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 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. 

“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.

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.”

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.

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. 

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.” 

Vendors: Photographer: Foxtail Co.; Wedding Planner: La Cosa Bella Events; Ceremony Site: The Unfinished Church; Reception Site: St. Regis Bermuda; Florist: Flowers by GiMi; Stationery: Theresa Jatko Designs; Makeup: Molly Ingraham; Hair: Salon Pink; Gown Designer: Vera Wang; Groom’s Attire: Samuelsohn; Groomsmen Attire: The Black Tux; Bridesmaids Dresses: Chiara Boni La Petite Robe; Tenting Rentals: Big Fish Events & Undercover Tents; Chairs and Bar Rental: The Planning Factory; Tabletop Rentals: Exclusive Events; DJ: Korie Minors; Steel Drum Player: Robert Symons; Ceremony Musicians: Bermuda School of Music; VideoGrapher: Dreamy Wedding Films; Transportation: Quality Transportation