Piper Reiff & Matthew Byzet
Piper Reiff and Matthew Byzet exchanged wedding vows, which they’d written privately beforehand, on Saturday, June 22, 2013. The Honorable Patrick Michael Duffy officiated their sunset ceremony in the lobby of the Capella Pedregal Resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, with the Pacific Ocean as a lovely, dramatic backdrop. During the ceremony, a duo sang “The Prayer,” a moving Celine Dion/Luciano Pavarotti hit, and Margaret Ann Fryman, the groom’s aunt, did a reading of “The Art Of A Good Marriage,” by Wilferd Arlan Peterson.
This three-day “weekend wedding extravaganza” actually started when their 110 guests began arriving for the fun. Their welcoming dinner Thursday night at El Farrallon on the resort provided a fabulous taste of authentic Mexico, both in cuisine and décor, while the strolling mariachi band played for their enjoyment. The bride chose a long, flowing Monique Lhuillier gown from Maddison Row Bridal Chic in Charleston, S.C., and a Bohemia-like headpiece from Stanley Korshak in Dallas that added fun flair to the festivities. The evening ended with a colorful fireworks display over the ocean as everyone toasted the bride and groom.
In keeping with the color scheme of gold, silver, and white, the seated rehearsal dinner at Don Manuel’s on the resort, hosted by the groom’s parents on the eve of the wedding, was aglow with golden splendor. A multitude of gold candles and accoutrements created a dazzling, romantic feel, accented by touches of white. One of these was a single white orchid gracing each guest’s napkin. The bride selected a short, strapless LulaKate gown, also from Maddison Row Bridal Chic. It added much to the “roaring ’20s” ambiance.
The wedding ceremony followed the next evening with the wedding reception at the Capella Pedregal Resort-Beach Club, which was glorious with shimmery, silver-and-white decor. Delicious dinner was served with late-night food as well, as the evening continued until 1 a.m. with dancing under the stars and the “Super Moon” to the lively sounds of N’DEMAND — a band from Los Angeles that lured everyone to the huge, white dance floor. They played many favorites, ending the evening with “Don’t Stop Believin’ ” by Journey, inviting everyone back onto the dance floor for this one final dance with the bride and groom.
The bride is the daughter of Ron and Melissa Reiff of Dallas. The groom is the son of Randy and Susan Byzet of Lexington, Ky.
Presented in marriage by her parents, the bride was escorted down the aisle on the arm of her father. Piper chose a sassy, v-neck plunge Badgley Mischka couture gown from White on Daniel Island in Charleston. She wore a birdcage veil gathered on one side, in homage to the high fashion style of the ’20s. The groom adopted a “James Bond” look with a crisp white jacket and taut ivory suspenders.
Also a remembrance of times past was the handkerchief this bride carried, a gift from her family’s closest friend, Ann Clancy. It had belonged to Ann’s husband, Kevin Clancy, who passed away a month before the wedding. Kevin was Irish through and through, so it was only fitting that Piper and Matt should have his initials monogrammed on it in emerald green. This handkerchief proved especially useful to both the bride and the groom during their teary-eyed, emotion-filled ceremony.
Attending the bride as matron of honor was Meredith Nelson of Broken Arrow, Okla. Bridesmaids included Lizzie Wolf of New York; Sydney Heath-Williams of Las Vegas; Megan Burns of New York; Brittany Reiff of El Cerrito, Calif.; and Laura Byzet of New York.
The best man was Joe Dempsey of St. Cloud, Minn. Groomsmen were Dustin Bucalo of Chicago; Jay Harden of Lexington, Ky.; Mark Wethington of Fort Wright, Ky.; and Jacob Reiff of El Cerrito.
The bride is a 2002 graduate of the Episcopal School of Dallas. She re-ceived a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the College of Charleston and is a 2011 graduate of the Charleston School of Law. Piper is an attorney with Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak, & Stewart in Charleston.
The groom is a 2007 graduate of Butler University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in communications. He is a 2011 graduate of the Charleston School of Law. Matt is an attorney with Keaveny Law Firm in Charleston.
Following their honeymoon in Cabo San Lucas and Napa Valley Calif., the newlyweds have started their new lives together in Charleston.
