Meanwhile, Leroy “Dean” Sisco, Jr. was being dragged out to the same show by his friends. He may not have been enthused about the night at first, but when he spotted Leah across the room, he knew he’d found the one.

“I fell in love with her the first time I saw her—absolutely gorgeous!” Dean recalls. But with dancing taking the place of conversation and loud renditions of classics like “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Livin’ on a Prayer” blaring, it wasn’t until the end of the night that Leah learned she’d actually danced the night away with Dean, not “Dan.” Despite the misnomer, the two dance partners would eventually become husband and wife.

From the beginning, Leah and Dean have been self-described “cruise junkies,” so it was only fitting for Dean to propose on their Memorial Day cruise to the Bahamas in 2010.

“Unbeknownst to me, Dean was planning to propose for almost a year before he actually did. During that time, he told just about everyone we knew of his plans, including my parents, his parents, friends—even kids he picked up on his church’s bus route knew before me!” Yet somehow, Leah remained in the dark until the couple were on their cruise vacation.

Dean’s original plan was to sing karaoke on the ship and propose following the song, but due to a large crowd he opted for a backup plan. It was a windy, chilly night on the water when Dean suggested they take a walk on the upper deck of the ship to see the view.

“Honestly, at that point, I thought he was crazy. In fact, I kept arguing with him—Why in the world do you want to go up there anyway? What, so we can see the BLACK ocean surrounded by a pitch BLACK sky?” But despite Leah’s reservations about the late night walk and the wind messing up her neatly straightened hair, Dean got the answer he was looking for: yes!

The couple jokes about Dean’s preference for getting hitched in the backyard and serving their wedding guests burgers and hotdogs, but in the end the wedding planning centered around two criteria: their mutual love of cruise ships and a desire to be married on a beach. When Leah found a Norwegian Cruise Line ship set for Bermuda over the Fourth of July holiday, she knew it would make for the perfect destination wedding. And as a bonus, Leah adds, “Dean would never forget his anniversary!”

Having never visited Bermuda before, Leah and Dean enlisted the professional assistance of wedding planner Allister Simmons of The Bridal Suite. After hearing what the couple envisioned for their wedding, Simmons helped the couple decide on a ceremony on Warwick Long Bay Beach—“which is absolutely beautiful,” Leah adds—and a wedding reception at Coco Reef, a stunning beach resort set in tropical gardens overlooking Bermuda’s famed turquoise waters.

During the planning process, Dean quickly figured out how he could best help. “Being a husband-in-waiting, I learned very quickly to trust my blushing bride-to-be’s judgment and say ‘Yes Dear, a lot!” he explains with a smile. Leah took the reigns, and with a Bermuda wedding venue selected, she set out to find the perfect dress.

“As far as picking my wedding dress was concerned, two words can accurately describe the process: never-ending.”Over a dozen wedding shops throughout the Carolinas and 100 dresses later, Leah finally picked a beautiful, form-fitting gown designed by Pronovias. While the dress hunt may have been exhausting, Leah found enjoyment in choosing the wedding favors for her guests. “I looked through countless wedding magazines to get ideas, which allowed me to be creative while dreaming of our big day.”

Due to the guest limitations that come with a destination wedding, Leah and Dean kept the day intimate. Their 20 guests flew to Bermuda while the soon-to-be spouses arrived via cruise ship—a fitting way for the cruise enthusiasts to travel.

“God blessed us with no travel issues, perfect weather and a marvelous time!” Dean recalls. The ship docked in Bermudian waters for its two days at port there, and on July 4, 2011, Leah and Dean’s big day had arrived.

Since the ceremony would take place on the beach in the middle of summer, the couple decided on a casual atmosphere, encouraging their guests to wear whatever made them feel most comfortable. Even the bride wore a pair of white diamond flip-flops under her wedding gown. The groom and groomsmen, however, forewent heat-appropriate attire in favor of three-piece suits. Dean wore a white tuxedo jacket in honor of Leah’s grandfather, Ron Carlson, who wore one at his wedding in 1960 to Leah’s grandmother, Nancy. And the added heat was worth it, as Leah recalls, “Dean looked dazzling!”

Joseph Marable of Joseph Marable Photography was the highly recommended photographer, and Leah’s only regret from her big day was not having him stay at the reception longer. “Some words of advice to all future brides out there: do not try to save money by reducing the amount of time your photographer spends with you and your husband on your special day!”

The color scheme of the beach wedding consisted of various shades of light green and Tiffany blue. Leah walked down the aisle holding a beautiful bouquet of cascading white Phalaenopsis and Cymbidium orchids arranged by Designer Flowers, with matching white orchids in her hair, a sight that would prove to be one of Dean’s favorite memories from the big day.

As for Leah, her most memorable moment was during the newlywed’s first dance. “Being that it was the Fourth of July (which is only a United States holiday) we never expected in a million years to see fireworks while we were in Bermuda. However, during our first dance together as husband and wife, as if it were planned that way, low and behold, there they were—fireworks going off right above our heads! For as long as I live, I will never forget how wonderful that moment was.”

After a movie scene worthy first dance and a beautiful wedding day on Bermuda, Leah and Dean boarded their cruise ship to head back to the States. And as husband and wife they are already excitedly saving for their next trip together, this time to the Mediterranean via—you guessed it—a cruise ship.

Win one of 10 amazing destination weddings…

Each destination wedding prize package includes:

• Airfare for bride, groom, and up to 8 guests provided by JetBlue*
• 5-night stay for the bride and groom, including a daily breakfast
• 5-night stay for up to 8 guests, including a daily breakfast
• Reception with 3-course meal and a champagne toast
• Wedding photography*
• Two-tiered wedding cake
• Bouquets for the bride and maid of honor*
• Boutonnieres for the groom and best man*
• Officiator and marriage license
• Access to a wedding coordinator*

You get to pick the location and theme you want.

BERMUDA’S PERFECT 10 WEDDING CHALLENGE:
BERMUDA AND JETBLUE AIRWAYS AWARD 10 WINNING COUPLES 10 DESTINATION WEDDINGS, SET FOR 10/10/10

NEW YORK, July 12, 2010 – Ten grand-prize winning couples from across the United States have won Bermuda’s Perfect 10 contest, awarding them the opportunity to say ‘I do’ in Bermuda. The couples who’ve been chosen to jet-set to Bermuda’s fabled pink sands will head to Bermuda via a private nonstop JetBlue Airways charter flight from the airline’s home base at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), accompanied by eight guests of their choosing, to tie the knot on October 10, 2010, also known as 10/10/10.

The contest is sponsored by the Bermuda Department of Tourism (BDOT), The Knot, a leading online wedding resource, and airline partner JetBlue Airways.

Winners of Bermuda’s Perfect 10 destination wedding contest were chosen based on entries submitted on TheKnot.com by engaged couples sharing why they should win one of ten themed, wedding getaways to Bermuda. A panel of judges narrowed down the list of roughly 900 contestants to 30 finalists (three for each of the ten themed wedding categories). Then voters from around the globe ranked their favorites.

Winners will receive their chosen six-day, five-night, dream wedding, with themes including Exotic Cave, Eco-Chic, Magical Sunset, Waves of Love, Moongate, Sunset and Pink Sand, Waterfront, Harbourfront, Nostalgic Bermuda and Linked For Life, at one of ten participating resorts.

“We are very excited to welcome Bermuda’s Perfect 10 contest winners to our wonderful destination,” said William Griffith, Director of Tourism for BDOT. “Bermuda offers a diverse range of island experiences that make it an ideal destination wedding and honeymoon location.

We’ll continue to seek alliances with outstanding companies such as The Knot and participating airline sponsor JetBlue Airways as they are equally committed to serving this market.”

Bermuda’s Perfect 10 winners will stay at participating resorts, including Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa, Coco Reef Resort, Elbow Beach Bermuda, The Fairmont Hamilton
Princess, The Fairmont Southampton, Grotto Bay Beach & Tennis Club, Newstead Belmont Hills Golf Resort & Spa, The Reefs and Tucker’s Point Hotel & Spa.

“The Knot is thrilled to be a part of such a wonderful destination wedding partnership with both Bermuda and JetBlue,” said Shri Lildharrie, global travel director at The Knot Inc. “With the ten winners receiving well over 23,000 votes, we found this campaign to be truly amazing for The Knot and our brides.”

As part of the partnership, The Knot will publish a multi-page print media advertorial in The Knot magazine, highlighting Bermuda’s many destination wedding experiences; publicize the contest winners on the top two wedding planning websites TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com; and utilize social media outlets, including Facebook and Twitter to
provide user generated content to showcase the Bermuda experience. Couples and their guests will travel to Bermuda via private charter flight compliments of JetBlue Airways.

“We look forward to providing a unique, unforgettable ‘Something Blue’ Experience for the winning couples, their family and friends,” said Fiona Morrisson, director of brand management and advertising for JetBlue. “With our award-winning product and customer experience, we strive to make every flight as enjoyable as the destination. With a flight time of less than two hours from New York, Bermuda offers the perfect romantic escape.”

Just a two-hour flight from multiple major east coast cities, Bermuda is an accessible escape offering endless outdoor activities, thriving culture, signature pink sand beaches and an array of dining options. The destination’s distinct ambiance is unparalleled elsewhere in the world. Check out Bermuda’s Perfect 10 winners at www.theknot.com. For more information on Bermuda vacations, visit www.bermudatourism.com.

Photo by Sacha Blackburne at Lido Complex

As many of these women have noted, the custom wedding – as opposed to the ‘package’ approach – is rapidly becoming the norm.

Nikki Begg, professional bridal consultant and owner of Bermuda bride founded her business nine years ago. She sought to provide what was at the time, a nearly impossible service: a wedding representing what the bride wanted and nothing she didn’t. The only full-time, Bermuda-based wedding planning company on the island, Bermuda Bride specializes in destination weddings, which allows them to “focus exclusively on the bride and her wedding day” and are always available when you need them.
Not only does Bermuda Bride have excellent relationships with Bermuda vendors of all sorts, it is also preferred by many of the island’s hotels and resorts. Furthermore, the business branched out in 2001 opening a floral company called Petals, as well as a design and rental company, Elements. Through collaboration and complementary services, these companies streamline the planning process. Nikki adds that, while Bermuda Bride specializes mainly in high-end weddings, she and her team are equally enthusiastic to accommodate any budget. “Often the most creative weddings are where we have to come up with viable and exciting solutions,” she explains, citing tight cruise ship schedules as one challenging example.
Speaking of schedules, Nikki urges brides not to let the planning schedule overwhelm them. Her advice is to “decide on your priorities and make those decisions first – they will provide the framework for all the other decision you need to make.” She also councils brides to leave 10% worth of “wiggle-room” in the budget, as things tend to be more expensive, as well as take a bit longer, than expected. Like Kay-Annie Reid Young, Nikki Begg also recommends care in choosing the guest list, pointing out that greater volume translates to greater cost.
When asked about trends Nikki suggests simple elegance, elaborating that, as part of this “overall sense of elegance,” upcoming weddings will also showcase “varying hues of monochromatic colors as the main color way and texture upon texture as the theme.” Nikki, however, also draws her own inspirations from her surroundings, referring to the “deep tangerine sunsets, ocean blues, rich bronzes, and woody greens” which the landscape of Bermuda provides as perfect, vibrant accents to the wedding palate of whites and ivories. “And,” she adds, “the beach theme always, always works.”
In 2010, Bermuda Bride will be reworking its already elegant website,  www.bermudabride.com. The new site will provide even more information, including a library of 2009 bouquets, a blog, and a special interactive section for current brides, as well as a forum where past brides can post advice. With so many new things on the horizon, Nikki Begg and her team are more excited than ever to be making great strides in their industry. “There is a tremendous sense of satisfaction in seeing everything come together,” she explains. “Whether we’ve been working on a wedding for 18 months or 18 days, understanding what the couple want, truly want, and then being able to help them achieve that is incredibly important to us.” With over nine years and 800 weddings worth of experience, Bermuda Bride embodies everything necessary “for a wedding day as individual as you.”
Yolanda Furbert loves to organize events. “I’ve been doing this since I was 14,” she  says, laughing. “I wasn’t concerned with getting paid at first,” she recalls, “I did it just to do it.”
It is this very passion, which makes her business, To Have And To Hold Wedding and Event Planners, such a success. Yolanda, a certified planner, prides herself on her ability to make her clients feel “as though they are guests at their own event,”
adding that she also likes to “treat every event as if it’s my first,” with the same level of excitement and attention to detail. Specializing in both local and destination weddings, as well as other events, To Have And To Hold offers a professional versatility any bride would value. With an emphasis on client satisfaction, attention to detail, and an eye for the newest trends – lots of purple shades and orchids being a few Yolanda has noticed – To Have And To Hold’s meticulously planned events are sure to exceed expectations. Furthermore, Yolanda’s many connections within the Bermuda community have developed into various partnerships which allow her to offer inclusive wedding packages that provide the DJ, venue, catering, and more.
Yolanda, however, recommends that brides build their own custom weddings from the ground up, explaining that many brides will often choose a set package, only to find things they’d like to change, which complicates planning as well as adding on extra charges. She prefers to begin by sitting down and listening to exactly what each bride wants. The initial session is a free ninety-minute consultation in which Yolanda can speak with the bride about all the options available. In this way, she explains, she can be sure that each wedding is perfectly tailored to the bride’s vision. The business’ website, www.tohaveandtoholdbermuda.com, offers more information, including toll free numbers, and could be your first step toward your very own custom wedding by To Have And To Hold.
Donna Lindo, founder of Class Act Designs, is yet another woman who is dedicated to success. Her business is a multi-faceted, special event coordination company with abundant connections throughout Bermuda. Offering an array of services for all varieties of events, Class Act Designs has the ability to tailor any experience to the desires of the client. Indeed, Donna explains, this broad spectrum of services is one of the greatest strengths of her business. “Whatever you ask for,” she says, in a tone of unassailable confidence, “we can do it.” To this end, all prospective clients will have an initial consultation in which all of their needs and ideas will be discussed, ensuring that the event is customized exactly to their specifications.

Donna’s main advice to brides is simple: start early. In some cases, venues or endors can be booked up to a year, or even longer, in advance. The best way to ensure that a bride has everything she desires on her wedding day is to begin planning with plenty of time. The Class Act Designs website, www.classactdesignsbermuda.com, is an excellent and easy-to-use tool for brides who are just beginning. The site includes a list of services, a photo gallery featuring an array of events, and a testimonial page with a long list of glowing praises.

Some brides approach their wedding day with worries that something may go wrong, and that it will not be the perfect day they have hoped for. This fear, when it comes to working with Class Act Designs, is completely unfounded. This business specializes in, as the tagline promises, “providing the client with an experience that exceeds their expectations,” so brides can rest easy knowing that their special day will be just that, and more. With over twenty years of experience, Donna Lindo is a force to be reckoned with. Wedding mishaps, beware: you’ve met your match.

Speaking of forces to be reckoned with, Kay-Annie Reid Young of Kreative Koncepts also means business. As a certified professional holding customer satisfaction as her highest priority, Kay-Annie’s creativity and ‘outside-the-box’ mentality make her a cutting-edge figure in the world of Bermuda weddings. Her passion for her work leads her to find new ways to add to her already extensive knowledge of the field of wedding and event planning. Her experience prompts her to give brides the advice of staying calm. “Even though it may seem difficult at times, the wedding planner has a wealth of information that allows for couples to not make mistakes.” She adds that brides should always inform their planner of any guests that may be, as she puts it, ‘high risk,’ thereby providing the necessary tools for avoiding any conflicts that may arise throughout the day.

Looking toward the future, Kay-Annie notices several trends, many reflecting the more customized, less traditional approach to which other coordinators have called attention. Many brides are now using the internet instead of printed stationary for invitations, and are planning for more relaxed receptions as opposed to the formal, seated style. Also, many weddings are second, third, or even fourth weddings, challenging what used to be the accepted idea of bride and groom. Most intriguing, Kay-Annie notes, is that many brides are altering the tradition of being ‘given away,’ preferring terminology that more appropriately reflects the strong, independent womanhood of brides today. Another consideration Kay-Annie takes into account is that, in light of today’s economic environment, brides will want to make the most of their budget. Her advice is to focus on making the wedding as memorable and meaningful as possible by inviting those who are dearest to bride and groom, such as family and close friends. “Its O.K. to not have a large wedding just for the sake of having a large wedding,” she adds, understanding that brides have “other dreams and goals” toward which savings can be put.

All advice and savvy planning aside, however, it is clear that Kay-Annie has a supreme commitment to the happiness of her clients. “My favorite part about this industry is the look I get when I see one of my couples, completely relaxed after all the planning, just fully enjoying their wedding without a care in the world. This speaks volumes to me as a planner because it means they have completely put their trust in me and my ability to ensure this moment happens, and this is what motivates me to become a part of their journey.” For more information on how to make Kay-Annie a part of your wedding journey, visit www.kreativekoncepts.biz.

Phyllis Soares of AWESOME! Events also supports the custom approach to wedding planning. She’s noticed that, more often than not, the modern bride has a precise idea of how everything should be laid out on the big day. She adds that “it should be about what the bride wants,” and is committed to achieving everything that might entail, and more – something she is quite capable of, having spent the last year and a half as the chief wedding coordinator at the Nine Beaches Resort in Bermuda.
Phyllis is full of handy tips for brides, cautioning them, among other things, not to forget the small details – such as transportation to and from the airport for guests – that often go unnoticed until the last minute. She also recommends a site visit before the wedding, in order to meet face to face with both coordinator and vendors, and to get an idea of the venue. This recommendation, in particular, is easy to take, as the only thing better than one trip to Bermuda is, of course, two trips to Bermuda. Phyllis adds that she has noticed a trend toward simple elegant style in recent weddings, but that she has also organized a few very unique or unusual weddings – further indication that the wedding as an event is becoming more diversified.
The AWESOME! Events website, www.awesomeeventsbermuda.com, is an excellent information source, providing detailed descriptions of what the bride can expect. Here, the more traditional bride can select a wedding package and go from there, or, for those feeling adventurous, inquire into customizing any existing plan by making a quick phone call. For an exceptionally unique wedding, choose Poseidon’s Adventure, which offers a ceremony at sea. The three-hour cruise aboard a gorgeous, state-of-the-art yacht offers a selection of entree choices, a digital photographer, and full service bar, along with everything else necessary for a perfect wedding on the water. During 2010, AWESOME! Events will be offering monthly specials, as well as a drawing to win a free wedding. Register on the website to receive an e-news letter. Also, keep an eye out for Phyllis’ new web project, a site called www.justcruisin.com, which will be exclusively geared toward cruise ship weddings. After seeing just how well-rounded Phyllis’ experience is, you’ll want to pick up the phone, call AWESOME! Events, and let Phyllis, as she puts it, “maximize your wedding dollar.”
With so many capable coordinators to choose from, it may be difficult to decide which one best suites your wedding needs. What won’t be difficult is choosing Bermuda as the destination for your wedding. With its renowned pink coral beaches and gorgeous sunsets, the island provides the perfect backdrop for the passion and romance of every wedding.