A WARM AND INVITING WEDDING AT OHEKA CASTLE
Kristina and Casey Irvine first met at their local college bar back in 2016. Their groups of mutual friends happened to be out together that night, and Kristina recalls thinking “he was just some guy in grad school who was fun to be around.” Casey, however, was immediately on a mission to get to know her better.
“His initial pick-up line was, ‘I'm wearing Dolce and Gabbana,’ in his crazy outfit for one of the themed nights,” Kristina remembers. “He clearly knew the way to my heart, and we kept running into each other around campus since then.”
“He clearly knew the way to my heart.”
A Journey to the Altar with Karyn Michael Events
Having been together through three years of Casey being in Physical Therapy school – not to mention, a global pandemic – the couple knew an engagement was on the horizon. Casey surprised Kristina with a trip to Palm Springs and coordinated having both of their families there for the proposal.
“He managed to plan a proposal as I planned a vacation,” Kristina describes, “and knew that after he proposed, we had set dinner plans that he knew I would like, since I picked it out. After he proposed, I went into wedding planning mode almost immediately.
I knew right away that I wanted Karyn [of Karyn Michael Events] to plan our wedding. It didn't take much convincing since I knew she would be able to execute my vision to a tee. My brain was filled with so many different ideas, colors, and wedding vibes. Karyn somehow managed to combine and create the perfect wedding for us.”
A Warm and Inviting Wedding at Oheka Castle
When the wedding day arrived, the groom started the day surrounded by his friends. Meanwhile, the bride was getting ready with her girls and thoroughly enjoying herself as she got her hair and makeup done. Suddenly, the wedding day nerves started to sink in.
“Once we made it through the first look and pictures,” she says, “we knew the hard part was over, and we were just excited to be surrounded by the people we love most. We knew that bringing my West Indian family to an event, everyone would have a blast and would be drinking and dancing all night long.”
The celebration was a warm and inviting wedding at Oheka Castle, with an ambiance and energy that were unmatched. Guests clapped the moment the couple joined each other at the end of the aisle, which foreshadowed the high vibes that would last for the rest of the night.
Some of the wedding décor highlights included a black-wrapped dance floor with an abundance of candles, adding an extra layer of warmth and love to the beautiful interior of Oheka Castle. Personal details were scattered everywhere, from the planter seating box to the custom black pillows, the espresso martini toppers, the Clase Azul and Hennessy XO at every table, and the celebrity DJ.
“It's safe to say no one was sitting and everyone was on the dance floor all night long,” Kristina shares. “All of our friends and family had a blast ‘Palancing’ with napkins in hand. Casey's uncle came prepared with his T-shirt gun and custom shirts, bringing the stadium fun to our after-party!”
After dancing the night away and ending with the Utopia Bagels truck, the newlyweds had two days to pack before jetting off on their honeymoon to Singapore, Bali, and Thailand.
“Spending the bulk of our time in Bali, the Capella Ubud was the highlight,” Kristina reflects. “Staying in the luxury tent tucked away in the jungles of Bali was an unreal experience. Our wedding and honeymoon came and went so fast, and we are so excited to start our lives together in our new home in Raleigh, NC.”
WEDDING TALENT
Location: Oheka Castle, Huntington, NY; Planner: Karyn Michael Events; Floral Design: Pedestals Floral Decorators; Engagement Ring: Lorili Jewelers; Wedding Dress: Pallas Couture; Hair: Maro Drakopoulos; Makeup: Tori Balsamo; Groom’s Attire: Vista 1976; Groom’s Watch: Rolex; Photography: Jaylim Studio