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REAL LOVE - REAL WEDDINGS

SARAH & EURIPIDES JULY 29 • SAVUSAVU, FIJI

PHOTOGRAPH BY ALLAN ZEPEDA

Though Sarah Horowitz (34 and a photographer)—a self-described “total travel junkie”—and Euripides Poulidis (36 and a sales professional) globe-trot often, they chose to wed in a place they’d never visited: Fiji. “I loved the idea of making new memories in a new place,” Sarah says. The bash kicked off on Wednesday, with guests partaking in a kava (the unofficial drink of Fiji) ceremony. On Saturday, the “jungle-chic” wedding started with rain forest “I dos,” followed by a dinner of wild fern salad, fresh fish, vudi vakasoso (plantains baked in coconut sauce) and other local eats. A backdrop at the venue read “our greatest adventure,” truly summing up the spirit of the newlyweds and the gathering. —Becky Murray

CEREMONY “It felt like a rain forest church,” Sarah says of the jungle location. “Guests could hear the waterfall and the Fijian singers, who performed out of view, making it seem like the rain forest was singing to them.” Bamboo baskets were filled with petals, and guests kept cool with hand-held fans.

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VENUE Hanging heliconias and birds-of-paradise were “just dripping from above,” Sarah says. “It brought the jungle inside.”

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALLAN ZEPEDAEVENT PLANNING BY ENGAGING EVENTS BY ALI EVENT DESIGN BY CANDICE COPPOLA JUBILEE EVENTS; TROPICAL OCCASIONS

LOCATION “It was important to incorporate all the beautiful things Fiji and its people have to offer,” says Sarah, who also organized waterfall tours.

POOL PARTY Travelers were encouraged to “bring out their inner mermaid” for the Thursday celebration featuring boozy Blue Lagoon ice pops, doughnuts and local accessories.

STATIONERY A watercolor suite that included a map of the Fiji islands readied 126 guests for the destination wedding.

ATTIRE: Sarah wore a traditional Fijian leaf crown for the rehearsal dinner, and Euripides rocked a bamboo leaf scarf.

REHEARSAL The tiki-themed beach barbecue called for tropical prints and flower crowns. Partygoers sipped Fiji Fires (pineapple margaritas) and Tiki Tikis (passion fruit mojitos) and grazed from a Mongolian buffet, then took in performances by hula and fire dancers.

FIRST DANCE Sarah’s friend covered “Strangers” by The Kinks on the ukulele. Euripides sent Sarah the lyrics once they started dating, then played the song during his proposal. DÉCOR Monstera leaves, gold flatware and macramé place mats, plus arrangements with protea and elephant ear, brought exotic flair to the tablescapes.

BRIDESMAIDS Inspired by the color of ginger flowers, Sarah asked her bridesmaids to choose their own pink gowns.