Stephanie Lewis and Christopher Pullen met in their senior year of high school, and being together seven years, they wanted to celebrate their wedding in a special way. One planned event turned out perfectly; a second and third act were  unscripted, but emerged as winners.

Stephanie explains the train ride, provided by Oleander Cycles, Bermuda Train, “Often people use cars and horse and carriages, but we wanted to be different. The train was slow enough to enjoy the scenic roads. The best part was that 40  family and friends were able to join us, which is something most brides and grooms don’t get. Many of the overseas guests enjoyed it for they were able to take in the gorgeous ocean views along the way. Locals on the roads were waving and honking their horns and wishing us the best the whole way. It was great to have strangers be a part of our day – Bermudians are very friendly and this was a perfect example!’’

Christopher and Stephanie were married on June 13, 2009 at the Holy Trinity Church in Bailey’s Bay. The ceremony was officiated by Reverend Stephen Bailey. As they emerged from the church, a rainbow appeared before them. Who could have planned that!

Another event occurred at the reception, at the Tucker’s Point Clubhouse. As Christopher put it, “Stephanie is a golf pro and after taking some fun shots on the course, the guests gathered on the wraparound porch of the Club and asked her to hit balls. Stephanie naturally obliged and hit balls in her gown. Little did they know she had changed into her golf shoes after the church ceremony which made it easier! We don’t know how many brides have hit balls in their wedding gown, but it was natural that Stephanie would.” That must have been an amusing sight to see. Sometimes it’s the unplanned events which make the reception most memorable.

The newlyweds celebrated their wedding at Tucker’s Point Clubhouse with 120 guests. They sought to turn the reception into a get-acquainted party between the two families and friends, so they orchestrated food stations. As they put it, “We wanted all our guests to mingle and therefore we chose a food station atmosphere over a sit down meal. This allowed family from both sides to meet each other for the first time and share some great stories. We also had lots of family and  college friends travel from all over to celebrate with us. We were blessed to have so many people come down. We wanted everyone to be comfortable and relaxed and Tucker’s Point provided the perfect venue for this.” Delectables at the  stations included truffle mashed potatoes, sushi, Vietnamese rolls, a carving station, a pasta station and an ice cream bar with cake for dessert.

Chef Serge Botelli of Tucker’s Point Club masterminded the cuisine. To personalize the event, and because Chris is gluten intolerant, “Serge and his team created his own flourless groom’s cake, shaped in a ball and chain.” We’re sure Stephanie and Chris liked that!

Music during the reception was directed by DJ Paul Sofianos. Flowers by GiMi provided the uniquely modern floral display under the auspices of Michelle Geary. “Michelle was incredible, and gave us exactly what we wanted. She was great at  capturing our attitude and fun loving spirit. Our guests couldn’t stop raving over her designs and unique touches that made our wedding perfect.” Flowers do so much to exemplify the spirit of an occasion.

Wedding stationary was designed by Christina White who prepared everything from engagement and bridal invitations to programs and thank-you cards. Alisha Gibbons did Stephanie’s make-up and Bang Bang Hair arranged the locks of the  bride, mother of the bride and bridesmaids.

“We wanted our day to be preserved perfectly, so an experienced photographer was essential. Chris is very passionate about photography, and knowing Mark’s work, immediately wanted him.” Stephanie goes on. “We chose Mark (Mark Tatem Photography) because his pictures ranged from traditional family photos to very unique candid moments. Mark was very professional and knew exactly how to utilize Bermuda’s natural beauty for our photos. He is incredibly talented and creative. His professional manner put us at ease so we could be ourselves and our pictures came out incredible because of  it.” Again, selecting a vendor who knows what you are looking for is essential to meet the desires of the wedding  couple.

We asked where the newly weds chose to honeymoon. “When you live in paradise like Chris and I do, many people ask “where do you go for your honeymoon?!” We wanted to go someplace different so we flew to London for two days, then on to Rome for two more. From there we caught the Ruby Princess for a 12 day Mediterranean cruise. Neither of us had been to the Mediterranean, so it was perfect for our honeymoon. We had a fantastic time and were able to experience new places together. That made it super special.”

What can you advise brides about the rewards of a Bermuda wedding? Stephanie planned her wedding with her mother, Debbie Lewis. Stephanie says, “Bermuda is simply breathtaking! When we came out of the church, there was a perfect rainbow outside. That was amazing. Only in Bermuda can this happen! Bermuda has some incredible views which make perfect wedding backdrops.” Having a rainbow greet the happy couple outside the church was certainly a fortuitous moment.