Our next blog post brings us to March of 2016, when we joined Myra and Derek for their romantic Spanish-inspired wedding at the restaurant Ceviche in downtown Orlando. The wedding had notes of deep red, light pink, and dark mahogany wood around the venue. It was a beautiful event with lots of personal additions, and we’re grateful to Kathy Thomas Photography for sharing the photos with us, so we can share them with you!
The wedding party got ready at the Doubletree Downtown. The bride and bridesmaids toasted to one another with champagne as they got ready in their robes. The bride was then helped into her gorgeous white dress and given her bouquet of red and pink roses arranged by Flowers by Lesley. Meanwhile, the groom and groomsmen shared glasses of whiskey, and the groom received a gift from his bride – a watch and a note that read “See you soon… Make sure you’re on time”. The bride and groom then chose to do a First Look photo shoot with their wedding party at the venue, Ceviche.
The First Look photo shoot with Kathy Thomas Photography was lovely. The big reveal happened inside Ceviche, and the immense love Derek had for Myra was apparent in that first moment he saw her. The bride and groom got a couple photos with the rest of the wedding party outside, and then adventured a bit around Church Street, finding lots of fun spots for shots. The bride also included a first look with her father, which was just as touching to witness. Meanwhile, the restaurant Ceviche was being prepared for the ceremony.
The Ceviche ceremony space was beautiful; lots of dark wood, deep red and light pink roses, and glowing candles. The aisle was lined with rose petals, and the fireplace itself was filled with candles on stands. The space looked absolutely beautiful, romantic, and ready for the ceremony.
The ceremony was orchestrated subtly by Guitarist Luis Alfredo Garcia. There was nothing but joy and love in Derek’s face as his bride Myra walked down the aisle on her father’s arm. The officiant, Kirk Bane, led the ceremony through laughs, smiles, and heartfelt moments. At last, Myra and Derek were pronounced husband and wife and kissed for the first time. Following the ceremony, they took a quick picture holding up signs that read “Thanks” and “Gracias”. Meanwhile, the guests were free to explore the reception space.
The reception dining area was set with more dark romantic decor, with beautiful accents from the space such as stained glass windows and ornate mirrors. The seating cards were set by a stained glass window, with each name and table written in calligraphy. The table numbers were found on Spanish-style tiles on each table, and each place setting held a menu for the night. The sweetheart table was covered in roses and candles, and held the Cocktail Hour appetizers for the bride and groom.
The reception began with the bride and groom getting a first look of the space, and sharing a private first dance. This was of course followed by their public first dance as a couple, then toasts from the Best Man and Maid of Honor. Soon enough, it was time to eat! As could be expected with a wedding held at a restaurant such as Ceviche, the food was an absolute highlight. There was a huge pan of paella, a buffet of kebabs and potatoes, and a salad as beautiful as it was delicious.
Rather than simply having a wedding cake, the bride and groom had an entire dessert table, created by the very talented Two Sweets Bake Shop. There were mini pies, brownies, tiramisu in a cup, cannolis, and more delightful sweets. After dinner, the bride and groom cut the cake, a simple single-tier creation with swirly icing.
The reception continued with the father-daughter and mother-son dances, followed by the opening of the photo booth by Party Shots and open dancing on the floor, led by DJ Rey. One cool addition that the bride and groom included was hand-rolled cigars as favors, which the guests could watch Ricky, the cigar roller, do right in front of them. They also gave away matchbooks that read “The Perfect Match: Derek and Myra”. It was a personalized touch that fit perfectly with their theme.
Before we could believe it, the evening was coming to a close with a sparkler grand exit. The bride and groom kissed one last time for their adoring fans and took off into the night, ready to begin their new adventure together.
Thank you so much to Myra and Derek for including us in their big day, and much thanks to the venue and vendors that made it all possible:
Venue: Ceviche
Photographer: Kathy Thomas Photography
Planner: Anna Christine Events
Florist: Flowers by Lesley
Transport: A1 Transportation
DJ: DJ Rey
Guitarist: Luis Alfredo Garcia
Desserts: Two Sweets Bake Shop
Officiant: Kirk Bane
Photo Booth: Party Shots
Cigar Roller: Ricky
