Tropical Paradise
by Cassidy Irish
After dating for four years, originally being set up by Alyssa’s brother, Alyssa and Matt took a trip to South Beach, Miami. On their last full day there, the groom hired a mariachi band to serenade their beach site as he proposed. The band played ‘Besame’ as the newly engaged couple danced together under the sunset. It was a truly magical proposal. Matt and Alyssa have lived together in Midtown, OKC for the past four years. They married at First Unitarian Church, and held the reception at the Park House in Downtown.
It was very important to them that their wedding reflected who they are and their interests. Matt loves racecars and gets to pursue his hobby throughout the year in Houston, Dallas and Austin. Most of his groomsmen were racing teammates or fellow Rotarians, so his groom’s cake was shaped like a Formula 1 Pirelli Racing tire, and his racing buddies had custom cufflinks made with their team logo.
Incorporating their love of art with the tropical themes from their trip to Miami, the couple decorated the venues with foliage based centerpieces and tropical accessories. Their cake, made by a local bakery HafaAdai Delights, even displayed designs of tropical flowers and fish scales, and was coconut flavored. Alyssa’s Mori Lee dress, a mermaid silhouette, was made with lace and a touch of peach underneath the skirt. Their honeymoon was to the Mexican Isla Mujeres, continuing the tropical theme from beginning to end.
Bride's Advice
1. Plan your budget early! Don’t procrastinate. You want to focus on enjoying your big day without big invoices looming over your head.
2. Everyone said to take it all in on the big day, and I will echo that: Stay by yourself the night before, take a bath, exfoliate, moisturize, relax, soak it all in. Pay attention to everything happening around you and enjoy this time. It goes by so quickly!
3. If you’re planning on seeing an aesthetician for a facial, do it a week out from the big day so your skin has time to purge. Your skin will thank you.
4. Though we had hoped to go on an extravagant honeymoon, it just wasn’t in our budget. Still, we learned that there are so many affordable options out there and all that really matters is your time together and getting a good rest. You don’t realize how much stress you’re under until it’s all over and your body just wants to sleep for a few days. Unwind and relax.
