Plenty of little girls dream about their wedding day, but Lisa Hom, 33, wasn't one of them. "I never thought about what kind of dress to wear or what kinds of rings I liked," she admits. But when Lisa's boyfriend of seven years, David Lionetti, 32, pulled a diamond out of his pocket during a South Pacific vacation, this nontraditional couple began planning an October 2006 wedding that was both an expression of their love and their two backgrounds (she's Chinese, he's Italian).
With a breathtaking autumnal backdrop, the couple exchanged self-written vows that left many of the 95 guests sobbing ("even Dave's buddies!"). Dinner, under a tent, featured a cross-cultural menu of roast pig and pasta with garlic and rosemary. Following a first dance to Barry White's "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe," Lisa, David, and company hit the floor, partying until it was time to retire to the nearby lakefront bed-and-breakfasts. "I always think weddings are over too fast," says Lisa, "so I'm glad we were able to prolong this magical, memorable experience."—Hillary Quinn
Our Favorite Things
We Love the '80s: After a toast, friends Shelly and Mike pulled out mullet wigs and launched into a tongue-in-cheek rendition of Lisa's favorite karaoke song, "Don't Stop Believing," by Journey.
Getting Personal: The wedding was a true group effort-a friend's father officiated; Dave's brother emceed the reception; and numerous friends and family handled setup and decor.
A Taste of the Grape: Guests were treated to a Cabernet Sauvignon that the groom produced at a do-it-yourself winery. The Lionetti label included a photo of David and his father, who passed away when the groom was a child.
Trade-Off: The couple participated in a Chinese wedding-cup-exchange ritual, which symbolized the joining of their individual lives.
Vendors
GROOM'S SUIT
Banana Republic, bananarepublic.com
FLOWERS
Bella Fiori, 914-475-4121
CEREMONY AND RECEPTION SITE
Willow Lake, willowlakeny.com
PHOTOGRAPHER
Mallory Samson, mallorysamson.com
