A Colorful Oceanfront Wedding in the Bahamas

Add this to the list of unlikely places to meet your future spouse: the Beauty CEO Summit. But when Annemarie DesLauriers, at that time an employee at Women’s Wear Daily, arrived at the Breakers Palm Beach in Florida in May 2012, she met Brian Krumrei, and a fast friendship was formed. "I tried to keep our relationship professional, but Brian was persistent," says Annemarie—so persistent that he soon earned the moniker "Flower Man" among her friends because of the frequent floral deliveries to her office. Men of the world, take note!

A romantic at heart, Brian chose Valentine’s Day of 2015 as the moment to propose. He surprised Annemarie with a weekend getaway to St. Martin, and the couple enjoyed days with their toes in the sand and their pup by their side. "I gave him a gift, and he pretended that he hadn’t gotten me one," says the bride, who thought nothing of it; he’d planned a trip to paradise, after all! But a few moments later, he reached toward their dog’s collar, untied a black velvet pouch, and kneeled in the sand as the sun set behind them.

"Brian and I love to travel, so we settled on a destination wedding early on," says Annemarie. "We figured, if they have to fly to come to our wedding anyway, why not bring them somewhere incredible?" Now that’s an idea we can get behind! For their April 9, 2016, wedding, they invited 58 guests to Harbour Island in the Bahamas, with its sprawling sand, stunning views, and delicious food. The relaxed, elegant wedding weekend was full of adventures, from a bonfire on the beach to a golf-cart scavenger hunt around the island. Have you always wanted to attend a wedding totally barefoot? Then this one’s for you! See all the photos, as captured by Kallima Photography, below.

The hand-illustrated watercolor invitations featured colorful flowers, local greenery, and a weekend itinerary, complete with the sweetest icons.

Annemarie’s wedding dress, a hand-beaded lace and tulle gown with a paneled skirt (and a totally on-trend slit), was the hands-down favorite. "My mom came to New York for a whirlwind weekend of shopping. We barely ate for two days because we were so busy looking at dresses!" says the bride. The two both loved this Paolo Sebastian design, and despite more appointments after Annemarie tried it on, no other dress came close.

A bouquet of light-pink ranunculus, peach parrot tulips, and Juliet, Mythos, and Princess Charlene roses was the perfect match for the flowing gown—and the Ocean View Club’s weathered pink walls. Brian’s Mediterranean-blue suit jacket popped against the soft neutrals.

With a reputation as "Flower Man," Brian couldn’t disappoint Annemarie or her bridesmaids on their wedding day. "As the girls and I were getting ready, of course a beautiful bouquet arrived with a note from my now-husband!" says the bride. Speaking of bridesmaids, Annemarie kept the pink theme going, asking each to choose a floor-length blush chiffon gown. "None of them had met before my wedding, but they were all close friends by the time the weekend was over," says Annemarie. "I wanted them to feel beautiful and to express their unique styles, and they blew me away!"

The groomsmen matched Brian in blue jackets and white pants, finishing their looks with blush pocket squares and boutonnieres of local bougainvillea—the groom’s favorite flower.

Harbour Island’s sprawling beaches proved to be the perfect backdrop for some totally stunning portraits!

An altar of fuchsia bougainvillea was set at the end of a wooden aisle, flanked by white benches topped with cushions for guests to take a seat. "Brian and I wrote our own vows, and it was the very best decision we made," says Annemarie. "After the ceremony, our guests shared how moving it was to witness. A few married friends even mentioned renewing their vows so they could write their own!"

Once they’d officially tied the knot, the newlyweds kicked off their shoes and frolicked in the warm Bahamian surf.

The reception took place beneath a tent in the sand, where guests' table assignments were hung from a display draped in fuchsia bougainvillea.

Bamboo folding chairs heightened the relaxed and beachy vibe. Simple white linens were dressed up with runners of local bouganvillea, roses, ranunculus, branches of driftwood, and a touch of glam from gold chargers.

Each dinner menu was illustrated with watercolors and tied with a sprig of rosemary—a Croatian wedding tradition and a nod to the bride’s mother’s heritage. The local, totally fresh meal included grouper sliders, watermelon-and-goat-cheese lollipops, stone-crab-and-avocado salad, and a choice of roasted paprika chicken or Thai coconut lobster.

The centerpiece of the tent was a whitewashed dance floor surrounded by white lounge furniture. Over the dance floor, driftwood branches were draped with fuchsia bougainvillea.

Guests could choose from a wide range of different cocktails, from a classic Bahama Mama to the bride’s favorite concoction: Stumptown cold brew, rum, and coconut milk. A rum-tasting bar helped really fuel the party!

Dessert was one of three cakes: a naked vanilla cake with fresh berries, which the couple cut, a red-velvet cake, or German chocolate cake.

Annemarie and Brian’s first dance was to "Hold Yuh," by Gyptian. "We took dance lessons for months to prepare. Brian was such a trouper, and he did an awesome job!" says the bride. But a choreographed first dance wasn’t the only surprise. "A local Junkanoo band performed in elaborate and colorful costumes. The energy really got the party started!" Annemarie says.

The pair headed to Africa for an adventurous honeymoon that Brian kept a secret from Annemarie until each leg unfolded. From Seychelles to Tanzania, Zanzibar to Botswana, each destination was full of special and romantic touches. Annemarie and Brian also truly learned the value of a fantastic wedding planner, as they organized their celebration from afar. "Find someone who aligns with your personalities and your style and trust her! It can be hard to relinquish control, but if you let go a little bit, you’ll be able to really take in all of the special moments."