A Vizcaya Wedding...Architecture and Romance Part II

There are weddings, and then, there are weddings.  This was the latter.  If you missed Part I,  catch up here on the back story to the setting. This is the wedding of a friend who should be talked about, in a location that needs to be shared.

I hadn't met the bride before the wedding.  I only knew her through the smile and the light in the eyes of my husband's college roommate.  At 46, he had finally found his love.  He wasn't a believer in marriage before now, and even if he was, there hadn't been time for it. 

the stairs,all made of coral, as is all the "stone" work at Vizcaya; the stairs up to the ceremony in the gardens

The groom is a man who restores your faith that there are good people, doing good things, quietly among us.  After college, he became a marine to serve his country.  He was in the Special Forces;  he became a Navy Seal; he's put his life on the line in wars and conflicts; he went to medical school to follow his passion;  he has practices on two continents; he regularly heals cleft palettes of children in third world countries, on his own time.  He's a man that other men admire.  I assure you, if nothing else, his wife will always be protected :)

the ceremony was at dusk in one of Vizcaya's terrace garden rooms

there was magic in all the details

When you saw the bride, it made you smile,  it made you gasp.  She was lovely.  She was the treasure the groom had never known existed.  Even when they were in the same countries, the same places, at the same time in the past, never once crossing paths.  But fate was playing its hand.

The whole evening was magic.  It was like a movie set, really.   After the ceremony, the stairs leading to the reception, on the far side of the gardens, were lit...

the stairs, petrified coral, and so beautiful

The guests walked along the garden paths, back to the main house, in the candlelight, to the setting sun, in the breeze off the water.  Cocktails were served outside on the side of the house overlooking the gardens...

this is what it looked like as we came up to the cocktail hour

Dinner was served al fresco overlooking the water.  The main table (in the middle) had beautiful, tall candelabras...

All of this took place at dusk, adding to the beauty and romance, but it's hard to tell from my images

Each table had the most spectacular flowers down the length of each one, so pretty.  So elegant.

When the bride and groom were done with pictures and came to dinner, the sun had finally set.  And the setting was beyond words.  One of those evenings where you breath deep to take it all in.  And you hold your breath, trying to keep the experience in until it stays with you.  And I tell you truly, the people who attended made this wedding that much more special.  People were genuine, lovely, interesting and funny.  A reflection of the couple.  How often can you say that at a wedding?

There was a dance floor, just down the candlelit steps from dinner,...

And when you went beyond the dance floor, there was a cappuccino/espresso bar, and an elegant dessert table if you sought something other than melt-in-your-mouth cake....

Presentation and details seemed effortless...

My man, my girls and I walked out to a gazebo on the water and looked back at it all...

Through one opening and then the other...

The night was celebrated until the wee hours, and I am certain, very certain, many anniversaries will be celebrated, too.

The End.

Okay, not yet.  I have to share my family at this wedding, as it is my blog and all, and I had the greatest time with them...

I am truly blessed!

Hope you enjoyed this romantic visit to Vizcaya.

Talk to you soon,
Carol