Paige Matteo Casey always said she wanted to find a dress that was “Carrie Bradshaw meets Jackie Kennedy,” and that became her mission statement for every aspect of her wedding in Florida. “I wanted something classic and timeless but with a pop of fabulous,” she says. The bride-to-be saw her dress on Instagram before she actually started trying anything on. “My Monique Lhuillier dress is called Theodora, and I always refer to her by her full name. A dress like that deserves that kind of respect!”
Paige and Kevin Casey grew up 10-minutes from each other, but their paths didn’t cross until they met at a “No Shower Happy Hour” at the Jersey Shore. “I certainly did not expect to meet my future husband with not an ounce of makeup on,” Paige, who is the senior manager of new business development for fine fragrances at Firmenich, which creates scents for Le Labo, Marc Jacobs, Gucci and more, says. “I went home that night and even told my mom and sister that I had just met the man I was going to marry.”
After dating for three years—two of those being long-distance from New York to D.C.—he proposed in Jackson Square in the West Village with a photographer hiding in the distance. “I had always assumed Kevin would propose in Avalon at the end of the summer, when we take our annual sweatshirt beach picture, but since I am a control freak, he knew I would be thinking that,” Paige says. “The moment Kevin got down on one knee, I was so excited I dropped my purse and the photographer caught a picture as the purse was in mid-air—the only time I will ever let Chanel hit the ground!”
The engaged pair always knew they wanted a destination wedding, and since Kevin is “a Southerner at heart,” Amelia Island in Florida was a perfect choice for their #PaigingTheCaseys celebration. “It is such a hidden gem and perfect for two New Yorkers who love nothing more than to sit on a beach with a cocktail in hand,” Paige says. They two originally set the date for October 24, 2020 but postponed to September 25, 2021 at The Ritz-Carlton. To help bring their vision to life, the couple hired Ashlyn Justice of Dairing Events, and Liz Dixon of EJD Design helped set the tone with an elevated invitation suite inspired by the island.
The rehearsal dinner was on Thursday evening, so guests could relax and enjoy the day on Friday. Paige’s Markarian pearl-embellished rehearsal dinner dress was one of the first things she found after the engagement. She “decided to go all in on the pearl vibe” and accessorized with the pearl Disco Ball bag by Poolside and vintage Chanel earrings, gifted to her by her parents-in-law. “Kevin used the opportunity to peacock a bit and wore a green Atelier Munro blazer from Boyd’s Philadelphia, white Brooks Brothers pants, and a classic pair of Gucci bit loafers.”
On Friday, there was a “Golf with the Groom” tournament, while Paige’s bridesmaid and certified fitness instructor Alex Delaney led a bridal beach bootcamp, which was filled more with laughter and chit chat than actual exercise. The rest of the day was low-key and spent by the pool and the beach. Paige’s friend and founder of swimwear brand Follow Suit made her a custom one-piece with a tortoise shell belt to wear.
On the morning-of, Paige got ready with Emma Collins Beauty and Rexy Van Pelt in Sleeper’s pink Party Pajamas and a white ruffled robe from Vita Grace. “When it was time to put on my wedding dress, the moment felt surreal,” she recalls. The final touch was her beautiful bouquet by B. Worley Productions.
Bridesmaids all wore custom V. Chapman Lily, Rose, and Violet dresses in light pink floral and gold floral color ways. “I took a shot in the dark and DM-ed the brand asking if they ever did custom dresses,” Paige explains. “Founder Victoria Salisbury and her team were beyond accommodating and made the entire process so fun and easy. I had a lot of bridesmaids who were pregnant or just recently pregnant, so I made sure I had an option that was baby bump friendly and stretchy.”
In a Catholic church, the two were married in a sentimental ceremony. “When the doors opened, and I was able to first see Paige and her dad coming down the aisle it may have been the only time in my life I truly had my breath taken away,” Kevin says. “They also don’t tell you so many people look at the groom when the bride is coming in!”
At the end of the mass, the couple did a dedication to all the women in their lives who were no longer with them, especially their grandmothers, as a vocalist sang “The Prayer.” Paige adds, “It was very special listening to the words, that sounded like something our grandmothers would say to us, as we stood on the altar with our moms besides us.”
For the reception, the couple knew that the band was going to set the tone for the night, so the second people walked into the ballroom, The Rivertown Band had moving to the music. Paige and her father were supposed to dance to “My Girl,” which has been their song since she was little, but he surprised her and switched it to “The Man Who Loves You The Most” by Zac Brown Band. “He said he heard the song before our wedding and the words just spoke to him,” the bride explains.
Paige returned the favor and surprised her father by playing the Notre Dame fight song, as her father walked up to give his welcome toast. The wedding was the same day as a big Notre Dame game, and thankfully they were winning.
One of Paige’s most memorable parts of the reception was when one of Kevin’s favorite wedding songs, “Shout,” came on, and the newlyweds were hoisted up on chairs by their friends. “It was terrifying and amazing all at the same time!” she exclaims.
After dancing the night away, the band led everyone to a Second Line parade. Paige quickly changed into Cult Gaia’s feathered Shannon dress and Loeffler Randall Natalia platforms for the sparkler send-off and late-night Chick-fil-A. “When we started to make our way down the line of all our family and friends, Kevin stopped and dipped me, and I think we dipped a little too hard because the strap of my dress broke mid photo-opp,” Paige reveals. “But not even a broken strap was going to keep us from soaking up all the love!”
