Cailey & Noel

November 13th, 2025

March 1, 2026 by

Ghislaine van de Laarschot

About the couple

Cailey and Noel’s story starts the way a lot of real ones do: with a near-introduction.

Freshman year, Noel spotted Cailey at a day party and immediately took notice—but instead of walking up, he did the shy-guy thing and kept his distance, trying to figure out what to say. Hours later, destiny reappeared in the form of cheesesteaks in the campus caf. A friend invited Cailey and her friend Kellie to a party that night, and that’s where Cailey and Noel were finally introduced—properly, officially, no more circling.

Once they started talking, the rest of the party basically blurred. They stayed locked in conversation while their friend Mikey waited nearby, patiently watching the night turn into a moment. And right before the police shut it down, Noel kissed Cailey at the bottom of the stairs—the kind of first kiss that feels like a scene, even when it’s happening in real life.

The following year, Noel rented the very house where it all began (the legendary 1509), and by September of sophomore year—after Cailey playfully kept him guessing—they made it official. Years of shared friends, late-night memories, and growing up together later, they’re here: still easy, still best-friends-first, and so excited to celebrate with the people who have been part of the story from day one.

About the couple

Cailey and Noel’s story starts the way a lot of real ones do: with a near-introduction.

About the planning

Cailey & Noel’s wedding was a unique planning situation — in the most real-life way. Between demanding work schedules and moving from state to state, most of the planning naturally fell to Cailey’s mom, Kelly, who also hired me to come in as their wedding planner. She was steady, organized, and all-in on making sure the day felt like Cailey & Noel — not just beautiful, but effortless for their guests.

And this wedding evolved. A lot. Through vendor conversations, location changes, and a full layout rethink, it went through multiple transitions — the kind that require flexibility, calm decision-making, and a team that’s willing to pivot without losing the vision.

The original plan was to host the wedding at Sirena Bay Estate as a cocktail hour / dance party style celebration. After exploring options, we shifted to a split plan: ceremony at Sirena Bay, then cocktail hour and reception at the Octagon Plaza at Avila Beach Hotel so we could comfortably accommodate a seated dinner. But after running into logistical issues with the ceremony venue, we made the call to move the entire wedding to Avila — and thankfully, I can say with full confidence: it was the best decision we could have made.

One thing Cailey was clear about from the beginning: she did not want a beach backdrop for the ceremony. So we leaned into the Octagon Plaza completely, using the Octagon Museum as the ceremony backdrop — architectural, timeless, and quietly dramatic in the best way.

From the start, the palette was always going to live in soft tones — light yellow, light blue, and light green. But closer to the wedding, after seeing the energy and aesthetic the wedding party brought to Cailey’s events in the U.S., the direction clicked: it needed to feel Bridgerton-esque… with a Curaçao twist. Romantic, airy, and refined — without losing the island ease.

We brought that vision to life with a mirror welcome sign, petite clear bud vases filled with blue, yellow, and white blooms, and warm votives scattered across the tables. The reception tables were arranged in an octagon layout, echoing the shape of the museum, with a flower fountain (yes — an actual fountain) placed right at the center as the statement piece. From there, hundreds of fairy lights connected outward across the space, tying everything together and giving the entire plaza that soft, glowing garden feeling once the sun went down.

Cailey & Noel also added little elements that made the whole wedding feel unmistakably like them. From tequila shots with the wedding party immediately after the ceremony (the official kick-off) to drink stirrers and dog-head sticks to party with, to signature cocktails like coconut margaritas and rum punch — even down to the funnel Cailey & Noel both drank from. This wedding didn’t just look beautiful. It felt personal, joyful, and completely them.

About the planning

Review

We hosted our daughter’s destination wedding in Curaçao in November, and I can say without hesitation that Ghislaine (“Gigi”) from Caribbean Blue was the single best decision we made in the entire planning process.
About a year before the wedding, we interviewed Gigi and immediately knew she was the right person. From day one, she was organized, responsive, thoughtful, and completely tuned in to our daughter’s vision. Her communication was constant and clear, and she truly listened—not just to what was being said, but to the feeling and intention behind the dream wedding our daughter had imagined.
Gigi has an incredible ability to take a vision and translate it into what’s realistically possible on the island—while still making it feel magical. She was creative when needed, resourceful when challenges arose, and seamlessly pulled together a series of flawless events for nearly 100 guests.
Every event was outstanding:
• Welcome drinks and a white-party celebration at Soi95
• A beautiful rehearsal dinner at Avila Hotel’s Blues (over-the-water restaurant)
• And finally, the wedding itself at Avila’s Octagon, which was absolutely breathtaking
Not a single event missed the mark. Everything ran smoothly, on time, and without stress—for us, for our daughter, or for our guests. People are still raving about how incredible the entire experience was.
Gigi didn’t just plan a wedding—she helped create lifelong memories for our family and friends. If you are considering a wedding or event in Curaçao, look no further than Ghislaine and Caribbean Blue. She is a true professional and an absolute joy to work with.
Kelly (MOB) Cailey & Noel • November 13th, 2025

Review

We hosted our daughter’s destination wedding in Curaçao in November, and I can say without hesitation that Ghislaine (“Gigi”) from Caribbean Blue was the single best decision we made in the entire planning process.
About a year before the wedding, we interviewed Gigi and immediately knew she was the right person. From day one, she was organized, responsive, thoughtful, and completely tuned in to our daughter’s vision. Her communication was constant and clear, and she truly listened—not just to what was being said, but to the feeling and intention behind the dream wedding our daughter had imagined.
Gigi has an incredible ability to take a vision and translate it into what’s realistically possible on the island—while still making it feel magical. She was creative when needed, resourceful when challenges arose, and seamlessly pulled together a series of flawless events for nearly 100 guests.
Every event was outstanding:
• Welcome drinks and a white-party celebration at Soi95
• A beautiful rehearsal dinner at Avila Hotel’s Blues (over-the-water restaurant)
• And finally, the wedding itself at Avila’s Octagon, which was absolutely breathtaking
Not a single event missed the mark. Everything ran smoothly, on time, and without stress—for us, for our daughter, or for our guests. People are still raving about how incredible the entire experience was.
Gigi didn’t just plan a wedding—she helped create lifelong memories for our family and friends. If you are considering a wedding or event in Curaçao, look no further than Ghislaine and Caribbean Blue. She is a true professional and an absolute joy to work with.
Kelly (MOB) Cailey & Noel • November 13th, 2025