When Ali and Ionso first decided to get married the biggest question for the couple was where: New York (where she’s from) or Mexico City (his hometown)? While it may not be the exact geographical halfway point, the Ocean Club on Paradise Island seemed an especially happy compromise. Not only is the location beyond gorgeous—think turquoise waters and romantic gardens—it’s been legendary as a retreat for the international jetset since the early 1960s. (Though we can’t be 100 percent sure, we think Ali got ready for her big day in the same villa where James Bond stayed in Casino Royale. At least the view looks identical!)
When Ali and Ionso first decided to get married the biggest question for the couple was where: New York (where she’s from) or Mexico City (his hometown)? While it may not be the exact geographical halfway point, the Ocean Club on Paradise Island seemed an especially happy compromise.
Ira Lippke
The Ocean Club’s most striking feature—a medieval Augustinian cloister originally brought over from France by William Randolph Hearst and reassembled on the property—was the romantic backdrop for the couple’s first look. Framed by 12th-century marble arches and looking exquisite in a form-fitting lace Oscar de la Renta, Ali was more stunning than any of the cloister’s surrounding statues.
Framed by 12th-century marble arches and looking exquisite in a form-fitting lace Oscar de la Renta, Ali was more stunning than any of the cloister’s surrounding statues.
Ira Lippke
Thanks to his younger (and stronger!) brother Josiah (who was assisting on the shoot), Ira was able to get a perfectly elevated view of the couple enjoying a few quiet moments together before their day kicked into high gear.
Click here for Behind the Scenes video – https://www.instagram.com/p/B8wqFwSHpKx/
The bridesmaids’ dresses echoed the vibrant Caribbean colors of the harbor in the distance.
Ira Lippke
Later that evening, the steps leading up to the cloister were transformed by master designer Matthew Robbins into a floral-strewn pathway to the chuppah, where the couple stood before each other, bathed in the glow of magic hour, and said their vows. As the wedding party descended the steps to a cocktail hour mixing amidst the statues, the bridesmaids’ dresses—in varying shades of blue—echoed the vibrant Caribbean colors of the harbor in the distance. As darkness fell and the time came to move on to the reception, the sky exploded with a remarkable display of fireworks—the best supper bell we’ve ever encountered!
The steps leading up to the cloister were transformed by master designer Matthew Robbins into a floral-strewn pathway to the chuppah, where the couple stood before each other, bathed in the glow of magic hour, and said their vows.
Ira Lippke
As darkness fell and the time came to move on to the reception, the sky exploded with a remarkable display of fireworks—the best supper bell we’ve ever encountered!
Ira Lippke
Matthew Robbins’ reception tent was like a gorgeously incandescent greenhouse, filled with flickering candles, mirrored balls and profusions of headily fragrant white flowers. The entire effect was intoxicating (aided, of course, by the liberal pouring of Châteauneuf-du-Pape). Things got really serious after Ali’s quick-change into a second dress that shape-shifted from a long gown at the cake cutting to a sexier, leg-revealing number at the after party. DJ Martin D’Arce had the couple dancing so hard into the wee hours that Ionso actually broke his foot in the process—a fact that left the groom undeterred as he hobbled to the floor using an umbrella for a cane for the last dance of the night with his bride. Now that’s love!
The reception tent was like a gorgeously incandescent greenhouse, filled with flickering candles, mirrored balls and profusions of headily fragrant white flowers.
Ira Lippke
Things got really serious after Ali’s quick-change into a second dress that shape-shifted from a long gown at the cake cutting to a sexier, leg-revealing number at the after party.
Ira Lippke
DJ Martin D’Arce had the couple dancing so hard into the wee hours that Ionso actually broke his foot in the process—a fact that left the groom undeterred as he hobbled to the floor using an umbrella for a cane for the last dance of the night with his bride. Now that’s love!
Ira Lippke
Credits
- Second Photographer Samuel Lippke
- Planner Matthew Robbins Design x Robbins Otoya
- Ceremony & Reception Four Seasons The Ocean Club
- Stationery Save the Date & Invitation-Stephanie Fishwick / Weekend Materials--Illustrations by Stephanie Fishwick / Design & Printing by Sloane Design NYC
- Catering The Ocean Club / Tier Cake Loft
- Dress Oscar de la Renta
- Lighting Zamar Productions
- Floral Designs Wildflowers Events & Occasions
- Hair / Makeup Eva Scrivo
- Music Vali Entertainment & DJ Martin D'Arce
- Video Adrian Toto
As the founder and creative force behind The Day, Ira Lippke brings 20-plus years of experience creating compelling images to every wedding he documents. “One of the best compliments I’ve ever received,” he says, “was from a planner who said I was the only photographer she knew who had so much experience but whose heart and soul was still so strongly in their work.”
