More than a decade after first meeting as students at the College of Charleston, Female Founder Collective’s Vice President of Brand Partnerships Mary Leonard and Daniel "Chase" Koorbusch celebrated their wedding in one of the places that had shaped Mary’s life long before they met: Harbour Island. They envisioned more than a wedding day, they wanted to create an unforgettable weekend where family and friends could experience the island that had meant so much to Mary’s family for years while celebrating the beginning of their next chapter together.
Although they had known each other for years, it wasn’t until 2023 when Mary and Chase went on their first date in New York City. After more than two years together, Chase proposed in Rowayton, Connecticut, a place that had quietly become their own. “Chase is originally from Greenwich, and throughout our relationship, some of our favorite memories were made at Rowayton Seafood,” Mary says. “We spent countless sunny afternoons there, so it felt like the perfect place to begin our next chapter.”
On the day of the proposal, Chase brought Mary to the docks overlooking the water under the guise of celebrating his grandmother’s birthday. “As we stood at the end of the dock, he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him,” she recalls. “It was already the easiest ‘yes’ of my life, but what happened next made the moment even more unforgettable.” As soon as Mary said yes, their families and closest friends, many of whom had secretly traveled in for the occasion, came running down the dock. Chase had planned a surprise celebration aboard The Pearl, where everyone gathered to toast the newly engaged couple.
Inspired by Harbour Island’s pink sand beaches, lush greenery, and turquoise water, every design decision reflected one guiding philosophy. “We never wanted to compete with the island’s natural beauty—only complement it,” Mary explains. “From Anna Schwartz’s watercolor invitation suite to our custom hand-painted dance floor and signature rum dum cocktails, every detail was intentionally connected, telling one cohesive story from the moment our guests opened their invitation to the very last dance.”
The bride brought her creative vision to life with her planner Marva Monroe of Chic Bahamas Weddings, while Over The Moon Directory Photographer Anne Rhett and Playback Media Inc. beautifully documented every moment.
The celebrations began on a Thursday with a rehearsal dinner at The Dunmore, where Mary wore the Opalite Dress by DÔEN. "Inspired by the glamour of 1970s disco dressing, the gown featured intricate hand-placed beads, rhinestones, and French cup sequins that shimmered beautifully in the island light," the bride recalls.
Friday morning brought The Perfect Match, the couple’s take on a welcome brunch. Instead of mimosas, guests enjoyed a round robin of tennis, padel, and pickleball at Coral Sands. “Chase plays pickleball nearly every day back home in Charleston, so this was definitely his moment to shine,” Mary laughs.
That evening, Chase's parents hosted a welcome party at The Pink Mermaid, where Mary changed into a halter Nili Lotan dress and silver Me Dolly Christian Louboutin sandal heels—"a closet staple, the best heel—I could run a mile, or more, in these four inches," she laughs.
On May 23, 2026, Mary got ready with her mother, future mother-in-law, her 10 bridesmaids, and makeup artist and hairstylist Swanique Sawyer. Then put on a custom dress by Mira Zwillinger from the Autumn 2026 Collection. "The gown's hand-placed floral embroidery added texture and dimension—and felt perfectly tropical for the Bahamas—while nodding to Mira Zwillinger's signature artistry," the bride says. The smallest attendants—the two ring bearers—wore short sets from Little English. "Dare I say best-dressed guests?"
The ceremony took place at St. John’s Anglican Church, one of Harbour Island’s most beloved landmarks. “My father passed away when I was younger, so walking down the aisle was always the moment I thought about most," Mary shares. "My Uncle Robbie escorted me while ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’—one of my dad’s favorite songs—played, and one of my best friends surprised me with a photo pin of my dad tucked into my bouquet. In that moment, I truly felt like I had both of them with me every step of the way.”
After reciting personal vows, the newlyweds recessed to "Clocks" by Coldplay. "We descended the steps of St. John's Church under tossed rose petals and dashed away in a Moke," Mary remembers.
Golf carts took everyone from the church to cocktails back the beach bar at Coral Sands Inn & Cottages, where guests found their seats at tables featuring fresh florals from Wildflowers Bahamas, arranged around a custom dance floor by Anna SchwARTz, who also created the hand-painted invitation suite.
The bride’s mother, Elisabeth Woods Leonard, welcomed guests to the reception with a heartfelt toast overlooking the pink sands—a beautiful reflection on family, love, and the next chapter awaiting Mary and Chase. And after dinner, "The Band Method’s Miami Project carried the entire night from start to finish," Mary says. The newlyweds took a break from dancing to cut their three-tier coconut raspberry wedding cake by Take A Bite.
Later that evening, Mary changed into The Ines by Eisen Stein. “One dress for the ceremony. One for the dance floor," the bride smiles. "The moment I saw it, I knew it had to be my party dress.”
When the reception ended, the celebration simply moved down the road to Daddy D’s, where friends and family gathered for one final night of dancing. “In a twist that felt perfectly fitting for a wedding filled with New Yorkers, we somehow ended up sharing the club with a private party hosted by Eli Manning,” Mary laughs. “Great day to be a Giants fan.”
The weekend concluded with One Last Dip, a Memorial Day beach barbecue at Coral Sands complete with a DJ, Kalik beers, and one final swim in the ocean. “It was exactly how we hoped to say goodbye,” Chase says. “Not with a formal farewell, but barefoot in the sand, surrounded by the people we love most.”
"Looking back," Mary says “being surrounded by every person we love, in a place that has meant so much to our family, was the greatest gift we could have asked for. More than the flowers, the dresses, or even the photographs, the overwhelming love and happiness of the wedding weekend made it unforgettable. As Chase would say, ‘It was a movie!’”
