A dreamy proposal set a very high bar for the gorgeous wedding of Jocelyne Henry and Michael Penn, Jr. Marking the one-year anniversary of the couple’s relationship with a getaway at the luxurious Bacara Hotel & Spa, Michael had arranged to propose after a private dinner on the property’s spa terrace complete with a Spanish guitarist. After Jocelyne happily accepted, the couple followed a path lined with candles to their deluxe oceanfront suite, where rose petals had been liberally sprinkled and additional flickering candles cast an ethereal glow.

Simple elegance, unpretentious luxury, and a spirit of love, joy, and happiness were the required elements for the wedding, so Jocelyne and Michael returned to the site of their memorable engagement: The Bacara Resort & Spa. “I was very involved with the planning,” says Michael. “It was a fifty-fifty effort; I did most of the contract negotiations, and Jocelyne did most of the creative aspects.” Working with their wedding designer, Alex Alexander of Alex Events, the couple developed a vision that included creamy floral arrangements in shades of ivory, blush, and white. “When I saw Michael at the end of the aisle, I wanted to run to him,” Jocelyne confides. “I was so happy that we would always be together.” The outdoor vow exchange took place beneath a canopy of sheer white fabric gathered with rows of roses, and Michael’s father contributed to the ceremony with a personal reading. Sparkling crystals and candlelight lent the al fresco reception a romantic mood, and tables were labeled with meaningful titles such as “Serenity” and “Beauty.”

When all was said and done, the couple achieved an event that accurately reflected their combined personalities of relaxed sophistication. “I just wanted her to have the wedding she always dreamed of,” confirms the groom. “With no regrets, and nothing held back.”