Sweet Wedding Ceremony at The Unfinished Church in Bermuda

A bride and groom share a kiss at the altar under a flowing veil within the ruins of an ancient stone structure, as the bridal party and guests look on. Bridesmaids in blue dresses hold white bouquets, adding a touch of elegance to the rustic setting.

Sweet Wedding Ceremony at The Unfinished Church in Bermuda

CATEGORIES

July 17, 2024
Words by Logan Rogers
Photos courtesy of Foxtail Co.

Love and wind swirled in the air as Hayley and Zach tied the knot in beautiful St. George’s, Bermuda. Despite record-breaking rain and wind battering the island, Hayley and Zach’s wedding ceremony at The Unfinished Church was a shining success!

A wedding collage: a flat lay of wedding invitations and rings, four men in formal wear posing at an ancient stone archway, and a scenic view of a coastal resort with white buildings, a sandy beach, and turquoise water.

A destination wedding was always the plan for Hayley and Zach, so the couple shortlisted three islands. Bermuda beamed over the rest with easier, more affordable travel along with the ethereal church that stole their hearts.

Hayley, while surrounded by island paradise, didn’t crave a typical beach wedding. She wanted a venue with character and a place to live out her classic wedding fantasy that still incorporated aspects of the beach. The Unfinished Church, with its classic cathedral elements while still showing off the island’s beauty, was the perfect choice.

A collage of three images: Top: A group of eight women celebrating with champagne indoors, all smiling. Bottom left: A bride and groom embracing; the bride wears a white dress with a veil, and the groom a dark suit. Bottom right: An exterior wall of a historic stone building. A collage of three images from a wedding: a couple in wedding attire walking hand-in-hand on a lawn with palm trees and a hotel in the background; elegant flower arrangements in vases at an outdoor venue; a woven heart-shaped fan with a wedding program placed on a rock.

“I wanted a classic dress with a long veil, more neutral colors, a beautiful ceremony, etc. Our wedding planner was able to give me the more classic wedding I dreamed of, while still incorporating beachy details. I could not have planned a more beautiful wedding if I tried,” says Hayley.

With extreme weather circulating the island throughout the month, the couple wasn’t sure if an outside celebration (as planned) would work. The Friday before the wedding was scheduled as an outside dinner, but dangerous wind speed alerts prompted a move to the resort’s ballroom with an attached sailcloth tent outside.

A wedding ceremony taking place outdoors in a historical, stone ruin with tall, arched openings. The bride and groom stand facing each other at the altar, surrounded by the bridal party and seated guests. The backdrop shows greenery outside the ruins.

The couple’s wedding planner, Gina Myers of La Cosa Bella Events was on top of the constant weather changes and had secured another indoor venue, St. Peter’s Cathedral, in case of rain.

“Our planner worked behind the scenes, redid the seating layout and presented a firm option to us once vendors were all in agreement. We had no idea of what was going on and were saved the worry and stress. We ended up having a hybrid event with dinner and toasts under the tent and dancing in the air-conditioned ballroom. It was really the best of both worlds.”

Left image: A bride, in a white dress with a long train, walks down the aisle with her father under a stone arch in a historic, partially ruined church. Guests sit on white chairs on the grass. Right image: The bride holds a bouquet of white flowers, her veil covering her face as she looks down. People in the background smile and watch. Three images of a wedding ceremony held at the ruins of an old stone building. The couple stands together in front of an altar, kisses on the grass, and shares a kiss while guests, seated in rows, cheer. The setting features arched windows and aged stonework.

Thankfully, the sun came out and the wind died down just in time for the ceremony and continued to shine throughout cocktail hour and the reception, which was held at the St. Regis Resort. With the ease of accommodations and many opportunities to soak in relaxation throughout the weekend, guests were comfortable and well tended to. For example, Hayley and Zach made welcome gifts and let guests have time to get to know each other throughout the weekend’s itinerary, ensuring an inclusive, fun environment.

A wedding reception table adorned with white and pink flowers, a "Table 4" sign, and candles. The table is elegantly set with gold-accented tableware and blush pink napkins. Nearby, small peach-colored favors with white ribbons are neatly arranged on a table.

Throughout the weekend festivities, the couple made sure to incorporate local traditions and cuisine into their events. Some of their fare favorites were the Rum Swizzle cocktail and the Rum cake dessert. Hayley says her favorite part of the weekend happened during the welcome party where they were given a performance by The Gombeys, an African-rooted drumming and dance tradition with bright, colorful masks brought to the Caribbean to give artistic expression to indignities.

When asked for advice about budgeting for a destination wedding, the couple says to create a clear and agreed-upon budget before any planning begins and continue to monitor it throughout the process. They say it’s also important to consider all travel costs like extra luggage, decor, and vendors because they can add up quickly.

An elegant outdoor wedding reception setup featuring round and rectangular tables with white tablecloths and gold chairs. Tables are adorned with floral centerpieces, candles, and place settings with pink napkins. A bar menu and wine display are shown in close-up. A collage of a wedding reception featuring a bride and groom dancing under a white tent adorned with string lights, elegantly set dining tables, white floral arrangements, customized drinks with orange and lime garnishes, monogrammed napkins, and a large outdoor white tent.

Hayley and Zach felt lucky to save some budget with the help of friends and family throughout the process. Hayley’s sister (and best friend) did her makeup and a close family friend officiated the ceremony! They even kept the same husband and wife photography team throughout the entire process (who also happened to be their friends) from the engagement to the ceremony.

The bride leaves us with one lesson to remember during the process: “There will be people you thought would NEVER miss your wedding who will. And then there will be people who you bank on missing, that will end up attending. Zach and I concluded (prior to sending invites) that even if no one showed up, we would be happy with just us two. From there, any added guests were just a win.”

Two-part image showing a wedding celebration: In the top part, a bride and groom walk joyfully under an arch of sparklers held by cheering guests. In the bottom part, the groom and several guests splash playfully in a swimming pool at night, fully clothed.