Some might say that Lindsay Levine and Adam Savaglio are kindergarten sweethearts, but the couple tells another story. Lindsay, an equity trader, and Adam, an investment banker, met at five years old on their first day at The Dalton School in Manhattan. “It wasn’t love at first sight,” laughs Lindsay. “We were always friends (despite a humorous height difference of nearly a foot that stuck around for most of middle school), but the relationship didn’t become romantic until fall of our freshman year in high school when we joined the winter track team.” The friendship deepened over long bus rides to and from races, and before the duo knew it, they were seeking each other out off of the running track.
Although the two have been an item ever since (even winning the Senior Superlative “Most Likely To Be Together in 20 Years”), they made a point of following their individual paths. “Adam and I had been dating for six months when we had our first long distance experience,” remembers Lindsay. “We spent the summer at separate sleepaway camps and promised to write each day (which we did—sometimes even twice a day). There was no doubt from our letters that we were in it for the long haul, and that puppy love has never faded!”
A couple of years later, the pair adjusted to long distance again, and this time it lasted longer than a summer. “We attended separate colleges—I went to Duke and Adam to Washington University in St. Louis,” explains Lindsay. “Knowing that college was the end for many young love stories, we were determined to make our relationship last.” Lindsay and Adam acclimated well to their different environments, while working to integrate each other into their new lives. “Adam and I talked every day, sharing all about our activities and friends,” says Lindsay. “Plus, I wrote about Adam for my college essay to Duke, so he was part of this new chapter from the beginning!”
The long-distance relationship received a much deserved break during the duo’s junior year when they studied abroad in Australia. “We attended University of Queensland in Brisbane for five months,” Lindsay says. “It was a wonderful experience to discover this new country together and make up for the years of distance.”
After countless airline miles and hours of video chats, the recent college graduates settled back in New York City to begin their careers. “We were apprehensive to restart a life together when so much had changed, but our relationship had evolved with us,” says Lindsay. “It grew from young love to a deep, respectful love, full of loyalty and support.”
The touching proposal was straight out of a movie—literally. “It was a warm Thursday evening in August, and sneakily, Adam arranged for a friend to ask me to meet her for an event,” remembers Lindsay. “She called and told me that the Uber couldn’t get around Gramercy Park, suggesting I walk a block from my apartment to meet her. As I turned the corner, I immediately saw Adam standing with an a cappella group that he’d hired for the occasion. He channeled one of our favorite scenes from Love Actually, holding handmade signs as the group sang tracks from each step of our relationship, starting with 90s music and ending with ‘Marry You’ by Bruno Mars.”
Expecting Adam to get on one knee right then and there, he threw a curveball when he reached into his pocket and took out a key to Gramercy Park instead of a ring. “Despite living next to the park for two years, we’d never actually been inside of it,” Lindsay says. “It was so special to step off of the bustling street and into this quiet oasis.” After enjoying a few minutes of tranquility, Adam proposed, and the duo was serenaded with “Shut Up and Dance” by Walk the Moon as they left the park. “It was one of those classic New York moments with pedestrians cheering as we danced in street,” smiles Lindsay. “I’ll never forget it!”
The couple decided to marry on the British West Indies island of Anguilla. “It’s one of our favorite places,” says Lindsay. “We’ve visited the island many times throughout our relationship, and we couldn’t wait to invite family and friends down for a long weekend of celebrating at the Viceroy Anguilla.”
Before the fun in the sun could begin, the bride had some wardrobe-related decisions to make. “We had four days of events, and I wanted all of my looks to feel different,” explains Lindsay. Opting to wear white all weekend, she kicked off the festivities at the welcome party in a long gown by Calypso, adorned in beading that resembled seashell pieces. Adding a small braid and natural makeup, her boho beachy ensemble was complete. The following morning, she slipped into a Thapelo one-piece with a low scoop back. In the spirit of the weekend, “Bride” was printed across the bottom of the suit in navy. An Amanda Lindroth beach bag with her new initials in light blue completed the look (and “something blue” requirement).
Lindsay elevated her attire for the rehearsal dinner. “I wanted to wear something more glamorous,” she says. “I fell in love with this gorgeous fabric—white enamel and pearl flowers over sheer tulle. However, a full dress in this material felt too serious and ‘New York glam’ for the casual island, so I worked with Penny Babel on a silk mini dress. We used the fabric for two thick straps, meeting in a low ‘V’ on my back. It was the perfect amount of fancy and fun.”
Two words came to Lindsay’s mind when picturing her wedding dress: timeless and elegant. “I wore a very simple and modern Romona Keveza gown from Mark Ingram in New York,” Lindsay says. Although the dress was effortless, she couldn’t resist adding in a splash of drama. “I chose a cathedral length tulle and lace Vera Wang veil, which added a romantic element for the ceremony,” remarks Lindsay. She accessorized the look with a vintage Art Deco diamond tennis bracelet (borrowed from her mother’s best friend) and abstract flower diamond studs. A handkerchief (a gift from Adam’s mother) was tied around her bouquet of white peonies. “She had our names embroidered on the hanky in blue for my ‘something blue,’” Lindsay smiles.
The celebrations kicked off with a welcome party at Blanchard’s Beach Shack. “It happened to fall on Cinco de Mayo, and Blanchard’s was the perfect vibrant backdrop for all of the festive details that we added,” says Lindsay. Guests quickly adjusted to island time, sipping on frozen margaritas, eating tacos, and dancing on the beach with maracas to a local reggae band as the sun went down. A custom built fire pit decorated with pillows in various hues of blue added to the relaxed ambiance.
The following day, guests enjoyed the beach—lounging, playing games, and swimming—before the rehearsal dinner at Mango’s Seaside Grill, an island classic. “We wanted each event to have a different feel,” explains Lindsay. “Mango’s has an exceptional view of the cliffs and ocean, so we kept the décor simple with clean, white table settings and hundreds of candles.” After the pair was successfully toasted and roasted, the party headed to Bankie Banx’s Dune Preserve for some wedding warm up. “We wanted our crew to experience all we love about Anguilla,” says Lindsay, “and this funky, laid-back beach bar (where Jimmy Buffett makes the occasional appearance) is at the top of our list.”
The wedding took place at the Viceroy Anguilla. For the ceremony, guests gathered at the hotel’s famous Sunset Pool, sitting on a cliff above the Caribbean Sea. Close family friend, Laurie Schaffran, officiated the service under a Chuppah adorned with white hydrangeas. “Laurie told the most beautiful story of our romance starting in kindergarten,” Lindsay reflects. “She spent hours interviewing our families, friends, and teachers to make sure that every element was captured.” Once pronounced husband and wife, the newlyweds walked up the aisle as an Anguillian gospel choir sang “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.” “It completely transformed the emotional mood and led everyone to cocktail hour ready to party,” Lindsay says.
Following the ceremony, family and friends made their way inside the Viceroy to a sleek, airy room with views of the ocean. “Our guests had spent the whole weekend at the hotel, so we wanted our reception to feel new to them,” Lindsay explains. White amaryllis hung above round and long tables that were decorated with a mix of white flowers and vases filled with banana leaves. Additional details, like bamboo straws, added to the tropical, yet chic atmosphere.
Fish tacos, truffle fries, crispy rice, and lamb chops were passed during cocktail hour, and filet mignon and lobster tail were served as entrees. Aside from coconut wedding cake, the pair opted to have passed desserts, as they suspected everyone would be on the dance floor for the majority of the night. Spiked popsicles and frozen macaroons were also on hand to provide the perfect “Caribbean cool down.”
The couple had their first dance to “Accidentally in Love” by Counting Crows. “The song came out the year we started dating, and we wanted something upbeat to set the tone for the night,” Lindsay says. Quickly after, guests joined the newlyweds on the dance floor, where Radio Underground, a New York-based band from Element Music, kept the party on their feet. “We loved how the lead singer was able to mix reggae with pop songs,” says Lindsay. “The band was also very interactive—they even got Adam to sing part of Taylor Swift’s ‘Shake It Off!’”
For the grand finale, Lindsay and Adam cut their cake as confetti was thrown in the air and local dancers in carnival costumes came out to dance with the crowd. “It was the perfect ending,” smiles Lindsay. “Although the night wasn’t truly over yet!” After the reception, the duo invited guests back to their villa for a pool party, where the celebrations continued into the early hours of the morning.
