By Rachel Sawden
Photography by Howarth Photography Ltd.
Alexandra met Conor in December 2013 at the Union Square Brother Jimmy’s bar in New York City during the annual SantaCon pub crawl.
“We were the only ones not wearing Santa costumes,” Alexandra says with a laugh.
After two and a half years of bonding over their shared love of Frank Sinatra, football, and traveling, Conor proposed.
“My parents used to live in Bermuda,” Alexandra says. “My father was the manager of the Loews Bermuda Beach in St. George’s.”
Growing up, she visited the island many times with her family. Wanting to share Bermuda with her loved ones, she suggested Bermuda as their wedding venue. The idyllic island paradise of Bermuda wasn’t a hard sell for Conor, whose first visit to the island was to choose wedding venues. During that visit, they found one of Alexandra’s favorite dining rooms at the newly renovated Hamilton Princess Beach Club, the Trudeau Ballroom.
“It was an easy decision after that,” says Alexandra.
In May 2017, 100 guests flew in from all over the world for the wedding, half of whom were first-time visitors to Bermuda.
The rehearsal dinner took place on the pink sands of the Hamilton Princess Beach Club as the sun set. Guests were greeted by staff with the island’s signature drinks of dark ‘n stormy and rum swizzles, and were seated under a portico located steps away from the ocean, bathed in the glow of hurricane lanterns and café lights.
“It was truly dark and stormy in the days leading up to the rehearsal, and then the weather completely shifted,” the bride
recalls. “The evening was beautiful and warm. We were overjoyed that the guests got to take in the beauty of Bermuda at sunset.”
Faithful Irish Catholics, the couple were married in St. Theresa’s Cathedral. Alexandra wore a stunning strapless gown by Madame Trousseau and carried a bouquet of pale pink peonies and white roses by Flowers by GiMi. Conor was a dashing groom outfitted in a deep navy tuxedo with black velvet loafers. The bridesmaids wore a palette of pastels, and the groomsmen donned custom grey suits with matching vineyard vines bowties depicting the upcoming America’s Cup.
Transitioning from the church to the ballroom, the Trudeau Ballroom at the Hamilton Princess provided an intimate room of pinks, green, and cream, which inspired the wedding’s color scheme. The newlyweds made a splash entering their reception to a mash up of Frank Sinatra and The Notorious B.I.G. With chandeliers and a beautiful balcony, it was the perfect venue for the newlyweds and their guests.
Alexandra’s childhood inspired the lighting choice.
“Growing up, we ate dinner by candlelight and wanted to carry out that tradition within our reception, resulting in a romantic décor of candelabras, tea candles, and dimmed lights surrounded by my favorite flowers, white hydrangeas and peonies,” she says.
A sumptuous island-inspired dinner of rum painted filet of snapper, beef tenderloin, and Atlantic jumbo shrimp was served. The couple made an unusual dessert choice.
“We forewent the traditional wedding cake in place of rum cake stations, where our guests were able to select from an array of sweet topping options to flambé,” says Alexandra.
After dinner, Alexandra, Conor, and their guests danced the night away.
“From the natural beauty of the island, to our phenomenal wedding vendors and impeccable service at the Hamilton Princess, we were in bliss and lucky to have been able to share an island so close to our hearts with those we love,” says Alexandra.
