By Emily Rochotte
Photography by Amanda Temple Photography
Ashley Holmes and Tony Ciccolo, who met at a friend’s wedding, brought their relationship full circle when they said “I do” at their own ceremony at Coco Reef.
“We wanted to do a destination wedding,” said Tony. “We worked with a local travel agent and she pointed us toward taking a cruise to Bermuda and getting married on the island.”
Tony and Ashley’s wedding inspired a weeklong party aboard a cruise ship for 50 of their closest friends and family, with only a handful choosing to skip the cruise and fly straight to Bermuda for the big day. The ship docked for three days, leaving plenty of time for guests to take in the island and still be able to enjoy the wedding.
On the day of the wedding, Ashley and Tony chose to see each other before walking down the aisle.
“Seeing her that day was big,” gushed Tony. “She looked beautiful.”
Though the big reveal was planned as an intimate moment, a couple of surprise guests made it truly memorable.
“It was supposed to be the two of us, but my parents were right there,” Ashley chuckled.
After capturing the moment they laid eyes on each other, the oceanside wedding on the beach began.
“The location was beautiful,” said Ashley. “Our wedding planner did such a great job with every detail that we wanted. I don’t know how she threw that all together.”
Ashley and Tony exchanged vows under a traditional moongate, a beautiful archway that is a symbol of Bermuda backed by the legend that couples who walk through the arch will have lifelong happiness.
Tony wore a tan linen suit, or as Ashley points out, a tan linen vest, because the jacket was forgotten at home. Jacket or no jacket, they were one good-looking couple. Ashley wore a simple yet elegant lace dress with an open back. Both bridesmaids looked gorgeous in flowing, sleeveless blue dresses as the two groomsmen wore ties in a complementing shade.
At the conclusion of the wedding ceremony, everyone headed to the outdoor reception. Since guests would be eating back on the cruise ship, the newlyweds opted for an open bar with appetizers.
“We kept it very simple and low key,” explained Tony. “It was more of a party atmosphere than a formal sit-down.”
In lieu of a cake cutting, guests enjoyed cupcakes, decorated with nautical designs, which were a dancefloor-friendly dessert.
“Everyone was very complimentary and said it was the best wedding they’d ever been to, which meant a lot to me because I was worried about people coming all that way and being disappointed,” shared Tony. “Being there with family and friends, it was nice.”
WEDDING DETAILS
CEREMONY & Reception: Coco Reef
Wedding PLANNER: Giuliana Gonsalves
PHOTOGRAPHY: Amanda Temple Photography
FLOWERS: Flowers by GiMi
CAKE: Cake Boutique Celebration
CATERING: Coco Reef
HAIR: Blueprint Hair Studio
MAKEUP: Makeup by Aphrodite
TRANSPORTATION: Knights
