1. Real Weddings

Stacey & Frank: A Destination Wedding in St. Lucia, West Indies

Last-minute changes are no problem for Stacey Torjak and Frank Febbraro. In fact, that’s just how they met. Stacey was being set up with another guy,

Last-minute changes are no problem for Stacey Torjak and Frank Febbraro. In fact, that’s just how they met. Stacey was being set up with another guy, but that didn’t stop a mutual friend of theirs from inviting Frank as well, thinking they might be a good match. “After a few minutes, that blind date did not have a chance,” Frank remembers. He and Stacey spent the rest of the evening deep in conversation. The Bride Stacey Torjak, 28, web account director The Groom Frank Febbraro, 33, chief technology officer The Date December 1 After Frank proposed while on a trip to North Carolina’s Outer Banks, the two began planning a formal, winter wedding in Washington, DC. Once again, Stacey and Frank weren’t quite happy with their initial plans, so they decided to make a switch. The to-be-weds scrapped their wedding plans just four months before the big day and started from scratch, planning an intimate destination wedding on the beach in St. Lucia. With help from wedding planners on-site in the West Indies, Stacey and Frank’s wedding vision became a reality.

Stacey and Frank married on the beach of Pigeon Island National Park with the ocean as their backdrop. “The area is full of stone and brick ruins from an old British naval base from the late 1800s,” Stacey explains. The couple gave their eight nieces and nephews front-row seats with custom-made pillows set in front of the chairs. The altar area was marked off with four large bamboo arrangements topped with sprays of ginger lilies and white orchids.
Stacey and Frank cut a three-tiered cake covered with their signature “Love” logo. The ginger-flavored tier was the couple’s favorite.
As Stacey and Frank’s guests entered the ceremony space, the guests added sand to vases for the couple to use during their sand ceremony.
Stacey wore a strapless, white satin, modified A-line gown by Saeyoung Vu Couture. The dress’ neck was gathered to create a sweetheart-style neckline. Frank wore a brown Hugo Boss suit with an untucked white shirt underneath, along with Reef sandals -- perfect for a beach affair.
Stacey and Frank shipped green IKEA vases to St. Lucia, which they used as centerpieces. Each was filled with a few simple sprigs of white orchids. Frosted votive candles surrounded the arrangements on the tables.
Small burlap bags filled with ginger lily tossing petals were attached to the ceremony programs.
Frank’s boutonniere was a single white orchid.
Stacey and Frank wanted a simple, monochromatic look for the flower arrangements. Stacey carried a bouquet of pink ginger lilies that was wrapped with brown twine for an eclectic yet organic look.
Since Stacey and Frank had just three months to plan, there wasn’t time to tour the Caribbean to find the perfect beach. Instead, they found Pigeon Island by combing through photos sent by their wedding coordinators. “We had always wanted a ‘custom’ beach wedding and reception with our closest family and friends, and our coordinators made it possible by acting on our ideas and orchestrating the event perfectly,” Frank says.
The Details
“The theme was beachy and fun, but refined with a sophisticated color palette and design,” Stacey explains. Friends of the bride’s who are graphic designers created all of the wedding stationery, including the couple’s “Love” logo that was even included on the cake. Pale pink linens covered each reception table, except for the sweetheart table, which was topped with pink-and-orange patterned fabric. “The fabric was a little funky, which helped bring a fun element to the decor,” the bride says.