66 destination weddings & honeymoons july/august 2012 67

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i do, i do

bride’s tip“Create a website. This takes time but helps your

guests get to know you as a couple on a more personal level. Plus, it helps organize travel and

itinerary information, and it’s a lot of fun!”

p h o t o g r a p h y b y n e s s a k p h o t o g r a p h y

Cindy Lone weds Omar Fernandez on May 6, 2011 key west, florida

It’s no wonder New Jersey accountants Cindy and Omar wanted a Latin vibe for their May wedding — Cindy’s heritage is Guatemalan, Omar’s Dominican. (They even salsa danced on their first date.) Having been to Key West in the past, the pair knew its Cuban influence would add the perfect Latin flair to their event. “Plus, it’s a pedestrian-friendly town with so much local flavor,” raves Cindy, “which made it easy to plan guest adventures.” The pair chose the Westin Key West Resort & Marina for their stay, as did many of their 63 guests. Fun prewedding activities included parasailing, fishing and renting bikes to ex-plore the island. Festivities began with a family-style rehearsal dinner at Cuban restaurant El Meson de Pepe in Mallory Square, the island’s tourism epicenter. They dug into menu favorites like churrasco and Cuban nachos and danced to Latin band Caribe of Key West during the Square’s nightly Sunset Celebration. Day-of vows were read in Spanish and English at the altar of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Church, whose timeless beauty “spoke for itself,” says Cindy. A Historic Tours Old Town trolley whisked guests to a boardwalk reception at the Westin, treating them to an island tour on the way. Once there, attendees found cotton candy spinning in vintage machines and elaborate stations serving mini crab cakes, blackened mahimahi and bacon-wrapped mango barbecue shrimp. The newlyweds cut a coconut cake with Key lime filling and grooved to salsa, bachata and merengue — a dance party that ended with the bride and groom on guests’ shoulders. Sighs Cindy, “Best memory of the night!” — Sarah Larson

inspiration color board

Bride’s Dress: Cymbeline ParisGroom’s Attire: J.Crew

Hair & Makeup: Lorri Bolander of Key West Hair and Makeup

Cake: Key West CakesFlowers: DIY by bride

Music: DJ Mike of Sound Wave Productions; Reel Ting Steel

Drum BandPlanner: Julie Shreck of

Simply You

1. The pair sported aqua and mango footwear, a nod to the day’s color scheme. 2. Sweet and smart — the wedding cake sitting pretty next to Omar’s accountant-theme groom’s cake, a calculator. 3. Sealed with a kiss in front of a kapok tree outside Key West’s courthouse. 4. Potted flowering plants left over from Easter meant the couple didn’t have to spend extra money on ceremony florals. 5. Doing what they do best — the salsa! 6. Each reception table was named after an important city in the couple’s lives.

the details

for more info, see the 411 on page 119.