Wedding Wanderlust: Getting Your Dream Destination Wedding Off the Ground

WRITTEN BY Deb Hull, VP of Events of a Lifetime Productions
FEATURE PHOTO BY Lorren & Braman

Why hire a wedding planner who specializes in destination weddings? Destination weddings are a law unto themselves. Producing a dream wedding requires multi-faceted problem-solving skills, customs, rules and restrictions many people might overlook. To say that planning for this type of wedding is intense and time-consuming is an understatement. While a destination wedding planner might cost more, it will be worth the investment.

Specialty destination wedding planners bring a wealth of insight into your location, venue, local attractions and customs. Their specialty is melding the destination’s environment and culture with what is important to you for your special day. They discuss your dreams, research your location and present ideas that are custom designed just for you. The planning involves more than just the wedding — it is a weekend specially crafted for you and your guests.

The most important reason to hire a wedding planner specializing in destination weddings is their access to top-tier talent worldwide. They are experts in putting together teams from all over the world who are best suited to produce and achieve the goals that are important to you. Not only will you be able to relax because “they’ve got it,” but your guests will have an enjoyable experience they will talk about for years.

To witness the work of a destination wedding planner in action, read on and see how Ally and Robert’s dream Palm Beach wedding came to life.

Ally & Robert’s Palm Beach Bliss

Ally’s sense of style and love of fashion, evident in her boutique, Monkee’s of Alpharetta, set the tone for the enchanting narrative of her destination wedding. When it came time for this Atlanta bride to select the venue for her upcoming nuptials to her partner Robert, she led with her heart and her fashion sense. The young couple decided on a destination wedding at the world-famous architectural gem, the historic Henry Morrison Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Florida. Hosting family and friends in the sunshine state at the incredible palace on Lake Worth’s shores was truly a dream for Ally and Robert’s fairy tale wedding.

To bring their destination wedding dreams to life, the couple enlisted the expertise of Events of a Lifetime Productions, an Atlanta-based, award-winning wedding design and planning firm. Ally was introduced to them by another delighted Atlanta family who had engaged Events of a Lifetime Productions’ principals, Gillian Marto and Deb Hull, to orchestrate their daughters’ destination wedding weekends. Marto explained, “Our specialty is creating experiences that seamlessly blend dreams with the locale, setting and culture. That’s why luxury destination weddings worldwide have become our niche.” The firm’s access to world-class talent enables them to assemble teams capable of producing genuinely unique experiences, a valuable asset for a bride seeking to realize her long-held dreams in locations beyond her own city.

Ally and Robert wed in the incredible, turn-of-the-century Beaux-Arts railway palace of the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum. However, executing event plans within a historic, operational museum listed as a National Historic Landmark presented its own challenges. Marto shared, “We flew to Palm Beach for multiple site visits to make certain everything was choreographed to the last minute.” Hull added, “To protect this treasure, which is a National Historic Landmark, we were required to use only vetted, approved vendors.” The team also had to wait until the museum closed to the public on the wedding day, which meant they only had two hours to load everything. The need for well-versed professionals was crucial!

These stunning Gilded Age grounds offered beautiful views for Ally and Robert’s guests to stroll through between wedding events. The Flagler Kenan Pavilion, where Ally and Robert said their vows, is the home to Henry Flagler’s private Railcar No. 91 and offers panoramic views of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and West Palm Beach skyline.

As for the wedding design, Marto explains, “Ally loves flowers, so sumptuous floral décor was important to her.” The Flagler’s dramatic architecture in the Kenan Pavilion, West Room, Lake Room, and the majestic portico and terrace overlooking Lake Worth provided historic and breathtaking backdrops for the various gorgeous wedding environments. Other custom touches important to the couple included a custom-designed wedding logo, an espresso martini bar, a limoncello flume, a waterfront raw bar with a logo ice sculpture and a live wedding painter.

Beyond the wedding itself, Events of Lifetime Productions’ multi-state team also crafted other events, including a rehearsal dinner and welcome party. The welcome party, hosted on the rooftop of The Ben Hotel, paid homage to Robert’s romantic marriage proposal in Italy and set the tone for the luxurious weekend ahead.

As the moon glowed and lights illuminated the museum’s majestic façade, it was only fitting that the newlyweds departed in a historic Rolls-Royce to begin their own history together.

About the Author

Deb Hull is the VP of Events of a Lifetime Productions. Events of a Lifetime Productions is Atlanta-based and recognized worldwide as one of the premier firms for designing and producing corporate, social and charity events. Along with award-winning principal Gillian Marto, their company crafts sparkling occasions with a touch of the unusual. From Atlanta to the world, Events of a Lifetime Productions is pleased to produce a limited number of luxury destination weddings annually.

Events of a Lifetime Productions | eventsofalifetimeproductions.com

VENDOR LIST

PHOTOGRAPHER Lorren & Braman
VIDEOGRAPHER Ray Roman Films
VENUE Flagler Museum
PLANNING & DESIGN Events of a Lifetime Productions
CREATIVE DIRECTOR B. Worley Productions
BRIDE’S GOWN Elite Pour La Vie
HAIR & MAKEUP Marz Makeup and Hair
FLORALS, RENTALS & DECOR The Special Event Resource and Design Group
CAKES Earth and Sugar
CATERING Chez Gourmet
LIVE WEDDING PAINTER Ha Pham
STATIONERY Hi Note
SPARKLER EXIT Sparktacular