1. Real Weddings

Mary Lou & Willard: A Beach Wedding in Shelter Island, NY

Mary Lou Conlin and Willard Bunn IV were strolling through Brooklyn on their way to a fish and chips dinner when Will suddenly stopped in front of a c

Mary Lou Conlin and Willard Bunn IV were strolling through Brooklyn on their way to a fish and chips dinner when Will suddenly stopped in front of a church and dropped to one knee. THE BRIDE Mary Lou Conlon, 31, boutique hotel coordinator THE GROOM Willard Bunn IV, 32, financial sales and marketing director THE DATE September 13 Mary Lou was set from the start on the color scheme: green and white. Green is my favorite color so I went with that, she says. It was probably a little summery for a September wedding --but hey, I figured it was my day. And it was definitely a green scene, from the engraving on the invitations and the menus to the gingham napkins and ribbons on the favor boxes.

Rolling storm clouds threatened the outdoor ceremony at the Aldersgate Chapel built into the side of a hill, but the weather (barely) held up for Mary Lou and Willard. Three readers were given full creative freedom, as long as they kept their selections a secret. The result? Three unique, personal readings ranging from the song lyrics to Uh-oh, Love Comes to Town by the Talking Heads to Aristotle's Ethics. It was nice after planning every single thing down to a subatomic level to have a little surprise during the ceremony, Mary Lou says.
The Couple
The Gown
The Gown
The First Dance
The Ceremony
While guests sipped champagne and mojitos and listed to St. Tropez sounds, Mary Lou and Will took a walk on the beach for some intimate photos. The 185 guests soon reunited for the fabulous reception at the seasonal Sunset Beach Hotel, which Mary Lou was able to nab ahead of time thanks to her work connections. A lounge area and huge sandbox, which held the dance floor and bandstand, filled the ground level.
Naturally, the six bridesmaids sported aloe-green silk and wool strapless dresses with a white ribbon belt; the groomsmen wore aloe-green flat-front cords with navy blazers and striped ties.
The 11-piece Motown band, Mary Lou's favorite part of the wedding, was followed by a chic after-party upstairs once the dinner tables had been cleared. My boss, André Balazs, turned the light down for a bash complete with Sunset's infamous master of ceremonies spinning records.
The second floor was set for dinner with long banquet tables containing trios of small and medium white cylinder vases holding arrangements of green hydrangeas, blush dahlias, and white and green snapdragons. Interspersed with the centerpieces, lanterns and votive candles gave the room a warm glow.
A stylish bride, Mary Lou was sure to include a chic dash of pink, sporting rosy shoes for the walk down the aisle.