Wedding at The Lake Mary Events Center
Our bride Christina was styled by Tali in ‘Kalina’ by Ines Di Santo. Christina’s wedding day look was completed with Maria Elena accessories and a beautiful cathedral length veil. Keep scrolling to read more about Christina and Alex’s wedding at The Lake Mary Event Center!
Bride & Partner: Christina & Alex
Wedding Date: May 8, 2021
Wedding Venue: The Lake Mary Events Center
Vendors & Their Instagram Handles :
Officiant - Lon Tosi
Wedding Planner - Priscilla Rose Events - @priscilla.rose.events
Florist - In Bloom Florist - @inbloomflorist
Caterer - Arthur's Catering and Events - @arthurscatering
Cake - Anna Cakes - @annahightower
Photographer - Cami Zi Photography - @camiziphoto
Videography - Maiography by Mai Gozu - @mai.ography
Hair & Makeup - Laura Reynolds Artistry - @laurareynoldsartist
DJ & Lighting - Soundwave Entertainment - @soundwave_dj_lighting
Transportation - VIP Transportation - @vipweddingtransportation
Flower Wall - Orlando Flower Walls & Party Rentals - @orlandoflowerwalls_
Draping - Quest Events - @quest_events
How did you & Alex meet?
Alex was stationed at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama as a military instructor, and I was currently working as a Nurse Practitioner in a small oncology medical clinic in Kissimmee, Florida. Both of us were steadfast and dedicated within our careers and needless to say, we both had little to no interest (or time) when it came to entertaining any sort of budding romance (especially in today's challenging world of dating!)
But lo and behold, in June of 2019, two self-proclaimed matchmakers suddenly came into the picture...an older gentleman that had been a patient of mine for quite some time receiving care in my clinic; and accompanying him, his daughter-in-law, Deanna, who was visiting for the week from Alabama (a previous co-worker to Alex).
It was at this point in time that the matchmakers concocted a plan for both me and Alex to meet (because of course, they couldn't believe that us two professionals were actually STILL single!). But despite much skepticism and uncertainty about meeting a complete stranger from 495 miles away, Deanna and her father-in-law continued to work their magic over several days during their clinic visits with shared stories to me, multiple text messages to Alex and pictures exchanged between the both of us. Oh! and not to mention a hint (okay, maybe ALOT) of much-needed encouragement.
With that being said, Alex and I decided to take a chance on love. It was on June 14 that the first text messages were exchanged. On June 16 that the first phone call took place. And only 22 days later when Alex drove all the way to Orlando to meet me in person for the very first time.
And so this is when our love story began...
Where was your first date?
Once Alex arrived in Orlando to meet me for the very first time, we then had our very first date! He brought with him a beautiful bouquet of flowers (and several bottles of wine), so we decided to order-in a bunch of yummy food to the townhouse, where we sat upstairs on the couch in my loft and literally chatted all night long. It was simple. It was romantic. And our connection...undeniable!
How did Alex propose?
It was the weekend before my 32nd birthday and Alex was planning to spend the entire week with me in Orlando. On that Friday, I was anticipating Alex's arrival shortly after I got home from work; but instead, he surprised me by traveling to the house much earlier than expected. When I walked in, the dining room was covered with flowers, chocolates, balloons and adorable stuffed animals (all of my favorite things!) At first, I thought this was just in celebration of my birthday, (an early) Valentine's Day and their 7th "monthiversary". BUT, to my surprise...
Alex also got down on one knee and asked if he could change my Ms. to Mrs...and of course, I said YES! It was by far the best day (and week) of my life.
What was your wedding dress shopping experience like?
AMAZING! Every girl fantasizes about the way they will look on their special day; so of course, I had some excited nerves when it came to picking out "the one". Once we started getting into the wedding planning process, I had personally set goals for myself, which included healthier eating, increased exercise with weight loss and more attention to skin/hair care. Since I wasn't at my exact goal weight around the time of my dress shopping, however, I was concerned about obtaining a clear vision on certain bridal fits and styles. I, therefore, scheduled several appointments at different locations, with the Bridal Finery being my very first choice; and I am so LUCKY I chose them!
Tali was kind, professional and just as excited for me as was my family. She listened to my every thought and vision (even though I really wasn't 100% sure), She was inquisitive to ask about my absolute "NO's" and even encouraged me to think outside of the box. It only took 4 dresses until I found MY dress. And needless to say, between the quality of dresses and the customer service, I did not need to look any further. I was 100% confident with both my choice and with the Bridal Finery Team.
From that point forward, Tali kept me informed over the following 8 months; notifying me of when pieces would arrive, assisted me with choosing a beautiful slip and robe for the wedding day prep and even spent extra time at ALL of my alteration appointments. This was by far one of the easiest (and most pleasing) aspects surrounding the wedding planning process itself.
What bridal accessory was your favorite?
Oh, my earrings from designer Maria Elena!!! The dress itself was so elegant and classy that in no way did I want any accessory to distract or deter from the main attraction itself (ie. the dress!). But the earrings I purchased through the Bridal Finery were the perfect addition to my overall wedding look and complemented my dress perfectly.
What do you love most about your wedding venue?
Alex and I looked at SO MANY venues in the Orlando area. From the moment we were engaged, I knew without a doubt that we would absolutely NOT be getting married in an outdoor setting. The Florida heat and humidity alone in May were enough for me to know that I did not want to sweat profusely in the summer sun, especially as we said "I DO!". And I certainly didn't want to take any changes with the probability of rain or thunderstorms. We quickly learned, however, that majority of the venues in Orlando actually highlighted their outdoor ceremony space because of the beautiful weather opportunities. Their indoor spaces were typically "backup" or a "second option" and therefore, subpar (in our minds).
When we arrived at The Lake Mary Events Center, however, the indoor rotunda located just on the lake literally melted my heart! The stunning floor to ceiling windows overlooking the beautiful trees and water was just breathtaking. And the best part...we could be inside with ample AC! This was the exact reason we chose this venue for our big day.
What is one thing you wish you knew before you started wedding planning?
The actual world/bubble of wedding planning. Although I have personally been in a few weddings over the years, I had NO IDEA the extent of the wedding planning industry. Shortly after Alex & I were engaged, my mother took me to a local wedding show, where you could meet a variety of vendors in the Central Florida area and become inspired with different ideas, color pallets, etc. Needless to say, I took a LONG nap afterwards, given the overwhelming nature of the event itself.
After digging through the countless information packets, coupons and contact information, Alex & I simply started with a vision board and subsequently began to narrow down our top favorite vendors in each category. Our mentality was to find what we liked and exclude what we didn't. This was especially helpful when we needed to finalize our booking agreements with each vendor, because they book up fast!
Needless to say....do your research!
How would you describe the overall feel of your wedding?
Romantic. Elegant. Classy.
What was your wedding color palette?
Blush. White. Hints of gold and lavender. Lots of greenery.
What wedding planning advice do you have for other brides?
My gut instinct is to say, "Don't stress.", but 1) this is not realistic and 2) I did nothing BUT stress, especially in the final 2-4 months prior to the wedding day. What I can advise for all you ladies out there is to LET. IT. GO. the week leading up to the wedding day. Soak in the time with family and friends. Go on a date with your fiancé. Enjoy YOUR moment...because as many of my friends and family members mentioned, it goes by fast. And sure thing...IT DID!
Considering that all of your vendors will have been paid by this time and most likely all of the details "set in stone", there is absolutely no need to fret...which leads me to my next 2 pieces of wedding planning advice:
1) If your budget allows, hire a "DAY OF" planner - someone who will ensure your vision and every aspect that is in your mind gets executed perfectly. Our planner, Priscilla, took away all of the wedding day worries and stress from not only myself, but also my family. I was able to truly enjoy the "getting ready" moments with my mother and maid of honor/sister at the hotel prior to heading over to the venue. Priscilla directed vendors to their precise locations and ensured the timeline we had chosen was followed to a tee...this simply allowed Alex & I to just enjoy our day.
2) BE PRESENT. I asked many of my married friends in the weeks leading up to the wedding, "What would you change or do differently if you could get married all over again?" Most of them replied with the following, "The day goes by fast.", "Don't fret the small stuff.", "I wish I had been more mindful to remember the special moments". With all of these thoughts in my mind, I told Alex that my main goal was to remain 100% present during every moment of our wedding weekend. And that's exactly what I did.
Not for one moment, did I let my "Type A" mentality take over or let the stress from 15 months of planning consume me …I simply enjoyed our every moment: from the first look, to the ceremony to our first dance...and so much more! Staying present allowed me to not only embrace all of the love and support we received from family and friends but it has allowed me to look back at our wedding day and say, "There is not one thing I would ever change! It was absolutely perfect."
Where will your honeymoon be?
We originally were planning for a big trip to Hawaii when we first got engaged, but then...COVID-19 happened. Not to mention that I also do terribly with any kind of drastic time change (ie. grumpy is definitely not the way to start off any honeymoon).
We, therefore, decided to book a road trip up the east coast to Hilton Head Island, where we relaxed (and drank) on the beach, played multiple rounds of putt-putt, went shopping at Harbor Town and also ate incessant amounts of ice cream. We then traveled up to Charleston SC, and toured around the city with a horse-drawn carriage ride, visited the gorgeous plantation sites and of course, wined/dined at some of the most local hotspots. Finally on our way back to Orlando, we stopped in Savannah GA, right on the riverfront, where we enjoyed the hop on/hop off bus ride, explored the city via ghost tour and reminisced in the city's historical charm. The overall journey was not only romantic, adventurous and relaxing...but also, incredibly FUN (despite the 10 pound weight gain!).
What are you enjoying most about newlywed life?
No longer planning for a wedding (LOL)! But no, in all seriousness, I am really reminiscing in the overall feeling of being husband and wife. Although we are still long distance for now, there is definitely a magical feeling once you say "I DO!" to your person. Alex and I know that our wedding was just the beginning to our beautiful love story and we are so excited to write the next chapter in our lives together.
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