Text by Lori Ann Schulten
Reception Photography by Joy Bauer Photography

Bridal gown and Bridesmaids' dresses for Off Broadway Bridal
Groom and Best Man attire from Modelle's Custom Tailors
Floral arrangements by Wayne Esterle, of In Bloom Again
Calligraphy by Julie Diamond
Cake by The Bakery
Entertainment by The Limited
Reception Venue: The Brown

Traditional weddings still comprise the majority of weddings today, but Angela and James Beckett wanted anything but traditional, choosing to wed on the beach in the sunny Caribbean. Angela, a director for Ford Motor Company’s Health Services, met James, a marketing attorney for Brown-Williamson, four year before, when they were sent on a blind date by colleagues. They began dating seriously a year later and became engaged eighteen months after that.

Dripping in Diamonds
In May of 2002, Jim proposed to Angela at the Kentucky Oaks as the attended the races with Jim’s parents. Following the fourth race, Jim ordered a champagne toast to celebrate the race Angela had just won, ironically on a horse named .Dripping In Diamonds. Once everyone else had made a toast, Jim turned to Angela and said, ”Family, friends, and my beautiful girlfriend I love so much, would you be my future wife?” Crying, Angela said, “Yes”, and the wedding plans began.

A Walk on the Beach
Angela and Jim chose to hire a destination wedding coordinator who did all the planning and preparations for them. With fifty-two members of their family and close friends looking on, they were married on the sandy beaches of Ocho Rios, Jamaica at the Grand Lido Sans Souci, on April 12, 2003. Walked down the aisle by her mother to the romantic sounds of a saxophone, Angela looked simply stunning in a white strapless matte satin gown with embroidered silver and bugle beads and a chiffon side chapel length train from Off Broadway Bridal. Angela’s two brides-maids preceded her in strapless aqua floor length crepe gowns, accented with beads and a chiffon shawl. Jim and his best man, his father, wore custom tailored black linen suits, complimented by white linen custom shirts from Modelle’s Custom Tailors. As the sun began to set on the horizon, dancing off of the water and casting a warm glow on the couple, Angela and Jim exchanged their vows with the ocean breeze blowing and the white sand between their toes.

Following the ceremony, the couple bid farewell to their guests and retired to a separate resort to enjoy their ten-day honeymoon together.

A Night of Elegance
On May 31, Angela and Jim hosted a candlelight wedding reception in the elegant Crystal Ballroom of The Brown celebrate their wedding with the over 390 friends and family who were unable to travel to Jamaica. As the planning stages progressed, Jim and Angela enlisted the services of a close family friend, Carrolle Jones Clay, Vice President of Community Relations for Republic Bank and Trust. With a focus on elegance and a celebration of love, the motif was white on white accented by hints of silver. Guests were greeted by arrangements of lilies on the baby grand piano and the hallway before entering the magnificent ballroom.

The tables and chairs were adorned in full dress, complete with draped tables and white chair covers with satin ties. Each place setting was very formal including place cards with hand painted calligraphy by Julie Diamond, a water goblet, a wine glass, and a custom etched champagne glass with the bride’s and groom’s names especially flown in as wedding favors for each loved one. The centerpieces were thirty inch crystal pilsners and thirty inch silver trumpet vases filled with curly willow, casablanka lilies, and bear grass foliage, arranged by Wayne Esterle of In Bloom Again. The amber glow of the dimmed crystal chandeliers provided a soft candlelit atmosphere for a night of elegance. The guests enjoyed an exquisite three course dinner, provided by the hotel, followed by an elaborate four tier rolled fondant butter cream layer cake made by The Bakery. After the toast and the first dance, guests danced into the morning to the strong rhythm and blues vocals of Louisville’s own The Unlimited.