The Le Ti-Inspired Party Lasted All Night at This Elegant Beach Wedding in St. Barths
Tess Lawson met Jacques McGranahan on her first day of college at the University of Georgia. “Her” is a key word here: while Tess was a Bulldog, Jacques actually attended the University of Mississippi 400 miles away. He was only in Athens for the weekend to visit friends.
Three years later, however, Tess and Jacques both found themselves studying abroad in Barcelona. There, they fell in love over rooftop sangria and late night dinners.
When they got back to the States, Tess wasn’t entirely convinced if they should be an official relationship. “The chase continued until senior year of college. Jacques would drive seven hours almost every weekend to come see me,” she says, laughing. “He was very forward that we needed to be together, and I was impressed by his dedication. I finally gave in—and two years later, Jacques moved to New York, where we live today.”
In July 2023, Jacques, a vice president at Gerson Lehrman Group, proposed to Tess at the Belmond Splendido hotel in Portofino with a ring that contained a diamond from her mother. “My mom and I now have twin stones, which I’ll cherish forever,” Tess says.
They married in April 2025 on the Caribbean island of St. Barths. The couple always knew they wanted to have a beach wedding: “We’ve both always felt most at home by the water. I grew up in Virginia on boats and beaches,” says Tess, now an account executive at a tech company. “Jacques spent his summers in Ponte Vedra fishing and hanging out oceanside with his dad. So a beach destination just made sense—it’s where we’re happiest, and where a lot of our relationship has unfolded.” Meanwhile, the French West Indies isle offered the elevated celebratory energy the couple was looking for. “A little bit of edge, a lot of beauty, and just enough party,” Tess adds. Then, they asked Bronson Van Wyck’s Van Wyck Wyck to plan their three-day wedding.
The weekend began on Thursday with a welcome dinner at Bonito, the couple’s favorite restaurant on St.Barths. With the help of stylist Tara Maietta, Tess wore a baby blue chiffon gown with a detachable hood by Patricia Voto of One/Of that was inspired by a custom Gucci dress donned by Daisy Edgar-Jones as well as Kate Moss’s wedding look.
Guests enjoyed ceviches, tiraditos, and wagyu beef in the beach-shack style setting as family and friends made speeches. The emotional pinnacle of the night came from Jacques’s brother, Hunter, who gave a speech in honor of the couple as well as the groom’s late father.
On Friday, Tess and Jacques wed at the historical St Bartholomew’s Church in Gustavia. The bride wore a semi-custom corset gown with a scooped back by Danielle Frankel. Jacques, meanwhile, waited for her at the altar in a custom Dupioni silk suit and custom embroidered Stubbs Wootton loafers.
“I wasn’t nervous—I was just ready,” Tess says of walking into the church. “The moment I saw Jacques felt safe and happy.” After a priest officiated their ceremony, the couple hopped in a Moke to say their vows privately elsewhere on the island.
Afterwards, a reception was held at Rosewood Le Guanahani. Cocktail hour included a caviar station as well as a performance by French comedian and singer Don Soley.
Then—just as it began to rain—it was time for dinner under a colorful tent by Van Wyck Van Wyck. “Our goal was to evoke the charm of the vintage French Riviera, and Van Wyck captured it beautifully. The weekend unfolded in layers of French-Indonesian textiles, Mediterranean citrus motifs, and a nostalgic palette of red and blue,” Tess says. She changed into a Lanvin ruffle-hem dress for the occasion.
The couple’s first dance was to Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey,” which was performed by Tess’s brother. Dinner included steak frites, accompanied by béarnaise, truffle, and peppercorn sauces, all followed by a classic French croquembouche.
After the rain cleared up, it was time to party. Inspired by St. Barth’s famous party haunt, Le Ti, Van Wyck Van Wyck set up a beachside costume tent where guests could grab masks, boas, and eccentric headpieces to dance on the beach. “The afterparty had a bioluminescent vibe, mimicking an underwater rave,” Tess says. “My friends fully committed to dressing up while fire dancers performed and DJ Giannis played amazing music. Late-night burgers and chicken nuggets were passed at 2 a.m.” Tess wore a blue sequin gown from The Attico’s 2024 fall collection for dancing—and an impromptu late-night swim. “It was my mermaid moment, and it was even more fun wearing it into the ocean,” she says.
Photo: Emilie White1/65Creating my gown with Patricia at One/Of and my stylist Tara was a dream. We designed the hood to transform—structured at first, then falling into soft draping down the back. The chiffon fabric moved effortlessly with the strong island winds.
Photo: Emilie White2/65Greeting our wedding party at the church for our rehearsal before the Fête Blanche. Guests wore all white, while Jacques and I chose soft blue hues.
