Interior designer Tori Berner and real estate developer Vince Korth were introduced by a mutual friend when they both attended a dinner in Santa Monica in 2014. After five years of dating, the founder of the home furnishings site Berner & Co. woke up on a random Saturday morning in November to a homemade omelet, grits, her favorite pastries from Gjusta—and Vince proposing.
Soon after the big surprise, the couple started planning their spring wedding in Boca Grande, FL, scheduling it for May of 2021. “Luckily, most of our guests were vaccinated by that time,” Tori says. “We kind of just rode out the storm and hoped for the best…and made sure to include a force majeure clause in every contract.”
The two had 18 months to plan, which gave them ample time to get creative and iron out every detail. “I took on most of the creative and design aspects and seeing it all come to life was extraordinary,” Tori says. “My planner, Camille Williams, and her talented team executed everything brilliantly. I also think working in the interior design world really served me throughout the process, as I was able to quickly pivot when something inevitably wasn’t going to work. There’s something even more creative about figuring out the next best solution. For example, De Gournay wallpaper was out of the question but was used as inspiration as I tracked down a small vendor who ended up doing an exquisite mural.”
Inspired by Pippa Middleton’s high-necked lace Roland Mouret dress, Tori scoured a set of Los Angeles ateliers for something similar. “I particularly loved the cap sleeve and the material, but I couldn’t find anything even remotely similar,” she remembers. “So, I went down the custom route with Monique Lhuillier.” The team pulled the fabric from one of Monique Lhuillier’s designs and applied it to a silhouette that was already in her collection and added the cap sleeve jacket.
“I was also dead set on having a large, dramatic train,” Tori says. “It certainly wasn’t the easiest dress for an outdoor ceremony—pretty sure my train collected about 30 leaves on my way to the altar—but I didn’t care!” The jacket came off after the ceremony and the train bustled, so it was almost like she got to wear two entirely different dresses. Irene Neuwirth tanzanite and diamond drop earrings served as her something blue.
Vince wore a custom navy tux designed by P. Johnson with a Brunello Cucinelli bowtie, and Crockett and Jones velvet slippers to match, while the bride’s sisters Lulu and Clare wore Markarian and Zimmerman, respectively.
It was 80 degrees and humid when it was time for Tori to walk down the aisle, but the banyan trees provided shade and a nice breeze blew in off the Gulf. “Our Monsignor Connolly from Pasadena flew out to do the service and gave the most moving homily,” Tori says. “I had people afterwards asking me if I thought he might be willing to marry them too!”
Afterwards, everyone processed down Park Avenue towards the Gasparilla Inn for cocktail hour. Drinks and then dinner were held in Sperry tents on the golf course. “Now that it’s all over, I’m thrilled by how everything turned out,” Tori says. “For most of our guests, this was the first large-scale social gathering since the onset of COVID, so people were really fired up. Looking back, it was very clear that everyone was craving the opportunity to socialize, dance, and party. Not sure I’ve ever seen a rendition of ‘Shout’ where guests were quite literally lying on top of each other on the dance floor during ‘A Little Bit Softer Now.’ I also surprised my new husband with a three-song medley that had everyone on their feet. He was in shock! It was all one big love-fest..the energy was electric all night.”
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