Nestled in a private sandy cove in Nassau, Serendip Cove is laid-back luxury at its finest. The backyard is comprised of a sparkling beach and sprawling pool, while inside, elegant Colonial-style architecture fuses with playful tropical colors. Several pool cottages dot the land around the main house, with space for 28 people to stay. It’s a special kind of place for a special kind of event. Do you hear those wedding bells ringing?

When Mary-Ann Stingel announced her engagement to her other half, Scottie, her mother Callie couldn’t wait to begin planning the big day. “We were thrilled!” smiles Callie. “Mary-Ann and Scottie knew they wanted a small and intimate celebration, a reflection of who they are as a couple.” A destination wedding fit the bill perfectly, and the Bahamas was a no-brainer. “We’ve been traveling to Nassau from our hometown in Asheville, North Carolina, since Mary-Ann was a little girl. We’ve made so many memories there.” Adding their daughter’s wedding to the Bahamas collection of memories just seemed a natural choice.

The hunt for the perfect venue was a short one. “We learned about Serendip Cove and said, ‘yep, that’s it!’ without a second thought,” says Callie. Each of the 24 guests would have their own space, yet relaxing together would be made easy with the property’s private beach, pool, and of course, full staff.

Guests landed in the Bahamas a couple of days before the wedding, when the months of planning would come to life. “The actual planning process was incredibly easy!” says Callie, with a hint of surprise in her voice. “We had Anna, awedding planner in the Bahamas, to help us out with all the small details you might not think of, such as getting the necessary paperwork to marry there.” Otherwise, the experienced staff at Serendip Cove had everything else down to a science. That included ensuring Mary-Ann’s wedding dress, which was air-vacuumed and shoved into a suitcase, was flawless in time for the ceremony.

The vibrant color palette for the day reflected the bright personalities of the bride and groom. “Scottie got the idea for the patterned pants one day when we were driving home from the horse races, an annual family tradition that we love,” says Callie. “There’s a man who sits in the section beside us every year, and we always comment on his wild, fun pants. And Scottie says, ‘Imagine if I wore those for the wedding? and we said, ‘why don’t you!'” The pink flamingo pants were purchased from Loudmouth Golf thereafter, chosen to match the magenta Lily Pulitzer bridesmaids dresses.

After the ceremony, which was officiated by Callie’s cousin, Jimmy, the guests and wedding party sat down to a hearty family meal. “We flew in three beef tenderloins from our favorite butcher” says Callie. “Chef Aaron from Serendip Cove was exceptional. He took the ideas of what we liked, and blew everyone away.” The guests sat around a 24-seat table, where wine, stories and speeches flowed in between each course.

The cake was perhaps the most important part of the planning process for Callie, who also happens to be the owner of a bakery, Callie’s Confections. “I’ve made many wedding cakes, but never for my own daughter!” Callie prepared a three-tiered cake, which was decorated with dainty flowers. “I made most of the flowers myself, but I have three good friends who are cake artists across the US. They each made special flowers for me to put on the cake.” The cake was prepared in Asheville, boxed many times over, harnessed with ropes, and Callie crossed her fingers in the hope it would be unscathed from the journey. “We opened up the box and it was perfect. The best work I’ve ever done.”

A cake from Mom’s kitchen was a fitting way to end a day filled with beloved traditions. The couple may have been far from Asheville, N.C, but Serendip Cove was saturated with soulful elements from home. “I wish everyone was lucky enough to have a wedding like Mary-Ann and Scottie” says Callie, excitedly followed by “But we have a son who is 23… so maybe we’ll get to do it all over again soon!”