We recently photographed a fabulous wedding at Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida.  Paper City published a few photographs from the wedding and a great story. Both are below.

Margaret “Meg” Harriet Munson & Joseph Patrick McGonigle
April 10, 2010, Palm Beach

These two noble names of Dallas did the right schools, the right clubs, and they certainly planned, to the tiniest detail, the perfect wedding. Meg (Camp Waldemar, Hockaday, Pi Beta Phi, Idlewilde Deb, Junior Dallas Garden Club, Junior League) to Patrick (Greenhill, MBA in Finance from SMU Cox, chairman Avante- Garde Society of Nasher Sculpture Center).  It all began with the proposal. “Patrick loved modern art, and he told me we needed to attend a dinner party at the Nasher for the new museum director. We walked in, and the staff said we were the first to arrive and we could go to the Sculpture Garden where the party was located. Outside, I saw a long, white carpet and a tall gazebo fashioned of flowers and a three-foot-in-diameter pavéd flower ball, all by Junior Villanueva at the Garden Gate.

As we walked toward it, I saw the table was set for two. I couldn’t believe it — was this really happening? Suddenly, he was on one knee, lovingly proposing marriage, and afterwards he stood up and waved his arms and exclaimed, “C’mon out, everybody!” To my amazement, a photographer appeared from behind a tree, and our family ran out outside towards us — even my sister, who had flown in from NY. We all had a fabulous seated dinner in that magical gazebo. The menu was titled Meggie’s favorites and consisted of foods I loved. On top of everything, the music that Patrick played were all my favorite songs.” The wedding: “My grandmother, mother and both my sisters were married at Highland Park United Methodist Church, but when I called to reserve a Saturday night, it was potentially a year before we could have our wedding.

So I started thinking outside of the family box. I knew if I ever broke tradition, it would only be for one place: Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. There is nowhere, in my opinion, more beautiful. Every single aspect of this wedding was personally designed: one-of-a-kind Crane’s engraved save-the-date books, custom-blended ink for the invitations, sparkler fountains illuminating our favorite pastries at the Viennese table and eight-foot-tall gold palm trees with trunks of pavéd white hydrangeas, white orchids, white roses and gold seashells. We loved personalizing everything, even the dinner menu, which featured items like lobster and filet mignon with Tabasco (my dad’s favorite), homemade peppermint ice cream (my grandmother’s favorite) and Patrick’s favorite Key lime pie (his request in lieu of a groom’s cake!).” — Meg Munson McGonigle

Ceremony and reception venue: Mar-a-Lago, the historic estate of the late Marjorie Merriweather Post, now owned by Donald Trump, Palm Beach
Event production/wedding planner: Carmen Graff of Mar-a-Lago; Cheryl Clisby, Palm Beach
Invitations: Kerri Davis of Anna Grace Designs, Dallas. Calligraphy by Boo Owens, Dallas

Catering and cake maker: Overseen by Mar-a-Lago’s executive chef, Jeff O’Neil
Music:  Encore Chamber Players’ string sextet, Palm Beach; GDO Soul featuring Greg Denard, NYC
Photographer: Chris Moseley Photography, Dallas
Dress designer: Anne Barge through Neiman Marcus Bridal Salon
Bridesmaid attire: Custom-designed gowns from Nicolas Villalba Couture, Dallas
Groom’s attire:  Giorgio Armani tuxedo through Barneys New York; shirt from Q Custom Clothier, Dallas
Wedding party gifts: Mother-of-pearl shell tray from Madison with a calligraphed note from Boo Owens on the bottom and sterling-silver-dipped seashell from Thistle & Bee; mother-of-pearl and sterling-silver stud set from Ari D. Norman of London and a black bow tie from David Donahue
Party favors for guests: Oversized heart-shaped cookies with an “M” monogram

We put together a team of three photographers that included Robert Walker of Dallas and Leah Stern of Washington, D.C.  Contact us to discuss your wedding – big or small – regardless of the location!