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Real Wedding: Isabel & Chris — Love, Lace & A Harbor Sunset

As seen on hamptonBRIDE.com.

The Love Story

Like so many modern love stories, Isabel and Chris’s began with an unexpected shift. Both having relocated from New York City to Palm Beach during Covid, they found themselves living in the same building, orbiting the same social circles, and sharing mutual friends. Casual encounters turned into something more in December 2021, when Isabel joined Chris and his friends on a trip to St. Barths. From that point on, as she says, “the rest is history.”

By the summer of 2022, Isabel and Chris had purchased their first home together in East Hampton, a milestone that would ultimately shape the entire wedding weekend.

An Intimate Beginning, A Night By The Harbor

East Hampton was never just a backdrop, it was part of their story. Hosting their ceremony in the backyard of their first home together felt intimate, intentional, and deeply personal. With just about 100 guests in attendance, the ceremony struck a rare balance, meaningful without feeling overwhelming.

Two of their closest friends officiated, weaving together laughter, memories, and heartfelt moments that guests would later describe as “unlike any ceremony” they had experienced before.

For the reception, the celebration moved to Si Si, set along Three Mile Harbor, where sailboats drifted in, cocktails flowed, and the light softened into one of those unmistakable East Hampton sunsets. With its open air setting and effortless energy, the space felt both transportive and inviting, the perfect backdrop for a night that unfolded with ease.

The Design: Sophisticated, Effortless

As a graphic designer specializing in wedding invitations, Isabel knew designing her own celebration would be both a gift and a challenge. She began the way many creatives do, with mood boards and a Pinterest deep dive, focusing first on color, soft blues, muted greens, and natural textures. The goal was never overtly coastal, but rather organic, timeless, and quietly refined.

Working closely with her planner, Julie Lindenman, Isabel and Chris curated linens, glassware, and tabletop details that echoed the aesthetic, light, textural, effortless sophistication. Every candle color, table placement, and material choice was made with intention.

Her guiding principle? “Sophisticated, effortless and approachable.”

The Details That Told the Story

Naturally, the stationery told a cohesive story from start to finish. Invitations set the tone early, but it was the layered details throughout the weekend that left a lasting impression.

Custom designed tote bags and embroidered patch hats were gifted the night before, wearable keepsakes guests would actually use.

Oval die cut place cards with tassel detailing punctuated each table setting, subtly tying together the visual narrative.

Perhaps the most meaningful design moment was the seating chart installation. Rather than a traditional escort display, Isabel created a gallery wall honoring loved ones who had passed. Vintage photos of family and friends by the water were framed against striped wallpaper and rattan sconces, a tribute to both memory and place. It was thoughtful, layered, and deeply personal without feeling heavy.

The Dresses: Lace, Silk & Sequins

For the ceremony, Isabel always envisioned a high neckline and long sleeves. As someone who loves fashion, she did not want to wear something overly trendy, but rather something timeless and sophisticated, satin, silk, simple. Shopping with her mother, they approached the search with an open mind, determined to try everything. Even though she felt confident about the silhouette she loved, she explored every possibility, strapless gowns, halters, dramatic ball gowns, wanting to be absolutely certain when she found the one.

At one point she even considered having something custom made, which she jokes “sent me into a tizzy.” Ultimately, the dress revealed itself in a design by Pnina Tornai, a lace appliqué gown with a high neckline, long sleeves, and pearl buttons cascading down the back. It was romantic, elegant, and exactly right. What she did not expect was lace. Isabel’s advice to brides is “TRY ON EVERYTHING”!. You sometimes end up with something you never expected.

Mobility, she admits, might have been slightly limited, but she did not care. Once she found the dress, there was no turning back.

Knowing she wanted a completely different look for the reception, she searched for something simpler and fluid, a silk dress that felt effortless but still special for her wedding night. While browsing Moda Operandi, she discovered the Essy silk dress by Nili Lotan.

The dress felt perfect, but needed just a little something extra.

In true creative fashion, Isabel and her mother took a trip to New York’s beloved trim destination M&J Trimmings to find a unique detail. They discovered tassel trim and hand sewed it into a belt the night before the wedding.

“I couldn’t have asked for a more ‘me’ dress if I tried,” she says.

And because one outfit change was simply not enough, the night ended with a final look, a sequined gown by The New Arrivals Ilkyaz Ozel, perfect for dancing, celebrating, and eating late night pizza until nearly 2 a.m.

The Reception: Music, Emotion & A Harbor Breeze

Cocktail hour marked the first time Isabel and Chris saw the full design realized. Months of decisions, sourcing, and collaboration had transformed the waterfront space into something intimate and transportive. It was, in her words, emotional.

Dinner was served family style, generous, abundant, and unforgettable. Guests are still talking about the meal.

As the sun set over the harbor, a close friend and talented musician, Louis Middleton, played piano and sang during dinner, creating an atmosphere that felt more like an elegant private gathering than a traditional reception. Then came the shift in energy, when indie pop band St. Lucia took over the DJ booth, keeping the dance floor full well into the night.

Every speech landed. Every song felt right. Nothing felt forced.

Trusting the Moment

When it came to capturing the water views and golden light, Isabel and Chris made a conscious choice: no rigid shot list, no overplanning. Instead, they placed their full trust in their photographer, Halsey Pierce, to interpret the surroundings organically. The result was effortless, cinematic imagery that felt true to the weekend.

Creative Balance

Being both bride and designer required a delicate shift. Once the creative direction and assets were complete, Isabel handed the reins to her planner. The week leading up to the wedding, and the day itself, she allowed herself to simply be present.

And that presence is what guests remember most.

Reflections & The Lasting Impression

Isabel is most proud of the seamless flow, how every invitation, menu, place card, and décor element felt connected from beginning to end. But beyond the design, it was the joy of the process that mattered most. She and Chris loved every moment and felt proud not just of how it looked, but of how it felt.

Their hope was simple: that guests would feel part of something intimate and meaningful, not just attending a party, but sharing a chapter of their story.

Her advice to other creative brides? “Do it all. Get scrappy. If something is not exactly how you want it, make it happen. It does not have to be wildly expensive, it just has to feel like you.”

With a backyard ceremony at home, a harbor sunset reception, and a dance floor that never emptied, their East Hampton wedding was refined, personal, and unmistakably theirs.

From the Venue: Vanna Gworek, Event Manager, EHP Resort

“At EHP, we believe every wedding should feel like a true reflection of the couple, and Chris and Izzy’s celebration was exactly that. Effortlessly chic yet undeniably vibrant, their evening unfolded against a breathtaking sunset over Three Mile Harbor, setting the stage for an unforgettable night with their closest friends and family.

Izzy stunned in an intricate lace gown, while Chris looked timeless in a classic black tuxedo, together, the perfect embodiment of understated elegance. Guests were welcomed to an intimate dinner featuring a beautifully layered tablescape, woven textures, soft coastal hues, and delicate florals that felt both refined and inviting, setting the tone for a warm, personal evening filled with heartfelt toasts.

As the sun dipped, the celebration seamlessly transitioned into an electrifying afterparty, with guests dancing well into the night. It was a joy to be part of such a meaningful celebration, one filled with great friends, incredible food, and music that carried the night on. A true reflection of the kind of moments that stay with you long after the last song plays.”