James Allen News Center

Anyone planning a wedding might want to take advice from newlyweds Mr. and Mrs. Nick Lachey. The celebrity couple, who exchanged wedding rings on July 15 on Sir Richard Branson's private Necker Island, was careful to keep their priorities straight even while planning their exotic destination wedding.

"We realized it wasn't about stressing over how many tiers there were on the cake," Vanessa Minnillo, 30,  told PEOPLE magazine in a recent interview. "We're determined to have a great time no matter what!" Lachey added.

In an age when celebrities get carried away with elaborate weddings, it’s nice to hear of a couple with their feet on the ground. That’s not to say that Minnillo (who like most brides did a majority of the planning) didn’t invest in her big day; she just did it with class.

Minnillo, host of MTV’s Wipeout, wanted their wedding to be a mix of exotic and traditional. Wedding planner to the stars, Sharon Sacks, helped the couple achieve this unusual blend. She worked with Minnillo to create an intimate, tropical feeling, making sure the 35 guests had nothing but fun for the weekend. 

"I wanted to be in that long traditional wedding gown with heels and I wanted my groom in a tux and shoes and not barefoot on the beach," Minnillo explained. Minillo dazzled guests in a Monique Lhuillier two-piece complimented by a traditional chapel length tulle veil.

"There was just something so timeless, beautiful and romantic about having that element of a traditional wedding," Mrs. Lachey said.
Lachey, a true romantic, told PEOPLE about the magical moment he saw Minnillo walk down the aisle.

It literally took my breath away," Lachey gushed. "It's a moment you fantasize about, and I was certainly not disappointed."

Ahhhh….this wedding just keeps sounding more and more romantic! Congrats Vanessa and Nick!