Settling in to my sketch pad for me is a great escape. I can put all my worries in this world at bay for hours as I sit, visualize and start the design process of a gorgeous wedding. The past couple of days I have been working and working on the design for Tess and Erik's springtime Bermuda wedding. God, I got so close the day before yesterday until I started to draw the grooms face and head. Oh boy, that sketch was ruined. I could have done some Photoshop magic, but the process I like to keep a bit more pure than that. So with that practice under my belt, I was able to hit the pad again and to work on the "finished" sketch for this project. My bride is in love the color of the water in Bermuda. How could you not be ? It is a rare turquoise that I have not seen in my many travels to warmer weather. It is a perfect inspiration to this fun and elegant destination wedding. I chose to fill in the back of my sketch digitally and of course I just had to get the perfect shade of Bermuda pink to compliment the details. It seems that everything at The Fairmont Bermuda is Pink, for a gay guy it does not get much better than sippin' swizzles under a pink and white stripped umbrella. That is mostly a fantasy, like the sketch I guess. I know that I will be running all around, and of course taking the trolley, to make sure that everything that we have planned and designed is perfect!! With a design map in place, we can get to work on the Save the Dates and finding a perfect bow and pearl necklace for the ducks.

It is a tough job, but somebody has to do it right? When generational family friends of Eastover Farm in Rochester called on me to work as their wedding designer and planner for their daughter's wedding, I jumped at the chance. It was hard for me to believe that she would not want to be married in the stone lined fields of their family's elegant estate, but she too has always had a dream as a bride and it did not include the farm. Instead a beachy, elegant wedding was her choice. After a lot of discussion, we finally agreed that The Fairmont Southhampton, Bermuda would be a perfect place to celebrate this once in a lifetime event for their family. I just got off the plane last night from my trip down to sure up the details prior to bringing the family down to the island to review all of the wonderful surprises that I have in store for them. Every detail to the hotel is simply impeccable and the service rivaled the best hotels in the world. Even I was impressed and in awe of the well oiled machine and staff that make up the experience of this five star resort. I was especially impressed with two people on the resort, first the trolley driver who sang and acted out " The Wheels on the bus go round and round....." to the delight of two little cuties and their parents who had hopped in with us for a ride from the beach back up the winding road of the resort to the hotel. Every person on that trolley, myself included was humming along and smiling as the jolly driver tooted the horn and swished the windshield wipers. The second stand out was our waiter on the last evening of our stay. He charmed us with his Indian accent and beaming smile and of course he waited on us and every guest there as if we were royalty. A very special treat. Of course it is hard to thank every delightful staff member who always greeted us with smiles and exceedingly good service.

I fell under charming spell of the island from my first sight of it's crystal blue waters and elegantly dressed gentlemen in their "Bermuda" shorts and knee socks. Prior to leaving I too, had to don a pair of knee highs, pink of course with my matching "Bermuda Pink" shorts and because it was a chilly 72 degrees that evening I decided to throw a pink cashmere sweater over my shoulders. I loved it and I fit right in with the locals and British tourists who painted a colorful palette across the south lawn of the hotel for "Tea" (a.k.a. Dark and Stormies or Rum Swizzles) Lucky me, I get to head back in a few weeks to act as the guide to my clients and friends. I am sure that my bride will be thrilled, but can I convince the groomsmen to wear knee highs and Bermuda shorts?