Alana McCarthy & Matt Killian's Florida Celebration
While it's often said that mother knows best, sometimes it's dad who deserves the credit. Such is the case for Alana McCarthy, who can thank her father, Brian, for introducing her to the man who would become her husband. Dad had met Matt Killian four years ago at a family friend's wedding at Windsor—the private club and community in Vero Beach, Florida—and, after an hour-long conversation, decided he would be perfect for his daughter. He gave him Alana's number. So when the couple eventually got engaged and started to plan their wedding, where else could they have it but at the place where it all began? It helped too that Windsor has been the McCarthy family's home away from home for years.
When it came to planning the wedding, mother Lisa definitely knew best in that department. After all, she has an entire business—called Everyday Elegance that she co-founded with interior designer Alex Papachristidis—dedicated to beautifully curated tablescapes. And naturally, she went all out for her daughter's nuptials. See below for all the details on Alana and Matt's Florida celebration.
The Proposal
While Alana's dad was the one who helped kick off the couple's relationship, it was Matt's relatives who stepped in for the engagement, which happened while they were on vacation with his family in Puglia. After he proposed on the beach, the Killians surprised the couple back in their villa with champagne.
The Destination
"My family has been coming to Windsor for many years and it is heaven on earth," Alana says. "I call it my happy place—and now it's our happy place."
The Itinerary
The schedule of weekend events included a Moroccan-themed rehearsal dinner, a welcome cocktail party, golf and tennis tournaments, and a beachfront farewell brunch the morning after the wedding with mimosas and bloody Marys and bagels. (The invitations and stationery were the work of Bernard Maisner.)
The Dress
The bride wore Vera Wang. "I loved my wedding dress because it had an ivory nude lining, a long train, and two different types of lace fused together," she says.
The Tux
The groom wore Ralph Lauren.
The Traditions
The dresses worn by Alana's bridesmaids—and her niece, who served as the flower girl—served as the "something blue."
The Details
It sure helps to have a mother who happens to be a master of exquisite tablescapes. Lisa McCarthy and her business partner Alex Papachristidis created custom everything, from the monogrammed napkins to the dinner plates and tableclothes. The flowers, which were the work of Susan Lewis, were placed in baskets as an homage to Bunny Mellon.
The Reception
The newlyweds did their first dance to "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing" by Leo Sayer. Mojitos, Aperol Spritzes, and Palomas were plentiful and the dinner menu borrowed recipes from Occasions to Celebrate by Alex Hitz.
The Honeymoon
The couple took off for St. Barths for a week of relaxation—and much-needed spa time—at the Cheval Blanc.
You Might Also Like
