1. Real Weddings

A Bright, Bohemian Beach Wedding at Sun and Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach, New York

Since they met at the Coachella music festival, Vanessa Cancilla (34 and works in event design and staging) and Thomas Casa Jr. (35 and a chef) planne

Since they met at the Coachella music festival, Vanessa Cancilla (34 and works in event design and staging) and Thomas Casa Jr. (35 and a chef) planned a vibrant hippie-chic-inspired event for their early-fall wedding in Atlantic Beach, New York. The Sun and Surf Beach Club offered the ideal setting for the couple’s free-spirited fete, with ocean views and a laid-back boathouse aesthetic to channel the low-key vibe they were after. “The space was the perfect blank canvas for us to create our own aesthetic and theme, and it was situated on the water,” Vanessa says. “You would have thought we were at a venue in California, and not half an hour away from New York City.” After an intimate first look on the boardwalk, Vanessa and Tommy joined their friends and families on the Sun and Surf Beach Club deck for the ceremony. With the beach and the Atlantic Ocean as their backdrop, Vanessa and Tommy exchanged vows under a custom wooden wedding arbor adorned with vibrant blooms, paying tribute to the festival theme. “We had so much fun choosing our flowers,” Vanessa says. "They were a mix of deep red and plush pink with white and yellow accents." Vanessa’s eye for design was apparent throughout the reception. The event designer enlisted the help of her team at RentQuest to infuse the seaside setting with bohemian flair, with elements such as vintage turquoise sofas, clear acrylic coffee tables, gold accents and colorful Persian rugs to bring the couple's vision to life. The reception took on a more glamorous, modern tone with gold chargers and centerpieces featuring textured bouquets piled high atop candelabras adorning each table. But the music-festival feel was ever present, as evidenced in the 10-piece band that rocked the reception. —Libby MacCarthy

Before the day’s festivities unfolded, Vanessa and her bridesmaids got ready at a nearby hotel. The girls donned bright floral satin robes—a gift from Vanessa—as they primped and pampered, before stepping into their elegant floor-length blush gowns.
Dressing up her 'do with a fresh flower crown was a must for Vanessa, given the wedding’s hippie-chic theme. She wore her long blonde locks down and straight and had Stefan’s Florist create a botanical halo for her walk down the aisle. She completed the look with fresh-faced makeup to fully embody a Coachella vibe.
Despite the laid-back bohemian theme, Vanessa and Tommy opted for a formal dress code to maintain an element of elegance and sophistication. While Vanessa’s bridesmaids donned floor-length blush gowns, Tommy and his groomsmen suited up in traditional black tuxes. Tommy and his best man stood out in black bow ties, while the rest of the guys rocked a white option.
Since Vanessa and Tommy met at Coachella, a music-festival-inspired soiree was a must. Situated on the water, the Sun and Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach, New York, captured the free-spirited vibe the couple were after and offered a blank canvas upon which the couple could make their own mark. The day of the wedding, Vanessa and Tommy met on the beach for an intimate first look before gathering with their families and friends for the ceremony.
The ceremony took place on the deck of the Sun and Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach, New York, overlooking the ocean. “It was perfect with the beach in the background,” Vanessa says. Late in the afternoon, the couple exchanged vows under a striking handcrafted wooden arbor, which Stefan’s Floral decorated with cascades of orange, pink, red, yellow and white flowers to capture the day’s festival theme.
Not wanting their canine companion to feel left out, Vanessa and Tommy included their petite pup, Diego, in the proceedings. Decked out in a doggie tuxedo complete with a gold bow tie, he strutted alongside Tommy as he made his way down the aisle.
Since Vanessa and Tommy are passionate about music, good tunes were a top priority. For the ceremony, the couple hired a pianist, who played classic renditions of their favorite songs, including “In My Life” by the Beatles, “Stand By Me” by Ben E. King and “You’re So Cool” by Hans Zimmer.
After cocktail hour, guests made their way indoors to the Sun and Surf Beach Club restaurant for the reception. To guide their friends and family members to their seats, Vanessa and Tommy wrote the names of each guest on illustrated kraft paper cards, which they embellished with gold script spelling out the world “love.”
Owning her own event design and staging company came in handy when Vanessa and Tommy were planning their reception at Sun and Surf Beach Club in Atlantic Beach, New York. With the help of her team at RentQuest, Vanessa brought the couple’s hippie-chic vision to life with details such as eclectic lounge vignettes, colorful Persian rugs and gold accents.
The reception took place in the Sun and Surf Beach Club restaurant. Vanessa put her design skills to work— with the help of Stefan’s Flowers—to transform the understated space into a whimsical romantic scene. Towering arrangements of roses, hydrangeas and orchids piled high atop gilded chandeliers created a focal point for the reception tables, while flickering candlelight and airy panels of white fabric entwined with fairy lights filled the room with a warm, ambient glow.
Vanessa and Tommy’s cake was designed in the likeness of their invitations, programs, table numbers and menu cards. Illustrations of pink and peach flowers decorated alternating layers of the ivory fondant confection, and a cluster of ivory- and coral-colored blooms took the place of a traditional cake topper.