of pink (so glad they got the memo).  The Capulet men wore aubergine, The  Montegues-taupes and blues.  The set design was simple, elegant and classic allowing you to focus completely on the performance.

While the story line had certainly been adapted from Shakespere’s original play, I couldn’t help but think that if it had been modern day, would their relationship have had such a tragic ending?  Here’s how it went down (the abbreviated version):

Romeo Montague is depressed. He’s mad about Rosaline; thinks she’s going to be Juliette Capulet’s birthday ball and, with friends, sneaks in. Instead his attention wanders; he is captivated by Juliette (excuse me Romeo, whatever happened to Rosaline??).

Romeo woos Juliette.  Juliette falls in love with Romeo. Famous balcony scene takes place where Romeo overhears Juliette declaring her love for him. At dawn they are secretly married by Friar Laurence.

Tybalt, Juliette’s cousin, is incensed that Romeo crashed the ball, challenges him to a duel.  Now he’s family, Romeo doesn’t want to fight, but the elopement is still a secret. Mercutio (Romeo’s bf) steps up to the plate and is killed. Romeo now fights Tybalt and mortally wounds him. Romeo is exhiled from Verona by The Prince who’s word is law.

Romeo defies the Prince and returns to Verona to spend one last night with Juliette to consummate their marriage. (My most vivid memories of this opera are not of the infamous balcony scene but of their marital bed suspended mid air by invisible wire, the midnight-black stage imploding with stars.)

At dawn, Romeo departs. Juliette is ‘woken’ by her father. He’s unaware that she’s already married and announces that she’s going to marry Count Paris… that day.  (The wedding planner must have been working overtime.)

Juliette turns to Friar Laurence who, in turn, offers her a potion that will put her in a ‘death like coma’ for two and forty hours.  She downs the liquid; I think she even licked her lips. Friar Laurence says he will watch out for Romeo and let him know.  While being escorted to the wedding chapel, the potion begins to take effect. Juliette elegantly falls, her white wedding dress spilling, spilling, spilling around her, is declared dead and lain in the family crypt.

The message does not get to Romeo who arrives at the crypt and finds Juliette ‘dead’. Not wanting to live without her, he ingests a lethal poison. To his delight, she wakens (complete deviation from Shakespere’s rendition), and the lovers share a vision of a life together but it’s too late!  With perfect timing, the poison begins to take effect. Juliette is beside herself with grief and she stabs herself with his dagger.  Both are now very much dead.

And it all appears to be Friar Laurence’s fault as he didn’t pass on the message.

As we spilled out of the box and into the cold night air, I couldn’t help but wonder:  Feuding families not withstanding, would their relationship have withstood the test of time?  To believe in a love that can conquor everything? If this had taken place today rather than the end of the 16th century, whether the outcome would be the same? Probably so…

I often have delayed texts, voice mails I did not listen to, phone calls and bbm’s that get cut off midway.  In our haste to communicate, and in spite of all the different devices available to us, we often get it wrong. Hanging up when there is dead air but the person on the other end was just collecting their wits. Relationships ending with a text message or because of one. Feelings not taken into consideration, a message read but misunderstood….

But perhaps true love does not need to be communicated. As Juliette sang: “Let me live in the dreams that capture my soul…”

As soon as the Bermuda Wedding season goes into full swing, Sunday afternoons are spent in recovery. Recovery from lack of sleep, recovery in the office tidying up a forest worth of paper or recovering in my home, armed with a list of what needs to get done before the week begins again. Repeat. Repeat.

But last Sunday, I did none of the above. As soon as I opened my eyes, I knew it was going to be a beautiful day – but how should I spend it?  The deliberation was short lived by an invitation to go to a friend’s house for a bbq. Before I could help myself and allow guilt to set in of all the things that would not get done, I said “YES!” Absolutely!  What can I bring?” I gave Jakob a much needed bath and, with the day being so glorious, put on white jeans to celebrate. Me that is, not Jakob.

As I drove up to the cottage, bikes littered the driveway; the top of the Dutch door was open. Laughter spilled out and floated into the blue, blue cloudless sky.  People were already chilling on the deck overlooking the Sound and the day suddenly felt relaxed, and easy and idyllic. Munchies were put out and inhaled. Soon conversation turned to dinner, discussions of wine and of the food to be prepared. A walk was suggested and so we wandered down to the vegetable gardens to pilfer lettuce for the salad and limes for “New Age”, my oh so love it, summer drink.

On the way to the gardens, the banks were exploding with wild freesias. A paved pathway led to a hidden vegetable patch where loving sweat had surely dripped down strong backs aching from the labour. Yet satisfaction had surely been the result to make this secret garden possible. Manicured rows of lettuce wiggled their way through the earth, their leaves nourished by the rays of the sun.  The weight of the wild magenta garden roses caused their branches to heavily hang. And, as the flowers moved lethargically in the soft wind, they released their heady fragrance into the air. I buried my nose into the blooms, suddenly anxious to imprint in my mind this very moment.

I was in heaven that day and as night fell we ate dinner under the dying sun. I turned to the horizon and was spell bound at how quickly the sun could disappear – a sight I must have seen a thousand times but from this new location, a different perspective. I held onto the tenuous peace I don’t often find. While Jakob gently snored, curled up by my feet, I was enjoying the company of friends. And with painful insight, I became aware it’s all about the little things.

Red toes… love them… need them… want them… got them.  Louise and I got to try out the Nail Bar over the weekend. This is not your typical ‘be quiet and zone out’ place at all. I didn’t even pick up a magazine although they were certainly there. Drinks were available and readily offered (and replenished!).

I loved the layout of the lounge area, complete with white sofas, punctuated by colourful cushions,  and a bar which dominated one side. The nail stations, with the best pedicure chairs ever, took over the other. I was mesmorized by the foot basins which appeared to be a mottled texture of pink and coral – my favourite colours.

We tried out all the massage options the chair offered and just in case that was not enough, our shoulders and hands were massaged while our feet were wrapped and set in paraffin wax. Yum. Conversation was easy with everyone joining in – and I mean everyone. Topics ranged from men,  relationships and sex to why one should always wear their lucky knickers (and not necessarily in that order). Ideas flowed on how the space could be used. With large tv’s on the wall, we agreed it would be the perfect place for a bridesmaids’ night out or just the girls, showing our favourite seasons of Sex in the City and with their coveted liquor licence, enjoy a martini or two.

The Nail Bar also offers a delicious selection of body treatments: Moor Mud Cocoon Wrap, Hopi Ear Candling,  waxing for all sorts of body parts, and an impressive range of manicure and pedicure treatments. As it had only just opened, there are certainly areas that still need to be finished. But overall, it was the perfect way to spend the afternoon. To Kola and Camille, thank you for taking such great care of us and our toes.  It feels like I walk a million miles over wedding season but looking at my feet, you’d never know.